Judge’s Killing in Courtroom Shakes Albania’s Justice System
By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, October 7, 2025 — The fatal shooting of Appeals Court Judge Astrit Kalaja inside a courtroom in Tirana on Monday has sent shockwaves across Albania, raising profound questions about the state of justice reform, courtroom security, and the country’s fragile rule of law. Judge Kalaja, …
Albania Judges Warned Police of Threats Before Fatal Court Shooting
The shocking killing of judge Astrit Kalaja on Monday inside a Tirana court has led to serious questions over levels of security in the country’s institutions. Original post Here
Troubled Waters: Albania’s Wild River ‘Protected Only on Paper’
A wild river given protection as a ‘national park’ in 2023 still faces serious threats to its biodiversity from pollution – and Albania’s government is doing little to stop it. Original post Here
Albania’s Opposition Backs Actor-Activist for Tirana Mayor
The Democratic Party declared its support for an independent candidate, the actor Florjan Binaj – who is known for lampooning Prime Minister Edi Rama – in Tirana’s high-profile mayoral byelection next month. Original post Here
Judge Shot to Death in Albanian Courtroom
Judge Astrit Kalaja was shot and killed during a hearing at the Court of Appeal in Tirana, drawing shocked reactions from political leaders. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: October 6, 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
Week in Review: Between Hope and Despair
While political deadlock feeds despair in some corners of the region, glimmers of hope shine through in others, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlights. Original post Here
Albania and Colombia Arrest 17 for Trafficking Women for Sex Work
The EU police agency said 17 people suspected of trafficking women from South America to Europe for sexual exploitation have been arrested in Albania and Colombia. Original post Here
Rama’s Trump Joke Overshadows Copenhagen Summit
Tirana, Albania (Tirana Times). Prime Minister Edi Rama’s attempt at humor during a European summit turned into a viral spectacle on Thursday, overshadowing the European Political Community’s agenda in Copenhagen and sparking both international scrutiny and domestic criticism. The incident unfolded when Rama, known for injecting jokes into international meetings, …
Mayoral Election in Capital Stirs Albanian Opposition Hopes of Comeback
The byelection in Tirana, whose Socialist mayor is behind bars, is a precious opportunity for Albania’s opposition – but analysts warn that victory remains unlikely. Original post Here
Hundreds of Albanians have gathered outside the Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague in support of former Kosova Liberation Army leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The court is due to issue its first-instance verdict in their case on September 16. The gathering took place one …
Prime Minister Edi Rama is expected to travel to the United States on September 20. According to media reports, Rama will attend the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The event will take place from September 21 to 28. The same reports say Rama …
Albania will have mainly stable atmospheric conditions on Wednesday, according to the Military Meteorological Service. Most of the country will have mainly clear skies. From midday to the afternoon, eastern and southern mountainous areas will see passing light to moderate cloud cover. The same areas may also see isolated and …
The National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances will travel to Italy for an artistic tour across four cities. The ensemble will present Albanian songs, dances, traditional costumes and cultural heritage to Albanian and Italian audiences. The tour will run from September 19 to 22. It will visit Brescia, Turin, …
Travel and Tour Word describes Albania as one of Europe’s fastest-growing nature tourism destinations in 2026. The outlet says growing numbers of tourists are choosing the country’s mountain villages, national parks, rivers, protected areas and coastal landscapes instead of traditional urban holidays. The article highlights the combination of the Albanian …
Albania inaugurated its Honorary Consulate in Naples today. Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the ceremony at Villa Doria d’Angri. Honorary Consul Giuseppe Lettieri, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli and Albanian Ambassador to Italy Anila Bitri also attended. Campania Region President Roberto Fico, Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and Naples Prefect …
Croatian Ambassador to Albania Zlatko Kramarić said today that Kosovo should accept the Special Court’s decision on Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi, regardless of how painful it may be. Speaking to the media, Kramarić said a conviction of Thaçi would not help Kosovo’s image. “We need …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha said Albania is ready to join European efforts against disinformation and hybrid threats. Hoxha welcomed a resolution adopted today by the European Parliament on the European Democracy Shield. The resolution recognizes the Western Balkans as a key target of foreign information manipulation …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that Albania and Italy share a long history of closeness and alliance. He also described Italy as Albania’s strongest representative of interests within the European Union. “When I said that Italy is Albania’s European alter ego, I meant something sacred: a very long history …
The National Tourism Agency and “Tradita.al” have formalized a partnership to promote Albania’s cultural heritage, traditions, handicrafts, gastronomy and authentic products. National Tourism Agency Director General Jola Hysaj and “Tradita.al” founder Edlira Sulaj signed the Memorandum of Cooperation. The agreement marks a new step toward joint initiatives that promote Albanian …