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Former MP Rrahman Rraja’s nephew caught with drugs

Police have arrested a 22-year-old, identified as Ariel Rraja – the grandson of the former socialist Mp, Rrahman Rraja,  who was caught with narcotics. During the search of his vehicle in Nikël, money and cocaine were found on the young man, which were seized along with the vehicle. This is …

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Rama participates in Konstantinos Mitsotakis bust’s inauguration

Prime Minister Edi Rama participated this Friday in the inauguration of Derviçani square in Dropull, which will bear the name of Konstantinos Mitsotakis. In his speech, Rama said that the bust of Mitsotakis, who was the first Greek prime minister to visit Dropulli, will stand as a symbol of the …

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SPAK reveals the charges against the former director of the Durres Cadastre

“Cleaning money or criminal activity”, “Structured criminal group” and “Criminal offenses within a structured criminal group”, these are the charges brought by the Special Prosecutor’s Office against the former director of the Cadastre in Durres. Rajmonda Dashi has already been arrested. For her, the court has set the measure of …

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Belgian tourists saved after getting blocked in Gjipe canyons

Two Belgian tourists were rescued ths Thursday morning after being trapped in the canyon of Gjipe.  Police received yesterday evening the information that the two tourists, while exploring the Gjipe canyon, were trapped in a very difficult and dangerous terrain, where they could not get out. After five hours of …

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Declared internationally wanted by Switzerland, a 56-year-old man arrested in Morina

A 56-year-old man from Kosovo, declared internationally wanted, was arrested at the border point of Morina as he tried to enter Albania with the aim of extradition to Switzerland. It is learned that the 56-year-old was wanted by the Swiss authorities for fraud, forgery of documents and money laundering. After …

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Vlora man arrested, woman wanted for goods’ smuggling

Police of Vlora attacked this Thursday a case of smuggling of goods, while arresting a 34-year-old man and announcing the search for his accomplice. Law enforcement revealed that the 34-year-old man and the 29-year-old wanted woman were storing contraband goods and hiding the proceeds from their sale. During a search …

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Ex-head of Durres cadastre arrested by SPAK

The former director of the Durres Cadastre, Rajmonda Dashi, is arrested. The arrest was made this Thursday by SPAK order. Journalist Leonidha Musaj reports that the operation was carried out in the state cadastre offices of Vora and Kamza, where recently Dashi also held the position of manager. The escort …

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Court session on Former PM Berisha postponed

Court session for the former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, in the Special Court, regarding the accusations against him for passive corruption, for the privatization of the former sports complex, “Partizani”, has been postponed this Thursday to 15:00. Two lawyers assigned by the state to defend Berisha, Jalldiz Kastrati and Rabije …

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Sexual abuse of the 26-year old in Vlora/ Balla: The victim will have full legal support

The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla, has visited the 26-year-old woman, who was raped a few days ago by four boys, in the Vlora hospital. During his speech, Balla guaranteed that the young woman will have full legal support and a full investigation will be carried out with personal …

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Albania to host Europe of World Tourism Organization meeting in spring

Albania will host for the first time the meeting of the Commission for Europe of the World Tourism Organization, in the spring of 2024. This was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama on the social networks, as he shared a video with the natural beauties of Albania . “Good morning …

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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 …

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 …

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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 …