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Albania risk losing another 13% of its residents to emigration in the next few years, AIIS report warns

TIRANA, Nov. 30, 2023 – About 13 percent of Albania’s resident working-age population is likely going to leave the country in the next few years unless immediate measures are taken to increase local incomes and lower the cost of living, a report by the Albanian Institute for International Studies warns. …

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Interior Minister welcomes Europol’s anti drugs, guns mega operation

Interior Minister Taulant Balla hailed this Friday for the international operation, which took place in 26 European countries, where the focus was on attacking criminal networks in the trafficking of weapons, narcotics and illegal immigrants. During this operation, in Albania, 28 people were arrested and firearms and drugs were seized. …

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Shkoder, man arrested for violating citizen with hard objects

A 51-year-old man was arrested by the Police of Shkodra, as during a conflict he hit another person, a 64-year-old resident of the village of Gojan i Madh, Pukë, with hard objects. Law enforcement ha revealed that the injured is in the hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment. Meanwhile, …

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Investigations are closed for the laboratory with 485 kilograms cocaine in Fier

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has closed the investigation into the drug laboratory that was discovered a year ago in the village of Frakull in Fier. It is expected that SPAK will turn to the court with the request for the trial of the file in charge of Viktor Çervanaku, his …

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Rama in the United Arab Emirates, joins the World Climate Summit

Prime Minister Edi Rama is on an official working visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he is participating in the World Climate Action Summit, COP28. Rama has shared a video, on “Facebook”, of the moment of his arrival in Dubai where he was hosted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed …

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Minister Hasani met David Cameron in Skopje

Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani is participating in the 30th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council that is being held in Skopje, North Macedonia on November 30 – December 1, 2023. Shortly after arriving in Skopje, Minister Hasani met with the British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron. …

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Kavaja man arrested after trying to kill 33-year-old with axe

A 52-year-old man was arrested this Thursday by the police in Kavaja after he tried to kill a 33-year-old man with an ax during a conflict for weak motives. Owner of the bar was put in handcuffs after he supported the 52-year-old man in this serious event, destroying the place …

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New EU Ambassador to Albania Appointed

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell announced today the new EU ambassador to Albania. He name is Silvio Gonzato, a prominent name in European diplomacy. He previously served as Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to the United Nations in New York. …

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Rama: Bridge connecting Permet villages constructed

Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has wished the citizens a beautiful Thursday with views of the new bridge, which was built in the Përmet Municipality. In a social media statement, he said that this bridge that crosses over the Vjosë river connects several beautiful villages with each other that …

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The hearing session for Gerdec, former Minister of Defense again in court

The former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu, appeared today in the session that will take place today for Gërdec. Mediu is accused of abuse of duty as well as abuse of duty carried out in cooperation with the military chain of command. There are doubts that Mediu, in cooperation with …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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

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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 …

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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 …

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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

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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 …

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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

News
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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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

News

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 …

News

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

News

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 …