Blog
News

Albania‘s Constitutional Court Temporarily Reinstates Deputy PM Balluku

Court temporarily restores Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku to her duties, after the government disputed a court order that had suspended her. Original post Here

Read More
News

Budget 2026 – Big on Paper, Poor in Reality

By Nikola Kedhi On paper, Albania enters 2026 as a “success story”: the government speaks of GDP growth around 4%, low inflation, public debt at roughly 53% of GDP, and presents the 2026 Budget as a continuation of stability.In reality, Albania is an economy structurally dependent on construction where extraordinarily large …

Read More
News

New Chief Chosen for Albania’s Anti-Corruption Prosecution

Albania‘s High Prosecution Council chooses Klodian Braho as new head of the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime – a body with the tough task of tackling high-level graft. Original post Here

Read More
News

‘The Biggest Fight is With the State,’ Says Albanian Eco-Warrior

Environmentalist Ardian Koci was awarded the 2025 EuroNatur Award for his campaigning conservation work in Albania – but he had already left the country after being fired by the Environment Ministry for speaking his mind. Original post Here

Read More
News

10KSA in Tirana Saudi Embassy promotes a new culture of health awareness

By Tirana Times Tirana Times, December 10,2025. 10KSA arrived in Tirana through a special awareness-raising event organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking the first introduction in Albania of one of the world’s most recognized global initiatives for preventive health and community empowerment. Deputy Ambassador Ahmed …

Read More
News

New Charges: Deputy PM Balluku Between SPAK and the Constitutional Court

SPAK could move toward a harsher measure against the suspended deputy prime minister, including a request for house arrest or detention. Tirana Times – December 9, 2025 The suspension from office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku has pushed Albania into one of the …

Read More
News

Albanian Judges Accuse PM of Pressuring Court Over Suspended Minister

Judges Association claims that Edi Rama’s attacks on court decision to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku over legal allegations are designed to undermine faith in the Albanian judiciary. Original post Here

Read More
News

The Value of the Words of a Few Officials vs. the Actions of many Citizens

By Genc Pollo On the Commissioner’s satisfaction  The statement by Mrs. Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, that the general elections in Albania this May were free and fair, but we welcome suggestions for their improvement” rightly caused surprise, irritation and was condemned by the opposition. Fortunately, on Monday the …

Read More
News

10KSA – Together for Health

Saudi Arabia and the Rise of a New Human-Centered Diplomacy When National Transformation Becomes a Global Movement for Life There are moments when an initiative that begins as a simple community project transforms into a global movement. Moments when awareness campaigns cross the boundaries of public messaging and become part …

Read More
News

Probe Urged of ‘Unjustifiable’ Cost of Italy’s Migrant Camps in Albania

Anti-poverty NGO ActionAid has filed a complaint to the Court of Auditors in Italy over the 133 million euro cost of two migrant detention centres in Albania as part of a controversial asylum offshoring deal between Rome and Tirana. Original post Here

Read More
News
Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

News
Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

News
Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

News
‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

News
Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News
Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

News
Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

News
UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News
Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

News

Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

News

‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

News

Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News

Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

News

UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News

Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here