Tirana taxi drivers prosecuted for concealing income
Authorities have taken legal action this Thursday against three cab drivers, who had concealed their income from transporting people with their vehicles. Following police findings, the Prosecutor’s Office started criminal proceedings against the drivers of these vehicles, specifically for the citizens, Sh. A., R. Ç. and Sh. L., for the …
McGonigal Case, democrat refuses interpellation with Minister Spiropali
Democrat MP Gazment Bardhi refused this Thursday the interpellation with Minister Elisa Spiropali, requesting the presence of Prime Minister Edi Rama for the case of former FBI official, Charles McGonigal. In his speech, Bardhi said that he requested an interview with the head of the government and not with his …
PM attacks opposition after McGonigal issue tensions
Prime Minister Edi Rama has harshly assailed this Thursday the opposition’s MPs, who wanted to hold an interpellation with him in the plenary session regarding the McGonigal scandal. In a social media reaction, the head of government accused them of abusing the freedom of speech, the truth and of committing …
Bucking int’l trend, Albania’s central bank keeps key rate unchanged
TIRANA, Feb. 1, 2023 – Bank of Albania’s Supervisory Council announced Wednesday it would keep the central bank’s key interest rate unchanged at 2.75 percent. It’s the second time in a row the central bank keeps the rate unchanged, bucking the trends of major central banks in Europe and North …
Woman dies 4 days after giving birth to her Baby
A 29-year-old woman died in Tirana, 4 days after giving birth to her baby. The young woman, whose identity is still unknown, gave birth to a child of about 5 kilograms by natural birth and after 24 hours of stay in the hospital she went home. But she started having …
Japan donates firefighting equipment to Tirana
Two new fire engines were added to the new fire station in Kinostudio, as a help from the Embassy of Japan in Tirana. Mayor Erion Veliaj said that the new equipement will greatly serve the Unit 4 Fire Station, as it also covers the suburban and rural areas of the …
Labor force reduction due to emigration harming Albania’s long-term potential, central bank governor says
TIRANA, Jan. 31, 2023 – Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko has joined voices of concern regarding the renewed trend of Albanians leaving the country to work abroad, citing negative long-term potential of having a smaller pool of local labor capital. “It reduces the labor force — especially in its …
New court map enters into force
Implementation of the new judicial map will resume this Wednesday, starting the operation of the Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction. At the end of December, the High Judicial Council (HJC) met to determine the composition of the single Court of Appeal that will be in Tirana. The council decided …
Floods situation improves significantly in Shkodra
Floods situation has improved considerably in Shkodra, while the total flooded area has decreased to 500 hectares. According to this Wednesday’s reports, the situation has also improved on Oboti road as there is no water present. Civil Emergency Groups of the Municipality are in constant monitoring of the situation, as …
Elbasan police removes 37 illegal cameras, 10 person under investigation
Elbasan Police has uninstalled and seized this Wednesday 37 security cameras installed by criminal groups, while the investigations have started for 10 people who installed these cameras in violation of the law. Seized cameras were placed without the relevant permission of the competent bodies, as their placement is in violation …
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
Tirana, 21.01.2026 – Research on disability has increasingly moved into the centre of international scientific and policy discussions, reflecting broader debates about inclusion, quality of life and access to public space. Against this wider backdrop, the King Salman Center for Disability Research (KSCDR) has opened nominations for the 4th cycle of …
While Albania’s Edi Rama welcomed an invitation to join Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania and Greece merely confirmed that they had received invitations. Original post Here
When the “Choo Choo” Train Never Came It begins with a scene that now feels almost surreal. In 2022, during a staged media event in Tirana, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku enthusiastically explained to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas railway would be completed by 2024. …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The United States has once again issued an unusually clear and public warning about the threat posed by Albanian organized crime groups and their links to Latin American drug cartels, framing the issue not only as a criminal challenge but as a direct risk to Albania’s national security and economic …
As the new year gets off to a cold start in the region, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories takes a look at the high expectations and sobering realities of what 2026 holds in store. Original post Here
Critics warn of deepening inequality, impunity and potential money-laundering exposure. Tirana Times, January 16,2025 – Albania’s newly adopted “fiscal peace” package framed by the government as a reset of relations between businesses and the tax authorities, has sparked sharp criticism from economists, business associations, the opposition and international observers. Although …
Opinion articles under the pseudonym ‘Endri Kajsiu’ have for years promoted pro-government narratives in the Albanian media – leading some to wonder if the author could even be the prime minister. Original post Here