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Fire guts 5th floor of building, a 57-year-old man died

A flat is included in Tirana. The incident happened around 02:50 on the fifth floor of a building on “Ferit Xhajko” street, where a 57-year-old man lost his life as a result. The causes of the fire are still unknown, while the investigative group is working to clarify the circumstances …

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“January 21, a state crime”, Rama: Investigation is the foundation for the new justice that has started to built

For Prime Minister Edi Rama, the investigation of the January 21 murders on the boulevard is the foundation for the new justice system. In a media conference, Rama said that until now the country’s highest authorities have prevented justice in the most brutal way from reacting and acting in real …

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Rama: The agreement with Italy for immigrants does not violate the Constitution, it is positive for Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama says that the agreement with Italy for immigrants does not violate the Constitution of Albania. In a press conference, Rama said that the agreement is positive for our country. Among other things, Rama underlined that for him it is not a problem if someone turns to …

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Elbasan young man’s assets worth EUR 200,000 seized

Two apartments and a service unit worth about 200 thousand euros were seized this Friday in the “Maji” neighborhood in Elbasan, as part of the police operation coded “Property”. According to preliminary information, the assets were seized with the suspicion that they have their source from the criminal activities of …

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Dead body found in fishing port of Durres

Dead body of a 42-year-old man from Tirana was found in the Fishing Port in Durrës this Friday morning. Based on the eye witness report, the victim was spotted by fishermen. According to the police, the victim has no signs of violence and is suspected to have accidentally drowned. Police …

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Shkodra youth arrested for dealing drugs

A 29-year-old man was arrested this Friday in Shkodër during the police mega-operation coded “Tempulli”. Francesk Malaj was selling doses of cannabis in different areas of the city of Shkodra, as he was caught by the police force in the “Dergut” neighborhood. During the inspection in this citizen’s apartment, another …

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SPAK seeks exclusion of judge Olldashi from session on Berisha

Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has submitted to the court the request for the dismissal of Judge Iliriana Olldashi, in the hearing for the termination of security measures for former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Local media reports that the hearing on the request to cancel the two security measures for Berisha …

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Opposition proposes to found its federation

Leaders of the opposition parties held this Friday a press conference, where the chairman of the Republican Party (RP), Fatmir Mediu, declared that the opposition must rise to its responsibilities. During his speech, he said that they propose the institutionalization of the opposition federation. On his part, Chairman of the …

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Rama encourages high scholars to transfer to vocational ED

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced this Friday that the innovations of vocational education, where he emphasized that the students of the first years of high schools can be easily transferred to vocational education schools, through e-Albania. In his speech, Rama said that the proper infrastructure should be created in order …

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The master of humour, Zef Deda, passed away at the age of 73

Zef Deda passed away at the age of 73 years old. Deda, has stood out with his roles in theater and cinematography, passed away this Friday in Shkoder, after a serious illness, from which he had been suffering for a long time. Zef Deda was born in Shkodër on July …

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Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

News
Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

News
How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

News
Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

News
Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News
The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News
Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News
Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

News
Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News
Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Anti-Corruption “Success”: A Manufactured Illusion

By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …

News

Week in Review: Surprises and Standoffs

As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here

News

How Albanians in America Lobbied for Freedom Back Home

Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here

News

Rebuilt Housing Estate for Albanian Quake Survivors Hosts Just One Family

The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Political Absurdity:Doomsday – The Day Albania “Lost” Its Deputy PM

O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …

News

The Limits of Spectacle Diplomacy in the UK–Albania Migration Row

The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …

News

Albania: Between Reform Dynamics and Democratic Fragility

Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …

News

Opposition Rejects EU Commissioner’s “Free and Fair” Assessment of Elections

By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times).  Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …

News

Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here