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Ex-Head of Fier customs left in prison for injuring two in a car crash

Court of First Instance in Vlora has set this Thursday the security measure of arrest and imprisonment for Arlind Lagji, the former director of customs in Fier. He caused two consecutive accidents on the Trans-Balkan road, on Monday, March 20, injuring two elderly people, respectively 66 and 63 years old. …

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Hearing session for Fatmir Mediu is postponed, due to the families of the victims

Hearing session has been postponed for the former minister Fatmir Mediu, who is accused of the incident in Gërdec where 26 people lost their lives. The session, which started at 2:00 p.m., was expected to determine the start or not of the review of the file. It is learned that …

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PM Rama to travel to UK for migration issue

Prime Minister Rama will travel this Wednesday to London, where he will stay for 3 days on an official visit and will be hosted by his counterpart Rishi Sunak in their first meeting. The two heads of government had earlier a telephone conversation on the issue of illegal Albanian immigrants, …

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Spanish laborer found dead in hotel room

A Spanish citizen was found dead in a hotel room in the Karavasta village of Divjaka. 47-year-old Francisco Servija has been working in this area for about two months for the assembly of solar greenhouses together with his friend, Osvaldo Velasco. The journalist of ABC News, Xhensila Kodra informs that …

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Multiple arrested for dealing drugs near schools

Tirana police have cracked down this Wednesday on a group, which dealt cannabis and cocaine in some areas of the Albanian capital. Several people are arrested. According to preliminary data, this group is believed to have been distributing drugs near schools, but also in other premises. /abcnews.al […] Read More… …

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New Central Hospital in QSUT, Rama-Manastirliu: A new beginning for health system

The new Central Hospital at QSUT was inaugurated today, a completely new hospital built from the ground up for internal diseases, in the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital Center complex. Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu, have considered this investment the greatest work …

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Race and Exclusion in State Socialism: African Students in Communist Albania

Albania once opened its doors to the children of anti-colonial figures in Africa, but they still faced suspicion and marginalisation. Original post Here

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Domestic and Sexual Violence Sentences ‘Often Lenient’ in South-East Europe

Perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence in most south-east European countries often receive lenient sentences, while the burden of proof mainly falls on the victims, says a new report by the US State Department. Original post Here

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New details on Fushë Kruja -Thumana fatal car crash

Police of Kruja has revealed that the driver who got injured in the accident during the early hours of this Tuesday morning on the Fushë Kruja – Thumana axis was Julian Koçaj, 34 years old. According to the police, the young man lost control over the vehicle and as a …

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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 …

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

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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 …