Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell
Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here
Letter From Brussels: Judgment Day for the Balkan Hopefuls
In the first of her monthly dispatches from the heartland of the European Union, Gjeraqina Tuhina looks at which Balkan states have been getting gold stars – or black marks – from the enlargement commissioners. Original post Here
Multigenderism’s Curious Impact
1. The Last Cycle of Extremist Ideologies in the Old Continent – Council of Europe In 2011, the Council of Europe adopted the final version of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), which contained many useful provisions. However, Article 3(c), which …
Balluku Charges Test PM Rama’s Power
TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) November 11, 2025. The criminal charges filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku over the Llogara Tunnel project have pushed Albania’s flagship justice reform into uncharted territory, bringing prosecutors closer than ever to the core of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government. The Special …
Albanian Political Giants’ Electoral Reform Deal is a Sham, Rivals Suspect
Albania’s smaller parties believe the country’s two main political forces unexpectedly agreed to work together on electoral reform in order to fix the system to maintain their dominance. Original post Here
Western Balkans Remains Key Smuggling Corridor in Europe: Report
The Western Balkan countries remain important corridors in Europe for drug and human trafficking and migrant smuggling, says the 2025 Organised Crime Index, produced by an anti-graft NGO. Original post Here
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: November 10, 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
Ambassador Tsao: lets focus cooperation on technology and AI
Tirana Times sat with the Head of the Taipei Representative office in Italy, Ambassador Vincent Tsao on his recent visit to Albania to talk about cooperation and exchange in technology, development, education and more… Your Excellency, Taiwan is known globally for its advanced technology and innovation sectors. What specific areas …
Albania’s Gender Equality Law: Now Let’s See It Implemented
Online disinformation from opponents of the new gender equality law shouldn’t obscure the real issue: this vital legislation has been adopted by parliament, but now we need it to work in practice, not just on paper. Original post Here
Albania Gender-Equality Law Draws Praise and Condemnation
Women’s rights groups hailed adoption of the new equality law as a historic move – while the opposition Democratic Party and ‘pro-family’ groups called it an attack on traditional values. Original post Here
Renowned Albanian restorer Jani Zoica has passed away, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in preserving mural art and religious monuments across Albania. The Museum of Medieval Art Korçë announced the news in a social media post, highlighting Zoica’s contribution to fresco and mural restoration for more than three decades. He …
The Bay of Vlora Bay has officially opened the summer tourist season, bringing improvements in organization and maritime transport. Tourist boats with a capacity of more than 12 passengers have begun regular daily operations, offering greater safety, comfort, and more travel options for the growing number of local and international …
*]: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:ff0eaaec-9d7c-4391-8477-ac5d7aae2b86-19″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:ff0eaaec-9d7c-4391-8477-ac5d7aae2b86-19″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-40″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi said that Albania is taking on a growing role in the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. He made the remarks during the Security Forum titled “US–Europe Partnership and the Indispensable Role of NATO”, organized by the Albanian …
*]: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:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-3″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-8″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The Transparency Board, during its next meeting held this Wednesday, revised fuel prices. According to the announcement, the retail selling price of diesel fuel (gasoil) under the SSH EN 590 standard will be no more than 190 lek per liter. …
*]: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:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, reacted following the Eighth Intergovernmental Conference on the European Union membership process, describing Albania’s progress as the result of reforms and merit. In a post on the social media platform X, …
*]: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:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> On May 26, 2026, the 8th Intergovernmental Conference at ministerial level between the European Union and Albania took place in Brussels, marking a particularly important moment in the country’s path toward European Union membership. The Albanian delegation was led by …
*]: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=”d55f69e8-673d-4e61-b840-a0f9eb84d695″ data-turn-id-container=”d55f69e8-673d-4e61-b840-a0f9eb84d695″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-11″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> After nearly six decades of interruption, the village of Kabash in Pukë witnessed the return of Eid al-Adha prayers at the ruins of the area’s old mosque, in a symbolic ceremony that gathered residents, worshippers, and emigrants who had returned …
The areas planted with agricultural crops in the Maliq plain, one of the largest agricultural regions in the country, are declining. According to farmers, this situation has been caused by the lack of market demand and prices that remain below production costs for agricultural products. Margel Agolli from the village …
Outstanding liabilities increased during the first quarter of 2026 after having declined significantly at the end of last year. According to the data, debts reached approximately 6.93 billion lek, which is 1.1 billion lek more compared to the end of 2025. According to the Ministry of Finance, the stock of …
*]: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=”07d2e01d-a926-4e9f-bbf2-06eb441cb3c1″ data-turn-id-container=”07d2e01d-a926-4e9f-bbf2-06eb441cb3c1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-15″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Around 72.4 million people in the European Union continue to live at risk of poverty, while Albania remains one of the countries most affected by economic hardship in Europe. *]: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:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:323213f4-d293-4f37-a320-4bf0168b8973-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> According …