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‘Eja’: A lawyer’s passion for poetry brings some of the world’s best to Albanian readers

A new book with poetry translated by Perparim Kalo into Albanian has been published by Tirana Times in a multilingual version. By PREÇ ZOGAJ Among the anthologies of poems by the world’s poets in Albanian, not so many, but not little either, some of them can convey a rare tenderness. …

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Albania-Türkiye relations explored at international conference marking 100 years of modern relationship

TIRANA, April 24, 2023 – Relations between Albania and Türkiye were the focus of an international conference held on Monday to mark a century of diplomatic relations between the modern states of Albania and Türkiye.  The international conference featured presentations of officials from Türkiye and Albania, academics as well as …

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Albania PM Denies Using Govt Funds to Blackmail Voters

Opposition cries foul after Prime Minister Rama warned voters in an opposition stronghold ahead of May 14 elections that his government will not ‘collaborate’ with municipalities that vote against him. Original post Here

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The trial for the dismissed magistrates/ Former constitutional judge accused of concealing wealth

Today took place the trial of the former constitutional judge Fatos Lulo, who was charged with concealment and non-declaration of assets. Journalist Ermal Vija told ABC News that through the defense lawyer, Lulo asked the court to suspend the process with the argument that he has addressed the Special Appeals …

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Italy, Albanian youth busted with cocaine shipment

21-year-old Albanian man has been arrested by the Italian police after he was caught with a load of cocaine in the port of Vado Ligure, in Savona. According to the Italian media, it is about an amount of 85 kilograms of cocaine divided into 75 packages. The cocaine shipment was …

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Brazil bids to chair the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Brazil presented, on April 10th, the candidacy of Mrs. Thelma Krug for the presidency of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for a mandate during the Panel’s 7th assessment cycle (2023 to 2028). The IPCC is the United Nations body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change. …

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Op/ed: The Balkans are coming apart

The US and EU are failing in the Balkans. They need to change direction, writes Daniel Serwer. Bosnia faces the risk of secession In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Serb member of the state presidency, Milorad Dodik, is reiterating his intention to declare independence. He nominally seeks incorporation into Serbia. His current issue is that …

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Serial pharmacies’ thief arrested in Tirana

A 37-year-old man has been arrested this Wednesday in Tirana in the frwmework of police operation coded “Tracing”. Citizen with initials E.B was arrested after having committed several thefts in several pharmacies in Tirana in recent months. Specifically, on 31.01.2023 and on 19.03.2023, he stole different sums of money, in …

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Romania man prosecuted for not declaring over GBP 18,000

A 32-year-old man from Romania has been criminally prosecuted, as he did not declare an amount of money after arriving in Rinas. During the physical check, citizen A.C was found to have 18,500 pounds, which he had not declared at the border, as required by law. In the meantime, the …

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Kukes, young man arrested on domestic violence charges

A 37-year-old man was put in handcuffs by the Kukës police this Wednesday after being accused of domestic violence. According to the police, the citizen M. A., 37 years old, resident in the village of Topojan got arrested after having violated his uncle. Following arrest, the procedural materials were passed …

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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 …

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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 …