Bayraktar” drones will soon be ready 24/7 even for emergencies
After the successful test for night missions, the “Bayraktar” drones will soon switch to monitoring function 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as an important supporting element alongside the local authorities in the battle against fires. Defense Minister Pirro Vengu, accompanied by Air Force Commander Brigadier General Ferdinand …
Socialists take Himara mayor’s seat amid complaints of election irregularities
TIRANA, Aug. 6, 2024 – Vangjel Tavo, the Socialist Party candidate, won the race for mayor of Himara in by-elections held on Sunday, defeating his rival Petraq Gjikuria of the opposition coalition by about 1,500 votes. According to official data from the Central Election Commission, after counting votes from 36 …
Analysis: Himara by-election raises concerns over 2025 national vote, relations with Greece
TIRANA, Aug. 6, 2024 – Vangjel Tavo, the Socialist Party candidate, won the race for mayor of Himara in by-elections held on Sunday, defeating his rival Petraq Gjikuria of the opposition coalition by about 1,500 votes. The results mark a significant shift in support in the municipality favor of Albania’s …
High flow in the port of Durres, in five days has entered 25 thousand passengers
This week has marked a high flow of passengers entering the border point of the Port of Durres. Over 25,000 passengers arriving on the Durres-Bari ferries have entered through this border point. According to the statistics of the Border Police, in the last five days, 1800 vehicles have entered Albania. …
Crime Couriers: How Albanian Gangs Send Their Illegal Profits Back Home
Police investigations reveal that organised crime groups often use ordinary people and passenger transport agencies to smuggle their illegal profits from EU countries and elsewhere back into Albania. Original post Here
Tragedy in Saranda/ Man kills his wife with an ax
A serious incident happened in the early hours of the morning in the village of Shale, Konispol. According to Saranda police, it is suspected that during a conflict for weak motives in the apartment, 69-year-old Hyso Islami allegedly killed his 66-year-old wife Shano Islami with an ax. According to the …
Murder and selling narcotics, a 30 year old man arrested in Tirana
A 30-year-old man was arrested by the Tirana police, after he was wanted for attempted murder, and also had a criminal record and high social risk. At the time of the arrest, the 30-year-old Gabriele Peqini was moving armed and with forged identification tools and was also in possession of …
In Albania’s Himara, Property Rights More Important Than Greek Diplomatic Row
Last year’s mayoral elections in the southern coastal town led to a diplomatic dispute with Greece. Now, after locals elected a new mayor, they want him to get on with solving their problems with property registration. Original post Here
Albania Ruling Party Candidate Wins Himara Local Elections
Candidate of PM Edi Rama’s ruling Socialists wins mayoral election in town whose former mayor-elect’s jailing has caused diplomatic tension betwen Albania and Greece. Original post Here
The elections in Himara, Vangjel Tavo is declared the winner
Central Election Commission has reacted after the completion of the counting of votes for the partial elections for Mayor of Himar Municipality. CEC underlines that the vote counting process was smooth and that everything was monitored by the CEC technical staff. Preliminary results for the 36 voting centers: The candidate …
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