Blog
News

Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue and the Egyptian Youth Council for Development signed

TIRANA, Aug. 14, 2023 – The Memorandum of Understanding between the Institute for Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue and the Egyptian Youth Council for Development was signed Aug. 14, 2023. Recognizing that cultural interaction is the basis of human relations and that dialogue between cultures and religions is an important tool …

Read More
News

Young doctors confront challenges in the frontlines of Albania’s aging rural areas 

GJIROKASTER, Albania, Aug. 9, 2023 — Nestled amidst the rugged mountainous landscapes of Albania, providing efficient healthcare services to remote rural areas has emerged as a formidable challenge due to demographic shifts and geographical constraints. In recent times, a new generation of doctors has taken up positions at local medical …

Read More
News

Three workers injured in mine explosion in Bulqiza

Three workers in the Bulqiza mine suffered burns as a result of the explosion of a quantity of gas. The police say that the three workers are under the care of doctors and are out of danger. All workers have been evacuated from the work front and the gas leak …

Read More
News

“Greece is trying to play a role in the region”, Çupi: Beleri is a tool to create conflict

This Monday afternoon, the citizens of Himara are called to protest for the elected mayor, Fredi Beleri, who has been in jail for months, on suspicion of vote-buying. The protest will be held outside the offices of OMONIA in Himare. Analyst Frrok Çupi has commented on this issue in ABC …

Read More
News

Man arrested for stabbing two brothers

A 35-year-old man was arrested by the Tirana police after injuring two brothers. Gert Latifi from Lushnja hit the two brothers from Tirana with a cutting tool after a conflict for weak motives and then left the scene. The event took place on “Thoma Koxhaj” street in the capital. According …

Read More
News

Giorgia Meloni to visit Vlora today

The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit Vlora this Monday. ABC News learns that the Italian Prime Minister has been invited by her counterpart Edi Rama and is expected to stay for 2-3 days together with her family. Meloni is expected to arrive in the early …

Read More
News

Risked drowning in the sea, 12 people were rescued in Durres and Velipoja

The Border Police and the Maritime Police have rescued 12 people who risked drowning in the sea while sailing in two boats. One of the boats with 8 passengers, 3 of them minors, broke down in the middle of the sea, in Vilun in Velipojë, while the other boat with …

Read More
News

32 water vessels blocked by border police

The police have blocked 32 boats from Ksamil to Velipoja. It is about 16 Jet Skis, 6 dinghies, 8 speedboats and 2 tourist boats, which were blocked for sailing outside the designated area, practicing tourism activity in violation of the law, non-registration and lack of documentation. In addition to the …

Read More
News

Pogradec, 4 arrested for drug trafficking through fishing boats

The police seized 26 kilograms of cannabis in Pogradec while handcuffing four people who tried to traffic it to North Macedonia. As part of the coded operation “Restart 15” were arrested: Ardian Toska, Aurel Toska (employees at the Rasati Koran growth center); Roni Sulollari; Tane Blazhe (employee at the Rasat …

Read More
News

Four vehicles engulfed by flames in Fier

Four cars were engulfed in flames in the “Apolonia” neighborhood in the city of Fier. The police announce that the fire broke out in a “Benz” type car, which is suspected to have caught fire due to electrical causes. As a result, a “Nissan” type vehicle caught fire, a “Volkswagen” …

Read More
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 …

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 …