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In Remote Albanian Regions, Migration Becomes Almost Inevitable

Unemployment, poverty, and disillusionment with the political elite is emptying small Albanian towns and villages of people; the young are moving abroad, taking with them the hopes of their families for a financial lifeline. Original post Here

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Tirana, three arrested and seven prosecuted on illegal gambling charges

Tirana police have successfully completed this Saturday the coded operation “Poker 2”, as a result of which 3 people were arrested and 7 others were prosecuted. Based on the information at hand, the arrested citizens are Arlind Çali, Xhuljo Mija and Erisild Demçellari, administrators of the bar, all three residents …

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Croatian tourists saved in Vlora after being stranded at sea

Border Police of Vlora have come this Saturday to the aid of some foreign citizens who were stranded at sea after their boat broke down. Authorities revealed that the 3 foreign citizens had departed from Croatia and found it impossible to continue their voyage towards Turkey, where they had the …

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Interior Minister of Albania-Braverman discuss illegal migration at Home Office

Albania’s Minister of Interior, Bledi Çuçi has been hosted this Saturday by the British Secretary of the Interior, Suella Braverman, at the premises of the Home Office. During the meeting, the Minister emphasized that Albanians are a vital and integrated community in Great Britain, as he proposed to amnesty Albanians …

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Albanian, UK, Leaders Patch up Row over Migration, Pledge Cooperation

After weeks of verbal spats between the two countries over illegal migration, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that they will work together to tackle the issue. Original post Here

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Gjirokastra, heroin dealer arrested

A 37-year-old man in Gjirokastra has been arrested this Friday by the police after he was caught distributing doses of heroin and cannabis. During the physical search and the search in this citizen’s apartment, the Police services found 73 doses of suspected heroin narcotics and several doses of suspected cannabis …

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Rama: Ohrid deal is ‘de dacto’ recognition of Kosovo’s independence

Prime Minister Edi Rama has spoken of the European plan for the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations, stating that it is the best so far, where the parties get what they deserve and it is a “de facto” recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. During a conversation in the auditorium of the …

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Govt decisions on needy people’s labor market integration revealed

Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu, announced Friday a series of decisions related to the policies of protection and social inclusion for the categories in need. After the government meeting, Manastirliu said that through the subsidy, it will be possible for the categories in need to be employed …

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Albin Kurti visits Tirana on Sunday

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, will visit Tirana on Sunday, reports ABC News journalist Esiona Konomi. It is learned that Kurti will meet with Prime Minister Edi Rama and Speaker of Parliament Lindita Nikolla. There is no clear and stated purpose, but it is believed to be a …

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Rama starts his official visit to United Kingdom today

Prime Minister Edi Rama will start today a two-day official visit to the United Kingdom, where he will hold a series of important meetings in the framework of cooperation and strengthening of relations between the two countries. For the first time, Prime Minister Rama will be welcomed to a meeting …

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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

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 …

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 …