Dibra stricken by heavy snowfall, drivers urged to use tire chains
Snowfall has covered Dibra since the early hours of Saturday morning. Thickness of the snow in the city of Peshkopia and Bulqiza reaches 10 cm, while in the mountainous areas the thickness is greater, ranging from 15-20 cm. Peshkopi-Tirana road is passable after the snow removal vehicles have passed and …
Man steals ALL 5000 off Fier shop after breaking glasses
An unidentified person committed a theft in a grocery store in Fier, during the very early hours of this Saturday morning. Incident took place while it was still dark, in the “Apollonia” neighborhood, where the perpetrator broke the windows of the shop and took 5,000 ALL. On its part, the …
Two apartments burned in Memaliaj building, residents evacuated
A 2-story building was engulfed in flames on “Ali Pashë Tepelena” street in Memaliaj, in the early hours of this Saturday morning. From the fire on the second floor, 3 apartments were completely burned, while 3 other apartments were partially affected by the flames. Intervention of the fire brigade made …
Rama: East bus terminal in Tirana fully functional
Prime Minister Edi Rama and Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj have published this Friday morning the images from the East Bus Terminal in the capital, which is already in full operation. Students and citizens, who travel from the east to Tirana and vice versa, will not wait for hours to …
Criminal event prevented in Tirana, explosives seized
Tirana Police have prevented this Friday a criminal event that would have been carried out with a remote-controlled explosion of explosives. During police operation coded “Brothers”, 20-year-old Jesar Shabaj was arrested and his brother, 23-year-old Jaser Shabaj, is wanted. During the investigative actions, 2 remote-controlled mines with C4 explosives weighing …
Berisha’s request to participate in plenary sessions rejected
Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has rejected the request of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha to participate in the plenary sessions in the Assembly, in the capacity of a deputy. After becoming familiar with the content of this request, the prosecutors have decided not to accept it. Berisha’s lawyers argued that …
Alibeaj: I am the only representative of the Democratic Party
The co-chairman of the Electoral Reform Commission, Enkelejd Alibeaj, has stated that he is open for proposals from all opposition parties for the Electoral Commission. He emphasized that he is only a representative of the Democratic Party and not of the interests of the opposition in the parliament. “I will …
Opposition MPs blocked electoral commission
MPs of the opposition decided this Friday to block the meeting of the special Electoral Reform Commission. They were located inside the hall where the meeting of the Electoral Reform Commission was to be held. On his part, the head of the DP group, Gazmend Bardhi, has gathered since 10:00 …
Begaj decrees the law on investigative commissions
President Bajram Begaj has decreed the law on Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry. The law was approved with 75 votes in favor in the last parliamentary session in December. In the decree published this Thursday, the reasons that led the head of state to the approval of this law are also …
Albania’s parliament in deadlock as opposition disrupts proceedings over investigative commissions, electoral reform
TIRANA, Jan. 19, 2024 – Albania’s parliament has started the new year in deadlock with now familiar scenes of opposition MPs disrupting proceedings in protest of what they say are “anti-democratic maneuvers” by Prime Minister Edi Rama to exclude the largest opposition group from investigative committees and a key electoral …
Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – The United States has moved to dismantle a cyber network linked to Iran’s intelligence apparatus, seizing four domains used for hacking operations, disinformation campaigns and threats, in a case that places Albania at the center of a broader geopolitical confrontation. The U.S. Department of …
Parliament’s decision to label Tehran a state sponsor of terrorism formalizes a break years in the making and reflects a broad Albanian consensus that Iran has become a direct security threat Tirana Times, March 18, 2026 – Albania has taken one of its toughest political steps yet against Iran, with …
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, …
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
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 …
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 …