One Man’s Rule: Governance by Ultimatum
by Vilson Blloshmi From the way it was announced to its substance, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s latest ultimatum to “clear public spaces within 2 weeks” is neither a law, nor a public policy, nor a government decision. It is a personal order, a voice over the phone that, in any …
“Wherever I travel, Greece wounds me.”
Ὅπου κι ἂν ταξιδέψω, ἡ Ἑλλάδα μὲ πληγώνει. Jerina Zaloshnja This is what Giorgos Seferis wrote — and thus, before I even truly knew who Seferis was, I began to love Greece. That verse — simple, clear, ablaze with love and pain — was, for me, once a gateway to …
Digital Rights Review: AI-Driven Violations Go Unchecked in South-East Europe
Across south-east Europe last month, BIRN’s digital rights monitors documented how AI is being used for protest surveillance, election manipulation, enabling digital sexual abuse and committing fraud, sparking calls for urgent action. Original post Here
Forum of Alumni from Saudi Universities in the Balkans
Saudi Ambassador Faisal Ghazi Ismail Hifzi, Highlights Kingdom’s Commitment to Global Educational Ties through Balkan Alumni Gathering Tirana Times Sunday, July 6, 2025, The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania Faisal Ghazi Ismail Hifzi, announced that on Monday, July 7, Tirana will …
Toxic Smoke and Broken Promises: Albania’s Waste Crisis Exposes Deep Rot in Governance
ELBASAN, Albania, July 5,— For days, thick plumes of toxic smoke have risen from the burning landfill on the outskirts of Elbasan, one of Albania’s largest industrial cities. The stench of melting plastic, rotting waste, and scorched earth now hangs over entire neighborhoods. But this is not an isolated accident. …
Serbia on Edge as Vučić’s Legitimacy Crumbles
As Serbia grapples with one of its most volatile moments in recent political history, the warning signs of regime decay are hard to ignore. The recent student-led protests, marred by repression, nationalist hijacking, and social unrest, are more than a youth revolt—they are a reckoning. Sonja Biserko, the longtime chair …
Albanian MPs Adopt National Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amidst Opposition
Opposition parties and media unions condemn new strategy adopted by parliament, claiming the government wants to use it to exert more control over the media. Original post Here
Week in Review: Anniversaries, Challenges and Conflicts
As BIRN celebrates two decades of work, there never seems to be a dull moment in the region, as our selection of Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
Arrests at Bankers Petroleum Spark Questions Over Albania’s Oil Industry and Accountability
By Tirana Times Staff FIER/TIRANA, July 2, 2025 — In a stunning development that has shaken Albania’s oil sector, police arrested the current CEO of Bankers Petroleum, Chinese national Hongping Xiao, and the company’s former director, Leonidha Çobo, during a surprise raid on the company’s headquarters in Fier on Tuesday. …
Massive Fraud Uncovered: Bankers Petroleum Under Fire for Decades of Tax Evasion and Billions in Untaxed Oil Revenues
CEO Arrested, €4 Billion in Oil Sales Revealed, and Zero Profit Tax Paid to the Albanian State FIER/TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) — Albania’s largest oil producer, Bankers Petroleum, is at the center of a sweeping scandal that prosecutors say involves one of the most egregious cases of tax fraud and …
Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the opposition’s support for a parliamentary resolution on Albania’s European Union integration process. Speaking on the “FLASIM” podcast, Rama described the joint vote in Parliament as a positive step for Albania’s European future. He said opposition parties unexpectedly joined the ruling majority in backing the …
The Academy of Sciences commemorated writer, publicist, and patriot Haki Stërmilli on the anniversary of his birth. Stërmilli was born on May 17, 1895, in Dibër e Madhe. He studied in Manastir but could not finish school due to the Balkan Wars. After Dibra was left outside Albania’s borders, he …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has achieved strong progress in public procurement, ranking first in the region based on European Union assessments. Speaking on the “FLASIM” podcast, Rama described public procurement as one of the most important chapters in the EU integration process. He said international evaluations show significant …
The concert “Brez pas Brezi” brought back the legacy, emotion, and artistic heritage of the National Ensemble at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania, uniting past, present, and future on one stage. The event gathered veteran artists and young performers in a live dialogue between tradition and …
The joint training exercise between Albanian Special Operations Forces and instructors from United States Special Forces has been highlighted by NATO on social media. The Alliance shared images of the exercise focused on movement in difficult terrain and low-visibility operations. NATO stated: “Before the mission comes training. Before pressure comes …
Cannes Film Festival hosts a historic agreement between Albania and France on film co-productions. Minister Blendi Gonxhja signs the deal and calls it a strategic step for Albanian cinema. He says the agreement opens new doors for Albanian filmmakers in Europe and beyond. French officials welcome the partnership. They say …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha announces that Albania develops the National Diaspora Strategy 2026–2030 after the 4th Diaspora Summit. He says the government finalizes the strategy and action plan through consultations with an inter-institutional working group. The strategy promotes investment, strengthens the Albanian language and culture, and …
The grand final of Eurovision was also marked by an incident at the Media Center. During the performance of Albanian singer Alis Kallaci, a member of the Serbian delegation allegedly tried to prevent the waving of the Kosovo flag. Albert Limani, a member of Eurovision Kosova who was present in …
Through an official telegram sent to local police directorates and departments, Police Chief Skënder Hita has ordered increased security measures in schools and stronger action against the distribution of narcotics within the security perimeter of educational institutions. It is learned that Hita’s order came after an analysis of issues during …
Vlora is bringing back traffic lights after many years in an effort to ease traffic on the city’s most problematic roads. For the first time in a long period, traffic lights will be installed at several key road intersections as part of measures aimed at improving circulation and preventing heavy …