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Drugs and arsenal of guns busted in Kruja, one arrested and three wanted

Police of Kruja and the Special Operational Forces have finalized this Tuesday the “Red Mountain” operation, arresting the citizen Mehmet Sallaku, and declaring wanted Saba Sallaku, Anfon Sallaku and Ali Sallaku. Law enforcement have seized 1 Kalashnikov firearm, 21 offensive combat grenades, 17 defensive combat grenades, 40 unifying grenade igniters …

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Elbasan man arrested after sexually abusing 6-year-old girl

Elbasan police have put in handcuffs a 65-year-old man, who is accused of having intercourse with a 6-year-old minor in 2015.  It was the minor, now 14 years old, who together with her mother who went to the police station reporting the crime committed by the elderly man in 2015. …

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Durres young man arrested for firing kalashnikov rifle to intimidate cousin

A 26-year-old Euron Balla has been arrested this Tuesday by Durrës Police after firing a Kalashnikov in the air to threaten his 63-year-old cousin, after a conflict for trivial motives. Used firearm that was possessed by the 26-year-old without a permit, 2 combs and 54 combat cartridges, were found by …

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Four arrested, guns seized as criminal event prevented in Kruja

A criminal event has been prevented this Tuesday in Kruja, where the police officers have arrested 4 citizens who threatened the owner of a business with firearms, to withdraw the complaint against one of the arrested accused of committing theft in his business. During the controls, 1 firearm, pistol, 1 …

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PM Rama’s message for Mitsoakis after lack of invitation

Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted for the first time after his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, did not invite him to participate in the dinner with the leaders of the region that was held on Monday (August 21) in Athens. The head of government said he had remained silent until …

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“Albania first in Europe for increasing the flow of flights”, Rama: Fantastic year

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared good news with all Albanians. He has discovered through a graph posted on social networks that our country is the first in Europe for increasing the flow of flights. According to Rama, this is the fantastic year of Albania’s appearance in everyone’s eyes. “Here …

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Rama: Work of SPAK and GJKKO deserves respect and thanks

Prime Minister Edi Rama thanked SPAK and GjKKO for their continuous work even during the month of August. According to him, this justice was born today and is growing every day, because the Socialist Party of Albania kept its promise to realize, in the face of 100 years of mockery …

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Three Kosovo officials arrested on suspicion of oil misuse

The Kosovo police arrested Ridvan Muharremi in his restaurant. Police officials did not speak to the media after his arrest. Meanwhile, this arrest of Ridvan Muharrem comes as a result of the scandal related to the state reserves, specifically to the recordings for oil. The Kosovo Police today launched an …

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Begaj refuses Mitsotakis’ invitation

The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, has refused the invitation of the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to participate in an informal dinner, scheduled for August 21. This was confirmed to ABC News by the office of the President. “In response to your interest, we inform you that …

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Tourist season, Balla meeting with Police in Durres  

Interior Minister Taulant Balla has started today with a meeting with the structures of the State Police who deal with the smooth running of the tourist season in Durres. In his speech, Balla thanked the good work done by the blue uniforms for the success of a model season, underlining …

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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 …