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Scapegoating: UK Immigration Policy Rests on Villifying Albanians

The UK’s alarmist, inflammatory rhetoric on Albanian migrants ignores the real reasons why people are fleeing, and washes its hands of the vulnerable groups among them. Original post Here

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Concerns Raised in Albania over Ruling Party ‘Communications’ App

There is growing concern in Albania over the privacy of an app offered by the ruling Socialist Party and, with local elections approaching, whether it really is as ‘voluntary’ as the party claims. Original post Here

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Car burned at night in Shkodra

A vehicle was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Shkodër, in the “Manush Alimani” neighborhood. According to the police, it is suspected that the car owned by citizen R.B. it was accidentally burnt due to a technical fault. “Around 03:50, in the “Manush Alimani” neighborhood, …

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Saranda young man arrested for blasting father’s hotel

Police have arrested this Tuesday Sotir Çabiri, the son of Spiro Çabiri, as the author of the explosion with explosives at the “Bizanti” hotel on Monday morning in Saranda. In the police announcement, it is said that the 36-year-old is the person who planted the explosive substance in his father’s …

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Socialist Party demands the expulsion of 4 democratic deputies

The Socialist Party has requested the exclusion for several days from the Assembly of some democratic deputies after the tensions that occurred during yesterday’s session. Abc News journalist, Esiona Konomi reports that it is about the four MPs Flamur Noka, Sali Berisha, Belind Kelliçi and Edi Paloka. Noka was expelled …

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Rama at the World Government Summit 2023: Cooperating with each other to face the challenges

Prime Minister Edi Rama has traveled to the United Arab Emirates for a two-day visit, where he will also be present at the “World Government Summit 2023”. In a statement to the country’s media, the head of the government said that it is the first time he participates in such …

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Hearing on democrat MP on ‘Babale’ case postponed for 9th time

Hearing against the MP of the Democratic Party (DP), Ervin Salianji has been postponed for the ninth time this Monday, while the next session will be held on March 7. According to information, the reason for the postponement was the lawyer Ledjo Braho, who was in an activity in the …

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Elbasan’s ex-chief of police to face court on corruption charges

Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) closes the investigations and sends for trial the former crime boss in Elbasan, Leonard Palushi. At the end of the investigations, SPAK brought against him the charge of “Passive corruption of persons exercising public functions”, provided by article 259 of the …

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TNT blast destroys Saranda hotel

A powerful explosion has occurred this Monday morning in Saranda, due to which a hotel was destroyed. Explosion in question took place in one of the oldest hotels in district No. 1 of the coastal city, owned by Spiro Çabiri, at 05:54 on the boulevard. As a result of the …

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Albania honors today the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Today will be a day of national mourning in Albania as a sign of solidarity for Turkey, which has stood by our country after the earthquake of November 26, 2019. The decision of the Albanian government was announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama a few days ago through a post …

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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

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 …

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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 …