Floods in Western Balkans Cause Huge Damage, Drownings
States of emergency have been declared in some Western Balkan cities as floods block roads and cut off power while two people in Montenegro and Serbia reportedly drowned. Original post Here
Drug Traffickers’ Exploitation of Balkan Ports Requires Regional Response
Criminal networks are the primary illegal users of ports in the Balkans for the trafficking of cocaine, amphetamines, and heroin. Tackling them requires greater international police cooperation. Original post Here
US Probes FBI Ex-Agent’s Ties with Balkan Officials
A US federal grand jury is probing whether former senior FBI agent Charles McGonigal received payments or gifts from government officials in Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo. Original post Here
Albanians Mull Options as Data Security Takes New Hit
Albanians are seeking action after hackers behind a wave of cyber-attacks in 2022 opened a new front by hacking a private bank and leaking client data. Original post Here
Concerns Grow About Albanian Children Missing in UK
British admission that hundreds of Albanian minor asylum seekers have gone missing from placements in hotels has drawn criticism from experts demanding more responsibility on the issue. Original post Here
Attack on Albanian Journalist Over Court Report Widely Condemned
Local and international media organizations and the President of Albania have all condemned the attack on an Albanian journalist who had been threatened over his article reporting a court ruing. Original post Here
Albanian, Italian Authorities Conclude Operation Against Drug Gang
Albania’s Special Prosecution and counterparts in Bergamo, Italy, have cracked a drug-busting operation run by three Albanians, seizing large amounts of cocaine, heroin and marijuana. Original post Here
Albania Police Find More Surveillance Cameras Erected by Gangsters
Albania’s police are continuing an operation to find and dismantle surveillance cameras illegally erected in cities by criminal groups to collect information and monitor police movements. Original post Here
Italy Seeks Higher Profile Role in Western Balkans
A concern that Italy is not adequately exploiting its assets in the Balkans has again started to agitate Italian politicians. Original post Here
Illegal Surveillance Cameras in Albania Fuel Concerns Over Gangs’ Power
As Albanian police continue their drive to dismantle security cameras illegally erected by organized crime gangs, experts voice concern about the gangs’ apparent ‘superiority’ over state institutions. Original post Here
Balkan members of the Catholic Church have praised “broad-minded, spontaneous” Pope Leo XIV for his education, experience and openness. Original post Here
Tirana Times, May 8,– On May 11, 2025, Albania will hold its tenth parliamentary elections since the fall of communism in 1991 – a moment expected to be decisive not only for the political fate of the main parties but also for the democratic future and European orientation of the …
The Socialists and Democrats are still likely to dominate the Albanian political landscape after elections on May 11, but a cluster of new parties and the introduction of diaspora postal votes are threatening to shake things up. Original post Here
The Democratic League of Kosovo has filed 17 lawsuits in a fresh legal challenge against the outgoing prime minister, Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, and his ministers. Original post Here
Anonymous social media accounts, a lack of financial transparency and the unethical use of AI could have an impact on voter opinion ahead of Albania’s May 11 parliamentary election, BIRN has found. Original post Here
In an interview with BIRN, Zef Mazi, Albania’s former chief negotiator with the EU, poured cold water on Prime Minister Edi Rama’s election promise of EU accession by 2030. Original post Here
TIRANA, Albania , May 6th (Tirana Times ) — On May 11, Albanians will head to the polls for parliamentary elections marked by a crowded field of contenders: 53 political parties and over 2,000 candidates will vie for 140 seats in the national legislature. While this diversity may signal political …
President Begaj welcomes His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with a solemn ceremony. May 2, 2025 | TIRANA, Albania Tirana Times In a visit marked more by symbolism than substance, Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein arrived in Tirana on Friday for …
Tirana Times | May 2nd | Prishtina, Kosovo — A unique cultural bridge between Kosovo and Saudi Arabia was inaugurated on Thursday with the opening of the “Urat” exhibition in central Prishtina, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich Islamic and cultural heritage. Organized in partnership between the Islamic Community of Kosovo and …
The involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds or ties to the underworld among Albania’s so-called strategic investors must be examined in a broader context. Politically, this phenomenon represents one of the clearest signs of the symbiosis between crime and politics — and of the state being effectively captured by organized …