Blog
News

Vehicle burned down on Arbri road

A car burned down this Sunday on Arbri Road. As can be seen from the images, the car is completely burnt. The event happened near the By-Pass of Murriz. According to the data, the Audi type vehicle caught fire in a mountainous area. Sources from the scene said that there …

Read More
News

A 39-year-old convicted of murder is arrested in Durres

A 39-year-old man in Manzë was arrested by the police after the decision of the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of Durrës, for his sentence of 18 years in prison. Citizen Afrim Kila, was recently under “House Arrest” security measures and was convicted for the murder of …

Read More
News

Elections in Greece, Malaj: Albanians should vote for their rights

The Albanian candidate Fatos Malaj from PASOK, one of the 7 Albanian candidates in the Greek elections, in an interview with ABC News stated that he expects the Albanians to vote for him. In his speech, Malaj expressed that it is important for Albanians to go to the polls and …

Read More
News

CEC approves results of May 14 elections in Tirana, Durrës

The Central Election Commission has approved the results of the May 14 elections for the Municipality of Tirana and that of Durrës. Thus, the chief commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi declared that Erion Veliaj is officially the winning candidate for the Municipality of Tirana, showing the valid votes that each of the …

Read More
News

OTP Bank Albania: Establishing a firm foundation to serve Albania’s dynamic economy and society 

OTP Bank Albania CEO Bledar Shella Hungary’s largest OTP Bank Group entered Albania’s market four years ago, and its subsidiary OTP Bank Albania has recently grown further through a merger, positioning itself to to serve a greater portion of Albania’s economy, which it sees as a dynamic and promising.  The …

Read More
News

Is Albania’s new dominant-party system here to stay? 

By ANDI BALLA The ruling Socialist Party scored a sweeping victory in Albania’s May 14, 2023 municipal elections. SP won 54 out of 61 municipalities, including every single large city. Socialist mayors will govern more than 94 percent of the country’s population, adding to the SP domination at the national …

Read More
News

Mother, daughter prosecuted for trying to smuggle EUR 40,000 through Rinas

Rinas Police has seized 40,000 euros in the airport checks, while the mother and daughter who tried to cross the border were prosecuted in connection with the incident. The police informs that the large amount of money was hidden in the body of the two citizens, while the materials were …

Read More
News

Jailed Himara’s mayor to appear at court, might lose mandate

Candidate of the “Together We Win” coalition for the Municipality of Himara, Fredi Beleri, was arrested a day before the elections, after being caught buying votes, but was able to win the battle for the Municipality of Himara behind jail. Vlora’s Court imposed the measure of “prison arrest”, while he …

Read More
News

No settlement deal between Berisha, Veliaj on defamation Trial

Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, filed a defamation lawsuit against the former Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, after the latter accused him of ties to Iran and first session with the representation of the two parties was held this Friday. This session lasted only 20 minutes, where the lawyers of Berisha …

Read More
News

Electric scooters’ serial thief arrested in Tirana

A 20-year-old man has been arrested this Friday by the Tirana police after allegedly stealing electric skateboards in Tirana. According to the police, 20-year-old Emiljan Guraj and his minor accomplice, 16 years old, are suspected of being the authors of at least 7 cases of theft of skateboards. His arrest …

Read More
News
Week in Review: Turning Points and Endless Loops

While some events covered in our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week suggest that possible changes are afoot, other parts of the region seem stuck in the same rut. Original post Here

News
Himara Triathlon Links Sport and Tourism on the Albanian Riviera

Himara Triathlon will take place on May 10 in the coastal town of Himarë, bringing together professional and amateur athletes. The event combines three disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. It promotes both competitive sport and active lifestyles. The race will start at Potam Beach with the swimming stage. It will …

News
Mesi Bridge in Shkodër, a preferred destination for local and foreign tourists

TIRANA, May 8 – Mesi Bridge attracts daily visitors from Albania and abroad. Tourists admire its history, architecture, and cultural heritage value. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared photos from the site in Shkodër and described it as a restored pearl of cultural heritage. The bridge lies about 8 kilometres from …

News
EU Ambassador Gonzato: Better services and infrastructure at core of “EU4Municipalities II”

TIRANA, May 8 – EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato attended today the official launch of the “EU4Municipalities II” project in Durrës. He described the initiative as a concrete programme that brings direct benefits at local level and places citizens at the centre of Albania’s EU integration process. Referring to …

News
PM Rama: “EU4Municipalities II” a strategic EU investment in local governance modernisation

TIRANA, May 8 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended today in Durrës the official launch of the “EU4Municipalities II” programme. The initiative aims to strengthen local government and support Albania’s path toward the European Union. The programme will support municipalities through concrete investments. It also aims to strengthen institutional capacities …

News
Kosova elections on 7 June; deadline closes at CEC, 22 parties in race and three coalitions registered

TIRANA, May 8 – The deadline for political parties in Kosova to notify the Central Election Commission (CEC) on participation or non-participation in elections and coalition formation closed at midnight. The obligation applied to 53 political parties registered in Kosova. The CEC said it received notifications from 22 parties for …

News
Health Minister Sala presents national strategy for artificial intelligence in healthcare in Milan

TIRANA, May 8 – Minister of Health and Social Welfare Evis Sala presented Albania’s national strategy for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare in Milan. The presentation focused on oncology during the First Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Oncology. The event was organised by the European Society for Artificial …

News
“Pearl of Dibër” awakens in spring, Rama publishes images from Grama Pastures

TIRANA, May 8 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today images from Grama Pastures in Dibër, where nature wakes up in spring among greenery and mountain calm. Grama is called the pearl of Dibër. It is rich in flat pastures, a beautiful lake, and endless greenery. On the ascent to …

News
Gonxhja: Archaeological Museum Project Will Meet International Standards

Blendi Gonxhja said the new Archaeological Museum project will meet international standards for preservation, exhibition, and public access. Speaking in Parliament, Gonxhja answered concerns raised by opposition MP Ina Zhupa over plans to relocate the museum collection to an underground space. He said the ministry follows international models that combine …

News
National tax revenues reach 11.5 billion ALL in first quarter

TIRANA, May 8 – National tax revenues in January–March 2026 reached 11.5 billion ALL. They achieved 97.6% of the planned target for the first quarter, the Ministry of Finance said. The report on fiscal indicators showed revenues from this category stood around 500 million ALL lower than the same period …

News

Week in Review: Turning Points and Endless Loops

While some events covered in our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week suggest that possible changes are afoot, other parts of the region seem stuck in the same rut. Original post Here

News

Himara Triathlon Links Sport and Tourism on the Albanian Riviera

Himara Triathlon will take place on May 10 in the coastal town of Himarë, bringing together professional and amateur athletes. The event combines three disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. It promotes both competitive sport and active lifestyles. The race will start at Potam Beach with the swimming stage. It will …

News

Mesi Bridge in Shkodër, a preferred destination for local and foreign tourists

TIRANA, May 8 – Mesi Bridge attracts daily visitors from Albania and abroad. Tourists admire its history, architecture, and cultural heritage value. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared photos from the site in Shkodër and described it as a restored pearl of cultural heritage. The bridge lies about 8 kilometres from …

News

EU Ambassador Gonzato: Better services and infrastructure at core of “EU4Municipalities II”

TIRANA, May 8 – EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato attended today the official launch of the “EU4Municipalities II” project in Durrës. He described the initiative as a concrete programme that brings direct benefits at local level and places citizens at the centre of Albania’s EU integration process. Referring to …

News

PM Rama: “EU4Municipalities II” a strategic EU investment in local governance modernisation

TIRANA, May 8 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended today in Durrës the official launch of the “EU4Municipalities II” programme. The initiative aims to strengthen local government and support Albania’s path toward the European Union. The programme will support municipalities through concrete investments. It also aims to strengthen institutional capacities …

News

Kosova elections on 7 June; deadline closes at CEC, 22 parties in race and three coalitions registered

TIRANA, May 8 – The deadline for political parties in Kosova to notify the Central Election Commission (CEC) on participation or non-participation in elections and coalition formation closed at midnight. The obligation applied to 53 political parties registered in Kosova. The CEC said it received notifications from 22 parties for …

News

Health Minister Sala presents national strategy for artificial intelligence in healthcare in Milan

TIRANA, May 8 – Minister of Health and Social Welfare Evis Sala presented Albania’s national strategy for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare in Milan. The presentation focused on oncology during the First Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Oncology. The event was organised by the European Society for Artificial …

News

“Pearl of Dibër” awakens in spring, Rama publishes images from Grama Pastures

TIRANA, May 8 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today images from Grama Pastures in Dibër, where nature wakes up in spring among greenery and mountain calm. Grama is called the pearl of Dibër. It is rich in flat pastures, a beautiful lake, and endless greenery. On the ascent to …

News

Gonxhja: Archaeological Museum Project Will Meet International Standards

Blendi Gonxhja said the new Archaeological Museum project will meet international standards for preservation, exhibition, and public access. Speaking in Parliament, Gonxhja answered concerns raised by opposition MP Ina Zhupa over plans to relocate the museum collection to an underground space. He said the ministry follows international models that combine …

News

National tax revenues reach 11.5 billion ALL in first quarter

TIRANA, May 8 – National tax revenues in January–March 2026 reached 11.5 billion ALL. They achieved 97.6% of the planned target for the first quarter, the Ministry of Finance said. The report on fiscal indicators showed revenues from this category stood around 500 million ALL lower than the same period …