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Expelled from the Assembly, the democratic deputies appeal the decision

DP MPs have submitted a request to appeal the decision on their expulsion. The request has been sent to the Assembly and the Guard. According to them, based on the regulation, they can enter the Assembly until the conference is convened to consider it. Yesterday, the Ethics Commission expelled Sali …

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Berisha joins protest in front of parliament building

Cairman of the Democratic Party (DP), Sali Berisha, left his office in the blue headquarters and joined the opposition protest that is being held this Thursday in front of the Parliament building. After walking towards the protesters, Berisha greeted those present, while he started his speech with accusations against Rama. …

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The two arrested after the opposition protest are released from prison

The Tirana court released two protesters arrested on Monday after the Democratic Party protest. Jakup Stafa and Dorison Petoku were left in the “obligation to appear” security measure. We remind you that after Monday’s protest, two people were put in handcuffs, one was prosecuted and another was declared wanted. At …

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The protest is closed, the opposition will gather again on March 3

The opposition protest is closed after two and a half hours in front of the Parliament. The protesters left the Assembly and went to the blue headquarters together with Berisha and other MPs who have been excluded from the plenary sessions. So, in parallel, the planning session is being held, …

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McGonigal’s Albanian ‘Adventure’ Demands a Deeper Investigation

If US justice keep the McGonigal scandal under wraps, limiting the charges to ‘non-disclosure’ of certain relationships, its squeaky-clean reputation could be tarnished. Original post Here

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Fier, three arrested on drug charges

Three people have been handcuffed this Wednesday after they converted a 3-story villa into a “bari house” in Fier. Police revealed that the arrested are the owner of the villa, Erjon Marini alias Xhevair Gashi, who had adapted the 5 rooms of one floor for the cultivation of narcotic plants, …

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Shkodra hospital’s director refutes claims of ambulance delay in house fire

Director of Shkodra’s Regional Hospital, Senad Halluni, has reacted to the claims of the residents of the Roma community about the delay of the ambulance regarding the event of Tuesday evening, where a 60-year-old man lost his life and his wife was taken to the hospital after the barracks where …

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Two men arrested for dealing drugs near schools

Tirana police has arrested two people this Wednesday, who were distributing narcotics near schools in Kamëz: Xh. K., 23 years old and A. Th., 28 years old, both residents of the area. During the physical check, citizens Xh. K. was found with 15 doses of suspected narcotic substance cannabis sativa, …

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Parliament to decide amount of funding for political parties; CEC’s head

Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Ilirjan Celibashi, spoke about the conditions that political parties must meet in order to receive funds for the electoral campaign, adding that the Parliament will decide how much money the political parties will receive. In a press conference, he emphasized that this will …

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Missing for 6 months, SPAK operation to seize the assets of Ervis Martinaj

ABCNEWS has learned that SPAK has launched an action to seizure Vis Martinaj’s assets. From preliminary data, the assets of the businessman, who has been missing for more than six months, have been targeted. Journalist Ermal Vija reports that these assets have been identified by the investigations launched by the …

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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

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 …

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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

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 …