Tirana Council Dismisses Mayor Erion Veliaj
Tirana, September 23, 2025 , Tirana Times– The extraordinary dismissal of Tirana’s mayor, Erion Veliaj, by the Municipal Council marks one of the most dramatic political upheavals in Albania’s recent history. Once celebrated as the rising star of the Socialist Party and widely perceived as a potential successor to Prime …
Building integrity and accountability in Albanian public universities: practical lessons from the United States
Aaron Savoy-Pasha | Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Albanian higher education faces documented integrity risks, particularly in grading, favoritism, and political influence. A 2024 peer-reviewed study highlights how these pressures shape assessment and weaken trust in degrees (Shahini, Zhllima, and Imami, 2024). Transparency International’s most recent Corruption Perceptions Index …
Veliaj’s Fall: Politics or Justice?
The detention and attempted dismissal of Tirana’s mayor raises fresh doubts over Albania’s rule of law and political maneuvering. Albania, Tirana Times, September 22,2025. The Socialist-controlled Tirana Municipal Council is expected to vote on Tuesday to dismiss Erion Veliaj from his post as mayor, formalizing a political downfall that has …
A modern writer of Saudi Arabian literature
The Critical Case of Patient K. by Aziz Muhamed By Jerina Zaloshnja “Let’s take a family photo,” suggested the prominent Saudi Arabian writer Yusuf ElMuhaimid, author of two of the latest books published in Arabic by Tirana Times (“A Man Chased by Rats” and “The Journey of the Najdi Boy”). …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: September 22, 2025
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Italian’s Tourist Resort Plan Trumps Triple Protection over Albanian Bay
Albania’s government has bestowed ‘strategic investor’ status to an Italian hotelier who wants to build a tourist resort in a nature reserve in southern Albania, on land rich in cultural heritage and home to a Cold War-era military base. Original post Here
Albania’s Fourth Rama Government Approved Without Debate
TIRANA, Albania, Tirana Times, September 18,2025 — In an unprecedented scene in Albania’s 35 years of political pluralism, Parliament on Thursday approved Prime Minister Edi Rama’s new cabinet and four-year governing program within minutes and without a single debate. The session, marked by chaos, a pre-recorded appearance from a virtual …
Cancel Parliament
What happened in Albania’s Parliament last week was more than a political skirmish. It was an assault on the very essence of parliamentarism. In a scene without precedent in the country’s 35 years of political pluralism — and arguably rare even in the wider history of parliamentary life — the …
Cleaning Up: Albania Plans New Waste Law After Incinerator Scandals
After a series of failed waste incineration projects, a new draft law foresees the creation of a powerful state waste agency that will fine polluters – but the potential cost worries some. Original post Here
Albanian Opposition Furious as AI ‘Minister’ Makes Parliament ‘Speech’
In a tense parliament session, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama gave the floor to the AI entity he has appointed as artificial intelligence minister, sparking an angry backlash from opposition MPs. Original post Here
Erion Veliaj suffers major legal setback as High Court rules that he should stay in pre-trial detention on corruption and money-laundering charges – even though he is still Tirana’s acting mayor. Original post Here
Albania plans to deploy up to 40 Armed Forces personnel to the International Stabilization Force mission in Gaza, subject to approval of a draft law. Deputy Defence Minister Enkelejd Joti presented the draft legislation to the Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance. Joti said the mission aims to support security …
The National Business Center hosted an InfoCamere delegation in Tirana as the two institutions continued cooperation on digital systems and services for businesses. InfoCamere provides information technology services for the Italian Chambers of Commerce. The meeting followed an April visit by the National Business Center team to Padua. The team …
The Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague is expected to deliver its first-instance verdict on September 16 in the trial of former Kosova Liberation Army leaders Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The four defendants face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which they have …
Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Naples, Italy, following the inauguration of Albania’s Honorary Consulate there on September 14. On September 15, he visited the Albanian Language Department at the University of Naples L’Orientale. The university is one of the historic centers of Albanian studies. Its Albanian language chair, established …
Albania marks 60 years since the founding of the Institute of Arts in Tirana. The institution opened on September 15, 1966, bringing together three major arts schools of the time. The new institution merged the State Conservatory of Tirana, the School of Fine Arts and the Aleksandër Moisiu Higher School …
Bledi Çomo, chairman of the Albania-Saudi Arabia Parliamentary Friendship Group, expressed Albania’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia over attacks and threats affecting the country’s security, population and civilian facilities. Çomo said the threats extend beyond the security of a single state. They also affect regional stability, freedom of navigation and the …
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the “Albania Dashboard” digital platform will introduce a new way of working across Albania’s public administration. She said the system will put citizens at the center and provide better services without delays or bureaucracy. Koçiu said every citizen request will have an assigned official …
Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said economic growth has increased financial support for citizens. He referred to state budget figures for the first 7 months of the year. During this period, the government spent ALL 841 million more than a year earlier on economic assistance, people with disabilities and their caregivers. …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the transformed Koman road, on social media today. The road connects the Vau i Dejës and Koman hydroelectric power plants. Rama highlights its setting in the spectacular landscape of northern Albania. The reconstruction began in February last year. The project received around ALL …