A 28 year old arrested for smuggling emigrants
A 28-year-old man was caught red-handed transporting some illegal immigrants to Montenegro. The young man was stopped by the border police services, on the road of the village of Vukpalaj, transporting 4 citizens from Afghanistan with the vehicle against payment, with the aim of illegally crossing the border. The vehicle …
Rama: 8.5 million tourists until August visited Albania
About 8.5 million tourists have visited Albania from January to August this year. The figures were published by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who says that these translate into a super promotion for the country. He says that in addition to the increase in the number, the geographical map of where …
Part of a criminal group, GJKKO left in prison former director of Lezha
Special Court has left in prison former police director of Lezha, Henrigert Mitri. He did not agree to give explanations as he is accused of debunking the anti-cannabis operations that were taking place in the Lezha region. There are suspicions that he managed the cultivation of cannabis in Lezha and …
Sali Berisha to remain under house arrest, court rejects his appeal
The Court of Special Appeals has decided to leave in force the “house arrest” security measure for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi. The former prime minister was taken as a co-defendant with Malltezi for the investigation file of the privatization of the former Partizani complex. …
Albania Ruling Party Blocks Review of Ex-Minister’s Immunity from Prosecution
Albanian MPs from the ruling Socialist Party abstained in a parliamentary vote, blocking an attempt to secure a court review of the mandate of ex-Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka, who the opposition accuses of abuse of office. Original post Here
Rama gathers deputies in Elbasan to discuss about anti-corruption, disinformation and EU integration
Socialist Party gathers today for another retreat, this time in the city of Elbasan. Prime Minister Rama has gathered socialist deputies in Elbasan this Friday in an informal meeting where it is expected to discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections, the integration process, anti-corruption and disinformation. The meeting is scheduled to …
School safety/Rama: We aim for “Albania 2030” to be the champion of the region in every aspect
The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, present at the presentation of measures to increase security in schools, said that the government’s vision is to continue with the increase in quality in education, but also in the safety of students and better conditions for teachers. He emphasized that today 240 …
Kingdom: A Visual Exploration of Generational Trauma at Tirana Film Festival
“Kingdom,” an innovative and visually arresting short film directed by Andres Bronimann, has earned a coveted spot among the nominees for the 2024 Tirana International Film Festival. Set to screen on September 27th at 1 PM, this thought-provoking film takes viewers on a philosophical journey, societal conditioning, and the …
Xhaçka’s mandate, socialists prevent the case from being sent to the Constitutional Court
The Assembly failed to collect the necessary votes to send to the Constitutional Court the decision on the incompatibility of the mandate of the socialist deputy Olta Xhaçka. After a marathon session in the Assembly, 65 socialist deputies abstained, 9 spoke against and 25 of the opposition voted in favor. …
Dron inside Peqin prison, were found two phones and drugs
A drone in flight was found inside the Beijing prison. It was the policemen of the outer perimeter who heard the noise of the drone and raised the alarm. After the inspection, two iPhones, 8 chargers, 33 doses of suspected narcotic cocaine, about 210 grams divided into small doses of …
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
Critics accused Edi Rama of overlooking Palestinian suffering during his recent visit to Israel. But both he and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, see advantages in a closer relationship. Original post Here
Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan, …
Albania has opened every negotiation ‘cluster’ as it races along the road to EU accession, but who should get the credit – Edi Rama’s government? Anti-graft prosecutors? Or even Vladimir Putin? Original post Here
Energy suppliers in southeastern Europe are heavily politicized and sometimes nefarious. The US can aid democratic stability through energy engagement. By David J. Kostelancik When Congress passed the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), it sent a clear signal: energy security in Southeastern …
New changes to the Albanian criminal code that only partially abolish defamation as an offence have been criticised by media freedom organisations, citing concerns over freedom of speech. Original post Here