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Michel arrived in Tirana for Berlin Process Summit

Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, welcomed the President of the European Council Charles Michel in Tirana. EC’s President arrived to Tirana in the framework of the Summit that takes place this Monday in Albania. However, the Berlin process is an initiative that aims to increase regional …

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Summit in Tirana, Begaj: Historical for Albania’s and the region’s path towards the EU

President Bajram Begaj has welcomed the holding of the Berlin Process Summit that is taking place today in Tirana. President Begaj says that this is a great historical event for the European journey of Albania and the region. “The holding of the Berlin Process Summit in Tirana today is a …

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Woman injured, traffic blocked by car crash in Lezha

A serious accident took place this Monday morning on the Lezhë-Rrile secondary road, blocking traffic for about 1 hour. Vehicle driven by a woman collided with the surrounding wall of a residence and then overturned. Meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle received minor injuries, while her life is out of …

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Rama-Kurti shake hands in warm welcome ahead of Berlin Process Summit

Prime Minister Edi Rama is welcoming the leaders of the Region and the leaders of the European Union to the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard. As he had confirmed, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, arrived and was welcomed with a smile by Prime Minister Rama and a handshake. …

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Von der Leyen, a very strong message of how committed we are to enlargement

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during her stay in Tirana, spoke to journalists in connection with the launch of the Berlin Summit Process. She said that this summit is held at a time when the situation in the Balkans is tense, but this shows the …

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The Interreligious Collaboration Center QBNF Becomes an Official Member of the Prestigious Network for International Religious Peacemakers

ELBASAN, Oct. 13 – With a decision of the Board of Directors, the Interreligious Cooperation Center (QBNF) in the Elbasan region has been officially accepted as a member of the “Network for traditional Religious Peacemakers”. This is a major change in the mission and impact of the QBNF in improving …

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Declared wanted for drug trafficking in Italy, a 53-year-old man arrested in Vlora

A 53-year-old man was arrested by the Vlora police after being declared internationally wanted by the Italian state as a member of a criminal group in the field of drug trafficking. Lorenc Kapllani alias Lorenc Sadikaj was arrested in the neighborhood “10 Korriku” in Vlora with the intention of extradition …

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Car hits two pedestrians in Fier

A serious accident occurred on Saturday morning in front of the “Janaq Kilica” gymnasium in Fier. As a result, a couple of pedestrians were injured. It is learned that a “Volkswagen” type vehicle, driven by a woman, hit two citizens, 38 and 44 years old, one of whom suffered leg …

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War in Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 7 Albanians return to their homeland, among them a minor

Through a flight from Tel Aviv to Skopje coordinated by the Republic of North Macedonia, 7 Albanian citizens have arrived, among them a minor. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that after arriving in Skopje, they headed towards Albania to the cities where they live and reside. “The Ministry for …

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The Berlin Process in Tirana, 1,604 officers deployed for the security of the summit

The General Director of the State Police, Sokol Bizhga, has presented the plan of measures undertaken for the smooth running of security for the Berlin summit, which will be held on Monday in Tirana. He emphasized that some roads will be blocked while nearby businesses will also remain closed. Bizhga …

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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 …