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Rama in Brussels, the focus tensions between Kosovo and Serbia

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, will travel this Monday to Brussels, where he will meet with the President of the Council of the European Union, Charles Michel. Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and finding a way to normalize the Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue are expected to be the focus of the …

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Beleri’s request to be sworn in as elected mayor is rejected, what is expected to happen with the municipality of Himara

Fredi Beleri has applied to the Special Court to obtain permission to be sworn as elected mayor. ABC News journalist, Ermal Vija reports that GJKKO has rejected his request, while the arguments of this decision taken by the judge, Atalanta Zeqiraj, have not yet been made known. It is learned …

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Lefter Alla seeks release due to health problems

The former mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla, is expected to appear before the Special Court today to request his release from prison. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija says that Alla is seeking release due to her health condition. This request of the former mayor is expected to be examined by …

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Three Kosovo policemen kidnapped by Serbia are released

The Serbian court in Kraleve this Monday decided to release the three policemen kidnapped a few days ago in Kosovo. The media in Kosovo write that the release of the three policemen captured on June 14 by the Serbian forces inside the border was made in the second session of …

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The release of three Kosovo policemen, Rama: We will not allow a ‘Donbas’ in the heart of Europe

The Kosovo policemen were released today from Serbia, after 12 days in detention. After this important news, Prime Minister Edi Rama also reacted, who, among other things, wrote that this is late but very good news, because it puts an end to the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of three people …

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Shooting in Vlora, one person injured

Gunshots were registred at noon this Monday in Vlora, where it is suspected that one person was injured as a result. According to sources for ABC News, it was learned that the incident took place in “Pavarsia” neighborhood in the coastal city, in premises of a bar. Journalist Elton Nika …

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Rama shares pictured of Drilon park in Pogradec

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama posted this Monday morning footage from the fantastic view of Drilon park in Pogradec area. In his social media statement, PM Rama emphasizes that transformative projects have been implemented in Drilon and will make it even more attractive for foreign and local tourists. “Good …

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Money exchange shop robbed in Tirana

An unidentified person robbed a money exchange point on Saturday morning on “Tom Plezha” street in New Ring Road. He entered the Exchange around 08:25 and, according to the police, he was carrying an item suspected to be a firearm. He took a sum of money at gunpoint and left …

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Gjirokastër, man caught transporting 11 illegal immigrants

A man has been arrested for transporting 11 immigrants from third countries. A 35 year old ended up behind bars, while his co-habitant, a 32-year-old woman with the initials living in Tirana, was prosecuted. Official sources informed that the arrest of the young man was made on the national axis …

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Weapons in North Kosovo/Svechla: We confiscated a vehicle, property of a Serbian state enterprise

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla, has given details about the operation carried out by the police yesterday in the north of the country, where a significant amount of weapons was found in a vehicle with Serbian license plates in Zveçan. In an extraordinary press conference, Svečla …

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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

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 …