Albanian Drug Cartel Dismantled in EU Crackdown
Seizure of six tons of cocaine reveals how criminal profits are laundered into Albania’s booming construction sector. TIRANA, July 27, 2025 (Tirana Times) — Albania’s political crisis deepened this week asopposition leader Sali Berisha launched a sweeping series of accusations against PrimeMinister Edi Rama, claiming the May 11 local elections …
Dirty Money Fuels Albania’s Construction Boom
Tirana, Albania – July 28, 2025 A sweeping European-led crackdown on a transnational Albanian drug cartel, culminating in the seizure of six tons of cocaine valued at over €400 million, has reignited concerns that Tirana’s high-rise construction boom is being bankrolled by illicit wealth from organized crime and corruption. The …
Opposition Alleges Vote Rigging via Building Permits
TIRANA, July 27, 2025 (Tirana Times) — Albania’s political crisis deepened this week as opposition leader Sali Berisha launched a sweeping series of accusations against Prime Minister Edi Rama, claiming the May 11 local elections were rigged through an elaborate vote-buying scheme involving 450 illegal construction permits awarded to criminal …
Albania’s New Pyramid: Towers, Dirty Money, and an Emptying NationBy Tirana Times
In 1997, Albania collapsed under the weight of fraudulent pyramid schemes that wiped out people’s life savings and nearly brought the state to its knees. Today, a different kind of pyramid is rising — this time, quite literally. All across Tirana and spreading to other cities and coasts, the country …
Italy’s Tirana-Cairo Deportation Flight Sets ‘Dangerous Precedent’
With the direct deportation of five Egyptians from Tirana to Cairo, rights groups and legal experts say Italy’s offshore migration strategy has taken an ominous turn. Original post Here
Week in Review: Opportunities and Setbacks
This week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories reflect the region’s ongoing push-and-pull between hopes of peace and the bitter weight of history. Original post Here
Week in Review: Failures and Flops
From Kosovo’s parliamentary stalemate to Montenegro’s rocky tourism season, our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sees several countries across the region failing to meet up to public needs. Original post Here
Airport Ordeal Sheds Light on Plight of Migrant Workers in Albania
Long hours, low pay and confiscated passports. Albania’s treatment of migrant workers bears all the hallmarks of modern slavery, experts say. Original post Here
Tirana Mayor Indicted in Corruption Probe
TIRANA, Albania , Tirana Time, July 23, 2025— Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office (SPAK) has officially indicted Erion Veliaj, the mayor of Tirana, on multiple corruption charges in a sweeping criminal case that also implicates his wife, a ruling party lawmaker, two businessmen, and a prison official. The announcement, made …
Bankers Petroleum Threatens Arbitration Amid Fraud Probe in Albania
By Tirana Times | July 23, 2025 Albania’s most lucrative oilfield has become the epicenter of what could be the country’s most consequential investor-state confrontation to date, after Bankers Petroleum — its largest oil producer — threatened to sue the Albanian government in international arbitration courts. The company claims its …
TIRANA, September 4 – Albania will experience stable weather conditions on Friday, according to the Military Meteorological Service. The weather will alternate between clear spells and occasional moderate cloud cover, mainly over hilly and mountainous areas. Meanwhile, winds will blow from the northeast to northwest at an average speed of …
TIRANA, September 4 – Ksamil has been named Europe’s best coastal destination by US travel media outlet “Travel Off Path”. Journalist Trevor Kucheran ranked it first among five European coastal destinations recommended by travel experts. The article highlights Ksamil’s exceptionally clear waters and white-pebble beaches. It also points to the …
TIRANA, September 4 – Tirana International Airport handled 6 million passengers in the first six months of 2026. Prime Minister Edi Rama said the figure puts the airport ahead of others in the region. According to Rama, passenger traffic increased by 17% compared with the same period in 2025. He …
One of the most acclaimed Albanian-language films in European cinema this year, and an Oscar contender, will meet Albanian audiences with a powerful story about dignity, poverty, family and the human cost of survival. The Tirana International Film Festival, taking place from September 21 to 27, will screen “Shame and …
TIRANA, September 4 – Grila, on the shores of Lake Shkodra in Malesia e Madhe, has become a popular destination for visitors seeking nature, tranquillity and scenic landscapes. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared photos showing visitors enjoying picnics and outdoor sports by the lake. They are also spending their holidays …
A World War II hospital ship that sank off the Albanian coast in 1941 has transformed into a rich underwater ecosystem decades later, according to British outlet “BBC Wildlife.” Researchers have identified 151 species living on and around the wreck. The discovery also includes a Mediterranean monk seal, one of …
TIRANA, September 4 – The risk of wildfires will be high across most of Albania this afternoon and tomorrow, according to the Geosciences Institute. The institute forecasts high risk in Shkodër, Dibër, Lezha, Durrës, Tirana, Elbasan, Fier, Berat, Vlora and Gjirokastër regions. Meanwhile, Kukës and Korca will face moderate overall …
TIRANA, September 4 – Prime Minister Edi Rama is attending the 52nd “Intelligence on the World, Europe and Italy” Forum in Cernobbio, Italy. The forum brings together political, institutional and business leaders from Europe and beyond. Rama is due to speak on the “Agenda for Europe” panel during a session …
TIRANA, September 4 – The end of August has not brought the tourist season to a close in Shëngjin. The coastal resort continues to attract visitors, many of them from Kosova. Holidaymakers say they are enjoying their stay and value the quieter atmosphere, the beach and the services still available …
Taranto has officially handed over the Mediterranean Games flag to Prishtina, which will host the 2030 edition. The 20th Mediterranean Games ended in Taranto with a celebration featuring Mediterranean music, a tarantella performance, spectacular lights and fireworks. During the closing ceremony, representatives from all 26 participating countries paraded at the …