National flag at half mast after Greece’s trains’ crash
Albanian national flag in front of Prime Minister’s Office has been lowered at half mast in honor of the victims that passed away due to the trains’ crash in Larissa area of Greece, among whom were also four Albanians. They have been identified as Ifijenia Micka, Pavlin Bozo, Joanis Xholla …
TNT explosion on Vau i Dejes electricity distributor’s premises
A deliberate explosion has been recorded this Sunday morning on the yard of the Electricity Distribution Operator in Albania (OSHEE) offices in the village of Bushat, Vau i Dejës. Due to the blast, two vehicles parked in the yard were damaged, but fortunately there are no reports of casualties. Meanwhile, …
Tirana Court Rules Retrial in Main Opposition Party’s Leadership Battle
Tirana’s Court of Appeals has accepted Enklejd Alibeaj’s request and ruled the retrial in the long leadership battle case within the main opposition Democratic Party. Original post Here
Today, the trial in the Appeal for the stamp of the DP
The Court of Appeal of Tirana is expected to consider today the appeal made by the official DP for the decision of the first instance, which recognized the Assembly of December 11, 2021 and Sali Berisha as the head of this political force. So far, the lawyers representing Enkelejd Alibeaj, …
PM Rama urges SPAK to investigate January 21 file
Prime Minister Edi Rama has called on the new justice bodies, namely the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) to investigate January 21, 2011, where four protesters were killed. Referring to a new audio-tape published in the media, PM Rama says that the justice now must do its …
Discrimination Forces Transgender Albanians to Self-Medicate, or Go Abroad
Because of a lack of legal recognition or adequate healthcare, many transgender Albanians take hormone therapy without medical supervision or seek expensive help abroad. Original post Here
Extradition hearing on russian spy postponed again
Hearing against the Russian citizen, Svetlana Timofoeva, has been postponed again this Friday for procedural reasons, and the next hearing is expected to be held on March 17. Field sources have confirmed that the Russian citizen requests that the request for her extradition be made in Russian. Timofeeva was arrested …
Protest/ Over 1,000 police officers on standby
Over a thousand police officers have been put on standby as the opposition protest is expected to start. Journalist Xhensila Kodra that over a thousand police forces have been put on alert and will be positioned in front of the prime minister’s office and on the boulevard. Since 10 o’clock, …
Man wanted by Spain, arrested in Fier, extradition expected
Gjoleke Pazaj, 67 years old, jas been arrested this Thursday in Fier with the aim of his extradition to Spain, after he was declared an international wanted for drug trafficking, participation in a criminal organization, illegal possession of weapons and theft of electricity. Police announced that the 67-year-old, in collaboration …
Parliament speaker seeks maximum punishment for Kamza killer
Speaker of Parliament, Lindita Nikolla has called this Thursday for the maximum punishment of Dan Hutra who murdered three persons on Wednesday, in Kamza area of Tirana. In her opening speech, Nikolla also invited the lawmakers to hold one minute of silence in honor of the victims. “Yesterday in Kamze, …
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 …
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
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 …