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Kenya girl passes away in homeland after beating in Albania

The 22-year-old Joy Ayoko, who was brutally raped in Tirana, has passed away in Kenya, as confirmed by her mother, Ruth Abongo. The young woman left Albania at the end of January to be treated in her hometown, after she was admitted to the Trauma hospital since August last year. …

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Chinese couple caught in Rinas with fake residence permit

Rinas Police has arrested this Monday the couple of Chinese residents with initials L. Ch., 36 years old and Y. Ch., 33 years old, both residents in China. According to law enforcement, they tried to cross the border to Canada with a false residence permit. Following arrest, the procedural materials …

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Protest of Democratic Party, 3 detained and 1 officer injured

The national protest called by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha has ended without major incidents. The only moment when the situation heated up was after Berisha finished his speech. At that moment, the protesters threw Molotov cocktails towards the prime minister’s building. The journalist of ABC News, Xhensila Kodra, informs …

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Protests/ About 1,000 officers on standby

The Tirana police have determined the plan of measures for the protest called today by the opposition, at 12:00, on the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” boulevard. About 1,000 police officers, law enforcement, FNSH and RENEA will be on the road. The police announces that starting at 06:00 on Saturday, parking of …

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U.S Embassy warns citizens in Tirana: Avoid gathering

As in every protest and gathering in Tirana, even today the American embassy warns its citizens to be careful. In an announcement on the official website of the American embassy in Tirana, it appeals to its citizens to avoid the gathering. “A protest is planned to take place on Dëshmorët …

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Protest of Democratic Party, the first images

The opposition led by the former prime minister, Sali Berisha, is holding the national protest on the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” boulevard. ABC News brings views from above the Boulevard. Along with Berisha in the square is the head of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta. Meta just came out of his …

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Berisha: We are starting today the democratic revolution

From Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, while taking the floor at the protest, Sali Berisha said where the democratic revolution starts. “Dear people present in this popular tsunami of the democratic revolution. Albanians and Albanians, wherever you are, who have been waiting impatiently for this day, the great day of the …

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Money laundering and part of a criminal group / SPAK demands 16 years in prison for two associates of Rezart Taçi

The Special Prosecutor’s Office requested 16 years in prison for two associates of businessman Rezart Taci. It is about Artur Balla, against whom SPAK demands a sentence of 8.8 years in prison, and Bledar Lilo, for whom 8 years in prison is demanded. The charges brought against them are “Cleaning …

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Weed houses dismantled in Vlora and Selenica, several Arrested

Police of Vlora have conducted an operation in several villages in the municipality of Selenica and in Vlora in closed premises for shepherds’ houses. According to police sources, the action started at noon on February 9 and continued until the early hours of this Friday morning. Police sources in Vlora …

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Vlora director informs on Anti-drug operation

VLora Police Director Ermal Muçaj has given details regarding the anti-drug action in Vlora, which led to the discovery of two “grow houses”, in which 6 people were arrested and two were declared wanted. The operation started at 11:00 on 09.02.2023, at the same time, in the neighborhood “10 Korriku” …

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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

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 …