Op/Ed: Is the controversial Albania-Italy deal an anti-migration publicity stunt?
By ANDI BALLA The recent Albania-Italy bilateral deal aimed at processing irregular migrants and refugees rescued in the Mediterranean in camps within Albanian territory under Italian extraterritorial jurisdiction has sparked intense debate in both countries and beyond. However, a closer examination of the deal reveals some critical points that call …
EC report on Albania based on EU’s political agenda, economic convergence
European Union Ambassador in Tirana, Luigi Soreca and Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku introduced this Thursday the European Commission Report for Albania 2023. During his speech, Soreca stated that this package of the European Commission Report is based on two very important political developments, such as the expansion of the …
Deputy PM comments migration agreement signed by government
Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has commented on the agreement signed by the Albanian government with the Italian state for the establishment of two camps in Lezhë for housing immigrants. Balluku said that Albanian politicians deal with the skin colour of the immigrants who will be temporarily sheltered in Albania, …
3-year-old hit by teacher, two police officers prosecuted
Two police officers have been criminally prosecuted, who are suspected of not having carried out full investigative actions to bring to justice the persons who violated the 3-year-old girl in the premises of the “Stinët” kindergarten. Deputy commissioner Ylli Cako, with the duty of Chief of the Crime Investigation Section, …
Statement of Albanian’s sister that got shot dead in carpenter’s shop
Desara Myrtaj, sister of the 34-year-old Albanian Klaudio Myrtaj who was shot in the head a few days ago in Cuneo, Italy, has spoken about this serious event. In a statement to the Italian media, the 29-year-old confessed that she talked to her brother every day and that she had …
Forensic report on child that got violated in nursery released
Institute of Forensic Medicine has performed the expert examination for the 3-year-old girl who was raped a few days ago by a teacher in a private kindergarten in Tirana. Examination was carried out on Wednesday, November 8, and on the same day it was sent to the Prosecutor’s Office of …
Young mother kept under police custody after abandoning newborn
A 30-year-old mother who abandoned her child in the basement of a building in the Yzberisht area is being kept under police custody. According to Article 124, “abandonment of minor children”, when the offense has caused serious damage to the child’s health or death, is punishable by imprisonment from three …
Majority votes draft laws amid chaos
Speaker of the Assembly, Lindita Nikolla, started this Thursday the voting of several draft laws and agreements amid the chaos of the session. MP of the Socialist Party (SP), Ermonela Felaj, demanded the overthrow of several draft laws proposed by the opposition. With 75 votes against, all opposition proposals were …
Kukes, man arrested after punching bank director
A 41-year-old man from Kosovo was arrested this Wednesday in Kukës, during the police operation codenamed “Office”. This citizen punched the director of a bank in the city, because of his duty, and then left the bank. After being stopped by the Police, during the control of his vehicle, 16,813 …
Meta summoned by SPAK on CEZ-DIA affair
Chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta appeared this Wednesday at the doors of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime. Asked by journalists what he was summoned, Meta briefly said that he was summoned for a “telenovela that has been tried a couple of times”, referring to …
The Democratic League of Kosovo has filed 17 lawsuits in a fresh legal challenge against the outgoing prime minister, Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, and his ministers. Original post Here
Anonymous social media accounts, a lack of financial transparency and the unethical use of AI could have an impact on voter opinion ahead of Albania’s May 11 parliamentary election, BIRN has found. Original post Here
In an interview with BIRN, Zef Mazi, Albania’s former chief negotiator with the EU, poured cold water on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s election promise of EU accession by 2030. Original post Here
TIRANA, Albania , May 6th (Tirana Times ) — On May 11, Albanians will head to the polls for parliamentary elections marked by a crowded field of contenders: 53 political parties and over 2,000 candidates will vie for 140 seats in the national legislature. While this diversity may signal political …
President Begaj welcomes His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with a solemn ceremony. May 2, 2025 | TIRANA, Albania Tirana Times In a visit marked more by symbolism than substance, Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein arrived in Tirana on Friday for …
Tirana Times | May 2nd | Prishtina, Kosovo — A unique cultural bridge between Kosovo and Saudi Arabia was inaugurated on Thursday with the opening of the “Urat” exhibition in central Prishtina, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich Islamic and cultural heritage. Organized in partnership between the Islamic Community of Kosovo and …
The involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds or ties to the underworld among Albania’s so-called strategic investors must be examined in a broader context. Politically, this phenomenon represents one of the clearest signs of the symbiosis between crime and politics — and of the state being effectively captured by organized …
Press freedom has continued a downward slide in most Balkan countries according to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders – although Albania, Montenegro and Serbia have bucked the trend. Original post Here
Genc Pollo – President of the Paneuropa Albania MovementFormer Minister and MP April 2025 “Whatever the European Court decides—if it says it can’t be done, we won’t do it; if it says it can, we will.” This was, roughly speaking, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s stance in March 2023, expressed at …
An in-depth investigation into the EU-backed trans-Balkan transport project that remains stalled decades after its launch. Over two decades ago, European planners and Balkan leaders laid out the idea off Corridor VIII, a transport route that would traverse and link the difficult-to-navigate terrains of Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Its …