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Law on medical cannabis is approved/ Parliament votes also the law for young doctors, they will work 5 years after studies in Albania

After 19 hours of discussion, Lindita Nikolla called the deputies to vote. It was 5:00 in the morning and there were 95 deputies in the session, of which 72 were from the Socialist Party. Prime Minister Rama was absent. With 71 votes in favor, the law was approved, which forces …

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3 people violate the police chief in Bulqiza

Three people have been declared wanted after attacking the chief of the municipal police of Bulqiza. The incident took place on the road axis Bulqize-Fushe Bulqize, where after having a conflict, they punched the 35-year-old man because of his duty. It is about a 45-year-old man and two young people, …

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Balla meeting with the Police department in Vlora  

Interior Minister Taulant Balla held a meeting today with the department of the Local Police Directorate in Vlora. During the meeting, Minister Balla emphasized that the citizens are our irreplaceable partners for the protection of the country and every citizen. “Citizens are not only the reason why the State Police …

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Veliaj: 300 people employeed from vulnerable groups in Tirana Municipality

Municipality of Tirana, in cooperation with the German GIZ, has made possible the employment of about 300 employees from vulnerable groups in the institutions of the Municipality of Tirana. This good news was given by the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj at the meeting of the Municipal Council. “We have …

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9 vacationers poisoned in a hotel in Shengjin

Nine vacationers in a hotel in Shengjin have shown health problems and have been sent to the hospital to receive first aid. According to the data from the hospital, the vacationers who presented themselves received medical treatment and are out of danger. Journalist Gjergji Figuri reports for ABC News that …

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German tourist saved after breaking leg and arm in Shkodra mountain

A German tourist fell on Thursday evening in the place called “Koder Kunje” in Shkodër and suffered physical injuries. Police of Shkodra and the residents of the area went to help the tourist, who had broken her leg and arm and could not move. After arriving at the scene, the …

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Petrit Vasili goes to SPAK

Depute Petrit Vasili, appeared in SPAK. Journalist Ermal Vija reports that the MP arrived at the premises of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, from 10:00 a.m. summoned by the prosecutor Sotir Kllapi, to give clarifications regarding the investigations launched for Freedom Party lobbying with the suspicion that he used unjustified money …

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Last plenary session kicked off with debates

The last parliamentary session for this session has started with debates, where the opposition MPs are asking for an interpellation with Prime Minister Edi Rama about the incinerators. Meanwhile, the majority, on the other hand, has rejected their request, but it seems that the opposition MPs do not stop and …

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The murder of Besnik Hida in 2019, police has identified three executers

The murder of Besnik Hida, the 40-year-old who was executed in a bar in October 2019 in Lushnje, is revealed. According to the police, the executers of the 40-year-old was Laert Haxhiu, Orgest Bilbili and Ardian Ahmetaj, As a result of the evidence provided by the intensive investigation, the Court …

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Punched Sali Berisha, the Court dismisses the case against Gerti Shehu

Tirana court this Thursday has decided to dismiss the case against Gerti Shehu, who punched Sali Berisha during the protest of December 6, 2022. The reason for this decision was the condition of the 31-year-old and his mental health. Judge Gert Hoxha decided to suspend the criminal case against Gert …

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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

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 …

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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 …