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Bled Forum in Slovenia, Rama: I do not believe that in 2030 we will be part of the EU

This Monday, the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, is part of the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, where he gave his message regarding the future of the Western Balkans and our country in this regard. In his speech, Rama expressed that in 2030 he does not believe that they …

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Tourists flux, interior minister meets borders police officers

The Minister of the Interior, Taulant Balla, held a meeting with the structures of the State Police at the Hani i Hotit Border Crossing Point in Shkoder. In his speech, Balla congratulated the blue uniforms for the work done for the smooth running of the tourist season and the influx …

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Tirana man arrested for guns, drugs possession

A 40-year-old man has been arrested this Monday by Tirana Police on the charges of dealing narcotics and carrying weapons without a permit. According to the police, within the coded operation “Brryli”, it was possible to arrest the 40-year-old man, whose hard drugs, firearms, cold weapons and illegal items were …

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Durres, teen arrested after crashing pedestrian to death

A 19-year-old man has been arrested this Monday by Durres police for the criminal offense “Violation of traffic rules”, resulting in the death of a person. According to the police, the young man accidentally killed a 50-year-old pedestrian while he was walking with a ‘Benz’ type vehicle in neighborhood no. …

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SP convenes the National Assembly on September 4

The Assembly of the Socialist Party will meet next Monday, September 4. The high forum of the SP will decide on the reorganization of the party in this political season, but the reformation of the government by Prime Minister Rama is also expected to be announced there. According to the …

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Wanted Shkodra man arrested for drugs cultivation

A 33-year-old man who was declared wanted on the charges of drugs cultivation has been arrested by the Police of Shkodra this Monday. Investigations have found that 33-year-old Lazer Curri, previously convicted of cultivating narcotic plants, is the author of cultivating 245 cannabis plants, destroyed on August 9. Narcotic plants …

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Two italian tourists injured in Gjirokaster-Sarande road accident

An accident has been recorded this Monday on the Gjirokastra-Saranda road segment near the “Bistrica 2” power plant. A vehicle collided with a motorbike, as a result of which two tourists were injured. The “Volkswagen” vehicle, driven by 22-year-old Orest Zhgabi, collided with the “Dayang” type engine, driven by Italian …

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Editorial: Latest Tirana-Athens spat is bad for both Albania and Greece

TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL A wave of political commentary and debate has recently erupted in Albania, especially coming from sources that are always ready to declare Greece an enemy of Albania. Unfortunately, these pseudo-patriotic and pseudo-nationalist commentators often dominate the public opinion space.  Always ready to make conspiracy theory links, some …

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Imprisoned mayor of Himara transferred to Durres detention center

General Directorate of Prisons has transferred this Wednesday the elected Mayor of Himara, Alfred Beleri and the former mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla, to Durres Detention Center. They were kept isolated in the premises of the prison hospital in Tirana because they had shown health problems. Beleri was arrested 2 …

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“Oil in Shpirag like Saudi Arabia”, Rama: Big impact on the country’s economy

Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku talked about oil in Shpirag, which is at an advanced stage and approaching the decisive hour. Rama said that this can have a historical impact on social development, but also on the geopolitical and geostrategic positioning of …

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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

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 …

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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 …