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Fier, man arrested for trying to rape woman

A 38-year-old man was put in handcuffs in Patos, Fier, after allegedly trying to have sexual intercourse with a 27-year-old woman. The young man, Viraldo Dervishi, is suspected of having taken the girl in question in the vehicle and taken her to his apartment, against her will, with whom he …

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High influx in Kapshtica as immigrants return for end-of-year holidays

The end-of-year holidays bring many immigrants back to the country. During the last 24 hours, 5518 citizens have entered Kapshtica and 2185 have left. On Saturday, December 23 and the following Sunday, a flow is expected, especially at the border crossing point of Kapshtica.  To cope with the influx, the …

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17-year old detained after stealing several mobile phones

A 17-year-old who stole several mobile phones in a store, wanted after breaking the “house arrest” security measure, has fallen into the hands of the Librazhd police. Also, a 44-year-old man was arrested, who pushed the teenager to commit the theft, keeping the mobile phones at home. Furthermore, the owner …

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New director of Peqin prison appointed after inmate killing

Florenc Doka will be the new director of Peqin prison, who will replace Kamber Hoxha, who was arrested after the murder of Arben Lleshi by Sokol Mjacaj. Appointment of Doka to this post was signed by the Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, yesterday. Kamber Hoxha along with 10 others were …

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Appellate Court rejects the request of Malltezi for returning a mobile phone and some documents

The Court of Special Appeal rejected the request of Jamarber Malltezi, the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, for the return of a seized mobile phone and some documents. “The Court of Appeals today’s session, rejected the request of Jamarber Malltezi’s lawyers who requested the return of a mobile …

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SPAK seeks reincarceration of Berisha’s son-in-law

Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has filed an appeal in the High Court for Jamarber Malltez, requesting his return to prison, as reported Friday. On November 21, the Court of Appeal changed the measure for Malltez from “prison arrest” to “house arrest”. This Friday, the Special Appeal rejected Jamarber Malltez’s request …

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Tirana, construction worker falls to his death

A 38-year-old worker fell from a height this Friday morning while working in a building under construction (Univers City) in Tirana. As a result of injured sustained by the impact with the ground, the worker died. Meanwhile, the investigative team is working to clarify the circumstances of the event. “On …

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Berisha’s arrest, Nikola signs the document and sends it to SPAK

The letter, signed by Lindita Nikolla, was sent to the Special Prosecutor’s Office after the vote on Thursday morning with 75 votes in favor to remove the MP’s immunity and pave the way for his arrest. A day ago, the two reports compiled by the members of the Mandates Council …

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Parliament to vote on lifting Berisha’s immunity as MP

Albanian Parliament is expected to vote this Thursday on the removal of Sali Berisha’s immunity after the Mandates Council approved the request of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) to grant the authorization for the arrest of the former prime minister and the Constitutional Court dismissed the …

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Harsh security measures as opposition to protest against former PM’s arrest

Around 800 officers from the Tirana Police and the National Security Forces (NSF) are committed to maintaining order and security as the opposition protest is expected to be held this Thursday against a harsher security measure on Former Prime Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Local media reported that the measures were …

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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 …