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Teen busted for possession of cannabis seeds by Shkodra police

An 18-year-old was handcuffed this Tuesday in the Selcë village of Malësi e Madhe, in the framework of police mega-operation coded “Tempulli”. During the physical check carried out by the police services, a bag with 156 cannabis seeds was found on the young man, which he was going to sell. …

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Today the next hearing session for Fredi Beleri

This Tuesday at 15:00 the trial for the elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, will take place. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija reports that the last session was accompanied by debates. The witness Abdyl Rama, the brother of the associate of justice Arsen Rama did not appear at the session. …

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Renown Albanian Actor dies at 75

Famous Albanian actor, Mirush Kabashi has passed away at the age of 75, as announced this Tuesday. This news was made known by his family members through an announcement, saying that he died after midnight. However, cause of the known actor’s passing is not yet known. “Dear Friends, Colleagues and …

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Lezha prison inmate chocked to death by food

Inmate Gëzim Petriti, convicted for the criminal offense of “Attempted murder”, died this MOnday in Lezha prison, after his breathing was blocked while eating. Following the incident, Petriti was immediately given first aid by the doctor on duty, who found signs of life. Immediately, you were sent by ambulance to …

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Lot for JAC’s 2024 members casted, results unveiled

Lot was cast this Monday for the election of new members of the Judicial Appointments Council (JAC) for 2024. Lot was cast in the premises of the Presidency, from where Sokol Ngresi was chosen as the winner, while Dariel Sina will be the substitute. So far, Elsa Toska has been …

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Begaj’s message on 111th Anniversary of Armed Forces’ creation

President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj congratulated this Monday the Armed Forces of Albania on the 111th anniversary of its establishment. In a special message on social networks, President Begaj states that the Armed Forces are a national pride that have successfully managed to hold up the flag and the …

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One injured as bus collides with car in Fier

An accident happened on Monday morning at the exit of the city of Fier, where a bus of the Fier-Marinze line collided with a “Benz” and ended up in the yard of an apartment. As a result of the collision, there were material damages, while as a result of the …

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Former PM didn’t appear at SPAK for third time

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha violated the court’s decision for the third time this Monday, as he would have to appear this Monday in front of the SPAK for the security measure ‘obligation to appear’ and prohibition to go abroad as part of the investigations into the issue of Partizani …

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Opposition MPs throw smoke, burn papers in parliament hall

The opposition MPs who support Sali Berisha have again created tensions in the Assembly, with “smoke and flames” in the Assembly. Despite the controls by the Guard of the Republic, they have managed to introduce flares into the plenary session. Flamur Noka was expelled from the session, but he lit …

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Rama congratulates armed forces on 111th Anniversary

Prime Minister Edi Rama congratulated the Armed Forces of Albania on the 111th anniversary of its establishment this Monday. On the social networks, he has posted a photo, in which a member of the Armed Forces appears with the Albanian flag. Meanwhile, PM Rama has considered Albanian soldiers as the …

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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 …