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22 years since the terrorist attacks, Rama remembers September 11: Never forget

Prime Minister Edi Rama remembered September 11 through a photo published on Facebook. He said that we should never forget this date. “SEPTEMBER 11 Never forget”, wrote Rama next to the photo. 22 years have passed since the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in the USA, where about 3 …

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The Assembly approves the decrees for the dismissals and appointments of new ministers

After President Bajram Begaj decreed new ministers on Saturday, Parliament voted today on the changes proposed a few days ago by Prime Minister Edi Rama. The dismissal of Olta Xhaçka from the post of Foreign Minister was approved with 95 votes in favor and one against. The dismissal of Ogerta …

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29,000 pupils go to 1st grade as 2023-2024 school year kicks off

2023-2024 new school year has begun this Monday in all pre-university education institutions, where about 29,000 students will go to school for the first time, while about 27,000 will go to the 10th grades. This new school year, all students of basic education from the first to the 9th grade …

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Rama’s congratulatory message on launch of new school year

Prime Minister Edi Rama has congratulated this Monday much success to students, teachers and parents throughout Albania at the start of the new school year. He wished all the children, students, teachers and parents of Albania as much success and prosperity as possible. “Today, when the school doors have opened …

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Accused for buying and selling votes, the court set the date for next session

On September 14, the preliminary hearing against Alfred Beleri will take place, where the court is expected to decide whether or not he will go to trial. SPAK demands the trial of Beleri for electoral corruption. Beleri was arrested two days before the May 14 elections on charges of electoral …

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A 31-year old is arrested for smuggling emigrants

A 31-year-old man was arrested by the Vlora police after being accused of helping illegal immigrants.  According to the police, it was learned that within the coded operation “Drashovica”, they arrested the young man. Eight immigrants with Afghan citizenship were in a vehicle, who will be sent  to EU countries …

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Elbasan, youngster caught in possession of kalashnikov

A 20-year-old man was arrested in Elbasan after being caught with a firearm, police announced this Monday morning. Law enforcement revealed that the arrest of the young man was made possible after the information that this citizen was moving in the village of Qukes with a Kalashnikov. From the search …

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Rama: Two milion foreign tourists visited Albania in august

Prime Minister Edi Rama has underlined Sunday morning that the summer season continues with high flows in Albania, even though it is almost mid September. Through a post on social networks, Rama stated that only during the month of August, 2 million foreign tourists visited Albania, referring to official figures. …

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President Begaj to attent Brdo Brijuni process summit in N.Macedonia

President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, will depart this Sunday for North Macedonia, to participate in the Summit of the Heads of States in the Brdo Brijuni Process. Leaders at this summit will adopt a joint statement, where they will highlight regional challenges and priorities, especially in terms of European …

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Tirana, youth arrested for holding 17-year-old girl hostage

A 23-year-old man from Durrës was arrested by Tirana police this Sunday after he held a hostage and abused a 17-year-old girl. According to the police, this citizen had deprived him of his freedom for several hours, as well as abused the 17-year-old. Investigative actions found that the 23-year-old man …

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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 …

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

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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 …