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Shkoder, bicyclist woman crashed by careless driver

A car accident was registered this Wednesday morning in Shkodra. According to preliminary information, around 7:45 a.m., in the “Tre Heronjte” neighborhood, a vehicle with a 34-year-old driver crashed into a 56-year-old woman riding a bicycle. Following the crash, the woman was taken to the hospital, in a non-life-threatening condition. …

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Two youths arrested for illegal sports gambling

Two people were arrested in Cerrik this Wednesday. The two citizens, 25 years old and 56 years old, were put in handcuffs after placing sports bets using mobile phones. Sports betting sites were found open on their mobile phones. Two mobile phones were seized as material evidence. /abcnews.al […] Read …

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Minister’s statement on Former PM Berisha’s process on corruption charges

Minister of Tourism, Mirela Kumbaro answered this Wednesday journalists’ questions regarding the security measure given by Special Court (GJKKO) to former Prime Minister Sali Berisha regarding the privatization of the Partizani complex. In her statement after the government’s decisions, Kumbaro emphasized that the majority, which established this new justice system, …

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Lezha teacher’s arm broken by student in chair fight

A serious incident happened at the high school “Hydajet Lezha” in the city of Lezha this Wednesday. Teacher Majlinda Palushi was hit with a chair by a student inside the school premises. She was sent by ambulance to Lezha hospital and it is learned that she broke her arm from …

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Persons who raped woman in Vlora left in prison

Court of Vlora decided this Wednesday the security measure ‘Arrest with prison’ for the three citizens accused of incitement and use of drugs and then the rape of the 26-year-old a few days ago. Two of them, Oltjon Tahiri and Albi Ceno, have been arrested, while Gentjano Mehmeti has been …

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Rama meets Varheleyi in Brussels

Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Brussels, where he will participate in the “Global Gateway” forum on the current challenges of Europe and the importance of international cooperation. The head of the government met with the commissioner for expansion Oliver Varhelyi. The Prime Minister’s visit to Brussels comes a few …

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Mayor Veliaj met ex-ambassador Arvizu in US visit

Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj has met with a special friend of Albania, the former US ambassador Aleksandër Arvizu, in his last visit to the United States of America. As it can be seen from this photo published by Veliaj, he has got a great friendship with the former American …

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Former PM Berisha “willing” to testify at Special Court on corruption charges

The special court summoned Sali Berisha to a hearing today at 2:00 p.m. to inform him of the accusation and the security measure against him. But Berisha said he will not go to court. He stated that the decision was made in violation of the constitution. Former Prime Minister Sali …

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Igor Kokunov appears before Shkodra court after arrest

Court hearing against Igor Kokunov, the 59-year-old arrested at the Muriqani border point, wanted by the Russian International Interpol is being held this Tuesday in Shkodra. According to the local media, strict security measures have been taken due to information that Belgrade gangs may intervene for his release. On his …

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Five young drug dealers, over 160 cannabis doses seized in Tirana

Five people have been arrested by the police after selling drugs near schools in the capital. Following the investigations within the “Temple” operation, the police have provided information that these people were selling cannabis narcotics near schools in different areas of Tirana. The persons in question, two 19-year-olds, one 18-year-old, …

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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 …