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Rama signs 13 agreements between Albania-Kosovo, waiting for meeting with Kurti

Kurti asked for a meeting of the governments/ Rama signs the 13 agreements: his worries are over, now I’m waiting for the confirmation of the meeting Albanian government has submitted today to the Foreign Ministry of Kosovo to sign the 13 agreements of the joint meeting between the two governments …

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Two Durres men arrested on prostitution exploitation charges

Two people have been put in handcuffs by the Durres police this Thuesday, after being accused of practicing prostitution. According to the Durres police, a 38-year-old man and a young woman who were used for prostitution have been arrested. During the “Flower” operation, the citizen Tajar Vrenozi was arrested, his …

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Parliament decides on draft law to prevent doctors from leaving Albania

Parliament of Albania has decided this Thursday that the bill for medical students be discussed with an accelerated procedure. During the  session, it was decided with 64 votes in favor that the discussion will go through an accelerated procedure in the session of July 20, which is also the last …

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Special Court decision on incinerators issue expected

Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) has held this Thursday a session, where the judges heard the defense of the persons arrested in connection with the construction of the “incinerator of Elbasan”, including former Minister Lefter Koka and former Socialist MP, Alqi Blako. Koka and Bllako were present …

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Rama hosted by N. Macedonia’s PM in Skopje

Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived this Thursday in Skopje as part of his tour to the Western Balkans. Head of the Albanian government was hosted by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, while he was also accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Niko Peleshi and Majlinda Dhuka, Albania’s …

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Kovacevski: Berlin process is important for the region, Albania has our support

Prime Minister Edi Rama is holding a press conference with his Macedonian counterpart, Dimitar Kovacevski, after the meeting within the regional tour of the head of the Albanian government. Kovacevski emphasized that the Berlin Process is important for the region and that Albania as the chair has its support. “Since …

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Rama: EU needs us, as much as we need them 

Prime Minister Edi Rama held a press conference together with his Macedonian counterpart Dimitar Kovacevski, after a meeting between them in Skopje, as part of the Balkan tour of the Prime Minister of Albania. Rama said that it was a very useful meeting and discussion in the conditions when Albania …

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Rama: “Open Balkan has done a great service to the region”  

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a conference with his Macedonian counterpart, Dimitar Kovacesvski in Skope, was asked about Open Balkan process, whether or not it damages Kosovo. Rama said that this initiative has only brought good things to the region and whoever did not participate has made a mistake. “I …

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Rama start the tour in Balkan with Skopje

Prime Minister Edi Rama will start the Balkan tour today, where he will hold meetings in Skopje, Pristina, Belgrade, Sarajevo and Podgorica. The head of government’s first stop will be in North Macedonia, where he is expected to meet with Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski at 11:00 a.m. today. At …

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Rama Conditions Medical Degrees on Five Years’ Work in Albania

To stop newly qualified doctors from leaving the country, medical students will now have to work for five years in Albania before getting their diplomas. Original post Here

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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 …