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Money laundering/ General Prosecutor’s Office charges against an Albanian and three foreigners

Illegal money laundering scheme in Spain revealed. The Prosecutor’s Office of Tirana has completed the investigations and is charging an Albanian citizen and three foreigners. It is about the Albanian citizen Jozefina Gjoni, and the three foreign citizens Saverio Ciampi, Claudio Cuchi and Manrico Erriu. From the investigations carried out …

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A 33-year-old man arrested for drug trafficking from Italy

A 33-year-old man declared internationally wanted by Italy was arrested this Thursday morning in Fier. The young man is accused of participating in a structured criminal group for drug trafficking. His arrest was made with the purpose of extradition to Italy. “The services of the Fier Police Station, following the …

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Promised Land: Hope and Illusion Characterise Kosovo’s Love Affair with Albania

During the turbulent 20th Century, many Kosovo Albanians looked at Albania as a land of hope and promise. Then they visited. Original post Here

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Balkan Countries Eye Potential Medals at Paris Olympics

As Balkan teams descend on Paris for the 2024 summer Olympics, their countries are pinning their highest hopes of success on those sports in which they have traditionally excelled. Original post Here

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Ongoing heatwave negatively impacting Albania, region

TIRANA, July 24, 2024 – A scorching heatwave has gripped Albania and southern Europe this month, affecting daily life and businesses across the country.  Health concerns for the most vulnerable, a series of wildfires, and slow business in the services sector during the hot daytime hours are some of the …

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Two arrested for sexual abuse with a minor

The police of Maliqi have arrested a 41-year-old and a 26-year-old, as they are accused of sexually abusing a minor for several months. It was the girl who accepted this event near the blue uniforms, after her mother filed a complaint at the police station. The two arrested are in …

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Fight against money laundering/ Balluku: It is important to strengthen the partnership with the private sector

Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, in the development meeting for the fight against money laundering, emphasized that it is very important to strengthen the partnership with the private sector. He also underlined that it is very important to fulfill obligations and raise standards for the fight against money laundering. “It …

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The Future of Delivery Services: How Wolt is Shaping Consumer Expectations and Behaviors

In a world where service security and speed are increasingly important, Wolt, the Finnish tech company, is at the forefront of transforming the delivery industry. Founded in 2014, Wolt has rapidly expanded to operate in 27 countries, redefining how consumers interact with delivery services and setting new standards in the …

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From Criminal Amnesty to the pension agreement with Italy, Çuçi: We had a fruitful session

Bledi Çuçi, in a media conference, took stock of the work in the Assembly as well as the agreements made by the government. He spoke about the situation in the Assembly, where he said that it is normalized and that there was a fruitful session. Çuçi focused on the Criminal …

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Olta Xhaçka’s mandate / Çuçi: We need a second opinion from the Venice commission

The head of the Socialist Party group, Bledi Çuçi, was asked about the mandate of the socialist deputy Olta Xhçka, where he said that a second opinion from the Venice commission is needed. He further said that the Constitutional Court cannot impose the MP on the basis of the Constitution, …

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Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

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Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

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Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

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‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

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Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News
Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

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Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

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Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

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UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News
Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here

News

Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What initially appeared to be a Brussels-driven discussion about how to accelerate Ukraine’s accession has quickly evolved into a broader political reckoning inside key member states over the future shape, pace, …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt Resolution Declaring Iran ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’

Ruling Socialist Party MPs aiming to support the US on the Iran war push through resolution – but opposition MPs boycott the vote they claim was staged ‘for the personal agenda of the Prime Minister’. Original post Here

News

Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet …

News

‘Cruel, Sadistic’: Albanian Communist State’s Killings of Escapees Still Mostly Unpunished

In the final years of Albania’s communist dictatorship, the authorities shot dozens of citizens trying to flee the country – and most of the attempts to bring the killers to justice have met obstruction and incompetence. Original post Here

News

Major Cocaine Heist Reveals Albanian Links to Swedish Drug Trade

The theft of a shipment of cocaine that was smuggled from Costa Rica to Sweden exposed the role of Albanian criminal groups in the international logistics of the drug trade, as well as the challenges in holding them accountable. Original post Here

News

Iran-Linked Hackers’ Fresh Strike on Albania Highlights Continued Negligence

A new cyberattack by Iran-linked Homeland Justice group targeting Albania’s parliament revealed the continued vulnerability of state digital systems and failures to implement basic security measures. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: The Wheel of Fortune

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the changing fortunes, power dynamics and neighbourly relations of countries and actors in South-east Europe. Original post Here

News

Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, blocking a request by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK, and triggering one of the gravest confrontations yet between …

News

UN Report Spotlights Mistreatment During Childbirth in Western Balkans

Survey of women who gave birth recently reveals a “pervasive yet often hidden crisis of obstetric violence” and a widespread dissatisfaction with medical care. Original post Here

News

Albanian Parliament Votes Against Lifting Former Deputy PM’s Immunity

Ruling Socialist Party uses its majority in parliament to vote down a prosecution request to lift former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku’s immunity, allowing for her arrest. Original post Here