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Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two centuries ago, Karl Marx offered a blunt description of how capitalism is sometimes born and consolidated: through what he called “primitive accumulation,” a historical process—often violent—by which people are separated from their land and productive assets, while wealth is concentrated …

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Week in Review: Friends, Foes and Chocolate Thieves

From European Union accession hopes to ongoing corruption investigations, our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the political wheeling and dealing going on behind the scenes in the region. Original post Here

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The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership 

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly,” says the Old Testament (Proverbs 26:11), offering a blunt metaphor for stupidity and the stubborn repetition of mistakes. That proverbial dog may be the right analogy for Prime Minister Edi …

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

By Augustin Palokaj Tirana Times, March 03 2026 – EU enlargement does not lack ideas; it lacks political will. That is why the recent joint opinion piece by Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, published in the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, is troubling not so …

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Share Your Experience: Child Support Payments After Divorce in the Balkans, France

Do you live in the Balkans or France, and have you been awarded child support payments after divorce? Was the process easy – and did you receive the money as the court ordered? Original post Here

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The War in Iran and Albania in a Fragmenting International Order

by Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, February 28 2026 – At the very moment when diplomacy appeared to be moving toward a fragile agreement, the United States and Israel launched a unilateral strike against Iran, shifting the region from tense negotiations to open confrontation. The targets included strategic infrastructure and …

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: March 2, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

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Balkan Govts Scramble to Safeguard Citizens in Middle East Conflict Zone

Some Balkan countries are planning to evacuate stranded citizens from the conflict zone around Iran, others have already managed to fly people out – although some have only issued security warnings. Original post Here

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Albanians Pay Price of Legal Row over Wastewater Treatment Project

For decades, sewage from the Albanian capital has been discharged untreated into the waters of the Lana River in Tirana. Original post Here

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Albania Aligns With U.S. and Israel on Iran

Albania also voices solidarity with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners after Iran’s missile attacks. Tirana Times, March 1, 2026 –   Albania threw its support behind U.S. strikes on Iran in the opening hours of the latest Middle East escalation, with Prime Minister Edi Rama declaring that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary …

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Rama Greets Catholic Easter: “Happy New Day”

Catholic believers celebrate Easter today. They mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It stands as one of the most important moments in the Catholic calendar. Prime Minister Edi Rama sent his greetings through an AI-generated video. He wrote: “Happy New Day.” Believers celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The New Testament …

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Begaj Greets Catholic Believers: Easter Shows Good Defeats Evil

President Bajram Begaj greeted Catholic believers this morning for Easter. He wished joy, peace, and blessings to their families. He shared the message on social media. Begaj said Easter shows that good defeats evil. He said effort overcomes injustice. He said love is stronger than force. He said light defeats …

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Easter Mass in Pristina: Bishop Dodë Gjergji Calls for Peace and Responsibility

Catholic believers gathered for the Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina. Bishop Dodë Gjergji led the ceremony. The Mass delivered strong messages of peace. It called for reflection, love, reconciliation, and renewed hope in Albanian families. Bishop Gjergji urged political leaders to act responsibly. He …

News
From Lent to Resurrection: Albanian Catholics Celebrate Easter

Today, Albania celebrates Catholic Easter. It is a special day. We invite you to explore the spiritual meaning of this feast. Discover traditions preserved for generations in Albania. Learn the long history of the Catholic Church in the country. Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It shows life’s victory …

News
Catholic Easter: believers join Way of the Cross procession in Tirana

On the eve of Catholic Easter, many believers gathered in Mother Teresa Square in Tirana for the Way of the Cross procession. The event brought together participants for a key religious ritual. Holding candles and offering prayers, Catholic believers marked Good Friday with a solemn procession. Archbishop Arjan Dodaj of …

News
Rama: Socialist Party Has Started Work for Upcoming Elections, Opposition “Hanging Out in Cafés”

Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting this Friday with Socialist Party members from Unit No. 3 in Tirana. During his speech, Rama emphasized that the ruling majority has already begun groundwork to secure an even deeper victory in the upcoming elections, while mocking the opposition, saying that despite their …

News
Transparency Board Increases Fuel and By-Product Prices

The Transparency Board has decided on Friday to increase the price of fuel and its by-products. According to the decision, the retail price of diesel (gasoil) under the SSH EN 590 standard must not exceed 224 ALL per liter, while the wholesale price is set at 212 ALL per liter. …

News
PDK MP Takes Microphone from Kurti: “Don’t Sell Us Fairy Tales”

During Friday’s parliamentary session in the Assembly of Kosovo, Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Ganimete Musliu interrupted Prime Minister Albin Kurti, taking his microphone and demanding that he return to the topic. “Can you get back to the point, Prime Minister, because you’ve had four years in government and …

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Albania Produced 7.5 Million Megawatt-Hours of Energy in 2025 – How Much Was Lost in the Grid

Albania produced 7.5 million megawatt-hours of electricity during 2025, of which 1.3 million megawatt-hours were lost in the distribution network. This represents a loss level of around 17%, showing a downward trend compared to previous years. Electricity losses, caused by theft or network depreciation, were significantly reduced last year. Data …

News
Salvador Dalí Exhibition Comes to Tirana

The Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) announced that it will soon open a premiere exhibition of one of the most extraordinary artists of global Surrealism, Salvador Dalí. The exhibition “Salvador Dalí” will open on April 9. It forms part of the “Argillet Collection,” curated by collector Christine Argillet. The …

News

Rama Greets Catholic Easter: “Happy New Day”

Catholic believers celebrate Easter today. They mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It stands as one of the most important moments in the Catholic calendar. Prime Minister Edi Rama sent his greetings through an AI-generated video. He wrote: “Happy New Day.” Believers celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The New Testament …

News

Begaj Greets Catholic Believers: Easter Shows Good Defeats Evil

President Bajram Begaj greeted Catholic believers this morning for Easter. He wished joy, peace, and blessings to their families. He shared the message on social media. Begaj said Easter shows that good defeats evil. He said effort overcomes injustice. He said love is stronger than force. He said light defeats …

News

Easter Mass in Pristina: Bishop Dodë Gjergji Calls for Peace and Responsibility

Catholic believers gathered for the Easter Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa in Pristina. Bishop Dodë Gjergji led the ceremony. The Mass delivered strong messages of peace. It called for reflection, love, reconciliation, and renewed hope in Albanian families. Bishop Gjergji urged political leaders to act responsibly. He …

News

From Lent to Resurrection: Albanian Catholics Celebrate Easter

Today, Albania celebrates Catholic Easter. It is a special day. We invite you to explore the spiritual meaning of this feast. Discover traditions preserved for generations in Albania. Learn the long history of the Catholic Church in the country. Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It shows life’s victory …

News

Catholic Easter: believers join Way of the Cross procession in Tirana

On the eve of Catholic Easter, many believers gathered in Mother Teresa Square in Tirana for the Way of the Cross procession. The event brought together participants for a key religious ritual. Holding candles and offering prayers, Catholic believers marked Good Friday with a solemn procession. Archbishop Arjan Dodaj of …

News

Rama: Socialist Party Has Started Work for Upcoming Elections, Opposition “Hanging Out in Cafés”

Prime Minister Edi Rama held a meeting this Friday with Socialist Party members from Unit No. 3 in Tirana. During his speech, Rama emphasized that the ruling majority has already begun groundwork to secure an even deeper victory in the upcoming elections, while mocking the opposition, saying that despite their …

News

Transparency Board Increases Fuel and By-Product Prices

The Transparency Board has decided on Friday to increase the price of fuel and its by-products. According to the decision, the retail price of diesel (gasoil) under the SSH EN 590 standard must not exceed 224 ALL per liter, while the wholesale price is set at 212 ALL per liter. …

News

PDK MP Takes Microphone from Kurti: “Don’t Sell Us Fairy Tales”

During Friday’s parliamentary session in the Assembly of Kosovo, Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) MP Ganimete Musliu interrupted Prime Minister Albin Kurti, taking his microphone and demanding that he return to the topic. “Can you get back to the point, Prime Minister, because you’ve had four years in government and …

News

Albania Produced 7.5 Million Megawatt-Hours of Energy in 2025 – How Much Was Lost in the Grid

Albania produced 7.5 million megawatt-hours of electricity during 2025, of which 1.3 million megawatt-hours were lost in the distribution network. This represents a loss level of around 17%, showing a downward trend compared to previous years. Electricity losses, caused by theft or network depreciation, were significantly reduced last year. Data …

News

Salvador Dalí Exhibition Comes to Tirana

The Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) announced that it will soon open a premiere exhibition of one of the most extraordinary artists of global Surrealism, Salvador Dalí. The exhibition “Salvador Dalí” will open on April 9. It forms part of the “Argillet Collection,” curated by collector Christine Argillet. The …