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Car set on fire, police suspects for jealousy reasons

A car has been burned during Tuesday night in Allias area of Tirana, while the arson is suspected to have been intentional. Based on the released information, owner of the vehicle allegedly took the girlfriend to the suspected author two days ago. Fortunately, only the vehicle was damaged as a …

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Former Bulqiza Municipality jurist left in prison for tender abuse

Special Court against Organized Crime and Corruption (GJKKO), has reconfirmed the measure set in absentia “prison arrest” for Leonard Daçi, a lawyer in the Municipality of Bulqiza, part of the group of officials of this institution who were arrested, including the mayor Lefter Alla. On the day of re-evaluation of …

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PM Rama opens art exhibition in Athens

Prime Minister Edi Rama has opened this Tuesday an exhibition with his artistic creations in Athens. In his speech, while thanking his collaborators for making this exhibition possible, Rama invited those present to see his works, while he said that art does not need translation. “What you will see tonight, …

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Bulgaria resident punished after caught with EUR 19.000 in Elbasan

Elbasan Police have prosecuted ed this Tuesday a citizen with the initials E.M, 59, resident in Bulgaria. During the physical search conducted on him were found and seized as material evidence the sum of 19,000 EUR. Authorities suspect that the money were smuggled into Albania, while Elbasan Prosecution is working …

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Luftar Reci to testify on trial for murder of Vajdin Lame

Trial for the murder of Vajdin Lame and Klodian Saliu started in the Special Court against Organized Crime and Corruptin (GJKO) this Monday. Luftar Reci, who cooperated with the prosecutor’s office to solve the murders of 18 years ago, will testify today. Court hearing will take place behind closed doors, …

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Hearing on ex-minister postponed due to judge’s absence

Absence of the judge in the case, Elton Frashëri, has led this Monday to the postponement of court hearing against former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri. Decision to postpone the hearing was confirmed by Tahiri’s defense lawyer, Maks Haxhia. Tahiri requested a reduction of the sentence by 1 year and 6 …

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Prostitution case cracked down in Tirana

Tirana police have cracked down Monday on a case of prostitution in a massage center in the capital. Four citizens were put in handcuffs, one of them the administrator of the center, while 5 others were prosecuted. Police also seized 6 mobile devices, ALL 351,000 and EUR 550 suspected to …

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Alibeaj’s DP registered for next electoral elections

Democratic Party with Acting chairman, Enkelejd Alibeaj, was registered this Saturday in the May 14 elections. The decision was taken today by Ilirjan Celibashi during the CEC meeting. Chief Commissioner Celibashi implemented the decision of KAS to register DP with Enkelejd Alibeaj as Acting chairman. “As long as KAS has …

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Mayor of Bulqiza left in jail

Special Court against Organized Crime and Corruption has decided this Saturday the security measure ‘jail arrest’ for Mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla and 10 other defendants, as well as left in ‘house arrest’ two other officials arrested for abusing a tender. According to SPAK, Alla used his position as mayor …

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Nine finalists to compete for construction of three new stadiums

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced this Saturday that the first phase of the international competition for the 3 new stadiums in Durrës, Vlora, Korçë has been closed, where 41 studios submitted 86 applications. According to Rama, the nine finalists have emerged who will compete in the three early-May competitions …

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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

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 …