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127 Arrested in Tirana, Public Order Director: Communication Channels Identified Calling for Terrorist Acts

The Director of the Department for Public Order and Security, Dhimitraq Ziu, said in a public statement on Friday that 127 people have so far been arrested in Tirana, while another 244 have been placed under investigation without being detained. The senior police official also stated that the Cybercrime Investigation …

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Interior Minister Demo: 156 injured in four days of protests, urges parents not to let children be used in violence

Interior Minister Ervin Demo has once again responded to the protests and violent incidents reported over the past four days. In a statement, Demo provided an overview of the situation, revealing that 156 people had been injured, including 97 police officers, 45 protesters and 12 bystanders. The minister paid particular …

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QSUT: 11 injured during protest, including 3 minors, 3 police officers and 2 bystanders

Tirana University Hospital Centre (QSUT) has updated its figures on the condition of those injured during the protest, as of 6:45 p.m. According to the statement, a total of 11 people have sought medical assistance, including protesters, minors, police officers and bystanders. Full statement: Update / Injuries during the October …

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Albania PM Defiant as Protests Spread to Provincial Cities

After the capital endured a third night of violent clashes between student-led protesters and police, Edi Rama vowed not to bow to the demands for him to quit. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Bad Deals and Scandals

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week takes a look at salacious tales making unpleasant headlines, political deals being mooted and insiders spilling secrets. Original post Here

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Albania’s construction sector grows 36% in four years, among Europe’s fastest expansions

Albania’s construction sector expanded rapidly between 2020 and 2024, ranking among Europe’s fastest-growing markets. The latest Eurostat data show that real construction activity rose by 36% over the four-year period. Eurostat measures construction’s gross value added in real terms, using comparable prices and 2020 as the base year. Albania’s index …

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Albania beat Turkey 4-2 in second futsal friendly in Tirana

Albania’s national futsal team secured a 4-2 victory over Turkey in their second friendly match in Tirana, bouncing back after losing the opening encounter. Shqipron Brahimi opened the scoring for Albania, giving the home side an early boost. Ermir Kryeziu then delivered an impressive performance, scoring twice, while Qendrim Bakia …

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Archives Donate Rare Documents to Albanian Alphabet Museum in Bitola

The General Directorate of Archives (GDA), in cooperation with the Historical and Diplomatic Archives of Albania’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will donate reproductions of rare documents related to the 1908 Congress of Manastir to the Museum of the Albanian Alphabet in Bitola, North Macedonia. The initiative will support …

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Albania marks 68 years of UNESCO membership, highlighting its cultural and natural heritage

Albania joined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 68 years ago, becoming part of an international effort to protect cultural and natural heritage around the world. UNESCO safeguards invaluable heritage sites that bear witness to human life and activity across the centuries. The organization has 194 member …

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Albania’s Interfaith Council calls for peace, justice and national dialogue amid rising tensions

The Interfaith Council of Albania has issued a public statement calling for peace, justice, responsibility and national dialogue. The appeal comes as the country faces protests and rising tensions. Representatives of Albania’s official religious communities urged authorities to take citizens’ and students’ concerns seriously. They called for concrete and transparent …

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Koçiu: Protest Violence Puts Lives of Demonstrators and Citizens at Risk

Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu warned on Sunday that violence fueled by media coverage and longstanding political resentment poses a serious threat to the lives of both protesters and citizens. In a social media post, Koçiu described the injury of a young man from Elbasan as a wake-up call about …

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Koçiu: Protest Rights Remain Untouchable, Violence Will Be Punished

Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said on Sunday that the government would introduce six measures to curb urban violence. The measures aim to protect citizens and public and private property. Koçiu stressed that authorities would uphold the constitutional right to protest but punish anyone who incites violence, exploits minors or …

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Rama: Injured Elbasan Youth to Receive Treatment at Italy’s Best Hospital

Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday that he had personally arranged medical treatment in Italy for the young man from Elbasan who suffered an eye injury during protests. He also secured an air ambulance to transport the youth to what he described as Italy’s best hospital. Rama warned that …

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Foreign Tourists Stop at Prime Minister’s Office Amid Protests

Foreign tourists visiting Tirana have encountered unusual scenes in the capital in recent days. A group of visitors stopped outside the Prime Minister’s Office, where stone chairs and tables now stand following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s invitation to protesters. The tourists sat down and took photos. “Welcome to Tirana, and …

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Rama: Violence Cannot Force My Resignation; I Will Defend Albania’s Future

Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday that citizens had every right to demand his resignation and protest against the government, but no one could force him from office through violence. He made the remarks while presenting a new legislative package against urban violence. Rama defended the package, saying it …

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Rama Unveils Law on Protest Damage, Sets Fines of Up to 500,000 Lek

Prime Minister Edi Rama presented a new law on Sunday that would require individuals to pay for damage they cause during public gatherings. The law sets fines of up to 500,000 lek for people who remain at violent protests after police warn them to leave. Rama said the law follows …

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Hoxha Urges Presheva Valley Albanians to Vote in Large Numbers

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha on Sunday urged Albanians in Serbia’s Presheva Valley to turn out in large numbers for the country’s snap parliamentary elections. Hoxha described voting as a fundamental democratic right and an opportunity for citizens to make their voices heard. He stressed that every …

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Skënderbeu Beat Partizani 2-0 as Laçi Edge Vora in Superiore

Skënderbeu defeated Partizani 2-0 in the eighth round of Albania’s Abissnet Superiore on Friday, deepening the capital club’s crisis. Meanwhile, Laçi secured a narrow 1-0 win over Vora. The Korçë side broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Totre converted a penalty. Dejvid Janaqi sealed the victory in the …

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Rama Unveils Package Against Violence and Urban Anarchy: Peaceful Protest Is Protected, Violence Is Punished, and Those Responsible Must Pay for the Damage

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a new legislative package aimed at combating violence and urban anarchy, a day after Saturday’s protest in Tirana, which was marked by clashes, Molotov cocktail attacks on institutions, and damage to public and private property. Rama stressed that the package is based on the …

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Rama Explains Measures Against Violence: Fines of Up to 500,000 Lek for Those Who Remain at Violent Gatherings, Parents to Pay for Minors Over 14

Prime Minister Edi Rama, while presenting the new legislative package against violence and urban anarchy, outlined the six instruments included in the package, focusing particularly on compensation for affected businesses and financial liability for damage caused during public gatherings. Rama stressed that the main principle of the package is that …

News

Koçiu: Protest Violence Puts Lives of Demonstrators and Citizens at Risk

Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu warned on Sunday that violence fueled by media coverage and longstanding political resentment poses a serious threat to the lives of both protesters and citizens. In a social media post, Koçiu described the injury of a young man from Elbasan as a wake-up call about …

News

Koçiu: Protest Rights Remain Untouchable, Violence Will Be Punished

Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said on Sunday that the government would introduce six measures to curb urban violence. The measures aim to protect citizens and public and private property. Koçiu stressed that authorities would uphold the constitutional right to protest but punish anyone who incites violence, exploits minors or …

News

Rama: Injured Elbasan Youth to Receive Treatment at Italy’s Best Hospital

Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday that he had personally arranged medical treatment in Italy for the young man from Elbasan who suffered an eye injury during protests. He also secured an air ambulance to transport the youth to what he described as Italy’s best hospital. Rama warned that …

News

Foreign Tourists Stop at Prime Minister’s Office Amid Protests

Foreign tourists visiting Tirana have encountered unusual scenes in the capital in recent days. A group of visitors stopped outside the Prime Minister’s Office, where stone chairs and tables now stand following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s invitation to protesters. The tourists sat down and took photos. “Welcome to Tirana, and …

News

Rama: Violence Cannot Force My Resignation; I Will Defend Albania’s Future

Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday that citizens had every right to demand his resignation and protest against the government, but no one could force him from office through violence. He made the remarks while presenting a new legislative package against urban violence. Rama defended the package, saying it …

News

Rama Unveils Law on Protest Damage, Sets Fines of Up to 500,000 Lek

Prime Minister Edi Rama presented a new law on Sunday that would require individuals to pay for damage they cause during public gatherings. The law sets fines of up to 500,000 lek for people who remain at violent protests after police warn them to leave. Rama said the law follows …

News

Hoxha Urges Presheva Valley Albanians to Vote in Large Numbers

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha on Sunday urged Albanians in Serbia’s Presheva Valley to turn out in large numbers for the country’s snap parliamentary elections. Hoxha described voting as a fundamental democratic right and an opportunity for citizens to make their voices heard. He stressed that every …

News

Skënderbeu Beat Partizani 2-0 as Laçi Edge Vora in Superiore

Skënderbeu defeated Partizani 2-0 in the eighth round of Albania’s Abissnet Superiore on Friday, deepening the capital club’s crisis. Meanwhile, Laçi secured a narrow 1-0 win over Vora. The Korçë side broke the deadlock in the 56th minute when Totre converted a penalty. Dejvid Janaqi sealed the victory in the …

News

Rama Unveils Package Against Violence and Urban Anarchy: Peaceful Protest Is Protected, Violence Is Punished, and Those Responsible Must Pay for the Damage

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a new legislative package aimed at combating violence and urban anarchy, a day after Saturday’s protest in Tirana, which was marked by clashes, Molotov cocktail attacks on institutions, and damage to public and private property. Rama stressed that the package is based on the …

News

Rama Explains Measures Against Violence: Fines of Up to 500,000 Lek for Those Who Remain at Violent Gatherings, Parents to Pay for Minors Over 14

Prime Minister Edi Rama, while presenting the new legislative package against violence and urban anarchy, outlined the six instruments included in the package, focusing particularly on compensation for affected businesses and financial liability for damage caused during public gatherings. Rama stressed that the main principle of the package is that …