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Balkan Countries Eye Potential Medals at Paris Olympics

As Balkan teams descend on Paris for the 2024 summer Olympics, their countries are pinning their highest hopes of success on those sports in which they have traditionally excelled. Original post Here

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Ongoing heatwave negatively impacting Albania, region

TIRANA, July 24, 2024 – A scorching heatwave has gripped Albania and southern Europe this month, affecting daily life and businesses across the country.  Health concerns for the most vulnerable, a series of wildfires, and slow business in the services sector during the hot daytime hours are some of the …

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Two arrested for sexual abuse with a minor

The police of Maliqi have arrested a 41-year-old and a 26-year-old, as they are accused of sexually abusing a minor for several months. It was the girl who accepted this event near the blue uniforms, after her mother filed a complaint at the police station. The two arrested are in …

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Fight against money laundering/ Balluku: It is important to strengthen the partnership with the private sector

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in the development meeting for the fight against money laundering, emphasized that it is very important to strengthen the partnership with the private sector. He also underlined that it is very important to fulfill obligations and raise standards for the fight against money laundering. “It …

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The Future of Delivery Services: How Wolt is Shaping Consumer Expectations and Behaviors

In a world where service security and speed are increasingly important, Wolt, the Finnish tech company, is at the forefront of transforming the delivery industry. Founded in 2014, Wolt has rapidly expanded to operate in 27 countries, redefining how consumers interact with delivery services and setting new standards in the …

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From Criminal Amnesty to the pension agreement with Italy, Çuçi: We had a fruitful session

Bledi Çuçi, in a media conference, took stock of the work in the Assembly as well as the agreements made by the government. He spoke about the situation in the Assembly, where he said that it is normalized and that there was a fruitful session. Çuçi focused on the Criminal …

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Olta Xhaçka’s mandate / Çuçi: We need a second opinion from the Venice commission

The head of the Socialist Party group, Bledi Çuçi, was asked about the mandate of the socialist deputy Olta Xhçka, where he said that a second opinion from the Venice commission is needed. He further said that the Constitutional Court cannot impose the MP on the basis of the Constitution, …

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11 parties registered for August elections in Himara

11 political parties were registered to run for the local elections in Himara, on August 04. The Central Elections Commission (CEC) informed Tuesday that those are: PS, PDK, PR, FRD, PBDNJ, PL, PDK, PD, PAA, PBKD and PBD. Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, said that was registered even the Democratic Party, now …

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The party almost turned into a tragedy, three people hospitalized with gunshot wounds

This Tuesday morning, three people presented with gunshot wounds to a private hospital to receive medical help. According to the police, the three people aged 34 and 36 were celebrating together with other people from their social and family circle, in a bar on Kavaja Street. The police say that …

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SPAK sends the former mayor of Finiq and 4 former officials for trial

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has closed the investigations and charged the former mayor of Finic Municipality, Leonidha Hristo, and 4 other officials of this municipality for abuse of office. It is about Florian Peri, Stavro Cavo, Lefteria Mekshi, Lefter Karajani. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Hristo in cooperation with other …

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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

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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

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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

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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