Rama invites everyone to join: 215 applicants for MPs of Socialist Party
The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, invited everyone this Sunday who want to be part of the socialist team, to apply at the ‘Members of Parliament that we want’. In a message in the social media, Rama said that everyone is welcomed to join SP2030. Some 215 candidates applied to …
Two citizens from Poland arrested for cultivating cannabis
Two Polish citizens have been arrested in Saranda as part of the police mega-operation coded “Temple 3”. During the check in the premises of a hotel in Saranda, with one of the Polish administrators, specifically in the room where he was staying with the other Polish citizen, the Police services …
UN General Assembly/ Minister Hasani arrives in New York
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, has arrived in New York, to participate in a series of activities, within the High Level Week of the UN General Assembly (September 22-30, 2024). Minister Hasani is expected to sign several agreements for the mutual liberalization of visas, in order to …
Alienation of properties/ SPAK sends Jorgo Goro to trial, accused of abuse of duty and concealment of assets
The Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has closed the investigations and has sent the former head of Himara, Jorgo Goro, to the Special Court (GJKKO) for trial. SPAK accuses Goro of abuse of office in two cases, as well as of concealing assets. In the capacity of the mayor of Himara, …
Albania Adopts Law Deterring Medical Students From Emigrating After Graduation
A new law approved by MPs obliges medical students to work for three years in Albania after graduation or incur the full cost of their tuition fees. Original post Here
Mo, for short
(The image used in this article is from The Economist and is property of Dan Williams. It is used for illustrative purposes only; all rights belong to Dan Williams) The following is a story of immense personal achievement; it’s a story of a tremendous love for one’s country, and it …
Noa Beci : How to keep your life together
The five stages of grief Noa Beci, an 18-year-old Albanian high school student residing in Austria, has won the opportunity to publish her book, The Five Stages of Grief, as part of the Young Storyteller Award. This award, presented by story.one and Thalia, seeks to uncover the next generation of …
Albania’s Beleaguered Ex-PM Attacks Media After Corruption File Leak
Albanian rights groups criticised threats voiced by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who claimed, without providing proof, that some journalists were serving the interests of prosecutors by reporting the corruption charges against him. Original post Here
‘Where I Belong’: The Charm, and the Challenges, of Small-Town Albania
For years, Albanians have been leaving behind small towns and villages for the capital, Tirana, or for life abroad. Some are drawn back, but it’s a choice that is not without challenges. Original post Here
Assassination attempt against former prosecutor Arjan Ndoj/ SPAK requires 30 years in prison for 5 defendants
On Tuesday, the special prosecution requested a sentence of 30 years in prison in total for the 5 people accused of the assassination attempt of former prosecutor Arjan Ndoja and his friend Pëllumb Muharremi in November 2019. The attack took place near the Sukthi overpass on the Tirana Durres highway, …
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 …