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23 years since the September 11 attacks, Begaj: This day serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight against terrorism

President Bajram Begaj says that the attacks of September 11, 2001 in the USA, where about 3 thousand people lost their lives, should serve as a reminder of the ongoing fight against terrorism. In a post on Facebook, he writes that the threat of terrorism has not disappeared because it …

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Summit of Afghan Women in Tirana, Hasani: Albania, part of international efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, participated in the proceedings of the Summit of Afghan women, the largest meeting of the last three years of women and girls human rights activists from Afghanistan, held in Tirana under the auspices of the Ministry for Europe. During his speech, the minister …

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Double murder in Roskovec, police arrested two sons of the author for coorperation

The number of those arrested in connection with the murder of two brothers Gramoz and Lavdimir Kurtaj in the village of Kurjan in Roskovec has increased to four. The two sons of the author Altin Kuka, Ervis Kuka, 21 years old, and Emaurisio Kuka, 18 years old, have also been …

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Berisha leaves SPAK, former prime minister officially accused

Berisha leaves SPAK. The former prime minister is officially accused, the accusation of corruption is communicated to him Before SPAK, there are many police forces, but very few supporters of Berisha. “I am here today to present to them the solemn promise that Edi Rama will not be able to …

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From Dubai to Albania: How Drug Money Fuelled Tirana’s Real Estate Boom

Court documents detail claims of how an alleged drug boss living in Dubai laundered money in his native Albania, helping to fuel a rapid rise in real estate prices. Original post Here

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The investigation of Jorgo Goro for the abuse of property is closed, SPAK send the file to the court

The Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has closed the investigation into the former mayor of Himara, Jorgo Goro. ABC News reporter Ermal Vija reports that SPAK has sent the file to the court for Goron, who is accused of property abuse. “SPAK has officially communicated the accusations of abuse of office …

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Tourism record income/Bank of Albania: Until July, they spent 1.9 billion euros

Albanian economy has benefited 1.9 billion euros in the first 6 months from tourism. These figures confirm that the year 2024 is confirmed to be even more optimistic in terms of tourism in the country. According to the data of the Bank of Albania, only in the period April-June, our …

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The parliamentary group of the Socialist Party meets to discuss about the votes in Thursday’s session

The parliamentary group of the Socialist Party met on Tuesday morning at the pink headquarters. ABC News reporter Fiona Xhafaj reported in a live link that the meeting lasted 30 minutes, where the orders left by Prime Minister Edi Rama at yesterday’s meeting and in the assembly were discussed. “The …

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Xhacka’s mandate, Peleshi: We do not treat it as a political issue

The chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party, Niko Peleshi, stated that the decision of the Constitutional Court for the mandate of Olta Xhaçka, is not treated by the socialists as a political decision. After the end of the group meeting, Peleshi said that the decision of the …

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ALBANIA AND THE INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT FOR AFGHAN WOMEN

  Dr. Rudina Çollaku At a pivotal moment for women’s rights in Afghanistan, Albania is stepping forward as a key advocate in the defense of Afghan women’s rights. Under the leadership of Foreign Minister Igli Hasani, the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the first-ever international summit for Afghan …

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Toxic Smoke and Broken Promises: Albania’s Waste Crisis Exposes Deep Rot in Governance

ELBASAN, Albania, July 5,— For days, thick plumes of toxic smoke have risen from the burning landfill on the outskirts of Elbasan, one of Albania’s largest industrial cities. The stench of melting plastic, rotting waste, and scorched earth now hangs over entire neighborhoods. But this is not an isolated accident. …

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Serbia on Edge as Vučić’s Legitimacy Crumbles

As Serbia grapples with one of its most volatile moments in recent political history, the warning signs of regime decay are hard to ignore. The recent student-led protests, marred by repression, nationalist hijacking, and social unrest, are more than a youth revolt—they are a reckoning. Sonja Biserko, the longtime chair …

News
Albanian MPs Adopt National Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amidst Opposition

Opposition parties and media unions condemn new strategy adopted by parliament, claiming the government wants to use it to exert more control over the media. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Anniversaries, Challenges and Conflicts

As BIRN celebrates two decades of work, there never seems to be a dull moment in the region, as our selection of Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Arrests at Bankers Petroleum Spark Questions Over Albania’s Oil Industry and Accountability

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. …

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Massive Fraud Uncovered: Bankers Petroleum Under Fire for Decades of Tax Evasion and Billions in Untaxed Oil Revenues

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 …

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Rama Rebukes Farage: Albanian PM Slams “One-in-50” Prison Claim as Post-Brexit Scapegoating

 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 …

News
Skopje Summit Revives EU Enlargement Hopes — But Ignores the Democratic Erosion in the Balkans

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 …

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Albania’s ‘Lads of London’ Create Bigger Problems for Their Home Country

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

News
The Silent Collapse of the Tower Euphoria

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 …

News

Toxic Smoke and Broken Promises: Albania’s Waste Crisis Exposes Deep Rot in Governance

ELBASAN, Albania, July 5,— For days, thick plumes of toxic smoke have risen from the burning landfill on the outskirts of Elbasan, one of Albania’s largest industrial cities. The stench of melting plastic, rotting waste, and scorched earth now hangs over entire neighborhoods. But this is not an isolated accident. …

News

Serbia on Edge as Vučić’s Legitimacy Crumbles

As Serbia grapples with one of its most volatile moments in recent political history, the warning signs of regime decay are hard to ignore. The recent student-led protests, marred by repression, nationalist hijacking, and social unrest, are more than a youth revolt—they are a reckoning. Sonja Biserko, the longtime chair …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt National Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amidst Opposition

Opposition parties and media unions condemn new strategy adopted by parliament, claiming the government wants to use it to exert more control over the media. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Anniversaries, Challenges and Conflicts

As BIRN celebrates two decades of work, there never seems to be a dull moment in the region, as our selection of Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Arrests at Bankers Petroleum Spark Questions Over Albania’s Oil Industry and Accountability

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. …

News

Massive Fraud Uncovered: Bankers Petroleum Under Fire for Decades of Tax Evasion and Billions in Untaxed Oil Revenues

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 …

News

Rama Rebukes Farage: Albanian PM Slams “One-in-50” Prison Claim as Post-Brexit Scapegoating

 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 …

News

Skopje Summit Revives EU Enlargement Hopes — But Ignores the Democratic Erosion in the Balkans

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 …

News

Albania’s ‘Lads of London’ Create Bigger Problems for Their Home Country

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

News

The Silent Collapse of the Tower Euphoria

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 …