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Albania is officially the country of honor of tourism fair in Berlin

Albania has received an invitation to be the Country of Honor at the Fair Center in Berlin. The news was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama, as he considers this as an extraordinary promotion of the country. Rama has met with the boss of the Berlin Fair Center Mario Tobias …

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The Assembly meets on September 12 for Xhaçka/ The Council of Legislation reviewed the decision of the Constitution

The Council of Legislation has decided that the decision of the Constitutional Court for Olta Xhaçka will be discussed in the session of September 12. “In the session of September 12, the consideration of the constitutional court will also be part of the agenda,” declared Dhurata Çupi. The decision to …

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“Next year we will open the consulate in Durres”, Fajon: Slovenia supporting Albania towards EU

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon, warned in the conference and the joint statement with Minister Hasani in Tirana, that next year, the Slovenian consulate will be opened in Durres. While praising the cooperation between the two countries, Fajon said …

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Man condemned with 25 years in jail for murder dies at hospital

Fotaq Zaharia, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for murder, passed away at QSUT. The 64-year-old man died in the early hours of Monday in the intensive care unit of QSUT, where he was diagnosed with respiratory insufficiency and was being treated since August 16. The convict was …

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Today, the ambassadors’ conference “Tirana Diplo 2024” discusses the challenges of Albanian diplomacy

The Ambassadors and Consuls General of the Republic of Albania are meeting this Monday in Tirana. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, announced the day before that the conference of ambassadors “Tirana Diplo 2024” will focus on the challenges of Albanian diplomacy in the process of integration into the …

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Rama: Albania, historical transformation in the internal and external plan

Prime Minister Edi Rama says that Albania has undergone a historic transformation, both internally with the reforms undertaken, and externally, as he mentioned the image that our country has created in the international arena. In the opening speech at the conference with the country’s ambassadors, Rama said: “We live today …

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“We will host NATO Summit in 2027”, Rama: We will continue to strengthen the trust of our strategic partners

Prime Minister Edi Rama has revealed at the ambassadors’ conference “Tirana Diplo 2024” that Albania will be the host country of the NATO Summit in 2027. He emphasized that once no one believed that our country would make such a big deal, but our relationship with the world has changed. …

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Film “The Life of Sheep”

Director Rajkumar Hirani: Art Against Reality and Strategic Importance by Arben Ramkaj In a world where tensions and conflicts are a constant reality, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands as a country of exceptional strategic importance and an unparalleled contributor to global security and peace. Rich with invaluable natural resources, …

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The head of the CIA in the Balkans—closing the door to the penetration of Russian influence

While primarily preoccupied with finding solutions to the crisis in the Middle East and frequently travelling to the region, CIA chief and ambassador William Burns paid a surprise and unannounced visit to several Balkan capitals and spoke with their leaders. The visit took place this week without public announcements but …

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Albanian Central Bank Printed Money to Finance Hotel Purchase – Draft Report

A damning draft audit into the workings of the Bank of Albania – declared secret but obtained by BIRN – found the central bank printed money to fund the purchase of an iconic Tirana hotel and other expenditures. Original post Here

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Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here

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We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here

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Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 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
Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here

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Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …

News
Week in Review: Plots, Twists and Chaos

Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here

News
Unlikely Friendship: Albanian PM Eyes Potential Gains From Israel Alliance

Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here

News
Elbasan County Council Honors Saudi Ambassador for Humanitarian Contributions

Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …

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Albania’s EU Progress ‘Says More About Brussels Than Tirana’

Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here

News

Hamid’s Story: A Tale of Death and Europe’s Drift Towards Offshore Detention

The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here

News

We Were Always Here: The Balkans Should Honour Its LGBTQ+ Pioneers

Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here

News

Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: February 2, 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

Tunnel Revelation Raises Awkward Questions for Albanian Government

The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here

News

Albania and the Balkans in the Epstein Files

Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …

News

Week in Review: Plots, Twists and Chaos

Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here

News

Unlikely Friendship: Albanian PM Eyes Potential Gains From Israel Alliance

Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here

News

Elbasan County Council Honors Saudi Ambassador for Humanitarian Contributions

Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …

News

Albania’s EU Progress ‘Says More About Brussels Than Tirana’

Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here