Stability Has a Schedule: What NATO’s Hague Pledge Means for the Western Balkans
In late August 2022, Montenegro’s government digital infrastructure was hit by what officials called an “unprecedented” cyberattack. The disruption was serious enough that parts of the public sector had to fall back on manual workarounds while authorities tried to isolate affected systems. In a region where state capacity is often …
Albania in 2025: Socialists Win Big, Graft Probes Continue
Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a historic fourth term in office and consolidated his rule against a background of ongoing corruption investigations into several politicians from the governing Socialist Party. Original post Here
Kremlin Echoes in Balkan Clickbait: How Fake Baba Vanga Prophecies Spread Across Albanian Media
TIRANA, Tirana Times, December 16, 2025. Each December, apocalyptic headlines resurface across Albanian media warning of global collapse, Europe’s disappearance or the rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a world ruler, all attributed to the supposed prophecies of Baba Vanga, a blind Bulgarian mystic who died nearly three decades ago. …
Serbia Loses Kushner Investment, Vučić Points to Albania
Albania’s Sazan Island project backed by Trump’s son-in-law draws scrutiny over transparency and political motives BELGRADE, Serbia, Tirana Times – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia has suffered a major economic setback after a company owned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, withdrew from a planned Trump-branded …
Bringing Albania into History: Bernd J. Fischer and World War II
By Ilir Ikonomi One of the most important modern works ever written about Albania’s experience in the Second World War—Bernd Jürgen Fischer’s Albania at War, 1939–1945. This is not just a history book. It is an act of historical rescue. Fischer lifts Albania from the shadows of European historiography and places …
AKSHI Director Arrested in Major Corruption Probe
Case Involving Critical State Infrastructure Adds to Albania’s Growing High Level Corruption Crisis Tirana Times – December 16, 2025 Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure, SPAK, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation, BKH, has carried out a large-scale operation targeting an alleged criminal network operating at the highest levels of the …
Albanian Prosecution Urges Parliament to Allow Deputy PM’s Arrest
Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime asks parliament to lift the immunity from arrest of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. Original post Here
Eight Accused in Albania of Rigging Information Agency Tenders
Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime raids a suspected crime group based at the National Information Agency, accused of running scheme to manipulate tenders. Original post Here
Deputy PM Balluku Arrest Bid Shakes Albania’s Rule of Law
Will Parliament Lift the Deputy Prime Minister’s Immunity? Tirana Times, December 16th , 2025.Albania has entered one of the most serious institutional confrontations since the launch of its justice reform, as the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) formally requested parliamentary authorization to arrest Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and …
Endrit Shabani Elected as Albania’s Ombudsman in Contested Process
New Ombudsman elected solely with the votes of the ruling majority – a break in tradition – after opposition MPS refused to participate in the vote. Original post Here
TIRANA, September 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that “Prania Besnike” (Committed Presence) will take place every Friday at 17:00 across Albania. He said the initiative aims to make listening to citizens a condition and responding to their concerns an institutional duty. Speaking to the Socialist Party parliamentary group …
TIRANA, September 3 – Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro announced the start of textbook distribution for the new school year. For the first time, all primary school students from first to fifth grade will receive new textbooks free of charge. Kumbaro said the measure would ease the financial burden on families. …
Gjirokastër has places that history preserves. People also keep them alive through memory. Near the famous plane tree in the city’s Bazaar, the Hunters’ Club became a well-known part of local life after 1947. The building had once housed the Prefecture café. Later, the hunters’ association moved its offices there. …
“Daily Express”: British travel expert chooses Albania for an autumn getaway: “Absolutely wonderful”
Albania is quickly emerging as a top destination for autumn holidays. The country offers beaches, history, hospitality and affordable prices. British travel expert Simon Calder has highlighted Albania for its natural beauty, reasonable prices and the warm hospitality of its people. He described the country as “absolutely wonderful.” Calder selected …
TIRANA, September 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s latest public administration survey had identified challenges in employee performance. He highlighted the lack of measures for poor performance as an important issue, alongside salaries. At the same time, Rama praised the administration’s work during Albania’s European Union accession negotiations. …
TIRANA, September 3 – The National Theatre closed its 2025-2026 artistic season with 95 performances, more than 20,000 tickets sold and revenues exceeding ALL 10 million, according to Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja. The season ran from September 2025 to May 2026 and featured a diverse repertoire of …
TIRANA, September 3 – The Agency for Media and Information announced Klodiana Spahiu’s proposed appointment as Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Spahiu graduated from the University of Tirana’s Faculty of Medicine in 1997 with a degree in General Medicine. From 1998 to 2002, she specialised in cardiology at the …
TIRANA, September 3 – President Bajram Begaj received Switzerland’s new ambassador to Albania, Siri Walt, who presented her credentials. Begaj expressed confidence that her mandate would further strengthen bilateral relations. The meeting covered cooperation in governance, economic development, education, healthcare, local government and environmental protection. Begaj thanked Switzerland for its …
TIRANA, September 3 – EU ambassador in Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa held her first meeting with ambassadors of EU member states in Albania under the joint “Team Europe” approach. The EU Delegation said Moreira de Sousa presented her vision for supporting Albania’s reforms during the crucial stage of accession …
TIRANA, September 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government is developing a “digital radar” as part of a new digital system to identify trends and signals in the public-interest sphere. Speaking to the Socialist Party parliamentary group and the government cabinet, Rama said the radar would monitor developments …