Balla meets the Secretary General of Interpol in France
Interior Minister Taulant Balla held a meeting this Monday with the Secretary General of Interpol, Jürgen Stock in Lyon, France. He declared that the time has come to pave the way for the extradition of crime bosses from Dubai and Latin America. Therefore, Balla emphasized that we must put an …
Rama: About 231.000 students to get free books throughout Albania
Prime Minister Edi Rama has revealed Monday that there are about 231 thousand students from the first to the ninth grade, who will benefit from free books throughout Albania. This support is foreseen in the 2024 budget, after the salary increase for over 14 nurses. “Good morning and with the …
“Temple” operation, 3 arrested in Lezha
The police of Lezha seized 40 kg and 200 grams of cannabis during the coded operation “Tempulli”. It is reported that Ergys Markja, Dorjan Salla and Artur Demiri were arrested after they were caught in the village of Gocaj, transporting the substance in the direction of Tirana, with the aim …
Rama: ‘Folk Fest’ concert part of November festivities
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced this Monday that the “Folk Fest” concert will join the November festivities. In a social media statement, PM Rama emphasized that all Albanians will take the stage with the participation of groups from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Arbëreshët. “111 years of independence. The November holidays …
Albania and Italy seek extradition after Turkish police nab globetrotting drug kingpin
TIRANA, Nov. 11, 2023 – Albanian authorities have announced plans to initiate extradition proceedings to bring home one of the country’s most wanted men and an internationally notorious drug kingpin, Dritan Rexhepi, following his recent arrest by Turkish police in an Istanbul hideout. Albania, where Rexhepi has been convicted of …
Refusing to sign letter on EU talks, Greece escalates standoff with Albania over Beleri case
TIRANA, Nov. 11, 2023 – In a notable diplomatic move, Greece has opted not to sign a joint letter from the 27 European Union member-states urging the start of negotiations for the initial phase of accession chapters with Albania. The decision underscores a substantial escalation of tensions driven by the …
Albanian executed inside vehicle in Ecuador
Arjani Rizaj is an Albanian who was executed on the evening of Thursday, November 9 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Rizaj was shot while inside his vehicle, which was parked near the emergency room of the Luis Vernaza hospital, in the center of the city of Guyaquil in Ecuador, local media reported. …
Online gambling, four arrested in Fier
Four people have fallen into the hands of the Fier police, two others have been criminally prosecuted, while another has been declared wanted for illegal organization of gambling. A 24-year-old man and a 45-year-old man were arrested after the latter organized gambling games in his bar in the “15 Tetori” …
Migration deal, Rama says Albania will refuse requests from other countries
Edi Rama, the head of the Albanian government, has given another interview to the Italian media regarding the agreement for the construction in Albania of two centers for housing migrants rescued at sea by Italian ships. For the prestigious “Corriere della Sera”, Edi Rama said that the agreement with the …
Police vetting process to begin in November
The Police Surveillance Agency will conduct the police vetting process throughout the month of November. It is reported that the sessions will be open to the media and the public. According to AMP, the first two lots have been cast on the division of assessment bodies, the appointment of the …
The suspects are among 33 people accused of involvement in shipping a cargo of dangerous industrial waste from Albania to Thailand. Original post Here
The US president’s son-in-law wants to build a tourism development in southern Albania, but residents of the unspoilt strip around Zvernec say a dispute over ownership of the land is being ignored. Original post Here
Tropojë Mayor Indicted for Illegal Roadworks Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 – In a case related to alleged abuse of office, Albania’s Special Court has sent Tropojë’s mayor Rexhë Byberi and his deputy Abedin Kërrnaja to trial on charges of “abuse of office” related to local infrastructure projects. The officials are …
The Italy-Albania asylum ‘offshoring’ scheme is being studied by other Western European governments wanting to look tough on migration. But the case of Hamid Badoui, who took his own life after being held at an Albanian migrant detention camp, highlights the human cost. Original post Here
Balkan LGBTQ+ people, both in the region and in the diaspora, are often told that their identities are incompatible. It’s time to hear a different story – and learn more about the region’s pioneers. Original post Here
Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026 …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
The Murrizi Tunnel was opened to much fanfare in March last year, not long before a parliamentary election. Now the Albanian Road Authority says it has yet been certified for use. Original post Here
Tirana Times, 01 February 2026 – The release of more than three million pages of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case by the United States Department of Justice has expanded the scope of one of the most disturbing scandals of the past decade far beyond the United States. The …
Expecting the unexpected seems to be the name of the game in both global politics and the domestic politics of the region, as 2026 kicks off with a few unexpected twists. Original post Here