DP submits at CEC municipal council candidates’ list for May 14 polls
Democratic Party (DP) submitted this Tuesday, within the deadline set to the Central Elections Commission (CEC), the lists for members of municipal councils for several municipalities in the country. List of democrats in Tirana is headed by pedagogue Enriketa Pandelejmoni, followed by footballer Gentin Muça and pedagogue Iris Beleraj. Among …
Crime Ties Exposed in North Macedonia Medicinal Cannabis Boom
North Macedonia has actively promoted the development of a medicinal cannabis industry, but a BIRN investigation reveals the criminal ties behind at least some of those granted much-coveted licences. Original post Here
Albanian Migrant Ship’s Sinking Highlighted Europe’s Unequal Power Dynamics
On March 28, 1997, an Italian corvette sunk the Albanian migrant boat ‘Katër i Radës’ in the Adriatic, taking lives of at least 92 Albanians. Rome never accepted blame, reflecting the ‘asymmetrical dynamic’ that still governs the lives of so many in Europe today. Original post Here
President of Austria from Assembly: We support Albania in her journey towards EU
Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen, after the meeting with President Bajram Begaj, went to the Parliament, where he spoke about the close relations between Austria and Albania. He also mentioned Austria’s continued support for Albania’s path towards European integration. “Behind every activity that Austria develops in Albania, there is …
Albanian TV Station Guard Shot Dead in Mystery Killing
Politicians have condemned and expressed shock over the shooting dead of a TV station security guard in as yet unidentified circumstances in the early hours of Monday morning. Original post Here
SUV used by television shooters was stolen in Shkodra
New details have come to light from the post-Monday-midnight serious event, where unidentified persons fired firearms at the premises of Top Channel, killing the security guard, Pal Kola. From the preliminary data, the perpetrators moved with a Range Rover type vehicle, which turns out to have been stolen in ShkodEr. …
Austrian president visit to Tirana, is hosted by Begaj
President Bajram Begaj has welcomed the Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen. The Austrian counterpart has arrived in Tirana as part of an official visit. He was hosted in a state ceremony by Begaj to continue with a statement to the media at around 11:45. Meanwhile, at 1:00 p.m., the …
PM urges businesses to not take advantage of employees
Prime Minister Edi Rama has called this Monday on entrepreneurs to give up the logic of exploiting employees, saying that this is hitting the heart of Albania’s economy. During his speech in a commercial subject in Kamza area, the head of the government underlined that Albania cannot reach where it …
In Remote Albanian Regions, Migration Becomes Almost Inevitable
Unemployment, poverty, and disillusionment with the political elite is emptying small Albanian towns and villages of people; the young are moving abroad, taking with them the hopes of their families for a financial lifeline. Original post Here
Tirana, three arrested and seven prosecuted on illegal gambling charges
Tirana police have successfully completed this Saturday the coded operation “Poker 2”, as a result of which 3 people were arrested and 7 others were prosecuted. Based on the information at hand, the arrested citizens are Arlind Çali, Xhuljo Mija and Erisild Demçellari, administrators of the bar, all three residents …
Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …
New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Tirana Times, January 26, 2026 – Albania’s attempted entry into the Peace Board has become a revealing episode, not because of the significance of the initiative itself, but because of the way Albania’s leadership chose to stage and communicate it domestically. The Peace Board represents a new and ambitious international …
Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania has joined the Peace Board, a newly established international mechanism initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at overseeing peace agreements and post-conflict stabilization efforts, with an initial focus on the Gaza Strip. The Peace Board was formally launched during the World Economic …
The crisis deepens as the government shields Deputy PM Balluku and a criminal network emerges in AKSHI Tirana Times, January 25, 2026 – Albania’s main opposition party returned to the streets on Saturday with a second national protest against Prime Minister Edi Rama, challenging the legitimacy of his fourth term …
Forty-one environmental organisations from 28 countries have called for a halt to the planned development by Jared Kushner of Albania’s Sazan island as a luxury resort, saying it threatens the valuable biodiversity of the area. Original post Here
Kosovo, Bulgaria and Turkey have signed the Board of Peace Charter, under Donald Trump’s auspices, but several other Balkan countries are still pondering whether to join the initiative. Original post Here
Balkan countries are continuing to sacrifice their remaining clean river stretches to development and pollution, a new assessment warns. Original post Here
The Bulgarian mystic’s doomy predictions continue to grab headlines in Albania and elsewhere – even though many seem fabricated and sometimes appear to serve Russian geopolitical narratives. Original post Here