Albania’s Youth Exodus: Emigration as a Security Threat
Tirana Times. July 8, 2025. Albania is shrinking—demographically, economically, and institutionally. A once-youthful country on the edge of Europe is now in the grip of a mass exodus that analysts warn is no longer just a social or economic crisis, but a growing threat to national security. In a nation …
Vidovdan: A Dangerous Myth Turned Political Weapon
By Syle Ukshini For more than a century, the Serbian state and Church have mythologized the Battle of Kosovo of 1389 as a defining moment of Serbian identity—a narrative culminating each year in the celebration of Vidovdan, Serbia’s national and religious holiday observed on June 28. Originally linked to the …
One Man’s Rule: Governance by Ultimatum
by Vilson Blloshmi From the way it was announced to its substance, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s latest ultimatum to “clear public spaces within 2 weeks” is neither a law, nor a public policy, nor a government decision. It is a personal order, a voice over the phone that, in any …
“Wherever I travel, Greece wounds me.”
Ὅπου κι ἂν ταξιδέψω, ἡ Ἑλλάδα μὲ πληγώνει. Jerina Zaloshnja This is what Giorgos Seferis wrote — and thus, before I even truly knew who Seferis was, I began to love Greece. That verse — simple, clear, ablaze with love and pain — was, for me, once a gateway to …
Digital Rights Review: AI-Driven Violations Go Unchecked in South-East Europe
Across south-east Europe last month, BIRN’s digital rights monitors documented how AI is being used for protest surveillance, election manipulation, enabling digital sexual abuse and committing fraud, sparking calls for urgent action. Original post Here
Forum of Alumni from Saudi Universities in the Balkans
Saudi Ambassador Faisal Ghazi Ismail Hifzi, Highlights Kingdom’s Commitment to Global Educational Ties through Balkan Alumni Gathering Tirana Times Sunday, July 6, 2025, The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania Faisal Ghazi Ismail Hifzi, announced that on Monday, July 7, Tirana will …
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. …
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 …
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
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
The High Scardus Trail is emerging as a major mountain tourism destination in the Western Balkans. The cross-border route connects Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. The German Embassy in Albania says the trail offers more than spectacular mountain landscapes. It also creates economic opportunities for local communities and helps protect …
Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said the “Pasqyra Albania” platform will allow citizens to compare product prices and find where they can buy them more cheaply. At the same time, the government will use the platform to analyze how prices form across the entire value chain. Ibrahimaj told ATSH …
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla said the government is finalizing a new agricultural insurance scheme to protect farmers and crops from damage caused by natural disasters. The scheme responds to concerns farmers have raised across the country about losses from frost, hail, floods and fires. Salla said authorities …
Emeritus Academician Mark Tirta, one of Albania’s most respected scholars of ethnology and anthropology, died today at the age of 88. The Academy of Sciences said his death represents a major loss for Albanian science and culture. For more than six decades, Tirta dedicated his life to researching, documenting and …
Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari visited “Qemal Stafa” High School, one of the educational institutions where the implementation of the “Smart City” program has begun, with the aim of improving security in schools. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:6a7b9724-3db3-4346-a838-daae6198353f-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:6a7b9724-3db3-4346-a838-daae6198353f-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-turn=”assistant”> According to reports, Lamallari inspected the camera system installed …
A devastating tragedy has shaken the Albanian community in Jacksonville, Florida, where three children lost their lives and four other people were seriously injured after a massive fire engulfed a two-story home. Relatives of the family, who arrived at the scene following the incident, confirmed that the family is of …
Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha was invited on Thursday by the International Democracy Union (IDU) to join the organization’s official delegation to the Republican Party’s National Convention. The event is expected to take place in Dallas, Texas, on September 9 and 10, 2026. In an official letter dated August 7, …
The sounds of jazz returned to the “Migjeni” Theatre for another evening of the 17th edition of the “Shkodra Jazz Festival.” The festival, which over the years has become one of the city’s major musical events, brought the quartet of artist Kejdi Barbullushi to the stage. Through improvisation, rhythm and …
A 53-year-old man of Albanian origin in Rhodope, Greece, confessed on Thursday to killing his 44-year-old wife, who was also of Albanian origin. A forensic examination of the victim’s body revealed that a single stab wound to the neck caused her death. The man has been hospitalized after attempting to …
Businesses and individuals engaged in short-term rentals of accommodation units through the Booking platform will be subject to inspections by the tax administration. As part of the tourism operational plan, the tax authorities have begun inspections of businesses and individuals that have generated income through Booking.com. The tax administration said …