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Begaj after Greece train collision: Sincere condolences to victims’ families

President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj has reacted Wednesday to the tragedy that happened in Larisa, Greece, where 38 people dies and dozens more were injured after a freight train collided with a passenger train. On the social networks, Begaj expressed his condolences to the families of the victims while …

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Pedestrian crashed in Durres, seriously injured

An accident resulting in the serious injuring’s  of a pedestrian occurred this Wednesday morning in Shkozet. A 60-year-old man, tried to cross to the other side of the road without using the overpass and as a result crashed to death. The driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian was …

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Ex-mayor of Lushnja returns in prison

Special Court of Appeal has decided to return to prison Fatos Tushe, the former mayor of Lushnja Municipality, a month after he released him from his cell. Decision announced this Wednesday indicates that the Court of Appeal has found Fatos Tushe guilty of another criminal offense, that of “violation of …

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How will be voted on May 14? CEC reveals details from the ballot

The State Commissioner of Elections, Ilirjan Celibashi, has shown how the format of the ballot for the local elections of May 14 will be. Asked by Abc News, if there will be a special place on the ballot to mark the name of the party chairman, given the internal problems …

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Albanian Tax Inspectors Fine Critical Media Outlets

Tax inspectors imposed several hefty fines on media outlets critical of the government of the Prime Minister Edi Rama for under-reporting their tax obligations, sparking claims that they were targeted for political reasons. Original post Here

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State police director’s orders on fighting drugs cultivation

General Director of the State Police, Muhamet Rrumbullaku, has ordered this Tuesday the leaders of the district and border police to increase controls in the field and closed areas as well as to organize joint control groups to prevent the cultivation of narcotic plants. In January and February, there were …

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Armed man arrested in Tirana

Police officers of Police station number 3 in the capital has arrested a 40-year-old man, who was caught red-handed walking the streets of Tirana armed. He has been identified as the 40-year-old man with the initials M.Ç., who was found a pistol with a comb and combat ammunition, as well …

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Drug cultivation, a 54-year-old man is arrested in Tirana

A 54-year-old identified as Petrit Kamberi was arrested by the police after being sentenced by the court to over 4 years in prison for drug cultivation. According to the police, Kamberi was wanted, after the Tirana Court of Appeal sentenced him to 4 years and 8 months in prison for …

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Rama welcomes deal on Kosovo-Serbia relations’ normalization

Prime Minister Edi Rama has hailed this Tuesday the agreement reached for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia during the meeting between Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels. In a social media statement, the Head of Albanian Government Peace and cooperation are essential for …

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Ex-Prisoner of Albanian Communist Regime Exhibits Art at Former Jail

Fatos Lubonja,who spent 17 years in prison under the Albanian Communist regime, presented an exhibition called “Fraktura” on Saturday in former communism prison of Spac. 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

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

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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 …