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Albania and North Macedonia joint customs control, Rama: We should not wait for the EU to remove barriers between us

This Monday, Prime Minister Edi Rama was present at the Qafe-Thane border crossing point, where he emphasized the importance of customs unification between the two countries, Albania and North Macedonia, which will affect economic development. Among other things, Rama has expressed that it is important that we facilitate trade procedures …

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Police close investigations for 4 people charged for drug trafficking

Investigations are closed for 4 people who tried to traffic 1 ton of cannabis by ship to Italy. SPAK has charged Gregor Likaj, Arber Saraseli, Saverjo Imeraj and Qemal Pekmezi with the charge of international drug trafficking and organized criminal group. The narcotics were loaded by speedboats by Albanian citizens …

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Influential Albanian politician led organized crime group in Australia, intelligence reports claim

By the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) Australia’s top criminal intelligence agency suspected Tom Doshi, a leading Albanian businessman and politician with ties to the prime minister, of leading a criminal group in the country that perpetrates immigration fraud, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Key Findings Confidential intelligence …

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Analysis: What’s behind the Albanian currency’s unprecedented strength 

TIRANA, July 23, 2023 – Albania’s currency, the lek, has continued its trend of trading at historic highs against the world’s most important currencies, causing both surprise and worry as the euro’s 12 percent fall in 7 months hurts key domestic industries that have their income in foreign currency while …

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Man assaults pregnant cohabitant causing abortion

A 56-year-old man brutally assaulted his cohabitant in Maliq this Saturday. The latter consequently had an abortion, as she was 2 months pregnant. “Specialists for the Investigation of Crimes of the Malik Police Station arrested in the act the citizen A. M., 56 years old, a resident of the village …

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Woman injured in Kardhiq–Delvina triple car crash

A 30-year-old woman was injured this Saturday as a result of a road accident that occurred in Kardhiq-Delvina in Shijan. According to the information, a “Range Rover” type car driven by Mariglen Hysa, 24 years old, resident in England, collided with the “Mercedes-Benz” vehicle with license plate BM001SM, driven by …

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One arrested, three prosecuted for selling cloned bank cards

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and three others have been put under investigation after being accused of cheating by selling cloned cards. As part of the coded police operation “X-Card”, the young man was arrested who promised, through online platforms, cloned bank cards in exchange for monetary values. Three …

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The number of victims from the accident in village Fortuzaj goes to 2, the 26 -year-old dies

A serious accident happen on Friday evening in Tirana where 2 young people lost their lives. According to the police, the passenger who was in the “Range Rover” vehicle, which fell into the abyss in the village of Fortuzaj, also lost his life in the hospital due to his injuries. …

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Car goes off the road on Levan-Tepelene axis, driver injured

A citizen was injured this Saturday as a result of a road accident that occurred on the Levan-Tepelen axis. The accident happened near Kafaraj village. It is learned that a woman was driving the vehicle, who immediately after the accident was taken to the Fieri hospital. According to the white …

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Korçë, three arrested for documents’ forgery

A criminal group, which falsified documents that served to go to the USA, Canada, Britain and the Schengen area, was attacked by the police of Korça. Within the coded operation “The Counterfeiters”, 3 citizens who practiced this criminal activity against the payment of 300-10,000 euros, were arrested. The arrested are …

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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 …