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Kurbin police’s chief arrested for helping in drug boss’s illegal transport

Head of Kurbin’s police station, Dritan Metaj that got arrested a day ago at request of Special Prosecution and Organized Crime (SPAK), turns out to have had an important role in the criminal group of drug trafficking in Fushë Kuqe. Local media reported that Metaj performed the role of transporting …

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Albanian ex-fighter of KLA released from prison after war crimes charges

Former fighter of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Dritan Goxhaj, arrested a few months ago in Tirana, has been released from prison. Court of Appeal opposed this Tuesday the decision of the First Instance, taken on September 19, for the extradition of the former fighter of the Liberation Army to …

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Armed clash over property dispute prevented in Shkodra

A conflict over property reasons between two families, in which 4 people were involved, has been prevented this Tuesday by the police of Shkodra. A 53-year-old man was arrested, while his son was declared wanted. From the investigations so far, it is suspected that the 53-year-old man and his 27-year-old …

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Tirana, young man arrested on drug charges

A 28-year-old man has been handcuffed this Tuesday by the police in Tirana in the framework of “Tempulli” operation, bringing the number of those arrested to 97. His arrest was made possible on “Vangjush Furxhi” street after the court ordered “Arrest in prison” for “Production and sale of narcotics”. Previously, …

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Man arrested in Tirana for embezzling money through fraud

A 54-year-old man has been arrested this Tuesday in Tirana, during the police operation coded “Mandati”. Police revealed that this citizen through fraud, by presenting suspected forged documents, has appropriated different sums of money from different businessmen. Documents were seized as material evidence, which the 54-year-old used for the fraud …

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Dead body found in Velipoja shore

A dead body was found Monday morning on the coast of Rrjolli in Velipoja. According to the police, the body belongs to a 70-year-old man from Tirana, who went fishing yesterday with his friends. From the investigations, it is suspected that this citizen died as a result of cardiac arrest. …

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Three arrested in Elbasan anti-drug operation

Elbasan police have arrested three citizens as part of the anti-drug operation “Porosia”, as announced this Monday morning. During the operation, about 22 kg of suspected narcotic substance cannabis sativa, 2 shotguns and military ammunition were seized, which were found during the search in the apartment of the wanted citizen …

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15 minors questioned after Korca child’s injuring

Police interrogated 15 minors between the ages of 13 and 15, regarding the wounding of the 14-year-old yesterday in Korça. Based on the available information, the group of those involved was large, the individual criminal responsibility for none of those involved has not yet been determined. Questioning of the minors …

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Two notorious young thieves arrested in Divjaka

Two young men have been arrested by the police in Divjaka for theft. The two arrested persons, aged 19 and 25, have violently stolen the gold jewelry that she had in the apartment from an elderly woman. The incident took place in the village of Saint Friday and it was …

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Three HJC members to be elected out of five judges

High Judicial Council (HJC) will elect this Monday 3 judges, who will be its members for 5 years. HJC members, whose term ends in December are two in the ranks of the Court of First Instance, Marçela Shehu and Brikena Ukperaj, and Dritan Hallunaj is leaving the ranks of 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

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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 …