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SPAK aeizes assets of Albanian drug trafficker

The Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) has decided to seize the assets of Erjet Strefi, who is accused of being part of a criminal group based in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Six are the seized assets, which include a two-story villa in …

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Foreign Minister discusses Israel conflict with Saudi Arabia counterpart

Foreign Minister Igli Hasani had a phone call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, where they reportedly discussed the latest developments in Israel and the war. During the phone call, the two sides talked about international efforts related to this issue, to ensure the lives of …

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Kosovo youths injured in Thumana car crash

A serious accident was reported on Friday morning on the Fushë Krujë-Thumana road segment.  a  vehicle driven by a Kosovo Albanian collided with the Thumana roundabout barriers. As a result, the driver and the passenger, also a Kosovar Albanian, were injured.  The two injured have been sent for medical help …

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PM thanks national team’s players for victory in Albania-Czechia match

Prime Minister Edi Rama started this Friday with a congratulatory statement for the national team’s triumph during the match with the Czech Republic, where the Albanian team achieved a 3-0 score. In a social media post, the head of the government has also published a photo of Albania’s ranking in …

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General Prosecutor: Obstacles can only be overcome by standing together

Prosecutor General, Olsian Çela delivered this Friday his speech at the High Prosecutorial Council (HPC), where the 3 new members will be elected this Friday, noting that Albania needs magistrates who are independent from anyone. In his statement at the HPC, Çela said that the prosecutors are going through a …

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Soreca: Western Balkan’s european integration on top of Tirana’s Berlin Process Summit

Ambassador of the European Union in Albania, Luigi Soreca declared Friday that the integration of the Western Balkans in the bloc will be at the top of the political agenda at the summit of the Berlin Process, which will take place on October 16 in Tirana. During a conference regarding …

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Tabaku notes ‘parliaments must have key role in integration process

Chairwoman of the Commission for European Affairs, Jorida Tabaku, emphasized Friday that parliaments should have a key role in the integration process. In her speech at the conference on “The Role of Parliament in the Berlin Process”, Tabaku added that this process should move beyond paper and be more practical …

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Operation against migrant smuggling, 19 arrest warrants issued

An extensive operation in many cities has recently been carried out by the State Police, where sources for ABC confirm that there are about 19 arrest warrants issued by the Prosecutor’s Office. The operation in question is related to the strike in the field of illegal trafficking of immigrants who …

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Parliament to vote on resolution condemning september 24th attack in Kosovo

Albanian Parliament is expected to approve this Thursday the resolution for the attack in the north of Kosovo in the special session. Ruling majority and Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s parliamentary group withdrew from the initial drafts and produced a joint document with three points. Based on the prediction, the …

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About 5000 cannabis plants destroyed in Vlora, three cops under probe

Vlora Police has conducted an operation in the village of Bishan, where a plot of cannabis was discovered among the corn, arresting citizens Skënder Llanaj, Danielo Llanaj and Bujar Hoxhaj. Authorities put under investigation the headman of the village of Bishan and 3 police officers, as they allegedly misused their …

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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

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 …