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Tirana young man arrested for dealing cocaine

Tirana Police has put in handcuffs the 30-year-old named Erald Shullazi this Sunday, on the criminal charges of dealing cocaine. Law enforcement revealed that he was arrested in New Ring, while during the search of the vehicle, cocaine was found and seized, which he had divided into small doses and …

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Considered as a ‘victim’ of prostitution, police arrested a 24-year old woman in Rinas

A 24-year-old Albanian with the initials M.M was arrested by the Police in Rinas after trying to cross the border with forged documents, while she was dismissed as a victim of prostitution. The police say that the young woman intended to go to the United Kingdom with a fake Italian …

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The increase of apartment prices, Veliaj: It is lower compared to EU countries

The Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, spoke today about the increase in apartment prices in the capital. He says that this has happened, but it should not be treated as something bad, but as good news because today’s citizens value their property more than before. “It is true that the …

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4 infected with Covid in the last 24 hours in Albania

The Ministry of Health, in the latest update regarding the Covid-19 situation, has announced that 201 tests have been carried out, four of which have been positive. Meanwhile, 9 people have recovered in the last 24 hours, while fortunately no loss of life has been reported. Statistics (January 29, 2023) …

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In rare move, Albania files official protest note over UK migration minister’s ‘shameful’ remarks

TIRANA, Jan. 16, 2022 – Albania’s foreign ministry has called in the UK ambassador to hand over an official protest note following remarks made by UK’s minister in charge of migration, which were called “a verbal lynching” of the Albanian people and “shameful” by Albania’s foreign minister. Typically such protests …

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Economy to remain anemic, says World Bank as it slashes growth forecasts for Albania, Eurozone and much of the world 

TIRANA, Jan. 17, 2023 – Albania is likely to escape a recession in 2023, but growth will remain anemic at 2.2 percent, the World Bank has announced, lowering a 7-month old projection for a 3.5 percent growth in GDP.   By those numbers 2023 is seen as a bad year, since …

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Albanians gain visa-free access to China as Tirana and Beijing sign bilateral deal

TIRANA, Jan. 18, 2022 – Albanians will soon have a new — and rather large — global destination they can access without a visa: mainland China.  While Chinese citizens have already had the right to visit Albania without a visa, first as part of a tourist season program which Albania …

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Albania had Europe’s fastest post-pandemic recovery in tourism sector, official data show

TIRANA, Jan. 19, 2023 – The visible increase in foreign tourists in Albania in the past two years now has statistical backing: Albania has had the fastest post-pandemic recovery in tourism in the entire continent, according to official numbers by Albanian and European statistical bodies.  Experts say pent up demand …

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Obituary: Isuf Kalo, 80, one of Albania’s top physicians and a key witness to communist history

TIRANA, Jan. 19, 2023 – Isuf Kalo, one of Albania’s most renowned medical doctors and a key witness to the country’s communist history as the personal doctor of the former dictator, has passed away at the age of 80, his family has announced. Professor Kalo was born in Albania’s southern …

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U.S. arrest of former senior FBI official with ties to PM leads to opposition calls for investigation in Albania 

TIRANA, Jan. 23, 2023 – The ties of the Albanian prime minister to a former senior FBI official recently arrested in the United States have led to calls by the political opposition for a full investigation of any possible Albania-related wrongdoings.  The retired FBI senior official has been arrested on …

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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 …

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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 …

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 …