Probe Urged of ‘Unjustifiable’ Cost of Italy’s Migrant Camps in Albania
Anti-poverty NGO ActionAid has filed a complaint to the Court of Auditors in Italy over the 133 million euro cost of two migrant detention centres in Albania as part of a controversial asylum offshoring deal between Rome and Tirana. Original post Here
Saudi Embassy in Tirana Marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
By Tirana Times Staff Tirana, 3 December 2025 — The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Albania today organized in Tirana the central event marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a broad awareness-raising activity that brought together around 250 children with disabilities from several cities across …
‘Hope Dies Last’: The Bosnian Wartime Sexual Violence Survivor Fighting for Justice
In the second of BIRN’s series about women’s wartime activism, Midheta Kaloper explains how she survived sexual violence during the Bosnian war and now helps other survivors to fight for their rights – and bring the perpetrators to justice. Original post Here
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 …
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
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
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
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 …
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 …
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 …
TIRANA, August 11 – Albania’s State Minister and Chief Negotiator Majlinda Dhuka responded today to Serbian European Integration Minister Nemanja Starović over the debate surrounding the Ibër River. In a social media post, Dhuka said that the river flows forward and history does the same. As a lawyer, she said …
TIRANA, August 11 – Albanian Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha responded on Tuesday to Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric’s statement on the Ibër River. Hoxha stressed the need for dialogue, trust and practical cooperation in the region. Hoxha welcomed the calmer tone of Duric’s closing message. He …
TIRANA, August 11 – Velipoja Beach remains one of Albania’s most popular summer destinations. The beach stretches for more than 14 km and attracts large numbers of domestic and foreign visitors this season. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage of the Velipoja coastline on social media today. He highlighted the …
TIRANA, August 11 – Shkodër will host the second edition of the Youth Wave Festival on August 12. The event marks International Youth Day and will take place in front of the “Republika” Cinema. Shkodër Municipality said the festival will bring temporary parking and traffic restrictions in the area. Parking …
TIRANA, August 11 – The Kosova Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed concern over delays in constituting parliament and forming the government. The chamber warned that the lack of functioning institutions is creating uncertainty and causing further damage to the economy and local businesses. The chamber called on parliamentary …
TIRANA, August 11 – Albania ranks first worldwide in the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI), with 98.33 points. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the ranking today. He said Albania has moved from being the target of one of the most serious cyber attacks against a NATO member to becoming a …
TIRANA, August 11 – A fire has reignited in Drenie, Mallakastër, on Tuesday. The flames have spread in the northern part of the fire zone towards Drenie village. The National Civil Protection Agency said 2 Air Tractor aircraft are fighting the fire from the air. On the ground, 5 firefighting …
TIRANA, August 11 – The European Union has called for restraint over statements about a possible change to the Ibër River’s flow. It also called for actions that do not serve the normalization of relations between Kosova and Serbia to be avoided. A European Commission spokesperson said on August 11 …
TIRANA, August 11 – The European Union and Albania have deepened cooperation on security and defence through their Security and Defence Partnership. The partnership focuses on common challenges and threats. The EU Delegation in Albania said today’s threats know no borders. It added that security and defence partnerships turn shared …
TIRANA, August 11 – The number of public beach plots and stations has increased significantly this summer. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said 1,689 public plots are available in 2026. Last year, the figure stood at 1,014. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and …