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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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Rama: Albanian iso-polyphony and çifteli flute sounds inspire “The Odyssey” soundtrack

Albanian musical traditions have inspired the soundtrack of one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films, “The Odyssey,” directed by Christopher Nolan. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video about the film and said Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson visited southern Albania. During his visit, Göransson explored Albanian iso-polyphony and the traditional sounds …

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Rama: New Saranda Welcome Center improves mobility and services for tourists

Prime Minister Edi Rama presented the new Saranda Welcome Center at the Port of SarandaThe new facility aims to improve the visitor experience and make movement around the city easier. It serves as a modern gateway for passengers and tourists. The center offers parking for cars and tourist buses. It …

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EU Commissioner Kos condemns Serbian minister’s remarks on Kosovo

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has again condemned remarks by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović about the “ethnic cleansing” of Kosovo. Kos said she was shocked that Paunović remains in office after making such a statement. She also warned politicians in EU candidate countries that their words carry weight. The …

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Minister: Albania targets full electrification of Tirana-Durrës-airport rail link by end-2027

Albania plans to fully electrify the Tirana-Durrës railway line and its branch to Tirana International Airport by the end of 2027, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said on Thursday. Presenting a bill to Parliament to ratify a loan agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Karakaçi …

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Serbian Minister’s Ethnic Cleansing Remarks ‘Irresponsible and Outrageous,’ Balla Tells Parliament

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”cba226ae-38ab-42b4-ac79-6fba2d1b4852″ data-turn-id-container=”cba226ae-38ab-42b4-ac79-6fba2d1b4852″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-3″ data-turn=”user”> The head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, described recent remarks by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović as “irresponsible and outrageous” during a debate in Parliament with MP Redi Muçi, who questioned why Balla had not publicly responded to the …

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Spiropali Publishes Motion Submitted to Socialist Assembly, Calls for Reform of Socialist Party and Electoral System

Socialist Party MP Elisa Spiropali has made public the motion she submitted to the Socialist Party’s General Assembly, proposing the launch of a national dialogue on a “New Agreement for Albania.” Spiropali said the document is not a personal initiative but an open proposal for discussion among all members of …

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Berisha Congratulates New Democratic Party Leadership: Free Vote Is the Foundation of Our Party

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has congratulated the newly elected members of the party’s leadership, emphasizing that the selection process was based on the free vote of the National Council. Berisha said the new leadership represents a renewal of the party, with several new figures taking on key positions. Speaking …

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Tirana-Durrës Railway Line Set for Electrification, Karakaçi: Service to Be Operational by End of 2027

Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Enea Karakaçi told Parliament on Thursday that the government has submitted a bill to ratify an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will finance the full electrification of the Tirana-Durrës railway line and the Rinas railway station. The minister said …

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Rama: ‘Smart City’ Project Moves Forward, Set to Expand Nationwide

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the “Smart City” Command and Control Center on Thursday, stating that Albania’s public safety system is entering a new era through real-time monitoring technology. Rama said the new system is designed to detect and prevent potential threats in real time by immediately alerting the monitoring …

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Rama and Lamallari Present ‘Smart City’ Command and Control Center: System Detects Threats in Real Time

The Command and Control Center, one of the key components of Albania’s national “Smart City” project, was officially unveiled on Thursday. Speaking at the launch ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro, partners, and invited guests, Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari said the initiative is far more than a …

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Rama: Albanian iso-polyphony and çifteli flute sounds inspire “The Odyssey” soundtrack

Albanian musical traditions have inspired the soundtrack of one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films, “The Odyssey,” directed by Christopher Nolan. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video about the film and said Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson visited southern Albania. During his visit, Göransson explored Albanian iso-polyphony and the traditional sounds …

News

Rama: New Saranda Welcome Center improves mobility and services for tourists

Prime Minister Edi Rama presented the new Saranda Welcome Center at the Port of SarandaThe new facility aims to improve the visitor experience and make movement around the city easier. It serves as a modern gateway for passengers and tourists. The center offers parking for cars and tourist buses. It …

News

EU Commissioner Kos condemns Serbian minister’s remarks on Kosovo

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has again condemned remarks by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović about the “ethnic cleansing” of Kosovo. Kos said she was shocked that Paunović remains in office after making such a statement. She also warned politicians in EU candidate countries that their words carry weight. The …

News

Minister: Albania targets full electrification of Tirana-Durrës-airport rail link by end-2027

Albania plans to fully electrify the Tirana-Durrës railway line and its branch to Tirana International Airport by the end of 2027, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said on Thursday. Presenting a bill to Parliament to ratify a loan agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Karakaçi …

News

Serbian Minister’s Ethnic Cleansing Remarks ‘Irresponsible and Outrageous,’ Balla Tells Parliament

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”cba226ae-38ab-42b4-ac79-6fba2d1b4852″ data-turn-id-container=”cba226ae-38ab-42b4-ac79-6fba2d1b4852″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-3″ data-turn=”user”> The head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, described recent remarks by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović as “irresponsible and outrageous” during a debate in Parliament with MP Redi Muçi, who questioned why Balla had not publicly responded to the …

News

Spiropali Publishes Motion Submitted to Socialist Assembly, Calls for Reform of Socialist Party and Electoral System

Socialist Party MP Elisa Spiropali has made public the motion she submitted to the Socialist Party’s General Assembly, proposing the launch of a national dialogue on a “New Agreement for Albania.” Spiropali said the document is not a personal initiative but an open proposal for discussion among all members of …

News

Berisha Congratulates New Democratic Party Leadership: Free Vote Is the Foundation of Our Party

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has congratulated the newly elected members of the party’s leadership, emphasizing that the selection process was based on the free vote of the National Council. Berisha said the new leadership represents a renewal of the party, with several new figures taking on key positions. Speaking …

News

Tirana-Durrës Railway Line Set for Electrification, Karakaçi: Service to Be Operational by End of 2027

Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Enea Karakaçi told Parliament on Thursday that the government has submitted a bill to ratify an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which will finance the full electrification of the Tirana-Durrës railway line and the Rinas railway station. The minister said …

News

Rama: ‘Smart City’ Project Moves Forward, Set to Expand Nationwide

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the “Smart City” Command and Control Center on Thursday, stating that Albania’s public safety system is entering a new era through real-time monitoring technology. Rama said the new system is designed to detect and prevent potential threats in real time by immediately alerting the monitoring …

News

Rama and Lamallari Present ‘Smart City’ Command and Control Center: System Detects Threats in Real Time

The Command and Control Center, one of the key components of Albania’s national “Smart City” project, was officially unveiled on Thursday. Speaking at the launch ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro, partners, and invited guests, Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari said the initiative is far more than a …