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Works of art traffickers arrested in Fier

Two people were arrested in Fier as part of the police operation coded “Value” this Tuesday. The two people, 51 years old and 57 years old, residents of Fier, in cooperation with other yet unidentified citizens, have trafficked works of art from the Greek state, to sell them in Albania. …

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Killer of Peqin prison, 12 officials to face court after armed murder

Elbasan court has surrounded by numerous police forces this Tuesday morning, about two hours before the hearing on the security measure against Sokol Mjaçaj and 12 Peqin prison employees. According to the sources on the field, Elbasan police officers, the Albanian and Rapid Intervetion Forces teams are guarding the Elbasan …

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Murder in Peqin prison, Sokol Mjacaj before the court: Multiple police forces in the courtroom

The hearing session has begun in the Court of Elbasan against Sokol Mjacaj, who will be recognized with the security measure, after killing Arben Lleshi and injuring Indrit Shaqjan in Peqin prison. Mjacaj arrived at the Court of Elbasan under strict security measures. In the testimony previously given before the …

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“Immunity removal”, Democratic Party submits the draft proposal to the Assembly

Democratic Party has submitted a project proposal to the Assembly, where it requests the removal of the immunity of the deputies. The Secretary for Electoral Reform and the legal representative of Democratic Party, Rezart Kthupi said that the proposal foresees that within five days of the approval, the appropriate procedures …

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Tirana, four call center managers arrested on money laundering charges

Four managers of two call centers in Tirana, where 29 citizens worked, 10 of them unregistered, have been put this Tuesday in handcuffs by the police. During the operation, the officers found and seized 9000 euros, 82 computer units, 23 mobile phones, 1 DVR, 2 USB sticks and 50 cards …

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Kukes area affected by heavy fog, frost

Dense fog and frost have engulfed this Tuesday the national and rural roads of Kukes, which pose a great risk to vehicles.  Reason for this situation is extremely low temperatures and the cessation of snowfall. Even the city of Kukës has been covered by dense fog this morning, creating traffic …

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SPAK prosecutor seeks authorization to arrest former PM Berisha

Prosecutor of SPAK (Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution), Arben Kraja, asked the Council of Immunity and Mandates on Monday for authorization to arrest former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. At the meeting of the Council, Kraja said that there are suspicions about Berisha committing the criminal offense of corruption during the time he …

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Who is man that survived assassination attempt in Shkodra

One person was injured after shooting with firearms in Shkoder this Monday morning. Aleksander Curaj was injured, who is receiving help from the white shirts of Shkodra, while his condition is still unknown. According to the information, the author shot four times at him and left on a bicycle. Meanwhile, …

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Two dead in Arber highway car crash

An accident happened this Monday on Arber’s Highway, where the two people who were traveling in the vehicles passed away. Police revealed that two vehicles collided, as a result of which one of them fell from a height into the abyss. Meanwhile, the investigative group is working to clarify the …

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Shkodra police’s director confirmed in duty by vetting

Edmond Sulaj passed this Monday the vetting process for the position of Director of Shkodra’s Local Police Directorate. Evaluation body chaired by Arben Sefajn, rapporteur Denisa Sina and member Suela Bulkun, after checking the wealth, professional ability and clean image, decided to confirm Sulaj’s position. “We come to the conclusion …

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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

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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 …

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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

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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 …

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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 …