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Rama: The stadium in Durres is a new center for the city

Prime Minister Edi Rama this Thursday was part of the ceremony organized in Durrës for the International Competition for the New Stadium Project as another center of the city. In his speech, Rama said that as in Korça a few days ago and today there are three prestigious studios of …

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Fier, a 52-year old died in prison

A 52-year-old man in the prison of Fier died on the way to the hospital, after showing some concerns and complications. It is known that the incident happened in the early hours of this morning and it is suspected that the cause of the victim’s death was a heart attack. …

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Bank of Albania keeps key rate unchanged as record strength of local currency helps curb inflation, puzzling experts

TIRANA, May 3, 2023 – Albania’s central bank announced Wednesday it is keeping its key interest rate unchanged at 3 percent with global trends and a strong local currency taking the edge off domestic inflation and thus making rate increases less necessary. Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko said the …

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Balkan, Central European Journalists Highight Safety Concerns on Press Freedom Day

Journalists’ associations in Balkan countries used the World Press Freedom Day to urge authorities to take the ongoing threats made against them more seriously. Original post Here

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Central Election Commission removes all political posters

The Central Election Commission has ordered the removal of all posters of political entities throughout Albania, since according to this institution, none of them have met the requirements and conditions, which are provided by the Electoral Code. Under these conditions, Chief Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi has asked the Municipal and State …

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Southeast, Central Europe – Bar Serbia and Turkey – Rise in RSF Freedom Index

Press freedom improved in most countries in Southeast and Central Europe according to RSF’s latest World Press Freedom Index – though Turkey and Serbia bucked the trend. Original post Here

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Counterfeit $100 bills, a 37 year old arrested in Tirana

A 37-year-old man from Tirana has been arrested by the police, after throwing suspected counterfeit banknotes into the market. It is suspected that the citizen with the initials F.A. has continuously put into circulation, through various commercial subjects, banknotes of denomination 100 dollars. So, according to the blues, it is …

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Fier, two teenagers arrested for dealing drugs

Two people: citizens with initials M. B., 18 years old and S. Y., 17 years old, both residents of Fier, have been arrested by Fier police after being accused of selling narcotics. During checks, the officers found on these citizens, ammunition and a metal stick like the Police, which were …

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The murder in Shkodra, police arrest the killer after 21 hours

The police of Shkodra have caught and arrested the perpetrator of the murder of the 51-year-old yesterday in the city of Shkodra. Police in cooperation with the Special Forces RENEA, has made it possible the arrest of  the 34-year-old after 21 hours of search and pursuit. According to the police, …

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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 …