Tirana Pride Highlights Albania’s LGBT+ Progress Amid EU Hopes
TIRANA, May 25, 2025— Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Albania’s capital on Saturday during the annual Pride Parade, demanding equal rights, legal recognition, and dignity for the LGBT+ community under the motto “Side by Side.” The event, marked by colorful banners and strong calls for inclusion, received …
Albania’s Vanishing Electorate: Emigration, Not a Boycott, Powered the Socialist Victory
TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s ruling Socialist Party secured another sweeping victory in the May 11 parliamentary elections, but analysts say the most significant result wasn’t who won—but who wasn’t there to vote. Official data from the Central Election Commission indicate that at least 200,000 fewer people voted in 2025 compared …
Fight to Protect Albania’s ‘Wild River’ Isn’t Over, Say Environmental Prize-Winners
Activists Olsi Nika and Besjana Guri tell BIRN they see their prestigious international prize as fresh motivation to continue their campaign to save one of Europe’s last wild rivers from development. Original post Here
Crime Crackdown Exposes Albania’s Deep State-Organized Crime Links
Joint Italy-Albania Crime Crackdown Exposes Deep Ties Between Organized Crime and State Structures in Albania TIRANA, Albania ,Tirana Times May 21 — A sweeping anti-drug operation conducted jointly by Italian and Albanian authorities has laid bare what critics describe as the entrenched links between organized crime and political power in …
Narco-Politics and the Erosion of Democracy in Albania
In a country where democratic institutions are already fragile, a sprawling Italian anti-mafia investigation has thrown Albania’s political establishment into turmoil. At its heart lies the so-called Troplini Group, a narco-network accused of trafficking heroin and cocaine from Latin America through the Port of Durrës, laundering profits via the country’s …
Italy-Albania Police Operation Nets 40 Suspected Drug Traffickers
Joint police investigation results in arrest of 40 members of three gangs allegedly involved in cocaine and heroin trafficking and money laundering, including one gang based in Durres, Albania. Original post Here
Thwarting Opposition Hopes, Albania’s Socialists Win Big Abroad
Albania’s well-organised ruling party worked hard to mobilise voters abroad for an election that for the first time featured postal ballots. It paid off. Original post Here
Tirana Emerges as Strategic Hub at FII PRIORITY Europe Summit
TIRANA, Albania Tirana Times , May 20, — For the first time, Albania hosted the prestigious Future Investment Initiative (FII) Europe Summit, drawing a constellation of global leaders, tech innovators, and major investors to its capital. Coinciding with the 6th European Political Community (EPC) meeting, the summit positioned Tirana as …
European Political Community Summit in Tirana – Substance, Symbolism, and Domestic Contradictions
Tirana, 17 May 2025 The Sixth Summit of the European Political Community (EPC), held in Tirana on 16 May 2025, convened 47 European leaders in a highly symbolic gathering that showcased continental unity in the face of geopolitical volatility. Under the banner “New Europe in a New World: Unity – …
Albania’s 2025 Elections: Triumph of the Socialists or the Fall of Democracy?
The May 11 parliamentary elections delivered a further consolidationof the Socialist government under Edi Rama’s leadership, while simultaneously revealing adeterioration in democratic standards across the country: unequal representation, abuse ofstate resources, media capture, and pressure on the opposition. The near-absolute majoritythat the Socialist Party has effectively secured in these elections …
TIRANA, September 1 – The Ministry of Defence reported 27 wildfires across Albania over the past 24 hours. Four fires remain active, while authorities are monitoring 4 others. Firefighters deployed 432 operational personnel and 43 vehicles, with support from 70 military personnel and 3 Air Force helicopters. Today, authorities plan …
TIRANA, September 1 – Albanian referee Emanuela Rusta will officiate another major European fixture. She will referee the second leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Women’s Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain and Frankfurt. The match will take place on September 2 at 18:30 at the PSG Campus …
Albania’s history of protecting Jewish people during World War II took center stage at a documentary exhibition held today at the General Directorate of Archives. The exhibition highlighted how Albanian families sheltered Jewish people fleeing Nazi persecution and antisemitic terror. A group of history teachers from Albania and Kosovo attended …
TIRANA, September 1 – The US Embassy in Tirana praised Albania for repatriating 5 Albanian citizens from Syria. The group included 2 women and 3 children. The embassy described the operation as an important step for the families and for global security. It said the returnees would receive support for …
The Monastery of the Archangels in Derviçan has entered the restoration phase. The project also covers the eastern and western guest quarters of the complex. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja shared images of the ongoing work at the important cultural and religious heritage site. The restoration will …
TIRANA, September 1 – Albania plans to increase funding for reimbursed medicines by 28% in 2027. The fund will reach 17.28 billion ALL, up from 13.5 billion ALL in 2026. The 2027–2029 Medium-Term Budget Programme projects an expansion of the reimbursed medicines list by 20 items. The list will grow …
Berat offers travelers a rare mix of history, adventure, gastronomy and hospitality. Pier Andrea Canei highlights the city in Italy’s “Style Magazine”. He presents Berat as an increasingly popular destination for international travelers. The UNESCO-listed city combines its historic “thousand windows” with the medieval Berat Castle, the Osum Canyon and …
TIRANA, September 1 – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met his Slovenian counterpart Tone Kajzer in Bled, Slovenia. The meeting took place during the Bled Strategic Forum 2026. The ministers discussed Albania’s European Union membership process, Europe’s future and the strategic importance of the Western Balkans. They …
TIRANA, September 1 – More than 220 people have requested access to the courtroom for the September 16 verdict in the case of Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi. The Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague will allocate only 80 seats in the public gallery. Forty seats …
TIRANA, September 1 – The “After School” program will operate in 408 schools across Albania. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu announced the expansion as the new school year approaches. The program will offer activities in art, culture, creativity, practical skills and learning. It will cover 117 schools in Tirana, 96 …