Tirana Marks International Arabic Language Day with a Festive Ceremony
Tirana, Tirana Times, 19 December 2025 – International Arabic Language Day was commemorated in Tirana through a festive ceremony organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Republic of Albania, bringing together a broad representation of Albanian state institutions, the diplomatic corps, universities, the academic community, cultural …
Albanian MPs Clash in Parliament Amid Tensions Over Corruption Cases
Opposition MPs hurled bottles and clashed with guards as the new ruling party-backed Ombudsman took his oath amid heightened tensions sparked by high-level graft cases. Original post Here
Visiting Thaci in Hague Jail, Albania PM Slates ’Shameful’ War Court
Albania’s Edi Rama lashed out at the Hague-based Specialist Chambers war crimes court following a visit to Kosovo’s ex-President Hashim Thaci in detention, calling it a ‘theatre of shame’. Original post Here
Stability Has a Schedule: What NATO’s Hague Pledge Means for the Western Balkans
In late August 2022, Montenegro’s government digital infrastructure was hit by what officials called an “unprecedented” cyberattack. The disruption was serious enough that parts of the public sector had to fall back on manual workarounds while authorities tried to isolate affected systems. In a region where state capacity is often …
Albania in 2025: Socialists Win Big, Graft Probes Continue
Prime Minister Edi Rama secured a historic fourth term in office and consolidated his rule against a background of ongoing corruption investigations into several politicians from the governing Socialist Party. Original post Here
Kremlin Echoes in Balkan Clickbait: How Fake Baba Vanga Prophecies Spread Across Albanian Media
TIRANA, Tirana Times, December 16, 2025. Each December, apocalyptic headlines resurface across Albanian media warning of global collapse, Europe’s disappearance or the rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a world ruler, all attributed to the supposed prophecies of Baba Vanga, a blind Bulgarian mystic who died nearly three decades ago. …
Serbia Loses Kushner Investment, Vučić Points to Albania
Albania’s Sazan Island project backed by Trump’s son-in-law draws scrutiny over transparency and political motives BELGRADE, Serbia, Tirana Times – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Serbia has suffered a major economic setback after a company owned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, withdrew from a planned Trump-branded …
Bringing Albania into History: Bernd J. Fischer and World War II
By Ilir Ikonomi One of the most important modern works ever written about Albania’s experience in the Second World War—Bernd Jürgen Fischer’s Albania at War, 1939–1945. This is not just a history book. It is an act of historical rescue. Fischer lifts Albania from the shadows of European historiography and places …
AKSHI Director Arrested in Major Corruption Probe
Case Involving Critical State Infrastructure Adds to Albania’s Growing High Level Corruption Crisis Tirana Times – December 16, 2025 Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure, SPAK, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation, BKH, has carried out a large-scale operation targeting an alleged criminal network operating at the highest levels of the …
Albanian Prosecution Urges Parliament to Allow Deputy PM’s Arrest
Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime asks parliament to lift the immunity from arrest of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. Original post Here
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker on the sidelines of the Bled Strategic Forum. Hoxha said the meeting reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Albania and the United States. The two officials discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation …
Today marks one year since the death of People’s Artist Dhimitër Anagnosti (1936–2025), one of the most influential figures in Albanian cinema. Born in Vuno, Himara, Anagnosti graduated in cinematography from the Moscow Film Institute in 1960. He began his career as a cinematographer at the “New Albania” Film Studio. …
President Bajram Begaj congratulated Albanian weightlifter Briken Calja today after his gold-medal performance at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. Begaj praised Calja’s achievement and highlighted his new Mediterranean record. “Congratulations, Briken! Albania is proud of you,” Begaj wrote in his message. He also described the achievement as “a new record …
Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed Albanian heavyweight boxer Nelson Hysa to his office today. Rama met Hysa after the boxer successfully defended his WBO title against Norwegian fighter Thomas Narmo. During the meeting, Rama asked Hysa about the fight and his career in the ring. Hysa spoke about the challenge, …
On September 1, 1912, Shkodra opened Albania’s first public cinema, known as the “Grand-Kino Skioptiko-Electric Theatre.” Austrian entrepreneur Jozef Shtauber launched the initiative. Meanwhile, renowned Shkodra painter Kolë Idromeno supported the project and offered space in his home for the screenings. The cinema continued showing films until 1914. However, the …
Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari has signed an order that changes the age limits for joining the Albanian State Police. The new rules open more opportunities for applicants. They target young people, experienced professionals and employees from other security institutions. The decision follows requests from citizens who contacted the minister through …
The Ministry of Defense has provided the latest update on the wildfire situation across the country. According to the update issued at 09:00 on September 1, 2026, a total of 27 wildfires were reported over the past 24 hours, of which 4 remain active, while another 4 are under monitoring. …
Islam Selmani is the Mediterranean karate champion after winning gold at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. In the final of the up to 60 kg category, he defeated Turkish karate athlete Burak Ozdemir 1-0. The bout was closely contested, with Selmani scoring the only point. This is Kosovo’s seventh medal …
Albanian weightlifter Briken Calja has won the gold medal at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, setting a new record in the process. President of the Republic Bajram Begaj praised the Albanian athlete’s achievement in a post on social media. “Congratulations to our weightlifter, Briken Calja, on winning the gold medal …
The Municipal Police have continued their operation to clear public spaces of illegally placed barriers used to reserve parking spaces. During Tuesday’s operation, officers focused on the residential blocks near “Pranvera” Square and the area around the former police district headquarters, where various obstacles were removed. Concrete blocks, metal structures, …