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Young man arrested for drug cultivation

A 38-year-old man was arrested by the police in the village of Qerret in Vau i Dejës, during operation coded “Seized”, aimed at cracking down on a case of cultivation of narcotic plants. Police anounced that the 38-year-old man, responsible for the illegal activity was identified, caught and have been …

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Car used for Rreshen killing had fake number plates

Police have not yet been able to identify the perpetrators who opened fire yesterday in Mirdita, leaving one dead, Martin Bardhi, and three wounded. Vehicle that was found burned after the incident was found to have forged license plates and no trace of it was found. For the event, about …

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Rama: EU needs Western Balkans as much as we need them

In his speech at this ministerial meeting, Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that the time has come to think outside the box. Furthermore, the Head of Albanian Government emphasized that today the EU needs the Western Balkans as much as the Western Balkans needs the EU. “I want to remind …

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Rama’s two-day visit to Italy

Prime Minister Edi Rama is expected to leave this Tuesday for Italy for a two-day visit. Journalist Esiona Konomi reports that the head of the government will meet this afternoon with Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate of the Republic of Italy. The following day, several official meetings are …

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Tragic, a 62-year old is killed near the hospital

A tragic event happened this morning in Rreshen.  It is reported that one person was killed. The serious incident happened around 10:40 near the city hospital. Journalist Gjergji Figuri reports that the victim has been identified as Martin Bardhi, 62 years old. It is suspected that he was executed for …

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Tahiri’s former bodyguard left in prison on drug charges

Appellate instance of the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKO) has upheld the sentence of 8.8 years in prison for Hekuran Marku, former bodyguard of Saimir Tahir this Tuesday. Mark was found guilty of drug trafficking and organized criminal group after the operation coded “Spirit”, as he was …

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One killed and three injured in Rreshen

One person was killed, while three others were injured this afternoon in Rreshen. Journalist Gjergj Figuri brings to ABC News the first images from the scene. Official police sources said that Martin Bardhi was killed today while he was standing near the Rreshen hospital, while as a result of the …

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Serbia declared three days mourning for the terrorists killed in Banjska, Rama: The worst signal that could give to the region

Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted after Serbia announced three days of mourning for the death of terrorist Serbs in Banjska of Zveçan. Through a post on social networks, he considered this decision as the worst signal that Serbia could give to the region and the Euro-Atlantic community. According to Rama, …

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Over 7 milion foreigners visited Albania in jan-aug 2023

Albania is experiencing its best tourist year in post-transition history. From north to south, on the beaches, in the mountains, in the historical cities, in bars and restaurants, everywhere, you meet tourists from different nations. INSTAT data show that the arrivals of foreign citizens for the first 8 months of …

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President Begaj to participate in Giorgio Napolitano’s funeral in Italy

President Bajram Begaj will participate in the state funeral of the former President of Italy, Senator for Life, Giorgio Napolitano. Important figures of Italian and European politics will be present at the ceremony that will take place at the Italian Parliament in Rome. Napolitano has been a permanent supporter of …

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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 …