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Rama in Brussels, hosted by Ursula von der Leyen

During his stay in Brussels, Prime Minister Edi Rama was received this Tuesday by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting with von der Leyen of the head of the government follows the one with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, the details …

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Meeting with Borrell, Rama: Kurti and Vucic should not leave the conference without an agreement

Prime Minister Edi Rama hold a press conference together with the representative of the EU, Josep Borrel, after the meeting they had in Brussels. Rama first said that he feels good when he hears good words about the country’s process, as a result of the reforms. He added that he …

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Drug trafficking’s operation, SPAK: The group operated in Syria, Turkey and Macedonia, among arrested a policeman

SPAK prosecutor, Vladimir Mara, in a press conference, gave details about the police operation where a criminal group distributing narcotics in several European countries was destroyed. In his speech, Mara stated that the group operated from Syria in several other countries in the EU, including Albania, were involved in drug …

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Waiting Game: Afghan Refugees Stuck in Albania Long for America

Afghan refugees who came to Albania in 2021, expecting to move quickly on to the US, are finding their prolonged stay in the Balkan country frustrating. Original post Here

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New details unveiled on Vlora’s monday shooting

New details have been learned this Tuesday about yesterday’s event in Vlora, where 33-year-old Tonin Rama was injured.  It is suspected that there were 3 perpetrators, while only two of them shot several times at Tonin, injuring him in the leg. Perpetrators have not yet been identified, while the police …

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Grenade attack on North Mitrovica municipality

Building of the North Mitrovica municipality was attacked with hand grenades during Tuesday night, while the Kosovo Police announced that some material damage was caused to two official cars. “In the late hours of the evening, a suspect attacked the Municipality in the North of Mitrovica with an explosive device. …

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Murder and relations with the company that has a concession for Fier’s incinerator, two Albanians are extradited from Greece and Germany

 Two Albanians convicted in Greece and Germany have been extradited to Albania. Mihal Merkuri is sentenced to 10 years for intentional homicide. Whereas, Silvester Driza, has founded a company Sh.p.k. and has carried out several fictitious transactions with the company that has the concession of the Fier incinerator. “The cooperation …

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Man arrested by SPAK for ordering execution

Albert Pashaj was arrested this Tuesday by order of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), after being accused of paying Henrik Hoxhajn and Skerdi Tase to kill Aredin Behari. Local media reported that Pashaj had ordered the murder of Behar for property reasons, but the assassination attempt …

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Accused for corruption and abuse of duty, Safet Gjici appears before the court

The former mayor of Kukes appeared before the court today to be informed with the security measure. ABC News has provided photos from the courtroom, as the security measure is expected to be confirmed for him. Gjici was arrested after the publication of the erotic video scandal in his office, …

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The sex scandal of mayor of Kukes, is disclosed the testimony of Safet Gjici

ABC News has revealed the testimony of the former mayor of Kukes, Safet Gjici, given today before the GJKKO. He emphasized that he received the punishment for the action he did, while adding that he fell into the trap of those who, according to Gjici, “don’t like him”. “I received …

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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 …

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 …