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11 parties registered for August elections in Himara

11 political parties were registered to run for the local elections in Himara, on August 04. The Central Elections Commission (CEC) informed Tuesday that those are: PS, PDK, PR, FRD, PBDNJ, PL, PDK, PD, PAA, PBKD and PBD. Commissioner, Ilirjan Celibashi, said that was registered even the Democratic Party, now …

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The party almost turned into a tragedy, three people hospitalized with gunshot wounds

This Tuesday morning, three people presented with gunshot wounds to a private hospital to receive medical help. According to the police, the three people aged 34 and 36 were celebrating together with other people from their social and family circle, in a bar on Kavaja Street. The police say that …

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SPAK sends the former mayor of Finiq and 4 former officials for trial

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has closed the investigations and charged the former mayor of Finic Municipality, Leonidha Hristo, and 4 other officials of this municipality for abuse of office. It is about Florian Peri, Stavro Cavo, Lefteria Mekshi, Lefter Karajani. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Hristo in cooperation with other …

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In Ancient Warrior’s Footsteps: Albanian Villagers Help Reenact Hero Skanderbeg’s Wedding

Actors and locals in the Zadrima region in northern Albania reenacted the marriage of Albania’s medieval hero, George Kastriot ‘Scanderbeg’, in the grounds of an ancient church, drawing on the colourful traditions of the area. Original post Here

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More than 213,000 Albanians gained EU citizenship in past five years, EU data shows 

TIRANA, July 21, 2024 – People born in Albania are seeking and acquiring citizenships in EU member states at a level that is higher than any other country in the continent, and ranking third globally, data from a series of EU agencies shows.  In 2022 alone, about 50,000 Albanian citizens …

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EU agriculture funds for Albania suspended indefinitely following misuse investigation, ministry tells parliament 

TIRANA, July 21, 2024 – About 112 millions of euros aimed at helping Albanian farmers prepare for being part of the European Union have been suspended indefinitely due to prior misuse of the similar funds by Albanian government agencies, parliament learned this week.   The release of European funds under the …

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Arben Kaçorri, Ervis Martinaj’s brother-in-law arrested in Portugal

Arben Kaçorri, the brother-in-law of Ervis Martinaj, who was missing, is arrested in Lisbon. Portuguese media reports that he had been living for 11 years in a luxury mansion in Lisbon. Sentenced in Italy to almost 22 years in prison for murder, Kaçorri went unnoticed, never stopping his criminal activity. …

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A 45 year old, involved in the microcredit scandal kills himself

A serious event happen this Saturday morning in Tirana, where a 45-year-old man killed himself by jumping from the height of a building under construction. The victim is Olsi Ibro, who was involved in the microcredit scandal. Ibro has owned for a long period of time the company MCDA, which …

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The agreement for the immigrant-voting was reached

The dialogue group meeting for the diaspora vote ends. The representative of Reestablishment, Oerd Bylykbashi, has said that an agreement has been reached regarding the vote of immigrants, as only a few technical details remain. He emphasized that anyone from the Albanian emigrants living outside Albania has the right to …

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Accused for abuse of duty, Court accepts Vangjush Dako request for summary trial

The Special Court has accepted the request for summary judgment for the former mayor of Durres, Vangjush Dako, as well as for Fiqiri Farruk, Fatmir Ejupi and Adrian Bulku. While for Ferzilet Hajderi, Adnand Toccila, Diana Dedja, Bashkim Salillari and Hanza Reka, the request for ordinary trial and for the …

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Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

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, …

News
Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

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

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Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

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 …

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‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

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

News
Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

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

News
Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

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

News
Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

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

News
Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

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 …

News
UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

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

News
Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

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

News

Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

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, …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

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

News

Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

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 …

News

‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

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

News

Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

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

News

Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

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

News

Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

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

News

Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

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 …

News

UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

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

News

Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

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