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
Parliament Blocks Arrest Bid for Former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku
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 …
Albanian Ruling Party Refuses to Support Lifting of Former Deputy PM’s Immunity
Ahead of a vote in parliament on Thursday, the ruling Socialists reject a prosecution request to support lifting the immunity of dismissed former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 9, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Do the Balkans really want EU membership?
By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place with respect to the Balkans. I think the two most important are these: The Trump Administration is abandoning state-building and instead wants local people to make the basic …
Marx on the Beach
By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …
Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves
From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here
The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership
by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …
Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection
By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said Albania is exploring new opportunities for cooperation in the film industry with artists and filmmakers from the United States and Canada. Gonxhja and Jonid Jorgji, head of the National Center of Cinematography, met with the group to discuss potential areas of collaboration. …
The streets of Shkodër, along with destinations such as Lake Koman and the Albanian Alps, continue to attract foreign visitors. Many tourists choose to spend several days exploring Albania’s nature and culture. “I come from the United States, and this is my first time in Albania. I really like it …
“Bregu i Lofatave,” an olive grove in Risili, Vlora, produces premium extra virgin olive oil for domestic and international markets. The farm now exports its products to several European countries and the United States. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video of the olive grove on social media. He highlighted …
Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has continued his visit to the United States with a meeting with the Albanian-American community in Texas. The meeting focused on discussions with Albanian-Americans who live and work in the state. Berisha also praised the community for its warm welcome and strong participation. In a …
Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, took part in the “The Balkans Meet in Trieste” conference. The Italian news agency ANSA organized the conference during the 34th General Assembly of the Alliance of Balkan News Agencies – Southeast Europe (ABNA-SE). The event brought together senior representatives from …
Tirana International Airport has made the shortlist for the “Airport of the Year 2026” award. The recognition reflects the airport’s development and ongoing investments in infrastructure and services. According to TIA, several key performance indicators helped secure its place among the finalists. These include operational efficiency, passenger experience, innovation and …
Technology and artificial intelligence are playing a growing role in the relationship between citizens and public administration. Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration discussed the issue while reviewing a bill to ratify the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of …
Shkodra’s Old Bazaar, one of the city’s historic landmarks, will soon return to life through virtual reality (VR). The project will recreate the 19th-century bazaar. In addition, it will create a new tourist attraction for Shkodra. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced the project on Wednesday. According …
The Academy of Sciences today commemorated Zef Krispi, also known as Giuseppe Crispi, on the anniversary of his death. He was a bishop, Hellenist and professor at the University of Palermo, and one of the 19th-century Arbëresh scholars who devoted their work to Albanian language, history and culture. Born in …
The Tirana Mosaic has become one of the capital’s most important tourist attractions. It preserves valuable traces of Albania’s ancient history. After a full restoration and reconstruction, the site now attracts more local and foreign visitors. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the mosaic now connects cultural …