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Salary increase/Rama: Great turnaround in the economy

This Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting with the government cabinet, where it seems that the economic performance and the May 14 campaign were in focus. The head of the government stated that our country has already made a big turn in terms of the economy, emphasizing …

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Football academy in Durres will be assisted by Manchester United

Manchester City, is the Academy which will assist the football academy established in Durres. Rama will travel today to Britain, accompanied by the mayor of Durres, Emiriana Sako and the Minister of Education and Sports Evis Kushi, to sign an agreement with the Albanian government. The agreement envisages the construction …

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Albanian currency’s record strength against euro has winners and losers tally outcomes

TIRANA, April 26, 2023 – Albania’s currency, the lek (ALL) is seeing unprecedented strength against the common European currency (EUR) this week, part of a trend with all major foreign currencies.  The ALL-EUR exchange rate is closely watched in Albania as the Eurozone is by far the country’s biggest trade …

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1,000 Albanians Returned from Britain Since Deal to Curb Migration

Over 1,000 Albanian nationals have been returned from Britain to Albania since the two countries signed an agreement to combat illegal migration from the Balkan state in December, officials said. Original post Here

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Money laundering for “Cosa Nostra”, Rezart Taçi’s accomplices are sentenced to prison

The Special Court has sentenced to 14 years in prison the two associates of the businessman Rezart Taçi, Bledar Lilo and Artur Balla, who are accused of laundering millions of euros of the Italian mafia organization “Cosa Nostra” in Albania. The Special Court sentenced Artur Balla, the brother-in-law of the …

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21-year-old arrested for hauling illegal migrants

A 21-year-old man has ended up in handcuffs this Tuesday after he was caught transporting migrants to Montenegro. Citizen Orjad Tarja was caught in flagrant at the roundabout of Hoti, Malësi e Madhe, while transporting 3 citizens from Pakistan by vehicle, with the intention of illegally crossing the border. Afterwards, …

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Ex-MP’s house in Italy engulfed by flames

A serious incident happened to the former Member of Parliament Eduard Ndocaj, whose house in Milan, Italy caught fire and it is suspected in advance that an electric spark may have been the cause. In a statement for the Albanian local media, Ndocaj told the whole moment when the event …

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Rama invites youths to join armed forces, promises wage increase

Prime Minister Edi Rama has called on young people this Tuesday to join the Armed Forces, underlining that for this category, in addition to the salary increase of 30% in 2022 and 7% this year, another significant increase up to 22% will become a reality in 2024. Through a social …

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CEC cast lots for Berisha-Meta

Has been the cast at the CEC to divide the fourth counter between PL and PDIU for the May 14 elections. PDIU will have counters at even-numbered tables, while the Freedom Party will have counters at odd-numbered tables. Counting groups have 4 members: 2 majorities and 2 opposition. For the …

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Explosives attack recorded in Shkodra bar

A quantity of explosives blasted in a bar in the “Fermentim” neighborhood in Shkodër in the early hours of this Monday morning. According to the police, it was the owner of the bar, citizen F. K., 65 years old, who informed the police that when he went to open his …

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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 …