Sydney-Based Lawyer Makes ‘Special Swim’ from Italy to Albania
Long-distance swimmer Eva Buzo tells BIRN her Albanian heritage made the 35-hour swim from Italy to Albania extra special. Original post Here
Chinese citizen arrested in Tirana, for prostitution network
The Tirana police attacked a prostitution ring in Tirana this Thursday. Investigations and verifications revealed the scheme of practicing prostitution in the capital. According to Tirana police, two 52-year-old Chinese citizens and another 38-year-old woman recruited other Chinese and Filipino citizens through social networks and accommodated them in a rented …
Election in Himara/ Votes are not recounted, the documentation of the voters is verified
Although the socialists won Himara with almost 1,500 more votes, the democrats and their allies do not give up and hope to find irregularities, enough to repeat the vote. The Democrats, together with Vangjel Dule, knocked at the CEC with a complaint at the beginning of this month, to declare …
Accused for human trafficking in Kosovo, a 47-year-old arrested
47-year-old Dode Rica was arrested as part of the “Rule of Law” operation. Durres Police announces that the 47-year-old, owner of a nightclub in Pristina, was accused in Kosovo of human trafficking. The Basic Court of Pristina has assigned this citizen the security measure “Arrest in prison”, for the criminal …
A 49-year-old man arrested for trying smuggling oil into Albania
A 49-year-old man was arrested by the police at the border point in Qafë Thane, after trying to smuggle oil into Albania. “Following the intensified work of the Border Police services, during the summer season, with the aim of preventing and combating crimes at the borders, in the Qafë Thane …
Andrew Tate’s Romanian Homes Raided Amid New Allegations
Romanian prosecution and police have launched a fresh investigation into the controversial influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, linked to allegedly human trafficking, sex with minors and money laundering. Original post Here
Shoots fired against police in Shkoder
Firearms are fired at the territory control group of the Shkodër local police. During an action to attack a drug parcel in Repisht of Malësi e Madhe, a person fired a firearm. No wounded officers are reported. Meanwhile, after this event, the special forces of RENEA, FNSH and other Shkodër …
Child trafficking, a man extradited from Greece to Albania
Cooperation between Interpol Tirana and Interpol Athens enables the arrest and extradition of a wanted person from Greece to Albania On 20.08.2024, after an intensive cooperation and exchange of information between Interpol Tirana and Interpol Athens, the arrest and extradition from Greece of citizen Kujtim Demiri was carried out. This …
SPAK closes investigations into the criminal group
SPAK has closed the investigations and sent for trial 23 people accused of cannabis cultivation and criminal group. According to the investigations, the narcotic substance was found planted in the mountainous areas of Shkodra, while another part of it was in the process of drying. In total, it is about …
Digital Rights Review: Crypto Scams and Cyberattacks Cause Disruption and Alarm
Over the past month, fake articles using logos similar to those of legitimate media, including BIRN’s Reporting Democracy site, were used as part of a cryptocurrency scam, while Croatia was subjected to widespread cyberattacks affecting critical infrastructure. Original post Here
TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …
Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here
by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …
In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here
The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here
A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here
TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …
Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here
Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here