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Minister Balla warns firing of policemen who aad access to ‘Sky’, ‘EncroChat’

Interior Minister, Taulant Balla has warned this Wednesday that any officer who had access to communication networks such as “EncroChat” or “Sky” will be expelled from the State Police. Minister Balla issued this warning while reporting to the Commission for European Affairs, considerig the measure as related to the security …

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SPAK summoned the prosecutor of Elbasan

The prosecutor of Elbasan, Kreshnik Ajazi, who is investigating the file of Laert Haxhi, this morning arrived at the Special Prosecutor’s Office and held a meeting with SPAK prosecutors, this meeting ended a few minutes ago. It was Ajazi, the prosecutor who initiated the events revealed by Artan Tafani’s testimony, …

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Update on Qukes-Qafe Plloce road’s construction eorks

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared this Wednesday morning on his social network “Facebook” some pictures of the daily work being done in Lot 3 of the Qukës-Qafë Plloë axis. In his reaction, Rama underlined that this is a panoramic segment which will shorten the distance between Tirana and Korça, passing …

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Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime to interrogate Shkelzen for the explosion of Gerdec

GJKKO(Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime) accepted SPAK’s request to summon 71 witnesses, including Shkëlzen Berisha and Aldo Bumçi, regarding the Gerdec tragedy. The journalist of ABC News, Ermal Vija, as he is closely following the developments, says that Mediu is accused of “abuse of duty” within …

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Roaming charges for citizens of the region 99 percent lower

The Prime Minister, Edi Rama, through a post on social networks, has given the good news that since October 1, “Internet Roaming” prices between Europe and the Western Balkans have been reduced by up to 99%. The Prime Minister adds that this comes after the signing of the agreement at …

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Two youths arrested in Tirana for stealing electric bikes, scooters

Two young men were arrested this Tuesday morning in Tirana, as they stole bicycles and skateboards in cooperation with each other.  Police informed that the officers seized a stolen electric bicycle and 4 skateboards, and a small quantity of cannabis. A 19-year-old man, who was accompanying one of the suspected …

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Cooperation between US law enforcement and the State Police, US officials meet with Albania State Police Director

Cooperation between US law enforcement and the State Police, US officials meet with Albania State Police Director Members of the Embassy’s law enforcement team joined Charge d’Affaires David Wisner for a meeting with Albanian State Police (ASP) Director Muhamet Rrumbullaku to discuss the strong partnership and cooperation between the United …

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PM discusses improvement of Albania’s business in entrepreneurs roundtable

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, present at a table on entrepreneurship, emphasized the review of administrative business procedures in order to improve the climate of doing business. During his speech, Rama said that the time has come to relieve businesses from bureaucracies, which create unnecessary obstacles for businesses in …

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Rama warns Albanian tourist accommodation structures of reference price for taxes

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama warned this Tuesday the accommodation structures of Albania that next year they will have a reference price for taxes. In the meeting with the business, he emphasized that, looking at the current trend, by December, the number of tourists could reach 10 million. Furthermore, …

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Special Court hearing on sterilization tender case postponed

The appeal of GJKKO decided to postpone today’s session in charge of the persons arrested for one of the discussed issues, such as the sterilization file. The former Deputy Minister of Health, Klodian Rjepaj, and the businessman who won the tender for the sterilization concession, Ilir Rrapaj, were arrested for …

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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 …