Council of Europe raises human rights concerns over Italy-Albania agreement on asylum seekers
TIRANA, Nov. 15, 2023 – There are human rights concerns over a recently concluded agreement between Italy and Albania regarding the disembarkation and processing of asylum applications for irregular migrants rescued at sea, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović said this week. Mijatović joined a growing chorus …
Van engulfed by flames in Vlora
A van was engulfed in flames around 01.00 this Wednesday’s midnight in Vlora. Following th incident, police surrounded the area and started verifications to identify the causes. Preliminarily, it is suspected that another vehicle was also damaged by the flames. However, the burning van is owned by a water company. …
New details on human remains found in Saranda revealed
Police of Saranda reacted this Wednesday to the discovery of bone remains, which are in the process of decomposition in the village of Xarrë. Authorities said the remains will be sent for further examination to the Scientific Police Institute to identify who they belong to. “Yesterday evening, in the village …
Kucova’s mayor summoned at SPAK after not declaring sentencing
Mayor of Kuçova, Kreshnik Hajdari, appeared this Wednesday in the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). Before the local elections, Hajdari did not declare in the declaration form the punishment for violating the border in Greece. A day ago, the Central Election Commission (CEC) decided not to remove …
Rrogozhina’s mayor trial on vote-rigging charges postponed
The preliminary hearing for the mayor of Rrogozhina, Edison Memolla, has been postponed. Journalist Ermal Vija told ABC that the reason for the postponement of the session was the absence of the prosecutor of the case, Edvin Kondili. Memolla has been charged with election corruption. Regarding this case, the Special …
Three youths arrested in Tirana for luring foreigners to invest in fictitious stock market
Three young people from Tirana have been arrested this Wednesday after deceiving foreign citizens over the phone to invest in fictitious stock markets. According to preliminary verifications, they were employed in a call center entity in Yzberisht area, and in cooperation with each other called foreign citizens. They introduced themselves …
Elbasan teacher suspended after mistreating autistic 5-year-old
Municipality of Elbasan reacted this Wednesday regarding the case of the 5-year-old boy with autism, after it was reported that he was mistreated by the kindergarten teacher. In the official announcement, it is clarified that the case was referred by the parents on October 26 and immediately on October 27, …
Rama inspected Drilon park in Pogradec
Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected this Tuesday morning the transformation site of Tushemishti Promenade and Drilon Park in Pogradec. During his visit, Rama said that this area will be multiplied to 150 hectares, all in function of the development of tourism. In the meantime, the Park will be accessible in …
Socialist MP summoned by Special Prosecution
MP of the Socialist Party (SP), Agron Çela, went this Tuesday to the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK). It is learned that Çela went also yesterday at the premises of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, but was not questioned. Meanwhile, it is not yet known what the socialist …
Minor bicycle riders crashed by car in Shkodra
An accident resulting in the injury of two minors has occurred in the city of Shkodra. A vehicle, which was driven by a 31-year-old man, hit a bicycle, on which there were two minors. After the accident, the minors were immediately taken to the hospital and are out of danger …
Instead of stimulating investment in agriculture or energy, critics say a 2015 ‘special law’ on strategic investment in Albania has simply made it easier and more profitable for certain privileged businesspeople to build luxury villas on the coast. Original post Here
Halfway into a 12-month ban on TikTok in Albania, anecdotal evidence suggests the prohibition is being widely flouted while the government remains silent on promised filters to weed out ‘undesirable’ content. Original post Here
Our selection of Premium stories this week looks at the challenges facing the region as the summer season winds down and business-as-usual resumes. Original post Here
Court again bans MPs from forming institutions deriving from the February elections while it considers a complaint about the failure to elect a deputy speaker from the Serb community, as guaranteed in the constitution. Original post Here
On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …
When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here
Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …
Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here
Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here
The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here