Rama: There is an organized attack to damage Albanian tourism
Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that there is an organized attack to harm Albanian tourism, as many fake profiles have been opened that are used to the detriment of tourism. He emphasized that our security systems have turned on the red light for this, and this is one side …
‘January 21’ investigations/ SPAK calls on Monday to testify the family members of Aleks Nika
SPAK will summon Rajmonda Nika, the wife of Aleks Nika, on Monday at 10:00 a.m. as a witness for the January 21 murders. On the same day at 12:00, Mark Nika, Alex Nika’s uncle, was also called. SPAK officially announced on Tuesday that it has registered the investigations for January 21, …
Rama meeting with the mayors
Prime Minister Edi Rama gathers the mayors of the country’s municipalities in the morning of this Wednesday. It is learned that the meeting is expected to be held at 10:00. According to ABC News sources, the focus of the discussions will be the issue of properties, legalizations and the next …
Declared internationally wanted, two Albanians are arrested in Spain and Italy
Two Albanians, declared internationally wanted, have been arrested in Spain and Italy. In Spain, a 29-year-old man was arrested as part of the police operation, “The Zone”. For this citizen, the Court of Shkodra has assigned the security measure “Arrest in prison”, for the criminal offenses “Cultivation of narcotic plants” …
“Gerdeci”/ The hearing session for the former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu is postponed again
The hearing for the former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu, regarding the “Gërdeci” case has been postponed. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija reports that the reason for the postponement of the session was the absence of one of the experts. Mediu did not appear at the session either, but through …
Two engineers arrested after 2 people were injured during work
Two people, 26 and 39 years old, have been arrested by the Tirana police for the criminal offense “Violation of the rules of protection at work”. According to the police, their arrest comes after two workers fell from a height on Monday in Kamez, in an object being built by …
Arrested by SPAK, Erzen Brecani under house arrest
The security measure for Erzen Breçani has changed. This Tuesday, the Appeal of the Special Court decided that Brecani should be released from the cell and imposed the security measure of “house arrest” on him. “Brecani is suspected to have been aware of the criminal activity. The measure “arrest in …
SPAK starts investigations for “January 21”
SPAK has officially launched the investigation into the January 21 murders. The Special Prosecutor’s Office announces that the proceedings have been registered for the criminal offenses “Murder in other qualifying circumstances”, “Abuse of duty”, and “Performing actions that prevent the discovery of the truth”, carried out in cooperation. In the …
Leapfrogging Gas, Western Balkans Can Get Cleaner Air and Save Billions
With significant potential for green energy and limited gas infrastructure, the countries of the Western Balkans have a golden opportunity to skip gas as a transition fuel, savings billions of euros on the way. Original post Here
Albania’s Authorities Allow Jailed Politician Beleri to be Sworn in as MEP
Authorities in Tirana allowed jailed ethnic Greek mayor-elect of Himara, Fredi Beleri, to go to Strasbourg to be sworn in after he won a seat in the European Parliament on behalf of Greece’s ruling party. Original post Here
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, …
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