Communist-Era Bunkers Leave Lasting Mark on Albania’s Landscape
Albania’s communist-era military bunkers – now a tourist attraction but also a reource for experimental artists – are dotted everywhere, from beaches to mountain tops. Original post Here
Sweden Reaffirms Strong Support for Albania’s EU Accession Amid Geopolitical Shifts
By Lutfi Dervishi Sweden remains a steadfast supporter of Albania’s European Union accession, citing the importance of enlargement in the wake of geopolitical shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Minister for European Union Affairs and Nordic Cooperation Jessica Rosencrantz, who vizited today (March 10th) Albania,highlighted Sweden’s commitment to a merit-based …
Ollga Plumbi – The Woman from the Future
By Valentina Leskaj Ollga, the woman with deep black eyes, who appears so elegant in an old photograph wearing a hat, often comes to my mind whenever we discuss the Women’s Movement. Her portrait, as she spoke to me in that simple but beautiful house on Rruga e Kavajës, …
Behind Albania’s Forest Crisis: Governance, Economy, and EU Accession
This article was produced as part of the Thematic Networks of PULSE, a European initiative that supports transnational journalistic collaborations The woodlands of Albania are a verdant expanse that once covered nearly half of the country’s rugged and mountainous terrain. In these past 25 years, however, they have been …
Promoting women’s leadership and participation in the next political elections is key for Albania
By: Fiona McCluney, UN Resident Coordinator Michele Ribotta, Chair of UN Gender Group Tirana, 8 March 2025 The general elections of May 11, 2025,are an important opportunity to strengthen democracy in Albania and consolidate past achievements in advancing women’s leadership in decision-making. While Albania has made …
Albanian Government Shuts Down TikTok, Opposition and Experts Call It Censorship
The Albanian government announced on Wednesday a one-year suspension of the social media platform TikTok, arguing that the measure is necessary to protect children and enhance online security. However, the opposition and independent experts have labeled the decision as an act of censorship that could impact the electoral campaign planned …
Albanian Ministry Confirms One-Year Ban on TikTok ‘to Protect Children’
Albania’s Minister of Education confirmed the prime minister’s previous announcement of a year-long ban on social media site TikTok, saying that it will be imposed within days. Original post Here
Drita Hajdari: Pioneering Prosecutor Who Battled Injustice in Kosovo
After a career littered with firsts, retired Kosovo prosecutor Drita Hajdari says the pursuit of justice for the crimes committed during the collapse of Yugoslavia is far from over. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 3, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
PM’s Attacks on Prosecutors Turn Albania’s Justice Reform Into Election Issue
Following the arrest of a key ally, Prime Minister Edi Rama has launched a campaign targeting the judiciary in a bid to turn the tables ahead of May’s elections, experts say. Original post Here
Euronews journalist Eni Ferati has obtained the testimony given before the Saranda Court by Sokrat Vata, the suspect in the killing of a 21-year-old Portuguese tourist, Luis Miguel Varela Mendes in Ksamil. Vata admitted responsibility for the killing but gave his account of the circumstances, claiming that amid the mass …
The excavation and exhumation of human remains at three locations in Mala Kaludra and Jabuka, in Zubin Potok, where three mass graves have been confirmed, have been completed, Kosovo’s Government Commission on Missing Persons announced. The excavations began in late July in villages in northern Kosovo, and authorities have confirmed …
President of the Republic Bajram Begaj has visited Italy, where he attended the opening ceremony of the “Taranto 2026” Mediterranean Games in support of the Albanian team of athletes. During the visit, President Begaj was welcomed by his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, as well as by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia …
Prime Minister Edi Rama will gather his government cabinet for a two-day meeting in Pogradec on August 23 and 24. The meeting will be held in a “retreat” format, with ministers expected to report on the work carried out so far and present their priorities for the coming months. The …
The Mayor of Mirdita, Albert Melyshi, spoke to the media about the wildfire situation in the municipality, describing it as serious and dangerous. He said the village of Tenë is currently the worst-affected area, where the first evacuations have also taken place. According to Melyshi, some of the fires are …
The Cërrik Municipal Council met to set the schedule for public hearings as part of the Administrative-Territorial Reform. From the beginning of the meeting, right-wing councillors voiced their opposition to the proposed merger of Cërrik with Elbasan, while left-wing councillors also appeared unclear about their position. Cërrik Mayor Florenc Doka …
A provocative incident was reported in Spain during the Conference League match between Getafe and Partizan Belgrade, where the visiting fans repeatedly chanted “Kosovo is Serbia”. Around 6,000 fans were present at the stadium, while the political chants by Serbian supporters could be heard throughout the match. Meanwhile, some of …
Theth welcomes the “Ah Theth” festival this weekend. The festival combines music, sports, adventure and tradition. It takes place from August 21 to 23. The event features two nights and three days of activities. Visitors can enjoy events from sunset to sunrise amid the spectacular landscapes of the Albanian Alps. …
Albania has reached its target of more than 600 MW in new renewable energy capacity ahead of schedule. Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi said the energy sector reforms are producing concrete results. He said the government is modernizing the legal framework and aligning it with European Union standards. …
Albania’s cultural heritage sites recorded a strong increase in visitors during the first seven months of 2026. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja released the figures for January–July 2026. A total of 824,340 local and foreign visitors explored these destinations. The figure marks an 80% increase compared with …