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Tirana, three injured as bus crashes multiple cars

A bus collided with several vehicles this Monday in Tirana, at the location called “Taiwan Bridge”, injuring three citizens. Following the crash, the Police arrived at the scene, where it is working on clarifying the circumstances of the event. “On 27.02.2023, around 11:35, at the place called Taiwan Bridge, a …

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11 cooperation agreements are signed between Albania – Montenegro

In the framework of the second joint meeting between the government of the Republic of Albania and the government of Montenegro, several cooperation agreements were signed, among which the Joint Declaration between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania Edi Rama and the Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazovic, …

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Joint meeting, Rama: Albania and Montenegro are more than neighbors

After the ceremony of signing the agreements between the two governments, Prime Minister Rama and his Montenegrin counterpart, Dritan Abazovic, attended a press conference. In his speech, Rama emphasized that Albania and Montenegro are more than neighbors and that there is brotherly rapprochement between the two countries. “Dear Prime Minister, …

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Albania, Greece Have Hit ‘Reset’ Button in Bilateral Relations

The list of open issues is long and challenging but the two countries are at last moving in the right direction. Original post Here

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PM Rama hosted by counterpart Abazovic in Montenegro

Prime Minister Edi Rama has been received this Monday by his counterpart of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic for a joint meeting between the Albanian and Montenegrin governments. The meeting between the two governments will be held in the building of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts in Podgorica. In this …

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Fier, three girls arrested for exploitation of prostitution

Three girls have been arrested this Monday under the charge of exploitation of prostitution: Pranvera Isufaj, 32 years old, Aleksandra Toska, 19 years old and a 17 year old. Organizer of this criminal activity, citizen ArbEr Mehmeti, 33 years old, who has been declared wanted, was previously convicted for attempted …

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Death of Kenya woman, casino driver accompanied to police

The driver of the casino where the 22-year-old woman from Kenya, who died a few days ago, worked, is accompanied to the police. As reported, the citizen Rodi Barçi, 32 years old, was escorted to police station number 1 in Tirana, to be interrogated regarding the serious incident, and his …

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Fier, man arrested for heroine distribution

A 43-year-old resident of Fier was arrested by the police, after a dose of heroin was found during the physical check. Meanwhile, 13,750 euros and 400 dollars, suspected to have benefited from this criminal activity, were seized in the residence of citizen E.K., who is wanted. “Specialists of the Narcotics …

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4 arrested, under the influence of narcotics and alcohol

The Traffic Police has taken strict measures this weekend, as during a control, 4 drivers were arrested, who broke the rules. Two of them were caught driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol, one under the influence of narcotics and the other without a driving license. Meanwhile, the materials …

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Central and Southeast Europe Show Support for Ukraine on Russian Invasion Anniversary

In Balkan capitals, citizens and political leaders have shown support for the Ukrainian people one year after the start of Russia’s aggression. 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 …