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Rama from Bosnia-Herzegovina: We are preparing to open Albanian embassy in Sarajevo

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a press statement with the head of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Borjana Kristo, announced that the Albanian embassy in Sarajevo will be opened soon. The head of the government also asked to enable the free movement of Kosovo’s citizens. “I wish this to …

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Rama in Montenegro, hosted by Prime Minister Abazovic

Montenegro was the next stop of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is following the second day of his Balkan tour. The head of the Albanian government was hosted in Podgorica by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic. According to the agenda published a few days ago for the Balkan …

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June Pride Parades and the Digital Ripple Effects on LGBT Rights

June Prides in Bosnia, North Macedonia, and Croatia were marked by violence, divisive legislation and societal divisions, while Albania faced privacy breaches and exam leaks. Hungary experienced DDoS attacks on independent news sites, and Romania saw arrests for sex trafficking. In Kosovo and Montenegro, misinformation and online insults reflected political …

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PM Rama to meet serbian president on 2nd day of Balkan tour

Prime Minister Edi Rama is holding this Friday his second day of the Balkan tour within the Berlin Process.  After yesterday’s meetings in North Macedonia and Kosovo, Rama will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he will meet with Borjana Kristo, the president of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia. …

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House burned in Vlora, residents evacuated on time

An apartment was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Friday morning in Vlora.  According to the local media, the incident happened in the Hajro Çakërri neighborhood, where family members were also inside the apartment. Eight firefighters with two vehicles intervened immediately to extinguish the flames.  The people inside …

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Killer’s brother denies being involved in Kruja assasination

Valter Bami, who was arrested late on Thursday evening by Tirana police, has again denied being a participant in the assassination of Gentian Bejtja where Ramazan Sino lost his life. During the interrogation at the Tirana police department, Bami said that when the incident happened he was staying at home. …

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The hearing session against former minister Fatmir Mediu is postponed again

The hearing session against former minister Fatmir Mediu for the Gërdeci case is postponed again. The journalist of ABC News, Ermal Vija reports that the reason for the postponement of the session that was to be held today is the powers of attorney for the victims of the tragedy. The …

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Gasification project, president of Azerbaijan: We will start investing soon for the construction of the network

President Bajram Begaj is holding a press conference with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. During his speech he said that one of the points of discussion was the project for gasification in Albania. He added that the investment for the construction of the network will start soon. “Another point …

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Money Troubles: Albania’s Strange Currency Crisis Defies Easy Solutions

As the sustained rise in the value of the lek causes a crisis in exports, action is needed – but will a country that seemingly turns a blind eye to manifest criminality in whole sectors of the economy bite the bullet? Original post Here

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President Begaj visit to Azerbaijan

President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj has departed this Thursday for the Republic of Azerbaijan, where he is expected to pay a state visit at the invitation of his counterpart, Ilham Aliyev. Albania’s Head of State will be received in a state ceremony by President Aliyev, while the focus 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 …

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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 …