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Rama: 2024 proclaimed as year of Albanian language

2024 has been declared as the year of Albanian language, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced Wednesday. In a post on his personal Facebook page, PM Rama published a video by the Minister of Education and Sports, Ogerta Manastirliu. “On the International Day of Education, we announce the year 2024, the …

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Prostitution network dismantled in Tirana and Kruja, three Arrested

Three people have fallen into the handcuffs of the police and another has been declared wanted this Wednesday, because they are accused of exploiting three minor girls for prostitution. Samuel Doku, Kastriot Kullaj and Fabjon Cangu were arrested. From the investigative actions carried out, it was found that the 3 …

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Italian Parliament approves the Rama-Meloni agreement for immigrants

The Chamber of Deputies approved with 155 votes in favor and 115 against (2 abstentions) the draft law for the ratification of the Italy-Albania agreement on immigrants, “for strengthening cooperation in migration issues”. The agreement enters into force on the date agreed between the parties and remains in force for …

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Former PM Berisha summoned by SPAK for partizani issue

Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has summoned former Prime Minister Sali Berisha this Tuesday to interrogate him regarding the privatization of the former “Partizani” sports complex. Session for the “Partizani” affair is expected to take place at 10:00, while it is not known whether Berisha himself will go personally or send …

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Three arrested after scaffold’s fall in Tirana

Law enforcement has arrested three people in connection with the incident that happened on Monday in Tirana, where the scaffolding of a building under construction fell, injuring two passers-by. Police revealed that the engineer of the company that dealt with security, the owner of the company and the worker who …

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Sali Berisha for the first time at SPAK

Sali Berisha arrives for the first time at the Special Prosecutor’s Office to be interrogated as a person under investigation for the Partizani file. At 10:00, Berisha arrived at the premises of the special prosecution accompanied by his lawyer Sokol Mengjesi and Genc Gjokutaj. In addition to Berisha, the investigations …

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Fier, young man arrested on drug charges

A 37-year-old man was arrested this Tuesday by the Fier police, after he was caught distributing narcotics, in the framework of the “Tempulli2” mega-operation. The 37-year-old had prepared doses of cocaine to sell in Roskovec. From the physical controls and in the apartment, the police services found and seized from …

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Police director: 273 arrested in ‘Temple’ Mega-Operation

The General Director of the police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku, held a press conference regarding the ‘Temple 2’ operation developed throughout the country, where he gave even more details about the arrests and the checks carried out. From the operation that, according to Rrumbullaku, started in December last year, it is known …

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Javelins for Kosovo, Black Hawks for Albania, U.S. reinforces military defense, as experts worry about the future

TIRANA, Jan. 22, 2024 – As tensions in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina continue, and with worries of Russian meddling, there has been an increase of investment in the defense of staunchest U.S. allies in the Western Balkans — both Kosovo and NATO member Albania.   Last week, the United States approved a …

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Couple of swiss hikers stranded in Korab mountain

A couple of Swiss tourists were stranded near Sorokoli in Mount Korabi, as announced Monday.  According to the authorities, the tourists left yesterday afternoon and could not return. In advance, it is suspected that they were trapped by an avalanche.  Police of Dibra and the force from Tirana immediately went …

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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 …

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 …