Blog
News

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 …

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News

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

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News

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 …

Read More
News
Week in Review: Surprises in Store

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week brings some surprises – some good, some less so – while continuing to look back on 20 years of BIRN. Original post Here

News
Albania’s Anti-Disinformation Strategy Could Target Critical Media, Opponents Fear

The Albanian parliament has adopted a national strategy to combat foreign interference and disinformation – but the opposition claims it could be used against domestic media that expose government failings. Original post Here

News
Veliaj in Legal and Political Limbo: High Court Confirms Detention, Rule-of-Law in Question

Tirana Times, TIRANA July 9, 2025— Albania’s High Court on Tuesday upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, marking a decisive moment in both the judicial handling of the high-profile case and in Veliaj’s political unraveling. The ruling, which confirms the March 13 decision of the Court of …

News
Greece Inaugurates New Consulate in Korça to Boost Bilateral Ties

By Tirana Time staff KORÇA, Albania ,Tirana Times,  July 9 , 2025 — Greece inaugurated a new building for its Consulate General in the southeastern Albanian city of Korça on Sunday, in a ceremony that highlighted the deepening diplomatic ties between the two neighboring countries and renewed Athens’ focus on …

News
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 …

News
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 …

News
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 …

News
“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 …

News
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

News
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 …

News

Week in Review: Surprises in Store

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week brings some surprises – some good, some less so – while continuing to look back on 20 years of BIRN. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Anti-Disinformation Strategy Could Target Critical Media, Opponents Fear

The Albanian parliament has adopted a national strategy to combat foreign interference and disinformation – but the opposition claims it could be used against domestic media that expose government failings. Original post Here

News

Veliaj in Legal and Political Limbo: High Court Confirms Detention, Rule-of-Law in Question

Tirana Times, TIRANA July 9, 2025— Albania’s High Court on Tuesday upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, marking a decisive moment in both the judicial handling of the high-profile case and in Veliaj’s political unraveling. The ruling, which confirms the March 13 decision of the Court of …

News

Greece Inaugurates New Consulate in Korça to Boost Bilateral Ties

By Tirana Time staff KORÇA, Albania ,Tirana Times,  July 9 , 2025 — Greece inaugurated a new building for its Consulate General in the southeastern Albanian city of Korça on Sunday, in a ceremony that highlighted the deepening diplomatic ties between the two neighboring countries and renewed Athens’ focus on …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

“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 …

News

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

News

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 …