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Balla with a meeting with members of the Republic Guard

Interior Minister Taulant Balla held a meeting with leaders and officers of the Republic Guard this morning. In his speech, Minister Balla stated that respect for the Law and the Code of Ethics during the exercise of duty and outside of it should be the distinguishing norm of this elite …

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Imprisoned Himara mayor’s file sent for adjudication to Special Court

Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has closed the investigations and sent this Tuesday the file of mayor of Himara elected in May 14 polls, Fredi Beleri, to the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO). Beleri was arrested just two days before the local elections after …

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Gjirokastra man arrested for violating own mother

A 44-year-old man in Gjirokastër has been arrested his Tuesday, after he abused his mother and threatened her with a hunting rifle. Gun in question was seized as material evidence along with a quantity of combat ammunition for this type of weapon, a quantity of cannabis and a knife, which …

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Six illegal watercrafts blocked in Shengjin, Kavaja

Border Police has blocked this Tuesday six vessels in Durres and Shengjin, while checks and verifications continue along the entire coastline of the districts. Due to the lack of proper documentation, 4 Jet Skis, 1 speedboat and 1 dinghy were blocked from Shengjin to Kavaja. Meanwhile, their owners have been …

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Minister of Education resigns from the cabinet of Kurti

Minister for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation in the Government of Kosovo, Edona Maloku Bërdyna has announced that she has resigned from her position for subjective reasons. She submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Kurti, saying that it is impossible to continue her commitment to this task. “I am deeply …

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SPAK seizes Tirana’s incinerator

Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it has seized the Tirana incinerator. SPAK announces that it is investigating within the criminal proceedings for the criminal offenses of “Fraud with serious consequences” in cooperation, “Abuse of duty”, “Passive corruption of high state officials or local elected officials”. It is also …

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Kruja man prosecuted for threatening citizen with hunting rifle

A 53-year-old man has been prosecuted this Monday in Kruja after he threatened another citizen with a shotgun. Police revealed that the event took place in the village of Brret, Krujë, where after having a conflict with the 47-year-old citizen, the 53-year-old man threatened him with the gun. Following police …

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Corruption in Ministry of Health, the investigations are closed

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has closed the investigations regarding the affair in the Ministry of Health, where at least four people have been charged, including the former secretary of this ministry, Joana Duro, and two engineers who won a tender worth about 8 million ALL. Journalist Ermal Vija reports for …

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Police seized 28,000 undeclared euros at the border of Muriqan

Police has seized 28,400 euros who were found in car of a 50-year old. Proceedings were initiated against the citizen from Kosovo for the criminal offense of “Failure to declare money and valuables at the border”. The materials were referred to the Prosecutor’s Office, where the proceedings began in free …

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Kukes Prosecution’s Head suspended after power abuse charges

High Prosecutorial Council (HPC) has suspended this Monday from office the chief prosecutor of Kukes, Xhevahir Lita, arrested during the operation of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), codenamed “Metamorfoza”. During the meeting called by Head of HPC, Alfred Balla, it was decided that Kukesi’s Prosecutor’s Office …

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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

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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 …