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Heavy raining caused problems in Lezha

District of Lezha has been affected by rain of medium intensity during the night hours until the morning of this Wednesday. According to the data of the Military Meteorological Service, Gjadër and the Regional Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage have received an average of 36 mm of rain. Problems are …

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Meta summoned at SPAK

The chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta, appears at the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK). ABC News journalist Ermal Vija reports that the head of the Freedom Party was presented this Wednesday in connection with the “CEZ-DIA” file. Journalist Vija underlined that Meta appeared at SPAK alone, without a defense …

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Migration Management – a weight too Big for the EU but not for Albania

How it is that such a burden comes to Albania’s poor shores will be an outstanding mystery loaded with doubt and resentment. The absurd and dystopian reality of migration detention centres are the topic of an interesting and haunting Netflix series called ‘Stateless’ which explores the cruelties of the migration …

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Editorial: A risky charade: Albanian PM’s deal with Italy to host EU’s irregular migrants is wrong and impractical

The controversial deal between the Albanian PM and Italian counterpart is wrong and risky for Albania as well as impractical for Italy.  TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL  Eureka! At a stroke of a pen, the problem of irregular migration to the EU through Italy from Africa and the Middle East appears solved. …

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Rama; Over 36,000 families benefited baby bonuses since January 1, 2023

Over 36,000 families have benefited from the bonus for newborns Since January 1, 2023 declared Tuesday Prime Minister Edi Rama through a post on social networks. In his statement, PM Rama emphasized that the government will continue to finance the Baby Bonus Program, with a fund of 2.2 billion ALL, …

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Vlora man arrested for dealing cannabis

A 44-year-old man was put in handcuffs this Tuesday in Vlora in the framework of the police mega-operation coded “Temple”. This citizen was spotted selling cannabis near schools in the city. During the control of the 44-year-old, the Police found cannabis, divided into about 500 doses, ready for sale, which …

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Accused for election fraud, the court hear evidence from witnesses on the Beleri’s case

This Tuesday, at 12:00, a hearing will be held in the Special Court against the elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, who is accused of election corruption. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija reports that 12 witnesses will be heard in this session. “This is the third session that takes place …

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Session against elected Himara’s mayor held at Special Court

The Supreme Court has determined the Special Court as competent to examine the request for a special permit for Fredi Beleri. Journalist Ermal Vija reports that the decision was taken in the consultation room by judges Sander Simonaj, Sokol Binaj and Ilir Panda. Beleri requests permission to be sworn in …

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Elbasan engulfed by smoke due to scrap metal point fire

Smoke has covered the city of Elbasan even this Tuesday, after a huge fire engulfed the point of the Kurum scrap metal center, in the area of the former Metalurgjik. According to the local media, it can be seen that there is still smoke at the scrapyard. Chief of Civil …

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Albania will host Italy’s asylum seekers, Rama and Meloni announce  

TIRANA, Nov. 6, 2023 – In a surprise move at a Monday press conference in Rome, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have announced a bilateral agreement under which non-European asylum seekers that aim to reach the EU through Italy will be shipped to processing …

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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

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

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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 …