Kosovo postpones Serbian dinar ban amid international pressure
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, said on Wednesday that a regulation enforcing a euro-only policy for cash payments will enter into force as planned on February 1, while announcing a transition period for local Serbs who still use Serbia’s currency, the dinar. However, Bislimi did not specify how long …
Elbasan prosecution seizes assets of 2 citizens
In Elbasan, assets worth about 550 thousand euros were seized, as part of the coded police operation “Real Estate” and in implementation of the measures defined in the national operational plan “Rule of Law”. It is suspected that these have their source from the criminal activities of 2 citizens, who …
GJKKO postpones session for Berisha
The Special Court did not come out with a decision this Thursday, regarding the complaint of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who requested permission to participate in the sessions in the Assembly. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija reports that the hearing has been postponed and the next one will take …
Albania’s Constitutional Court clears controversial deal with Italy to host third-country migrants in extraterritorial camps
TIRANA, Jan. 29, 2024 – In a tight 5-4 vote, the Albanian Constitutional Court has ruled that a controversial agreement between Albania and Italy on migrants is “in line” with the country’s constitution, greenlighting the ruling majority to approve the government decisions in parliament. The ruling came after a group …
Five arrested for hosting illegal gambling in Tirana
Five people have been handcuffed in Tirana as part of the police operation codenamed “Shady Snake”. They had adapted the premises of some entities for the organization of games of chance, as well as practiced the illegal activity of placing sports bets through mobile phones. During the checks carried out …
Tirana, four arrested in middle-of-drugs-deal sting operation
Four people were arrested in Tirana as part of the police operation coded “Location”, sic anounced Wednesday. Democrat Dylgjeri, 32 years old, Haziz Zylfa, 23 years old, Vladimir Kani, 23 years old, and Hyxhers Mete, 23 years old, were put in handcuffs after being caught in the act. Police revealed …
EUR one million assets of former operational police chief seized by SPAK
Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has seized the property worth about 1 million EUR of the former chief of the Operational Police, Oltion Bistri. From the investigations carried out and the evidence administered from the investigation of this proceeding so far, it has been evidenced that …
Jewelery store robbed in Korca city
A jewellery was robbed in the city of Korça during the early hours of this Wednesday morning. This event happened on the city’s pedestrian street in one of the areas where there are many jewelry stores. According to police sources, it was only a masked person with a hood who …
Four arrested on drug charges in Fier
Four people were arrested by the Fier police after they were caught selling drugs in different neighborhoods of the city. Persons aged 33, 34, 39 and 41 years, were arrested red-handed in the “Apollonia” neighborhood. From the verifications carried out, it was found that these citizens procured the narcotic substance …
Tirana, eight arrested on illegal gambling charges
Eight people were arrested in Tirana as part of the police operation coded “Last bet”. They were put in handcuffs after exercising the illegal activity of placing sports bets, through mobile devices. Arrested are Oligert Rozani, Fatjon Spahiu, Ergys Shollo, Bledar Mici, Alban Balliu, Nexhmedin Tola, Ilion Mile and Olsi …
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
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
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
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
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 …
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
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
Brussels has already gone cold on a scheme to allow some aspirant countries like Albania and Serbia second-tier membership – but that doesn’t mean that other creative approaches to European enlargement are off the table. Original post Here
Journalists’ union welcomes ruling that says government-imposed one-year ban on social media platform was a ‘violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press’. Original post Here
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 …