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Man who kept family locked left for 20 days in prison

Tirana Court has ordered a 20-day prison term for 35-year-old Jetnor Zhaboli, who kept his mother, wife and two minor children locked inside their apartment for months. Prosecutor’s office changed its position, where it initially requested the security measure “arrest in prison” and then requested 30 days. His lawyers asked …

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Talat Xhaferi, the first Albanian prime minister of North Macedonia

Talat Xhaferi has been elected prime minister of North Macedonia. Xhaferi is the first Albanian politician to be elected to this post in North Macedonia. 65 MPs voted in favor of the technical government that will be led by Xhaferi. Meanwhile, 3 deputies voted against. Present at the session were …

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President Begaj congratulates famous writer on 88th birthday

President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, congratulated the writer Ismail Kadare on his 88th birthday this Sunday.  Through a post on social networks, Begaj said that Kadare is a strong and beautiful bridge for Albania to the west. “Long life and health to our great writer, Ismail Kadare!   His wonderful …

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Librazhd youth arrested after stealing railroad materials

A 22-year-old man was handcuffed in Librazhd this Sunday, after stealing railway materials in the village of Dragostunje in Librazhd. Law enforcement revealed that his 15-year-old brother was prosecuted at large, while a 50-year-old man was declared wanted in connection with this case. In the meantime, the police have seized …

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Tirana youth arrested with over 60 cannabis doses

A 27-year-old man was arrested on “Mati Logoreci” street of Tirana during police operation coded “Temple 2”.  Verifications found that this citizen provided the narcotic substance in large quantities. After obtaining the cannabis, he divided it into doses, which he sold near the sports field in Lapraka, where are many …

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Tirana prosecution seeks prison for man who kept family locked in apartment

Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana has requested the measure of arrest in prison until the release of the medical-legal expertise to determine the mental state of 35-year-old Jetnor Zhaboli, arrested after keeping his family members locked up in an apartment in Tirana. Session for setting the security measure will be held …

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Electoral review committee held online after tensions

After being blocked from the pulpit, the meeting of the Electoral Reform Commission is taking place online.  The co-chairman of the Electoral Reform Commission, Damian Gjiknuri, said that a broad consultation should be held with all political parties, while he called on the deputies not to obstruct the work but …

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Tirana man arrested for domestic violence

Jetnor Zhaboli, 35 years old, a resident of Tirana, was arrested this Thursday by officers of police station No. 1 in the Albanian capital. According to the police, he kept his mother, wife and minor daughter locked in the apartment, every time he left, preventing communication with other people. Furthermore, …

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Fier, illegal immigrants smuggler arrested

A 31-year-old resident of Fier was arrested by the police after, in cooperation with three other citizens, they were transporting illegal immigrants for money. This action was carried out following the national mega-operation “Rule of Law”, where it was discovered after a hit case on January 4. The 31-year-old man …

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Woman crashed to death by young driver

A fatal accident was registered around 05:40 this Friday morning, on “Azem Hajdari” street, Bathore in Kamez. A 23-year-old man driving a vehicle crashed a 35-year-old woman, who died at the scene. Meanwhile, driver of the vehicle was taken to the police station for further procedural actions. On its part, …

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News
Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News
NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News
Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News
Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News
Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News
Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …