Blog
News

Digital Divide: The Albanians Left Behind by Move to Online Public Services

Albania has moved almost all of its public administration online, yet the elderly, those with disabilities, and others who lack the necessary digital skills risk being locked out if authorities do not step up support. Original post Here

Read More
News

Challenging Justice: Albanian Parties Field Candidates Facing Corruption Charges

Promises to clean up politics – and not run candidates with suspected or proven crime links – seem to have been dumped by both main parties contesting next month’s parliamentary election. Original post Here

Read More
News

Balkan Leaders Express Sorrow After Death of Pope Francis

Balkan leaders and Catholic believers across the region voiced their condolences after the death of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday after a period of ill-health. Original post Here

Read More
News

Albanians Remember ‘Extraordinary Woman’ Who Endured Torture for Her Faith

A Catholic nun who was persecuted as an enemy of the Communist regime in her short lifetime, Marie Tuci is today widely honoured in Albania as both a saint and a symbol of courage. Original post Here

Read More
News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: April 14, 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

Read More
News

BIRN Fact-Check: Is Albanian PM’s Promise of 2030 EU Accession Realistic?

Experts say the Albanian prime minister’s pledge to secure membership of the EU by 2030 is little more than a “fairytale” for the electorate ahead of elections in May. Original post Here

Read More
News

Italy Sends More Migrants to Albania After Change of Plan

A new shipload of migrants from Italy arrived in Albania on Friday after the Rome government changed the rules on the use of its detention centre in the Balkan country after previous legal setbacks to the offshoring project. Original post Here

Read More
News

Albania’s ‘Elite Tourism’ Pits David Against Goliath in Fight for Water

In southwestern Albania, a government plan to harness a village’s natural springs for the needs of a luxury tourism development has locals up in arms. Original post Here

Read More
News

Albanian TikTok Shutdown Tool Raises Privacy Concerns

Albania’s cyber security authority said it will use Deep Packet Inspection to enforce the government’s TikTok ban – but experts say the use of the technology has no legal basis in Albania and could be used for censorship. Original post Here

Read More
News

Albanian Institute for International Studies Invited as Institutional Partner at NATO Public Forum 2025

TIRANA TIMES Albania April 7,— The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has been invited to serve as an Institutional Partner at the 2025 NATO Public Forum, set to take place on June 24-25 in The Hague during the NATO Summit. The invitation, extended by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division, recognizes …

Read More
News
Across the Balkans, Foreign-Backed Luxury Developments Cause Local Anger

Albanian protesters’ campaign to halt a Trump-connected luxury development echoes discontent across the Balkans about outside investors’ mega-projects – with increasingly vocal demands for more public input and transparency. Original post Here

News
Albania reaffirms support for Ukraine on Independence Day, Foreign Ministry says

TIRANA, August 24 – The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed Albania’s support for Ukraine on its Independence Day. The ministry said the Ukrainian people have the right to determine their future as a free nation. It also praised Ukraine’s courage and resilience in defending its sovereignty and …

News
Islam Dudaev Makes History with Albania’s First Gold at Taranto 2026

Albania has celebrated a historic success at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026” as wrestler Islam Dudaev won the country’s first gold medal of the Games. Dudaev claimed the title in the men’s freestyle 74-kilogram category. He reached the final and secured the gold after his opponent, Fati Vejseli of North …

News
Albania wins its first gold medal at Taranto 2026

Albania has celebrated a major success at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026”, with wrestler Islam Dudaev winning the country’s first gold medal. Dudaev triumphed in the men’s freestyle wrestling event in the 74-kilogram category. He secured the title after his opponent, North Macedonia’s Fati Vejseli, withdrew from the final because …

News
Rama: Citizen protests can drive better governance in Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama said citizen protests can challenge the government and help improve governance and its relationship with the public. Speaking after a government cabinet meeting in Pogradec, Rama said the recent protests over a tourism project in Zvërnec had provided a real challenge for the government. He argued …

News
Albania Puts Social Policies and Price Transparency at the Top of the Agenda

Prime Minister Edi Rama has outlined new government priorities focused on improving living standards and strengthening social policies across Albania. Following a cabinet meeting in Pogradec, Rama said the government will give particular attention to healthcare and education. He also called for stronger policies that directly improve the quality of …

News
Begaj: Remembering Communist Persecution Is a Responsibility for Future Generations

President Bajram Begaj has called for stronger efforts to preserve the memory of the victims of Albania’s communist regime. During a visit to Lushnjë, Begaj paid tribute to people who suffered political persecution and internment. He laid flowers at the Memorial of Political Persecution and visited the former internment camp …

News
“Begaj Hails Albania’s Wrestling Success with Three Medals at Taranto 2026”

Albania has celebrated a strong start in wrestling at the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, winning three medals. Islam Dudaev secured the gold medal, giving Albania its first gold at the Games. Zelimkhan Abakarov followed with a silver medal, while Ardit Zeneli won bronze. President Bajram Begaj congratulated the Albanian …

News
Traffic Police: Over 11,000 Fines Issued in Tirana Over the Past Week

The Tirana Traffic Police announced that it issued 11,420 administrative fines over the past week as part of checks aimed at preventing road accidents and managing traffic on major roads, as well as at the entry and exit points of the capital. During the inspections, 55 people were arrested or …

News
Former U.S. Congressman Delivers Strong Message in Pristina: “You Will Be in Big Trouble If You Don’t Elect a President”

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:abd5f9c3-e6f6-4ffd-a368-acf87625c22f-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:abd5f9c3-e6f6-4ffd-a368-acf87625c22f-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> Former U.S. Congressman Joe DioGuardi has said that Kosovo needs to elect a president as soon as possible. Speaking in Pristina, he said that the ongoing political crisis is putting Kosovo in a difficult situation. “I am here, as you know, …

News

Across the Balkans, Foreign-Backed Luxury Developments Cause Local Anger

Albanian protesters’ campaign to halt a Trump-connected luxury development echoes discontent across the Balkans about outside investors’ mega-projects – with increasingly vocal demands for more public input and transparency. Original post Here

News

Albania reaffirms support for Ukraine on Independence Day, Foreign Ministry says

TIRANA, August 24 – The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed Albania’s support for Ukraine on its Independence Day. The ministry said the Ukrainian people have the right to determine their future as a free nation. It also praised Ukraine’s courage and resilience in defending its sovereignty and …

News

Islam Dudaev Makes History with Albania’s First Gold at Taranto 2026

Albania has celebrated a historic success at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026” as wrestler Islam Dudaev won the country’s first gold medal of the Games. Dudaev claimed the title in the men’s freestyle 74-kilogram category. He reached the final and secured the gold after his opponent, Fati Vejseli of North …

News

Albania wins its first gold medal at Taranto 2026

Albania has celebrated a major success at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026”, with wrestler Islam Dudaev winning the country’s first gold medal. Dudaev triumphed in the men’s freestyle wrestling event in the 74-kilogram category. He secured the title after his opponent, North Macedonia’s Fati Vejseli, withdrew from the final because …

News

Rama: Citizen protests can drive better governance in Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama said citizen protests can challenge the government and help improve governance and its relationship with the public. Speaking after a government cabinet meeting in Pogradec, Rama said the recent protests over a tourism project in Zvërnec had provided a real challenge for the government. He argued …

News

Albania Puts Social Policies and Price Transparency at the Top of the Agenda

Prime Minister Edi Rama has outlined new government priorities focused on improving living standards and strengthening social policies across Albania. Following a cabinet meeting in Pogradec, Rama said the government will give particular attention to healthcare and education. He also called for stronger policies that directly improve the quality of …

News

Begaj: Remembering Communist Persecution Is a Responsibility for Future Generations

President Bajram Begaj has called for stronger efforts to preserve the memory of the victims of Albania’s communist regime. During a visit to Lushnjë, Begaj paid tribute to people who suffered political persecution and internment. He laid flowers at the Memorial of Political Persecution and visited the former internment camp …

News

“Begaj Hails Albania’s Wrestling Success with Three Medals at Taranto 2026”

Albania has celebrated a strong start in wrestling at the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, winning three medals. Islam Dudaev secured the gold medal, giving Albania its first gold at the Games. Zelimkhan Abakarov followed with a silver medal, while Ardit Zeneli won bronze. President Bajram Begaj congratulated the Albanian …

News

Traffic Police: Over 11,000 Fines Issued in Tirana Over the Past Week

The Tirana Traffic Police announced that it issued 11,420 administrative fines over the past week as part of checks aimed at preventing road accidents and managing traffic on major roads, as well as at the entry and exit points of the capital. During the inspections, 55 people were arrested or …

News

Former U.S. Congressman Delivers Strong Message in Pristina: “You Will Be in Big Trouble If You Don’t Elect a President”

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:abd5f9c3-e6f6-4ffd-a368-acf87625c22f-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:abd5f9c3-e6f6-4ffd-a368-acf87625c22f-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> Former U.S. Congressman Joe DioGuardi has said that Kosovo needs to elect a president as soon as possible. Speaking in Pristina, he said that the ongoing political crisis is putting Kosovo in a difficult situation. “I am here, as you know, …