RENEA’s action to arrest Eljon Hatos fails
ENEA forces and those of the police of Shkodra have carried out a surprise control in a residence in the village of Grudë in Shkodra in search of Eljon Hato, declared wanted for the “Metamorfoza” file, also known as a friend of Ervis Martinaj. Controls were carried out in his …
Minister for public administration and anticorruption decreed
President Bajram Begaj has decreed the appointment of Adea Pirden as the head of the Ministry of State for Public Administration and Anticorruption. This decision has come few days after Prime Minister Edi Rama proposed the approval of the new member of the government cabinet to head this newly created …
Three cars collide in Fushe-Preze, one dead and three seriously injured
A fatal accident occurred on Monday morning at the turn of Rinas in the direction of Fushë-Kruja. The police announce that a “Benz” type vehicle, a “Skoda” and a “Volvo” truck collided with each other, as a result of which one person lost his life and three others were seriously …
President Begaj’s message 25 years after Recak massacre
President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj commemorated this Monday the massacre of Recak, which happened on January 15, 1999 in Kosovo. Through a post on social networks, Begaj underlined that the memory of the Reçak massacre is a strong motive to protect peace, security, freedom and human dignity from any …
Newest MP to swear in during plenary session
Plarent Ndreca will be the newest MP in the Parliament of Albania, taking the place of former Vice Prime Minister and Minister Arben Ahmetaj. Head of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi, made the decision to give him the mandate, and then he will be sworn in at the …
Minister Hasani in regional tour for deepening of COOP
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, will conduct a 3-day regional tour on January 16-18: Kosovo – North Macedonia – Montenegro. Kosovo will be the first stop, where Minister Hasani will be met by homologation Donika Gërvalla, with whom there will also be a press conference, to continue …
Emigration is top economic risk to Albania, says EBRD head
TIRANA, Jan. 14, 2024 – A potential deepening demographic crisis due to the increased emigration of young people is one of the top economic risks Albania faces, according to the head of the European Bank for Development in Albania EBRD’s Ekaterina Solovova emphasized this week the need for concerted efforts …
Albania government reshuffle leaves experts puzzled
TIRANA, Jan. 14, 2024 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has revealed the latest in a series of changes to his cabinet, reshaping two ministries and establishing a new one. The changes feature the establishment of a ministry dedicated to fighting corruption, and a puzzling merging of the economy and …
Two youth arrested, another wanted for trafficking drugs from US via post
Two people have been arrested and a third has been declared wanted after it was discovered that they were trafficking cannabis sattiva narcotics from the USA to Albania using the postal service. Police announced that as a result of the operation, 5 kg of cannabis sativa, with a high percentage …
Elbasan youth arrested after punching, threatening to stab man
A 26-year-old man was arrested after a conflict over trivial motives with a person in the “Haxhias” neighborhood of Elbasan. Police revealed that the young man punched a 63-year-old man and threatened to stab him with a knife. As a result of the quick intervention, carried out as part of …
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 …
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