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Rama wishes the 16th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence

Prime Minister Edi Rama congratulated the 16th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence. In a post on Facebook, next to a photo with the image of Ibrahim Rugova in the background, Rama writes: “Happy Independence Kosovo”. Earlier, President Begaj and Foreign Minister Igli Hasani conveyed messages on this important day for Albanians. …

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Ruben Saraiva denies the murder of Nikulaj: I was a tourist in Albania

Journalist Gjergj Figuri has given more details about what Ruben Saraiva testified before Portuguese prosecutors, arrested for the murder of businessman Ardian Nikulaj in Shengjin in April of last year. He refused to cooperate with justice and denied being involved in the incident. “We expected the decision of Sarajevo because …

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Kosovo celebrates 16 years of independence

Today, Kosovo celebrates the 16th anniversary of Independence. On February 17, 2008, in an extraordinary meeting attended by 109 deputies, the Assembly declared Kosovo an independent, sovereign and democratic state. The state flag of Kosovo was unfurled on the day of the declaration of independence in the solemn session of …

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Peleshi at the meeting of the ministers of NATO countries: Determined to fulfill the obligations to the Alliance

The Minister of Defense, Niko Peleshi, participated in the two-day meeting of the Ministers of Defense of the NATO countries, which was held in Brussels. During his speech, Peleshi emphasized Albania’s determination to fulfill its obligations towards the Alliance. One of these obligations is the increase in the level of …

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New justice institutions to courageously take on impunity

The US Embassy to Tirana unveiled parts of the meeting that the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken had during his visit to Albania with justice leaders. “Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the United States’ enduring commitment to Albania’s justice reform during a meeting with justice leaders yesterday. Though …

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A 22 year-old stabbed in Shkodra

A 22-year-old Armandio Gjoka was stabbed with a knife by another person, after a fight for weak motives. It is learned that the injury occurred in the “Skenderbeg” neighborhood. The police have identified the perpetrator, who is been declared wanted. Meanwhile, the young boy is out of danger. /abcnews.al   …

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Over 1000 police officers on alert during Blinken’s Vvsit to Tirana

The Albanian State Police took security measures ahead of the official visit of the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Tirana on Thursday. Around 1500 police officers will be on terrain during Blinken’s visit. 400 of them will be by the Guards of Republic while the others from the …

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Rama: EU more aware of the importance of the Western Balkans

Prime Minister Edi Rama declared from Brussels that the European Union is more aware of the importance of the Western Balkans. In a joint media conference, with Oliver Ropke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Vera Jourova, Delegated Vice-President of the European Commission of Values ​​and Transparency …

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The gambling bill is approved with 72 votes in favor

The gambling bill was approved this Thursday in the plenary session in the Assembly with 72 votes in favor and two abstentions. The MPs who abstained were Erion Braçe and Fatmir Xhafaj. Lulzim Basha was also present in the meeting with the group of deputies who support him. /abcnews.al […] …

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US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrives in Tirana

The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has arrived in Tirana. The plane in which Blinken was traveling landed at the “Mother Teresa” airport at around 11:12. Blinken was hosted at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani. As part of this visit, measures have also been …

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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 …