Tirana’s Construction Boom and the Flow of Dirty Money
TIRANA, December 26, 2025 – Albania’s decade-long construction boom, long portrayed as a sign of growth and urban renewal, is increasingly being scrutinized as a vehicle for laundering illicit capital. A new study by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, combined with years of investigative reporting and analysis by Tirana Times, points …
Secret tenders, violence and kidnappings, BIRN: The staggering profits of AKSH contractors
Tirana Times, 25 December, 2025 – On September 15, 2023, Ergys Agasi, 36, founded a company with a capital of 1 thousand lek (10 euros) with activity in the field of information technology. Under the name EA Solutions, the company had a rapid activity. In the balance sheet filed with …
Saudi Arabia Leads AI Readiness in MENA, Emerges as Global Governance Power
As artificial intelligence reshapes economic competitiveness and state capacity, indexes like the Government AI Readiness Index serve not merely as technical rankings, but as indicators of national strategic priorities. In this sense, Saudi Arabia has moved decisively from regional ambition toward global relevance, even as the global hierarchy of AI …
New Chief of Albania’s Anti-Graft Prosecution Vows ‘Tough Approach’
Despite political tensions sparked by high-profile corruption cases, Klodjan Braho tells BIRN that his main priority will be to guarantee Albanians that “no one is above the law”. Original post Here
Former Foreign and Defence Minister Olta Xhaçka Questioned by SPAK
By Tirana Times Tirana, December 23, 2025 – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence Olta Xhaçka appeared on Tuesday at the premises of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK), where she remained for approximately two hours before leaving without making any statement to the media. Xhaçka declined to …
Opposition Takes to the Streets Over State Capture and Blocked Justice
Tirana Times, December 22, 2025 – Tirana witnessed a major opposition-led protest on Saturday, as Albania’s main opposition force, the Democratic Party, together with allied groups, demanded the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and his government. The demonstration was framed not as a routine political rally, but as a …
Albanian Opposition Rallies for Premier’s Resignation Over Indicted Deputy PM
Supporters of the opposition Democratic Party demonstrated in Tirana against Edi Rama’s government after anti-corruption prosecutors indicted his deputy prime minister and raided officials at the National Information Agency. Original post Here
Security Beyond Soldiers: NATO’s Role in Strengthening Western Balkans Stability
Security in the Western Balkans is no longer defined only by borders and armies, but by the strength of institutions, public trust and the ability to withstand modern pressure. In an interview with the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS), Arjan Starova, former Albanian foreign minister and President of the …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: December 22, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
A Structured Criminal Group Inside a National Security Institution: The AKSHI Case
Tirana, Tirana Times, 20 December 2025 – The investigation launched by Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution has revealed the existence of a structured criminal group operating within the leadership of the National Agency for Information Society, AKSHI. At the center of the case stand the agency’s director and deputy director, accused …
Albania continues to record growth in entries and exits across its territory during the month of April. According to data published by INSTAT, more than 1.4 million Albanian and foreign citizens entered the country in April 2026, marking an increase compared to the same period a year earlier. The data …
A new draft decision “On Waste Landfills” aims to change the way waste is disposed of and treated in Albania. The proposal, which has been opened for public consultation, introduces restrictions on the types of waste that may end up in landfills. The document sets out new rules for the …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”762cd7f5-9338-4a38-b9ad-0f4c25e80541″ data-turn-id-container=”762cd7f5-9338-4a38-b9ad-0f4c25e80541″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-3″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi welcomed his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, with the meeting focusing on strengthening bilateral Albania–Greece cooperation and continuing close dialogue in the fields of defense and security. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”e8795331-b50a-429b-a47d-15476a7de310″ data-turn-id-container=”e8795331-b50a-429b-a47d-15476a7de310″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-11″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Ferit Hoxha, Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, paid an official visit to Lithuania this Monday. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-5″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-5″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-12″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Earlier today, Hoxha was received in Vilnius by his Lithuanian counterpart, Kęstutis Budrys, …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-6″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-6″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-14″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-6″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:3cfe62b7-62b5-4dc3-be48-a40b2e2a74ff-6″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-14″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Prime Minister Edi Rama was in Durrës on Monday afternoon for an event marking the opening of a series of meetings with socialists for the 35th anniversary of the Socialist …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”cbe2db65-f8e7-466b-b4bc-212058fdd5b3″ data-turn-id-container=”cbe2db65-f8e7-466b-b4bc-212058fdd5b3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-15″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that Albania is closer than ever to the European Union. Speaking from Durrës during the 35th anniversary celebration of the Socialist Party of Albania in the city, Rama stated that starting tomorrow, the process of …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:28455baa-0e1c-46e3-8107-4093d764c751-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:28455baa-0e1c-46e3-8107-4093d764c751-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias held a two-hour meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday. According to reports, the discussions focused, among other issues, on restarting dialogue over maritime zones and the continental …
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias was received in a meeting by his Albanian counterpart Ermal Nufi, with the focus of the talks being the strengthening of bilateral cooperation between Albania and Greece, as well as the continuation of close dialogue in the fields of defense and security. While appreciating Greece’s …
As part of his official visit to Albania and meetings with senior representatives of the Albanian government, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias visited the Orthodox Cathedral of the “Resurrection of Christ,” where he was received by the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, His Beatitude Archbishop Joani. “During the …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:28455baa-0e1c-46e3-8107-4093d764c751-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:28455baa-0e1c-46e3-8107-4093d764c751-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The film Dua by Kosovar director Blerta Basholli has placed Kosovo among the world’s film elite. Following its emotional premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the film was honored with the prestigious “SACD” award, presented by the Society of Dramatic …