Blog
News

Execution prevented in Vlora, six arrested

Vlora’s Local Police Directorate has conducted this Monday the police operation codenamed “Obelisk”, in cooperation with the “RENEA” Special Forces, arresting citizens Satilno Basho, Mariglen Aliaj, Bruno Shehu, Mehmet Hoxhaj, Beraldo Xhindi and Kevin Metaj. Santilno Basho and Mariglen Aliaj, part of a dangerous criminal group, were caught armed in …

Read More
News

Kosovo’s PM accuses Lajcak of ‘coordinated disregard’ with Vucic

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and his deputy, Besnik Bislimi, gave this Monday details about the Thursday meeting between him and Vucic in Brussels. In a press conference, Kurti declared that Borrell and Vucic had planned everything and he was not given any proposal document by the Serbian head …

Read More
News

SP parliamentary group convenes, issues discussed

The parliamentary group of the Socialist Party met this Monday in the pink headquarters where they discussed various issues. This was the first meeting of the SP Parliamentary Group under the leadership of Bledi Çuçi. Prime Minister Edi Rama was absent as he is in New York. The meeting has …

Read More
News

“Tempulli” operation continues, a 19-year old arrested

The State Police is following the “Tempulli” mega-operation, where a 19-year-old wanted man was recently arrested in Tirana. As part of this operation, the number of detained citizens reaches 91. The work continues for the localization and capture of other citizens declared wanted within this mega-operation. As a result, a …

Read More
News

Two cars collide on the Rreshen-Rubik axis, a police officer dies

A fatal accident was recorded on Saturday morning on the Rreshen-Rrubik road axis. It is learned that a “Chevrolet” type vehicle, which was driven by a Montenegrin citizen, collided with a “Benz” vehicle, which was driven by a 56-year-old police officer near the Mirdita Police Station. As a result of …

Read More
News

First 12 of huge anti-drugs operation arrestees face Vlora Court

First 12 people arrested in the coastal city after the anti-drug mega-operation, spread throughout Albania, arrived this Saturday morning at the Court of First Instance in Vlora to be communicated the security measure. Some of the arrested who are expected to be issued the security measure are: Eduart Ahmeti, Idlir …

Read More
News

Tirana, woman prosecuted for using children as beggars

A 37-year-old woman was criminally prosecuted by the Tirana police after she was accused of using her minor children to beg and verbally threatened the social worker. According to the police, within the framework of preventing cases of exploitation of children on the street, it has become possible to solve …

Read More
News

Three policemen arrested on bribery charges

Three police officers have been arrested and two others have been criminally prosecuted after being accused of corruption and abuse of office, as announced on Saturday by the Police Supervision Agency (PSA). Based on PSA’s announcement, the police officers Inspector Eldo Shyti and Inspector Granit Nuraj have been arrested in …

Read More
News

Program of simple loans for doctors, cops and soldiers launched

This Saturday, Prime Minister Edi Rama gave the good news to all doctors, policemen and young soldiers, who can start the procedures for easy loans. According to Rama, e-Albania offers a dedicated service for easy loans for the first 300 employees of the State Police, Armed Forces and doctors who …

Read More
News

Bulqiza’s ex-nayor to face court on ‘abuse of dutyr’ charges

Special Prosecution against Corruption (SPAK) has closed the investigations and sent this Saturday for trial the file against the former mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla and 12 other officials. Former mayor Alla is accused of having committed the criminal offense of “Violation of the equality of participants in public tenders …

Read More
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 …

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 …