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President Begaj’s message 25 years after Recak massacre

President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj commemorated this Monday the massacre of Recak, which happened on January 15, 1999 in Kosovo. Through a post on social networks, Begaj underlined that the memory of the Reçak massacre is a strong motive to protect peace, security, freedom and human dignity from any …

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Newest MP to swear in during plenary session

Plarent Ndreca will be the newest MP in the Parliament of Albania, taking the place of former Vice Prime Minister and Minister Arben Ahmetaj. Head of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi, made the decision to give him the mandate, and then he will be sworn in at the …

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Minister Hasani in regional tour for deepening of COOP

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, will conduct a 3-day regional tour on January 16-18: Kosovo – North Macedonia – Montenegro. Kosovo will be the first stop, where Minister Hasani will be met by homologation Donika Gërvalla, with whom there will also be a press conference, to continue …

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Emigration is top economic risk to Albania, says EBRD head

TIRANA, Jan. 14, 2024 – A potential deepening demographic crisis due to the increased emigration of young people is one of the top economic risks Albania faces, according to the head of the European Bank for Development in Albania EBRD’s Ekaterina Solovova emphasized this week the need for concerted efforts …

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Albania government reshuffle leaves experts puzzled 

TIRANA, Jan. 14, 2024 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has revealed the latest in a series of changes to his cabinet, reshaping two ministries and establishing a new one.  The changes feature the establishment of a ministry dedicated to fighting corruption, and a puzzling merging of the economy and …

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Two youth arrested, another wanted for trafficking drugs from US via post

Two people have been arrested and a third has been declared wanted after it was discovered that they were trafficking cannabis sattiva narcotics from the USA to Albania using the postal service. Police announced that as a result of the operation, 5 kg of cannabis sativa, with a high percentage …

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Elbasan youth arrested after punching, threatening to stab man

A 26-year-old man was arrested after a conflict over trivial motives with a person in the “Haxhias” neighborhood of Elbasan. Police revealed that the young man punched a 63-year-old man and threatened to stab him with a knife. As a result of the quick intervention, carried out as part of …

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Man prosecuted for trying to bribe Kakavija border officer

A 40-year-old man has been criminally prosecuted this Sunday after trying to bribe the border police officer in Kakavija. According to the authorities, he offered a 20 EUR bill to the employee to enter Albania without registering. Criminal proceedings started because the 40-year-old tried to bribe the Kakavije PKK Border …

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Senior citizen dies in Tirana’s criminal court

A citizen lost his life this Friday in the Criminal Court of Tirana. It is learned that the elderly man was in the court premises where he felt bad and passed away. From the preliminary data, there are doubts that he died as a result of a house arrest. After …

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Former minister of Health summoned again by Special Prosecution

Former Minister of Health, Ilir Beqaj, in the investigation for the concession of sterilization of surgical sets, appeared again this Friday morning at 09:00 again to be questioned by the Special Prosecution against Corruption (SPAK). During the summoning to SPAK,. Beqaj was accompanied by his lawyer. Former minister Ilir Beqaj …

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Over 17,000 textbooks for children in the diaspora

TIRANA, August 31 – Albania plans to provide more than 5,700 learning packages for children in the diaspora during the 2026–2027 school year. The packages contain around 17,000 textbooks. They will reach 15 European countries, the United States and Canada. The materials include the joint textbooks “Albanian Language” and “Albanian …

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President Begaj receives new Dutch ambassador, EU integration in focus

TIRANA, August 31 – President Bajram Begaj received the new Dutch ambassador to Albania, Marleen Monster, on Monday. The ambassador presented her credentials during the meeting. Begaj reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to stronger relations with the Netherlands. He described the country as an important European partner and a trusted NATO ally. …

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Finance Minister Malaj: Fight tax evasion with fairness and transparency

TIRANA, August 31 – Finance Minister Petrit Malaj met regional leaders of the tax and customs administrations to discuss priorities for the coming period. The talks also focused on improving services for citizens and businesses. Malaj met the general directors of the Tax Administration and Customs Administration. They discussed efforts …

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Kosova: Acting PM Kurti pledges stronger cooperation with municipalities on minority rights

TIRANA, August 31 – Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called for stronger cooperation between central institutions and municipalities to address the needs of minority communities in Kosova. Kurti made the call at a meeting with heads of municipal offices for communities and return. Kurti said challenges vary among communities …

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High fire risk in Lezha, Tirana and Fier

TIRANA, August 31 – The Institute of GeoSciences has warned of a high fire risk in several Albanian counties this afternoon and on Tuesday, September 1. The institute expects high risk levels in Lezha, Tirana and Fier. Other counties will face moderate risk. Some areas in Shkodra, Kukës, Dibra, Durres, …

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Kosova: Self-Determination Movement and Democratic League agree on presidential candidate

TIRANA, August 31 – The Self-Determination Movement and the Democratic League of Kosova have agreed on professor Bekim Sejdiu as their joint candidate for president. Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti and Democratic League leader Lumir Abdixhiku presented Sejdiu at a joint news conference. Abdixhiku said the negotiations had not been easy. …

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PM Rama: 20 schools in Tirana equipped with smart cameras to strengthen security

TIRANA, August 31 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Monday that 20 schools in Tirana now have smart cameras under the Smart City project. The investment aims to strengthen security in schools. Rama said the government decided to invest in new security technology after a 14-year-old boy was fatally …

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Albania’s Cash Boom Raises Money Laundering Concerns

Cash outside Albania’s banking system reached a record 5.6 billion euros, last month. Tirana Times, August 30, 2026 – The amount of cash circulating outside Albania’s banking system has reached a record high, raising fresh concerns over the scale of the informal economy, the possible presence of illicit money and …

News
Mladić’s Death Exposes the Balkans’ Unfinished Reckoning With War Crimes

Thousands honor the convicted Bosnian Serb commander as reactions from Belgrade to Podgorica and Skopje reveal how deeply the wars of the 1990s still shape the region’s European future. Tirana Times, August 31, 2026 – PALE, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Candles burned and flares lit the Olympic Park as several thousand …

News
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: August 31, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News

Over 17,000 textbooks for children in the diaspora

TIRANA, August 31 – Albania plans to provide more than 5,700 learning packages for children in the diaspora during the 2026–2027 school year. The packages contain around 17,000 textbooks. They will reach 15 European countries, the United States and Canada. The materials include the joint textbooks “Albanian Language” and “Albanian …

News

President Begaj receives new Dutch ambassador, EU integration in focus

TIRANA, August 31 – President Bajram Begaj received the new Dutch ambassador to Albania, Marleen Monster, on Monday. The ambassador presented her credentials during the meeting. Begaj reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to stronger relations with the Netherlands. He described the country as an important European partner and a trusted NATO ally. …

News

Finance Minister Malaj: Fight tax evasion with fairness and transparency

TIRANA, August 31 – Finance Minister Petrit Malaj met regional leaders of the tax and customs administrations to discuss priorities for the coming period. The talks also focused on improving services for citizens and businesses. Malaj met the general directors of the Tax Administration and Customs Administration. They discussed efforts …

News

Kosova: Acting PM Kurti pledges stronger cooperation with municipalities on minority rights

TIRANA, August 31 – Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called for stronger cooperation between central institutions and municipalities to address the needs of minority communities in Kosova. Kurti made the call at a meeting with heads of municipal offices for communities and return. Kurti said challenges vary among communities …

News

High fire risk in Lezha, Tirana and Fier

TIRANA, August 31 – The Institute of GeoSciences has warned of a high fire risk in several Albanian counties this afternoon and on Tuesday, September 1. The institute expects high risk levels in Lezha, Tirana and Fier. Other counties will face moderate risk. Some areas in Shkodra, Kukës, Dibra, Durres, …

News

Kosova: Self-Determination Movement and Democratic League agree on presidential candidate

TIRANA, August 31 – The Self-Determination Movement and the Democratic League of Kosova have agreed on professor Bekim Sejdiu as their joint candidate for president. Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti and Democratic League leader Lumir Abdixhiku presented Sejdiu at a joint news conference. Abdixhiku said the negotiations had not been easy. …

News

PM Rama: 20 schools in Tirana equipped with smart cameras to strengthen security

TIRANA, August 31 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Monday that 20 schools in Tirana now have smart cameras under the Smart City project. The investment aims to strengthen security in schools. Rama said the government decided to invest in new security technology after a 14-year-old boy was fatally …

News

Albania’s Cash Boom Raises Money Laundering Concerns

Cash outside Albania’s banking system reached a record 5.6 billion euros, last month. Tirana Times, August 30, 2026 – The amount of cash circulating outside Albania’s banking system has reached a record high, raising fresh concerns over the scale of the informal economy, the possible presence of illicit money and …

News

Mladić’s Death Exposes the Balkans’ Unfinished Reckoning With War Crimes

Thousands honor the convicted Bosnian Serb commander as reactions from Belgrade to Podgorica and Skopje reveal how deeply the wars of the 1990s still shape the region’s European future. Tirana Times, August 31, 2026 – PALE, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Candles burned and flares lit the Olympic Park as several thousand …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: August 31, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here