Session against elected Himara’s mayor held at Special Court
The Supreme Court has determined the Special Court as competent to examine the request for a special permit for Fredi Beleri. Journalist Ermal Vija reports that the decision was taken in the consultation room by judges Sander Simonaj, Sokol Binaj and Ilir Panda. Beleri requests permission to be sworn in …
Elbasan engulfed by smoke due to scrap metal point fire
Smoke has covered the city of Elbasan even this Tuesday, after a huge fire engulfed the point of the Kurum scrap metal center, in the area of the former Metalurgjik. According to the local media, it can be seen that there is still smoke at the scrapyard. Chief of Civil …
Albania will host Italy’s asylum seekers, Rama and Meloni announce
TIRANA, Nov. 6, 2023 – In a surprise move at a Monday press conference in Rome, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have announced a bilateral agreement under which non-European asylum seekers that aim to reach the EU through Italy will be shipped to processing …
Rama’s visit to Italy, hosted by Meloni
Prime Minister Edi Rama is on a visit to Italy. He, along with Minister Taulant Balla, Niko Peleshi and Igli Hasani, were hosted by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy, Giorgia Meloni at Chigi Palace in Rome. Meanwhile, it is expected that they will have a joint press …
Tirana youth arrested on drug charges
A 25-year-old man was arrested for selling narcotics in different areas of Tirana this Monday morning. During the “Qereka” operation, it was possible to seize 3.5 kg of cannabis, which is suspected to have been obtained by young F.B in Krujë. Court of First Instance of Tirana General Jurisdiction has …
Democrat MP summoned by SPAK after clash with socialist
MP of the Democratic Party (DP), Bledion Nallbati, appeared on Monday morning at the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK). Nallbati will give clarifications regarding the clash with the Socialist MP, Vullnet Sinaj. A few days ago, the report of the head of the SP Parliamentary Group arrived at the Special Prosecutor’s …
Berisha “ignores” the court, does not go to SPAK
Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha did not obey the court, as this Monday, at 10:00 a.m., he would have to appear at SPAK, regarding the “Partizani” file. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija reports that Berisha did not appear. “Today is actually the first Monday of the month where Mr. Berisha …
Kamza’ Mayor appears at SPAK on corruption charges
Mayor of Kamza, Rakip Suli, went this Monday to the premises of the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK), regarding the accusation of corruption and violation of equality in tenders. In this summoning, Suli thus responds to the second call from SPAK. While entering the premises of the Special Prosecutor’s Office, Suli …
Opposition MPs climbed through windows to enter assembly offices
Opposition MPs that have been excluded from the work of the Assembly for several days, were not allowed to enter the headship building this Monday. This caused tensions with the guard who blocked the door to prevent their entry. Deputy Flamur Noka managed to overcome the railings and enter the …
Electricians’ salaries to increase as of November
Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, has revealed Monday that as of this month, the new salary system for OSHEE employees comes into force. During her speech, she revealed that this increase will be made according to sectors, starting with electricians, technicians, …
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. …
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 …
While Turning UK Migration Debate into Personal Stagecraft TIRANA TIMES — July 2, 2025 — A fiery public exchange between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and British right-wing populist Nigel Farage has brought the issue of Albanian migration into the political spotlight once again — but this time with a …
The participants of the Growth Plan Summit, 1 July 2025, Skopje; Photo: European Commission By Tirana Times SKOPJE, July 2, 2025 — The European Union’s renewed enthusiasm for enlargement took center stage at this week’s Growth Plan Summit in Skopje, where EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos joined the leaders …
A social media row between British right-winger Nigel Farage and Albania’s premier Edi Rama over the level of crime committed by Albanians in the UK misses the main point. Original post Here
By Klodian Tomorri The history of the global economy is filled with well-documented episodes of collective madness. Often, these episodes have culminated in crises that brought even the greatest empires to their knees—such as the Mississippi Bubble or the South Sea Bubble. In other cases, they have devastated the lives …
As BIRN marks its 20th anniversary, here’s a diverse selection of investigations picked from two decades of in-depth reporting on one of Europe’s most complex and challenging regions. Original post Here
British far-right leader fails to land a punch with Albania’s prime minister in fiery row on social media over the number of Albanians held in UK jails. Original post Here
The Western military alliance’s new national spending benchmark on defence and security may cause problems for smaller and poorer NATO member states in the Balkans who cannot afford 5 per cent of GDP. Original post Here
Jerina Zaloshnja As Albania accelerates the formal process of European Union accession—opening negotiation chapters at a pace that seems to outstrip democratic reforms—it faces an urgent and unavoidable truth: a country cannot genuinely integrate into the EU without first building a functioning rule-of-law society. No volume of technical chapters opened …