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Albania’s New Anti-Corruption Chief Prosecutor Seen as US Favoured Candidate

The High Council of Prosecutors chose a new head of the Special Prosecution against Organised Crime and Corruption on Friday, in an election which was being closely followed by the US to ensure there was no political interference. Original post Here

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Socialist Party Candidate’s Son Accused of Vote Buying in Albania Election

Opposition activists in a mayoral election in remote northern Albania have accused the ruling Socialists of using state aid packages for vote-buying purposes. Original post Here

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Vlora block of flat’s electricity feeder engulfed by flames

Electrical package on the first floor of a residential block has been engulfed in flames this Wednesday morning in the pier area of Vlora. Timely intervention of the fire brigade isolated the flames, as there were electric cables or even water tanks on the first floor. As a result of …

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European police chiefs met in Tirana for increase of security parameters

General Director of the State Police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku, has declared Wednesday that organized crime, illegal trafficking and cyber-attacks, which until recently were negligible, have become a priority. During the gathering of 43 police chiefs of European capitals in Tirana, within the framework of the conference on deepening cooperation to increase …

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New hospital inaugurated at QSUT premises

This Wednesday, the central hospital in the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center in the capital has started work. The news was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who wrote on “Facebook” that this hospital has started work with the first seven services, to continue afterwards with all the services that …

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Glover meets PR head, Mediu request: Bigger OSCE/ODIHR presence in monitoring

The Head of the Republican Party met with Ambassador Glover and the representatives of ODIHR who lead the election observation mission in Albania. In response to Ms. Glover’s request to learn about the election situation in Albania, Mr. Mediu points out that: 1. Due to the lack of political will, …

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Elections, Audrey Glover meeting with Meta at Party of Freedom headquarters

The head of the OSCE-ODIHR Observer Mission for the May 14 local elections, Audrey Glover, has planned to hold several meetings today. Initially, Glover will meet with the chairman of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta around 10:30. “It is a meeting, which comes in the framework of the preparations of …

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Details on Rama’s post-surgery situation revealed

Prime Minister Edi Rama’s health condition following surgery in the University Hospital “Mother Teresa” of Tirana is stable and everything in the operation went very well. In a media statement, doctor Arben Gjata confirmed that the intervention was done to remove the appendicitis through laparoscopy. Furthermore, he emphasized that 8 …

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Three arrested on domestic violence charges

Three people were arrested by the police this Monday, after being accused of physical violence in the family. Police announced that among those arrested are a 41-year-old man who raped his wife, a 38-year-old man in Tirana who beat his mother, and another who was handcuffed in Rrogozhinë after being …

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Young man arrested after depriving of freedom, violating co-habitor

A 28-year-old woman was kept locked up and physically abused by her roommate, 31-year-old Gleard Gusholli. According to the police, the 31-year-old man was arrested, who took away his freedom and repeatedly raped the young woman in their apartment. Also, citizens Besmir Nurçellari, Arjan Sheta, Bledi Kateshi and Erlind Kateshi …

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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

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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 …

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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

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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 …