Ex-son-in-law of guard killed in TV shooting detained
Vlora Police has detained this Tuesday the ex-son-in-law of Pal Kola, the guard who was killed by Kalashnikov fire in the yard of Top Channel television shortly after Monday midnight. In front of the investigators, Roberto Papçi has denied having anything to do with the event. Along with the ex-son-in-law, …
Rama: Sports betting revenue will go to culture and tech
Prime Minister Edi Rama has underlined Tuesday that sports betting revenue will go to the projects and needs of sports federations, the culture sector, and various groups that are interested in cultural projects. In his speech, PM Rama underlined that there will be a new structure that will supervise this …
DP submits at CEC municipal council candidates’ list for May 14 polls
Democratic Party (DP) submitted this Tuesday, within the deadline set to the Central Elections Commission (CEC), the lists for members of municipal councils for several municipalities in the country. List of democrats in Tirana is headed by pedagogue Enriketa Pandelejmoni, followed by footballer Gentin Muça and pedagogue Iris Beleraj. Among …
Crime Ties Exposed in North Macedonia Medicinal Cannabis Boom
North Macedonia has actively promoted the development of a medicinal cannabis industry, but a BIRN investigation reveals the criminal ties behind at least some of those granted much-coveted licences. Original post Here
Albanian Migrant Ship’s Sinking Highlighted Europe’s Unequal Power Dynamics
On March 28, 1997, an Italian corvette sunk the Albanian migrant boat ‘Katër i Radës’ in the Adriatic, taking lives of at least 92 Albanians. Rome never accepted blame, reflecting the ‘asymmetrical dynamic’ that still governs the lives of so many in Europe today. Original post Here
President of Austria from Assembly: We support Albania in her journey towards EU
Austrian President, Alexander Van der Bellen, after the meeting with President Bajram Begaj, went to the Parliament, where he spoke about the close relations between Austria and Albania. He also mentioned Austria’s continued support for Albania’s path towards European integration. “Behind every activity that Austria develops in Albania, there is …
Albanian TV Station Guard Shot Dead in Mystery Killing
Politicians have condemned and expressed shock over the shooting dead of a TV station security guard in as yet unidentified circumstances in the early hours of Monday morning. Original post Here
SUV used by television shooters was stolen in Shkodra
New details have come to light from the post-Monday-midnight serious event, where unidentified persons fired firearms at the premises of Top Channel, killing the security guard, Pal Kola. From the preliminary data, the perpetrators moved with a Range Rover type vehicle, which turns out to have been stolen in ShkodEr. …
Austrian president visit to Tirana, is hosted by Begaj
President Bajram Begaj has welcomed the Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen. The Austrian counterpart has arrived in Tirana as part of an official visit. He was hosted in a state ceremony by Begaj to continue with a statement to the media at around 11:45. Meanwhile, at 1:00 p.m., the …
PM urges businesses to not take advantage of employees
Prime Minister Edi Rama has called this Monday on entrepreneurs to give up the logic of exploiting employees, saying that this is hitting the heart of Albania’s economy. During his speech in a commercial subject in Kamza area, the head of the government underlined that Albania cannot reach where it …
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
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
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
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
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 …
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
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 …
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 …
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
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 …