Albanian Elections – New Political Forces Challenge Albania’s Political Duopoly
TIRANA, Albania , May 6th (Tirana Times ) — On May 11, Albanians will head to the polls for parliamentary elections marked by a crowded field of contenders: 53 political parties and over 2,000 candidates will vie for 140 seats in the national legislature. While this diversity may signal political …
Jordan’s King Abdullah II Makes Rare Visit to Albania Amid Sparse Bilateral Ties
President Begaj welcomes His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, with a solemn ceremony. May 2, 2025 | TIRANA, Albania Tirana Times In a visit marked more by symbolism than substance, Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein arrived in Tirana on Friday for …
Saudi Cultural Heritage Celebrated in Prishtina with Opening of “Urat” Exhibition
Tirana Times | May 2nd | Prishtina, Kosovo — A unique cultural bridge between Kosovo and Saudi Arabia was inaugurated on Thursday with the opening of the “Urat” exhibition in central Prishtina, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich Islamic and cultural heritage. Organized in partnership between the Islamic Community of Kosovo and …
Criminal Enterprise and Investment Policy in Albania
The involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds or ties to the underworld among Albania’s so-called strategic investors must be examined in a broader context. Politically, this phenomenon represents one of the clearest signs of the symbiosis between crime and politics — and of the state being effectively captured by organized …
RSF Report: Media Freedom Tumbling in Most Balkan Countries
Press freedom has continued a downward slide in most Balkan countries according to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders – although Albania, Montenegro and Serbia have bucked the trend. Original post Here
The EU Court’s Verdict on Golden Passports: Implications for Albania
Genc Pollo – President of the Paneuropa Albania MovementFormer Minister and MP April 2025 “Whatever the European Court decides—if it says it can’t be done, we won’t do it; if it says it can, we will.” This was, roughly speaking, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s stance in March 2023, expressed at …
Corridor VIII – the Forgotten Lifeline of the Balkans
An in-depth investigation into the EU-backed trans-Balkan transport project that remains stalled decades after its launch. Over two decades ago, European planners and Balkan leaders laid out the idea off Corridor VIII, a transport route that would traverse and link the difficult-to-navigate terrains of Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Its …
Italy Queried Over Fate of 16 ‘Missing’ Migrants Outsourced to Albania
Opposition MP demands answers after a visit to the Italian-run Repatriation and Detention Centre in Albania revealed that 16 out of 41 migrants sent there two weeks ago had gone. Original post Here
Surveillance and Censorship Worsening in Western Balkans: BIRN Report
New report shows governments in the region increasingly use technology to suppress dissent, filter content, restrict access to digital platforms and carry out mass and targeted surveillance. Original post Here
In a depopulating Albania, why is the PM campaigning on a promise to make it easier for young people to leave?
If Rama wants to be the prime minister who ushers Albania into the European Union, he must first be the leader who makes Albania worth staying in. It means building a country where the EU passport is a gateway — not an escape route. Because freedom is not just the …
TIRANA, August 19 – Albania’s Under-21 national football team will compete at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, which RTSH will broadcast. Albania Under-21 head coach Alban Bushi has announced the squad for the tournament. He said the team wants to show the character, personality and mentality of Albanian football. Albania …
TIRANA, August 19 – Cultural and religious heritage sites have attracted strong interest from domestic and foreign tourists in Gjirokastër County this year. Churches, mosques, cultural monuments and historical sites have featured prominently in tourist itineraries. As a result, cultural and religious tourism has become one of the area’s main …
Durrës remains one of Albania’s most popular destinations for both domestic and international tourists during the summer season. The coastal city combines beaches, history, culture and Albanian hospitality, offering visitors a diverse holiday experience. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage of the city’s busy streets, filled with tourists during the …
Drashovica lies at the entrance to the hills and mountains of the Shushicë River valley. For centuries, its location has earned it the name “Gateway to Labëria.” The village has a history of at least 585 years and is believed to have been founded in 1431. It has played an …
TIRANA, August 19 – Opportunities to strengthen relations between Albania and Kazakhstan were discussed at a meeting at the Kazakh Embassy in Tirana. The talks focused on air links, economic and investment cooperation, tourism and contacts between regions. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Albania, Iskander Aisariyev, met Albanian media representatives, experts, a …
TIRANA, August 19 – Wildfires remain active in the forests of Mount Tërbuni and the Gjegjan-Gojan area in Puka Municipality, Shkodër County. The county authorities said the situation on Mount Tërbuni is under control. However, firefighters continue to battle the flames in Gjegjan-Gojan, where high temperatures and strong winds have …
TIRANA, August 19 – The high number of tourists visiting Lezhë and surrounding areas has increased traffic on local roads. As a result, the Road Police has increased its presence to manage traffic and prevent long queues at the most congested points. Officers are monitoring traffic continuously and intervening where …
TIRANA, August 19 – A draft bill on the Chamber of Commerce proposes replacing the current Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a new National Economic Chamber. The Ministry of Economy and Innovation has opened the draft for public consultation. The proposal aims to establish a new model for business …
The National Agency of Information Society (AKSHI) has responded to recent claims about Diella, the artificial intelligence system operating on Albania’s e-Albania portal. AKSHI said the webpage users see is only the system’s interface. It is not the system itself. When citizens ask Diella for a document, the request is …
TIRANA, August 19 – Albania will experience relatively stable atmospheric conditions on Wednesday. The Military Meteorological Service forecasts mainly clear skies with periods of moderate and locally dense cloud cover over hilly and mountainous areas. Clouds will remain present until the afternoon. Later, they will gradually clear and mostly sunny …