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Vacationer taken to Tirana by helicopter after heart problems

A vacationer suffered a heart crisis in Pogradec this Wednesday morning. It is about a 74-year-old man, who went to the hospital himself. But the doctors, seeing the serious condition, recommended the transfer to Tirana. Afterwards, the elderly man was transported by helicopter to Tirana, where he will receive specialized …

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Tirana young man arrested on drugs charges

A 30-year-old man has been arrested this Wednesday by Tirana police on drugs charges, while a 35-year-old man was declared wanted as an accomplice to the arrested man. After a search, the police found in possession of Gentjan Demir a package of cannabis, weighing about 1 kg and 600 grams, …

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“Strengthening judicial is the ticket to membership”, EU ambassador: You have a lot of work to do

The Ambassador of the European Union to Albania, Christiane Hohmann, this Wednesday in her speech at the National Council of European Integration said that Albania is on the right track and hopes that in December the answer will be positive. Among other things, Hohmann stated in her speech that Albania …

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Balluku: We aim to make the country an example for renewable energy not only in Balkans

The deputy Prime Minister, also Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Ballaku is in New York where she is participating in the high level political meeting in the United Nations. In her speech, Balluku stated that in this meeting the focus was on the summit that will take place in …

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Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime control on Arben Ahmetaj’s properties

In the framework of the investigations it is conducting against the former deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, GJKKO( Special Courts against Corruption and Organised Crime) has executed several control orders in the 4 apartments of the former minister Arben Ahmetaj and his family members. Journalist Ermal Vija reports for ABC …

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Arrested for abuse of duty, the Court doesn’t change the security measure for former mayor of Durres

The Court of Special Appeal has approved the decision of the first instance, leaving in force the measure of prison arrest against the former mayor of the municipality of Durres, Vangjush Dako, ABC News journalist Ermal Vija reports. He will continue to stay in prison, where he is accused of …

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Arson suspected as three cars get burned in Vlora at night

Three cars were engulfed in flames in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Vlora, two of which were completely burned while another partially. Cause of the fire is suspected to have been arson. Police revealed that the incident happened around 04:55, when the fire service received a report of …

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Two arrested for Belgium-Albania goods’ smuggling

Two people have been arrested while another has been put under investigation for smuggling goods this Tuesday. Based on police information, the arrested are a 58-year-old man from Tirana, who transported smuggled goods from Belgium to Albania, and a 45-year-old man, also from the capital, who stored the goods in …

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Tirana’s Mayor introduces ‘Open Bus’ initiative

Tourists can now visit Tirana with an open bus tour, as the Albanian capital is buzzing with tourists, almost every month of the calendar year. Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj has shared some of the photos of the new initiative that allows many tourists to take a tour of the …

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Wings of Change: Why Armed Drones Are Proliferating in Western Balkans

Armed drones are becoming a favoured means for Balkan countries to boost their military muscle and regional clout – but even though they are unlikely to trigger a war, their unchecked spread brings substantial risks. Original post Here

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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 …