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Seven Migrants Killed in Car Crash While Fleeing Albanian Police

Seven suspected migrants and an alleged people-smuggler were killed when the vehicle in which they were travelling crashed at high speed as the driver was trying to get away from the Albanian police. Original post Here

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‘R and M’: Albanian Officials Accused of Siphoning Public Funds via Frontmen

Two senior public officials in the Albanian capital, Tirana, stand accused of fixing state tenders to enrich a company they owned through front men. Original post Here

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‘Coordinated’ Cyber Attack Targets Albania’s Online Citizens Channel

A major cyber attack on the online media outlet Citizens Channel by unknown perpetrators has raised fresh concerns about media freedom and access to independent information in Albania. Original post Here

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UK Must Ensure Albanian Returnees’s Dignity, Expert Says

Communications expert from Tirana tells BIRN that Britain must ensure returnees’ ‘dignity, safety, and respectful treatment’, after a UK report said some Albanians returning voluntarily were kept waiting for weeks in detention. Original post Here

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Albania Builds Migrant Centre and Camp as Criticism Continues

Work has started in Albania to build a reception centre and camp to receive migrants from Italy – but activists and locals in both countries remain highly critical of the plan. Original post Here

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Albania’s Parliament Blocks Court Review of Former Minister’s Immunity

Ruling Socialists voted against sending the issue of the immunity of the ex-minister to the Constitutional Court, as the Court had demanded. Original post Here

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Exhibition in Former Albanian Labour Camp Puts Focus on Ex-Inmates

An interactive exhibition at the infamous communist labour camp and prison in Spac has brought visitors closer to the experiences of those who survived it. Original post Here

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Elections and Reporting on Missing Girl Spur Digital Rights Violations Across Region

Romanian politicians mull social media restrictions; Turkey, Croatia, and other countries face surges in digital rights violations ahead of elections, while the rest of the region is shaken by misinformation on a missing girl in Serbia and phishing attempts. Original post Here

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Greece’s Ruling Party Fields Man Jailed in Albania as MEP Candidate

Fredi Beleri won a mayoral election in Albania in May last year but was put on trial for vote-buying, souring relations between Tirana and Athens. Original post Here

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Shell Dashes Albanians’ Hopes of Major Oil Find

The government of Edi Rama has been talking up the potential of a major oil discovery beneath Mount Shpirag, but the discovery has yet to materialise. Original post Here

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Albanian Protesters Celebrate as PM Backtracks on Controversial Environment Laws

Protesters in Albania hail ‘moral victory’ after PM Edi Rama declares in Brussels that his government will revisit controversial laws that pave the way for a luxury resort linked to Donald Trump’s family. Original post Here

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State Police and U.S. ICITAP reaffirm 30-year strategic partnership

TIRANA, July 15 – The State Police and the U.S. International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) reaffirmed their strategic partnership, built over more than 30 years of cooperation. State Police Director General Skënder Hita met with ICITAP Europe and Asia Programme Representative Alexzandria Burns and ICITAP Albania Programme Director …

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Book “100 Years of Theatre in Shkodra (1879–1979)” highlights a century of Albanian stage history

The book “100 Years of Theatre in Shkodra: 1879–1979” by author Andrea Skanjeti has been published by the Academy of Sciences of Albania, presenting a century-long history of theatre in Shkodra, one of the country’s most important cultural centres. Academic and playwright Stefan Çapaliku contributed to preparing the book for …

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Deputy minister presents bill to strengthen Civil Society Support Agency

TIRANA, July 15 – Deputy Health and Social Protection Minister Denada Seferi presented a draft law to the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Information. The bill proposes amendments to the law governing the Civil Society Support Agency. Seferi said the draft aims to strengthen the agency’s institutional role. …

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UEFA Conference League, Vllaznia aims for second qualifying round spot

TIRANA, July 15 – Vllaznia will face Malisheva on Wednesday in the second leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The Shkodër-based team travels to Kosova with a 2-1 advantage from the first match at “Loro Boriçi” Stadium. Vllaznia conceded an early goal but reacted with …

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PM Rama to Euronews Serbia: Kosovo and Metohija no longer exists, only the Republic of Kosova

TIRANA, July 15 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Serbia bears the main responsibility for the current deadlock in its dialogue with Kosova because it has not accepted what he described as the new reality. In an interview with Euronews Serbia, Rama said the term “Kosovo and Metohija” no longer …

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FSHF: Major sporting events boost Albania’s international profile

The Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) says that hosting international sporting events helps promote Albania, develop tourism, and support economic growth. FSHF highlighted the UEFA Europa Conference League final held in Tirana in 2022 as a clear example of how major football events can benefit the country. The federation aims to …

News
Special prosecution chief: Electoral crime remains a concern, cases require evidence

TIRANA, July 15 – Electoral crime remains a serious concern, but prosecutors can file charges only when evidence supports them, Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime chief Klodjan Braho said on Tuesday. Braho made the remarks while reporting to Parliament’s Committee on Citizen Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight during …

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Former Kosova Prime Minister: Albania’s success benefits all Albanians

TIRANA, July 15 – Former Kosova Prime Minister and Honorary President of the Alliance for the Future of Kosova, Ramush Haradinaj, welcomed Albania’s provisional closure of three European Union negotiation chapters, calling it an important achievement in the country’s integration process. In a social media post, Haradinaj said the milestone …

News
North Macedonia’s Democratic Union for Integration leader condemns Serbian minister’s remarks

TIRANA, July 15 – Ali Ahmeti, leader of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, a political party in North Macedonia, condemned remarks by Serbian minister Snezhana Paunovic. During a television interview, Paunovic said she would have ethnically cleansed Kosova in 1998 if she had been in Slobodan Milosevic’s position. …

News

Albanian Protesters Celebrate as PM Backtracks on Controversial Environment Laws

Protesters in Albania hail ‘moral victory’ after PM Edi Rama declares in Brussels that his government will revisit controversial laws that pave the way for a luxury resort linked to Donald Trump’s family. Original post Here

News

State Police and U.S. ICITAP reaffirm 30-year strategic partnership

TIRANA, July 15 – The State Police and the U.S. International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) reaffirmed their strategic partnership, built over more than 30 years of cooperation. State Police Director General Skënder Hita met with ICITAP Europe and Asia Programme Representative Alexzandria Burns and ICITAP Albania Programme Director …

News

Book “100 Years of Theatre in Shkodra (1879–1979)” highlights a century of Albanian stage history

The book “100 Years of Theatre in Shkodra: 1879–1979” by author Andrea Skanjeti has been published by the Academy of Sciences of Albania, presenting a century-long history of theatre in Shkodra, one of the country’s most important cultural centres. Academic and playwright Stefan Çapaliku contributed to preparing the book for …

News

Deputy minister presents bill to strengthen Civil Society Support Agency

TIRANA, July 15 – Deputy Health and Social Protection Minister Denada Seferi presented a draft law to the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights and Public Information. The bill proposes amendments to the law governing the Civil Society Support Agency. Seferi said the draft aims to strengthen the agency’s institutional role. …

News

UEFA Conference League, Vllaznia aims for second qualifying round spot

TIRANA, July 15 – Vllaznia will face Malisheva on Wednesday in the second leg of the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. The Shkodër-based team travels to Kosova with a 2-1 advantage from the first match at “Loro Boriçi” Stadium. Vllaznia conceded an early goal but reacted with …

News

PM Rama to Euronews Serbia: Kosovo and Metohija no longer exists, only the Republic of Kosova

TIRANA, July 15 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Serbia bears the main responsibility for the current deadlock in its dialogue with Kosova because it has not accepted what he described as the new reality. In an interview with Euronews Serbia, Rama said the term “Kosovo and Metohija” no longer …

News

FSHF: Major sporting events boost Albania’s international profile

The Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) says that hosting international sporting events helps promote Albania, develop tourism, and support economic growth. FSHF highlighted the UEFA Europa Conference League final held in Tirana in 2022 as a clear example of how major football events can benefit the country. The federation aims to …

News

Special prosecution chief: Electoral crime remains a concern, cases require evidence

TIRANA, July 15 – Electoral crime remains a serious concern, but prosecutors can file charges only when evidence supports them, Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime chief Klodjan Braho said on Tuesday. Braho made the remarks while reporting to Parliament’s Committee on Citizen Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight during …

News

Former Kosova Prime Minister: Albania’s success benefits all Albanians

TIRANA, July 15 – Former Kosova Prime Minister and Honorary President of the Alliance for the Future of Kosova, Ramush Haradinaj, welcomed Albania’s provisional closure of three European Union negotiation chapters, calling it an important achievement in the country’s integration process. In a social media post, Haradinaj said the milestone …

News

North Macedonia’s Democratic Union for Integration leader condemns Serbian minister’s remarks

TIRANA, July 15 – Ali Ahmeti, leader of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, a political party in North Macedonia, condemned remarks by Serbian minister Snezhana Paunovic. During a television interview, Paunovic said she would have ethnically cleansed Kosova in 1998 if she had been in Slobodan Milosevic’s position. …