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Rama in the conference with his counterpart Kishida: I appreciate the commitment to appoint an ambassador for Balkans

Following the official visit to Japan, Prime Minister Edi Rama today held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Rama said that in the meeting with the Chinese counterpart, they agreed that Albania and Japan condemn the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Among other things, Rama praised the commitment …

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Albanian Mine Pollution Puts Lake Ohrid’s UNESCO Status at Risk

Lake split between Albania and North Macedonia is facing serious threats that are damaging its ecosystem and jeopardizing its UNESCO status. Original post Here

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Albanian to be extradited from Germany for money laundering

German police has arrested the citizen Silvester Driza, who will be extradited to Albania, the police announced. Driza was declared an international wanted man, it is suspected that in 2017 he founded a fictitious company with a field of activity in the integrated handling of inerts and issued invoices with …

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Tirana, man arrested for selling counterfeit EURO

B.B, 20 years old, was arrested after the police found 1250 counterfeit EURO. The police say that he advertised fake euros on social networks with the intention of selling them. At the time of his arrest by the police, he was carrying a counterfeit package of 300 euros, which he …

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Ilir Meta is summoned to SPAK

The head of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta, was summoned to the Special Prosecutor’s Office today. Meta arrived at the premises of SPAK around 10:00. The reasons for summoning former President Meta to the Special Prosecutor’s Office are still unknown. In a brief statement to the media before entering SPAK, …

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Two injured in Fushë Kruja-Laç road car crash

An accident was registered after midnight of this Tuesday morning on the Fushë Krujë – Laç highway, where the vehicle driven by citizen A.Z, 37 years old, collided with the vehicle driven by citizen M.N. As a result, the two passengers who were in the car belonging to citizen MN …

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Six democrat MPs expelled from Parliament after tensions

Six MPs of the Democratic Party (DP) were expelled this Tuesday from the Assembly proceedings for 10 days, after the chaos they caused in the plenary session last Thursday. The expelled MPs are Elda Hoti, Sorina Koti, Oerd Bylykbashi, Lindita Metaliaj, Gerta Bardeli and Edmond Spahon. Earlier on, 12 MPs …

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Special court to hold hearing on Elbasan incinerator file

Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) will hold this Tuesday, at 12:00, a preliminary session for the Elbasan incinerator file. During the hearing, judge Rudina Palloi will decide whether to send it for trial or if the file will be returned to the Prosecutor’s Office for further investigations. …

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Durres port inspectors arrested on corruption charges

Six inspectors of the Port of Durres have been put in handcuffs this Tuesday for the criminal offenses of “Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions” and “Abuse of duty”. The arrested inspectors are: Kalosh Sula, Luan Çelaj, Marsel Farruku, Naim Kadrimi, Isametin Vranezi and Eduart Matmuja. From the investigations, …

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The government of Montenegro and Albania will hold a joint meeting on February 27

On Monday, February 27, a joint meeting of the government of Montenegro and the Republic of Albania will be held. The meeting will be held in the building of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, while a number of interstate agreements are expected to be signed. After the signing …

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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 …