Tirana, man arrested for extorting EUR 70,000 from businessman
A 52-year-old man has been handcuffed this Tuesday by Tirana Police, on the charge of taking large sums of money from businessmen through fraud. Within the coded operation “Architect”, it became possible to arrest 52-year-old Shpëtim Hida, who was caught in the act of deceiving a businessman to extort him …
Assault rifles found in Vau i Dejës’ house
Police officers located and seized this Tuesday inside a house in Vau i Dejës two firearms, which are suspected to have been used in criminal events. Law enforcement said that the weapons were found hidden in an apartment, which was used by a citizen with the initials P.GJ., who was …
Veliaj wins 3rd mandate as Tirana’s mayor by huge difference
Erion Veliaj has won a third mandate as Mayor of the Albanian capital, Tirana in the local elections of 14 May 2023. Veliaj has deeply defeated his opponent of the “Together We Win” coalition, Belind Kelliçi, with a difference of 60 thousand votes. From the official data of the Central …
Teen stabbed in Kamza school knife fight
A 15-year-old has been stabbed this Tuesday noon in the outer premises of a school in Kamza area of Tirana. According to the police, the incident took place outside the “Ahmet Zogu” school. During the physical clash, citizen K. Gj., 18 years old, stabbed a 15-year-old with a cutting tool. …
Analysis: With low turnout, local elections give insights into grim demographic forecasts
Migration and demographics playing increasing role in Albanian elections TIRANA, May 16, 2023 – Albania’s latest administrative elections marked the lowest turnout ever for a competitive voting process in post-communism, with only about one in three eligible voters casting votes. The number of people who had the right to vote …
Elections/ Celibashi: According to the law, the result will be announced today at 22:00
If everything will goes well and the law will be respected, today at 22:00 we will have the result for the local elections for mayors. The statement comes from the head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, at the first press conference today. ” According to the law, by 10:00 p.m. …
For Tourism-Dependent Balkan States, Foreign Workers Fill Growing Gap
Tourism is a mainstay of the Croatian, Montenegrin and Albanian economies. But growing labour shortages mean hotels, restaurants and bars are increasingly looking abroad for staff. Original post Here
Share Your Experience: School Violence in South Eastern Europe
We would like to hear from parents, legal guardians, and teachers willing to share their experiences to help our upcoming investigation into school violence in Southeast Europe. Original post Here
Ruling Socialists Defeat Divided Opposition in Albanian Local Polls
Preliminary data from Albania’s Central Election Commission shows that the ruling Socialist Party is leading in the majority of municipalities in the country, including the capital Tirana. Original post Here
Opposition candidate wins Puka Municipality
Candidate of “Together We Win” coalition, Rrok Dodaj has won this Monday the May 14 local elections for Puka Municipality with 58.13%, against the Socialist Party’s (SP) candidate, Gjon Gjonaj with 41.87% Based on the published data, hope of the “Together We Win” coalition candidates to hold another term in …
During last week’s visit to Israel, Albania’s Prime Minister used a private jet once owned by Sam Bankman Fried, now-jailed owner of crypto exchange FTX – but it’s unclear who footed the bill. Original post Here
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 …