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CEC rejects DP request to register for local elections

Central Election Commissioner head, Ilirjan Celibashi has sent back the request authorized by former Democratic Party Leader, Lulzim Basha for the registration of the DP in the May 14 elections. Celibashi stated that the presented documentation is incomplete and set an ultimatum of 48 hours to the legal representative of …

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SP’s steering committee gathered ahead of May 14 polls

Socialist Party (SP) has finished this Thursday morning the meeting of Steering Committee, which lasted about one hour. It is learned that the Steering Committee will meet again on March 25 to formalize the candidates for the May 14 local elections. Central Elections Commission has announced that March 27 is …

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PM Rama unveils details from SP steering committe’s meet

Prime Minister Edi Rama has spoken this Thursday about the work that the Socialist Party (SP) is doing ahead of the May 14 local elections, stressing that during the Steering Committee’s meeting, the focus was on the names of candidates and councilors and the election campaign, according to different areas. …

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SP MP appears in SPAK

The deputy of the Socialist Party, Bardhyl Kollçaku, former general of the Army, appears today in SPAK. The news is confirmed by the journalist of ABC News, Ermal Vija. He has arrived at the prosecutor’s office to provide clarifications regarding a report made by Artur Meçollari, former commander of the …

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Question Marks over Efficacy of Albania’s Special Prosecution

Some of the most politically sensitive cases being handled by Albania’s special anti-graft prosecution have failed to move beyond the ‘preliminary investigation’ phase. Original post Here

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Southeast Europe Marches for Women’s Rights

Women’s rights organizations in countries all over Southeast Europe staged Women’s Day marches and rallies, demanding equal rights and better protection against domestic violence. Original post Here

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PM presents Albania’s tourism potentials to german tourist operators

Prime Minister Rama held a meeting in Berlin with representatives of well-known tourist operators and agencies in Germany, as well as publishers and managers of prestigious tourism magazines, in a discussion on Albania’s perspective, in the framework of regional tourism development. At the start of the meeting, the host of …

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US Ambassador meets SP’s secretary general

US Ambassador to Tirana, Yuri Kim is conducting this Wednesday a visit to the headquarters of the Socialist Party (SP).  Ambassador Kim is holding a meeting with the general secretary of the SP, Damian Gjiknuri. However, the US Ambassador arrived around 10:40 at the pink headquarters, while the political situation …

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TNT explosion on Kamza shop owned by Ex-president of Football Club

A quantity of explosives has been planted in a market in Kamza, where fortunately there was only material damage. According to sources, the market is owned by the family of Naim Qarri, the former president of the Kamza club, while it is suspected that the cause of the blast is …

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New UK Law Targets Small Boat Crossings, Often by Albanians

More than 11,000 Albanians arrived in the UK by small boat between May and September last year; a new bill seeks to make it easier to send them back. Original post Here

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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

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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 …