Blog
News

Little boy injured as motorbike gets crashed by city bus in Tirana

A city bus of the Ringroad line in the Albanian capital, Tirana was involved in an accident this Sunday morning.  Police informed that the bus collided with a motorcycle on “Ferit Xhajko” street. As a result, a 12-year-old, who was a passenger on the motorcycle, was injured.  Law enforcement announced …

Read More
News

Italian tourist saved after boat capsized in Shengjin beach

A tourist from Italy was saved in Shengjin beach after the strong wind overturned his sailboat making him fall into the sea. The 63-year-old man was pulled out of the water by the patrol services and transported by the Border Police’s boat. He was escorted to the premises of the …

Read More
News

Three thieves arrested in Lushnja

Two armed and masked people tried to rob a house in Bubullimë village in Lushnje. They were caught red-handed in the backyard as they were trying to get inside to commit the robbery. A 30-year-old man was also arrested, who transported these citizens to the scene and was waiting to …

Read More
News

Drug dealer arrested in Golem

An 18-year-old man was arrested after selling narcotics cocaine and cannabis in Golem beach bars. According to the data, the arrested person is Marsel Rusi, from the city of Korça. During the action, a quantity of these narcotics was seized, divided into doses ready for sale, as well as a …

Read More
News

As Western Balkans seek more financial assurances, EU Commission requests 2 billion euros in additional funds

TIRANA, June 30, 2023 – The European Commission, EU’s executive arm, has requested additional funds for the Western Balkan region during the review of the medium-term financial framework, looking for 2 billion euros more to supplement its already hefty financial contribution to a region that is slowly moving toward EU …

Read More
News

Woman stabbed by husband dies in hospital

Marjola Myrtollari, who was injured on June 4 of this year in Korça, by her husband Aleko Myrtollari, has passed away. The perpetrator Aleko Myrtollari stabbed his wife and then left the scene. He surrendered after two days. It is now expected that the prosecution will also change the charge …

Read More
News

Battle for Balkan Cybersecurity: Threats and Implications of Biometrics and Digital Identity

A surge in cyberattacks, particularly phishing and ransomware, has left Balkan countries to improve their defences against cybercrime, BIRN research shows. Original post Here

Read More
News

Two injured in Lezhë-Milot triple car crash

A triple accident happened this Friday morning on the Lezhë-Milot highway. Due to the crash, two people were injured, who were sent to Lezha hospital for check-up. As a result of the accident, traffic was created on this road axis. On its part, the investigative group is at the scene …

Read More
News

Youth dies due to heart attack

A 20-year-old man died in the Korça Hospital this Friday morning. According to the information, the young man had felt bad in a bar in Bilisht and was rushed to Korça Hospital, where he died. Meanwhile, forensic expertise is awaited to determine the cause of the 20-year-old’s death. Police sources …

Read More
News

Shkodra house engulfed by flames

A house was engulfed in flames this Friday morning in Shkoder. According to the information, it is learned that the incident took place on the fourth floor of a building in the Parruca neighborhood. Meanwhile, it is known that the house was rented by a family with four members who …

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 …