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Albanians celebrates Eid-al-Fitr

Thousands of Albanians celebrated Wednesday Eid-al-Fitr, ending Ramadan. Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by country. Muslims begin Eid day celebrations by partaking in a prayer service that takes place shortly after dawn, followed by …

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The former mayor of Lushnja, Fatos Tushe, appears in SPAK

The former mayor of Lushnja, Fatos Tushe, appeared on Wednesday morning at SPAK, accompanied by a lawyer. Journalist Ermal Vija reports that the prosecutor’s office has launched a property investigation against him. and it’s about hiding an apartment on the coast. Tushe completed his sentence some time ago for abuse …

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Four employees of Korça municipality are suspended from duty

Four employees of the Korçë municipality have been suspended from duty and the personal security measure “Compulsion to appear before the judicial police” was assigned to them. Zhaneta Lubonja, Ermal Germani, Olvas Petro and Soniel Prifti have been investigated by the Korça prosecutor’s office for abuse of duty. According to …

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Cooperation in tourism with Israel/ Kumbaro: Tourism is a bridge between countries,

The 70th meeting of the Commission for Europe of the World Tourism Organization brought to Tirana the Minister of Tourism of Israel, Haim Katz. He had a one-on-one meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, following which a joint statement was signed to increase support and cooperation …

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Case of Gerdec, the next session will be held on April 24

The Special Court decided this Tuesday to administer the record of the testimony of the former chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Luan Hoxha in the trial for Gerdec where Mediu was taken as a defendant. Mediu himself objected, asking for a video testimony with him. Outside …

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Double murder in Lushnja / The Office of the Special Prosecutor requests life imprisonment for Laert Haxhiu

The Special Prosecutor’s Office requests a “life imprisonment” sentence for Laert Haxhiu, who is accused of the double murder in Lushnja. Haxhiu is being tried in absentia for what is known as the Lushnja Massacre that happened in September 2017. Jurgen Hoxha and Zamir Latifi lost their lives in that …

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President Begaj decrees criminal amnesty with 110 votes in favor

The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, has signed the decree for the granting of criminal amnesty. The decree signed by the head of state comes a few days after the criminal amnesty was approved in the Parliament of Albania, with 110 votes in favor. This broad parliamentary vote will …

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Anti-drug raids in 3 countries, trafficked from Germany to Italy

Other details have been revealed regarding the international police operation codenamed “Sammogia”, which spread to Albania, Italy and Germany. Three Albanians were arrested in Vlora, at the expense of the Italian state. ABC News reporter Ervin Leka reports that the criminal organization was run by some Albanians. They received the …

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Tourism Investment Conference/ Kumbaro: 4.2 billion euros in revenue in 2023

It started today, on the second day of the meeting of the Commission for Europe of the World Tourism Organization, the “Conference on Investments in Tourism and the Economic Development of Europe and Albania” with a focus on the promotion of investments and the case of success stories and future …

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“Albania was isolated before”, Rama: Let’s leave the history to future generations

During the speech at the 70th meeting of the Commission for Europe of the World Tourism Organization, Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that Albania was previously isolated and tourists should go to the barber earlier to remove their beards and long hair, in order to were allowed in our country. …

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Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

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Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

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Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

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Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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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Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

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Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

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Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

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The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

News

Albanian Parliament Under Cyberattack Linked to Iran

Tirana Times, March 10, 2026 – A cyberattack targeting Albania’s Parliament has revived one of the country’s most serious national security concerns, underscoring the return of a threat that Albanian institutions have come to associate with Iran linked retaliation. The breach, confirmed by Parliament on Tuesday, involved unauthorized access to …

News

Belinda Balluku: Albanian PM’s Loyal Ally at Centre of Political Firestorm

The criminal charges facing former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku have dominated headlines in Albania for months – prompting her boss, Edi Rama, to pick a fight with the judiciary. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku

Shielding Balluku Could Cost Albania More Than a Court Case. Tirana Times, March 09, 2026 – Albania’s ruling Socialist majority moved Monday to block the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in a decision expected to be ratified by parliament this week and one that is rapidly becoming …

News

Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 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

Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …

News

Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

News

Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

News

The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

News

Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …