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
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
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
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 …
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
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
Letter from Brussels: Is a Hopeful Breeze Blowing Through the EU’s ‘Waiting Room’?
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
Albania’s TikTok Ban Violated Free Expression, Court Rules
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
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 …
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
Prime Minister Edi Rama described May 26 as a historic date, as Albania completed the phase of opening the chapters of its EU accession negotiations and entered the final phase of closing them. Speaking on his podcast “Flasim” (“Let’s Talk”), Rama said that this achievement represents a certification of the …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”cad5cd8e-5b87-40b2-8f87-a6827d2c76d0″ data-turn-id-container=”cad5cd8e-5b87-40b2-8f87-a6827d2c76d0″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-11″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Just 15 kilometers from the city of Pogradec, the village of Peshkëpia is experiencing some of the most difficult years in its history. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-5″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-5″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-12″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Once home to around 800 residents, the …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> “Kosovo is a priority of Albania’s foreign policy,” declared Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, in Pristina alongside his counterpart, Glauk Konjufca. “Kosovo is an absolute priority of our foreign policy. It is a clear and unchanging …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-2″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-6″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, will embark on a diplomatic tour of the six Western Balkan countries ahead of the EU–Western Balkans Summit, where he will hold meetings with regional leaders and co-chair the high-level summit on …
Himara continues to be a favorite destination among foreign tourists. Visitors mainly come from Greece, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, as well as from many other countries around the world as part of their tours across Albania. During their stay in Himara, tourists say they have been captivated by the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the clashes that occurred a day earlier in the Zvërnec area, where residents protesting the construction of a resort were reportedly assaulted by security guards employed by a private company. In a post on X, Rama stated that he would speak the following …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:0981fa6a-3e79-4791-b704-0147d0641e3c-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to hold a key session on June 4 regarding the nomination of retired General Eric Wendt, who has been nominated by the President of the United States to serve as the next …
Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, shared photos and details on Facebook from his meeting this Sunday with Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha. During the meeting, Kurti emphasized that relations between Kosovo and Albania are excellent and that cooperation between the two countries is essential. According to him, coordination …
Minister of Interior Besfort Lamallari has reacted to the clashes that took place a day earlier between local residents and private security guards employed by the company planning to invest in the Zvërnec area. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Lamallari called for those responsible for the violence to face criminal prosecution. …
Edi Rama said on Friday that the Socialist Party remains the only political force with a clear commitment to Albania’s national interest. He made the remarks during an event in Dibër marking the party’s 35th anniversary. Rama said the party made a clear break from the past when it was …