16 years from the Gerdec tragedy
16 years have passed since the explosion at the ammunition dismantling factory in Gërdec. 26 people lost their lives and 300 others were injured at noon on March 15, 2008, marking one of the worst tragedies in the country’s history. The powerful explosion is still fresh in the memories of …
Police arrested the former head of Albanian Road Authority
The former head of the Albanian Road Authority, Evis Berberi, is arrested by order of SPAK. According to SPAK, Barber is accused of corruption and money laundering. Barber resigned from this post a few days ago for personal reasons. But sources from the Special Prosecutor’s Office affirmed for ABC News …
It is summer day, celebrations nationwide
Albania celebrates Thursday the Summer Day, a “traditional” holiday for the country. In fact, the day supposedly has its origins in ancient pagan rites which were practiced thousands of years ago by the Illyrian tribes living in the western Balkans – and legend has it that these rites have been …
Begaj hosted by his counterpart in Azerbaijan: Energy and tourism are at the top of the agenda
The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj is on an official visit to Azerbaijan where he was received in a meeting by his counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Begaj I shared details of the meeting through a photo published on the X social network while writing: Productive meeting with my dear friend. …
The gun attack in Shkodra/ Balla: I believe in the team leading the investigation
At the end of the government meeting, the Minister of the Interior Taulant Balla responded to the interest of the media regarding the assassination attempt the day before in Shkoder. “In the last 7 months, we have a historic number of identification, finding and extradition of high-risk persons. Last week …
A minor arrested for selling cannabis
A 17-year-old boy was put in handcuffs in implementation of the measures defined in the nationwide operational plan “Tempulli 2”, where the coded police operation “The Supplier” was finalized. The minor, a resident of Durrës, was transporting cannabis seeds for sale. During the physical check and his bag, the Police …
First extradition from Dubai, thief of millions of euro to face justice
First extradition from Dubai to Albania was realized this Wednesday. After long negotiations, today will be extradited to Albania the first prisoner, Bruno Cobo, who was declared wanted by the Special Prosecution against Corruption (SPAK) for theft through fraud. Cobo in collaboration with 16 other persons, stolen nearly millions of …
Gun attack in Shkodra/ Injured witness: We did not see the perpetrators, we have no conflicts with anyone
The testimony of policemen Gjergj Ndershtiqaj and Gjon Nika, who were injured on Tuesday evening in Grudë e Re in Shkodër, is revealed. They stated that they did not see the people who shot at them as soon as they got out of the car and claimed that they had …
“Gerdec case”, the hearing session for Fatmir Meidiu ends
The former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu, refused to answer the questions of SPAK prosecutors in the capacity of the defendant. He made a statement in court, where he said that he would only answer the questions of the lawyers and at that stage, according to him, even the prosecutors …
January 21 to be investigated by SPAK”/ The Supreme Court examines the request of Aleks Nika’s family members
The Supreme Court is expected to consider today the request of the family members for the 4 murders on the boulevard on January 21. More specifically, the panel composed of judges Ilir Panda, Sokol Binaj and Sander Simoni, will consider the request of Aleks Nika’s family members, who request that …
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 …
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
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 …
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
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
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 …
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 …
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
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 …
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 …