A 41 year old arrested in Italy for prostitution
A 41-year-old convicted in Italy for exploitation of prostitution was arrested in Rinas. According to the police, the 41-year-old, with several identities, was part of a criminal group that used foreign nationals for prostitution during the period 2008-2012 in Milan. He was sentenced to four years in prison in Italy …
EU committee urges Albanian parliament to give opposition denied oversight rights
TIRANA, Jan. 24, 2024 – The latest meeting of the EU-Albania Association Stabilization Parliamentary Committee has convened at the European Parliament, urging the ruling majority in the Albanian parliament to give back to the opposition rights that bolster parliamentary oversight through investigative commissions and other measures, aiming to enhance institutional …
Becchetti gets paid as Albanian taxpayers bail out air traffic control company whose foreign accounts were seized by Belgian court
TIRANA, Jan. 24, 2023 – The Albanian government has had to pump millions of euros to keep afloat Albcontrol, the state-owned company responsible for air navigation services in Albanian airspace, as its foreign accounts have been frozen by the order of Brussels First Instance Court to pay a controversial Italian …
Ryanair unveils expansion plans and new routes from Tirana International Airport
TIRANA, Jan. 24, 2024 – Europe’s largest airline, low-cost Irish carrier Ryanair, is doubling down in Albania with six new direct destinations to complement its existing 16 and the announcing of plans to open a base in Tirana as early as next year. Ryanair is set to introduce several new …
Gerdeci file, former Minister of Defense appears in Special Court
Former Minister of Defense Fatmir Mediu appeared this Wednesday in the Special Court, where the next court session for the “Gërdec” case will take place. In the session held on January 10, 2024, Ylli Pinari, former director of the state enterprise in the Ministry of Defense, MEICO, testified against the …
Session on security of Berisha’s house arrest held
This Wednesday, the court hearing in the Special Appeal for the appeal of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha will take place. The lawyers of the former prime minister, as can be seen from the footage, have arrived at Apel. The former prime minister, who has been under “house arrest” since …
Rama: 2024 proclaimed as year of Albanian language
2024 has been declared as the year of Albanian language, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced Wednesday. In a post on his personal Facebook page, PM Rama published a video by the Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu. “On the International Day of Education, we announce the year 2024, the …
Prostitution network dismantled in Tirana and Kruja, three Arrested
Three people have fallen into the handcuffs of the police and another has been declared wanted this Wednesday, because they are accused of exploiting three minor girls for prostitution. Samuel Doku, Kastriot Kullaj and Fabjon Cangu were arrested. From the investigative actions carried out, it was found that the 3 …
Italian Parliament approves the Rama-Meloni agreement for immigrants
The Chamber of Deputies approved with 155 votes in favor and 115 against (2 abstentions) the draft law for the ratification of the Italy-Albania agreement on immigrants, “for strengthening cooperation in migration issues”. The agreement enters into force on the date agreed between the parties and remains in force for …
Former PM Berisha summoned by SPAK for partizani issue
Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has summoned former Prime Minister Sali Berisha this Tuesday to interrogate him regarding the privatization of the former “Partizani” sports complex. Session for the “Partizani” affair is expected to take place at 10:00, while it is not known whether Berisha himself will go personally or send …
SPAK could move toward a harsher measure against the suspended deputy prime minister, including a request for house arrest or detention. Tirana Times – December 9, 2025 The suspension from office of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku has pushed Albania into one of the …
Judges Association claims that Edi Rama’s attacks on court decision to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku over legal allegations are designed to undermine faith in the Albanian judiciary. Original post Here
By Genc Pollo On the Commissioner’s satisfaction The statement by Mrs. Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, that the general elections in Albania this May were free and fair, but we welcome suggestions for their improvement” rightly caused surprise, irritation and was condemned by the opposition. Fortunately, on Monday the …
Saudi Arabia and the Rise of a New Human-Centered Diplomacy When National Transformation Becomes a Global Movement for Life There are moments when an initiative that begins as a simple community project transforms into a global movement. Moments when awareness campaigns cross the boundaries of public messaging and become part …
Anti-poverty NGO ActionAid has filed a complaint to the Court of Auditors in Italy over the 133 million euro cost of two migrant detention centres in Albania as part of a controversial asylum offshoring deal between Rome and Tirana. Original post Here
By Tirana Times Staff Tirana, 3 December 2025 — The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Albania today organized in Tirana the central event marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a broad awareness-raising activity that brought together around 250 children with disabilities from several cities across …
In the second of BIRN’s series about women’s wartime activism, Midheta Kaloper explains how she survived sexual violence during the Bosnian war and now helps other survivors to fight for their rights – and bring the perpetrators to justice. Original post Here
By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …
As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here
Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here