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DP’s V.chair attacks PM Rama on Kosovo-related statements

Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), Kreshink Çollaku, condemned this Thursday the statements of Prime Minister Edi Rama regarding the situation in the north of Kosovo and the September 24 attack by a Serbian terrorist group, which resulted in the death of police officer Afrim Bunjaku. In his speech …

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PM accuses oppposition of using Kosovo policeman’s killing for electoral purposes

Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused this Thursday the opposition and a number of personalities in Kosovo – who criticized the stance of the Albanian government regarding the event of September 24 in Banjska – of using the murder of policeman Afrim Bunjaku for electoral purposes. During the interpellation held …

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KFOR to take control of the North”, Rama: The addition of troops does not affect the sovereignty of Kosovo

Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again called for KFOR to take control of the North Kosovo. During his speech in the Assembly, he said that the addition of troops does not affect the sovereignty of Kosovo. Thus, Rama emphasized the absolute responsibility existing forces cannot do and therefore KFOR …

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Rama: Thaçi and KLA commanders brought freedom to Kosovo

Prime Minister Edi Rama stated this Thursday that Former President Hashim Thaçi and the three Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders are now in The Hague facing the judicial process, even though they gave everything for the freedom of Kosovo. In his statement from the Parliament, the Head of Government raised …

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Rama: Albania to sit in UN Human Rights’ Council

Albania will be part of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations, simce123 member countries of the UN General Assembly voted in favor. Albania will be one of the 15 countries that will sit in the KDNJ from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026. However, it was Prime …

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Gang’s assets seized by Special Court Decision

Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) has seized 11 real estates, which belonged to members of the criminal group, as part of the police mega-operation coded “Flame at sea”. Through a media statement, the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) confirmed this Wednesday that Armando Papa is …

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Three arrested after breaking and stealing several houses

Three people have been handcuffed by Durrës police as perpetrators of several thefts, as announced this Wednesday morning. Law enforcement revealed that the arrested, aged 26, 32 and 55, acted as a group and kept watch on the homes of businessmen and citizens with public functions, so that they could …

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Three minors punished for extorting citizens by offering sex

Three minors aged 16-17 years old were prosecuted this Wednesday by the authorities after police operation coded “Meeting”. According to the police, they created accounts with falsified data of different citizens, and through posts on these profiles, sexual favors were promised against various payments. Administrators of these profiles asked the …

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About 330 cannabis plants destroyed in Kruja, growers unidentified

State Police have finalized this Wednesday the 40th phase of the coded operation “Clean Territory”. Durig this action, the officers destroyed 328 narcotic cannabis plants that were found cultivated in various villages of the Kruja highlands were destroyed. Nevertheless, the police located the drug after drone controls in the Kruja …

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N. Macedonian man caught trying to pass through Durres port with fake passport

A 45-year-old man from North Macedonia was arrested this Tuesday in the port of Durrës after trying to cross with a fake passport. This citizen tried to leave Albania and avoid the authorities, using a passport with the likeness of a citizen from Serbia, with a criminal record. After verifications …

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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 …

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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 …