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Saudi Literature in Albanian: Tirana Times Publishes Three New Titles Ahead of Saudi Cultural Week in Tirana

Tirana Times Staff Albania, September 15, 2025, Tirana Times .With the opening of the Saudi Cultural Week in Tirana tomorrow, Tirana Times Publishing House is marking the occasion with the release of three new translations of contemporary Saudi novels into Albanian. The titles—Critical Condition of Patient “K” by Aziz Muhamed, …

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In Albania, Christians and Muslims Unite to Protect Religious Heritage

In the Diber region in Albania’s north-east, Byzantine-era churches which have survived the ordeals of history are being protected by Christians, with a helping hand from their Muslim neighbours. Original post Here

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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: September 15, 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

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Tirana’s Water Crisis Hits Diplomats

TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times, September 14, 2025) — In a city where cranes rise daily and glass towers dominate the skyline, the most basic element of urban life — running water — is vanishing. For more than three months, the residence of the European Union ambassador in Tirana has received …

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Albania’s Demographic Collapse: A Silent National Emergency

By Tirana Times Albania is facing a demographic collapse of historic proportions. What was once described as a temporary “wave of migration” in the 1990s has hardened into a permanent, structural crisis that now threatens the very future of the nation. The data is stark, the trend undeniable, and the …

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Albania Turns to Artificial Intelligence Amid Deep Corruption Crisis

TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times, September 11, 2025 ) – Albania’s government has unveiled what it calls a bold step in its fight against endemic corruption: the appointment of the country’s first artificial intelligence “minister.” The AI system, named Diella, meaning “sun” in Albanian, has been presented by Prime Minister Edi …

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Week in Review: Crackdowns, Bans and Enforced Silences

From attempts to neuter popular opposition to efforts to stifle the truth about mass protests, this week’s selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories explores the turbulent political landscape across the region. Original post Here

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Albanian PM Unveils New Govt, Initiates Tirana Mayor’s Dismissal

Rama announces new cabinet and calls fresh elections for the Tirana mayoralty – seven months after Mayor Erion Veliaj was arrested on charges of corruption and money-laundering. Original post Here

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Albania’s Public Broadcaster Struggling With ‘Catastrophic’ Debts, Head Says

The new head of RTSH, Eni Vasili, admits to BIRN that the company is facing a dire financial situation – after several contributors revealed they had not been paid for months. Original post Here

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Pay Delays Deepen Concern over Albanian Public Broadcaster’s Finances

Outside programme contributors to Albania’s indebted public broadcaster say they haven’t paid for months and are in the dark as to when they will receive the money they are owed. Original post Here

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Rama: National Council for Children with Disabilities, financial bonus for support teachers

Prime Minister Edi Rama met with a group of parents today to discuss the creation of a National Council for Children with Disabilities and ways to strengthen the support-teacher system. Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro and State Social Service Director Reme Lala …

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Hoxha meets Austrian counterpart: Albania’s EU progress praised

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Austria’s Federal Minister for Europe Claudia Bauer in Vienna during the high-level ministerial meeting “Slavkov 3 – Western Balkans”. Hoxha and Bauer discussed Albania’s EU accession process, the country’s ongoing reform agenda and key priorities in the negotiations. Hoxha expressed …

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EU path, Hoxha in Vienna: Albania making merit-based progress

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in a high-level meeting of European affairs ministers from the Slavkov format countries and the Western Balkans in Vienna on September 29, 2026. The Slavkov format brings together Austria, Czechia and Slovakia, along with the Western Balkan countries. Austrian Federal …

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Ambassador Wendt begins mission in Tirana as US flag raised at official residence

New U.S. Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt has officially taken up his post, as the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the ambassador’s official residence. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana announced that the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the official residence to mark the beginning …

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Teodor Laço remembered on what would have been his 90th birthday

September 29 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of renowned Albanian writer and screenwriter, and former Culture Minister, Teodor Laço. Laço was born on September 29, 1936, in the village of Dardhë, Korçë. He studied Agronomy at the University of Tirana. However, his early passion for writing shaped his …

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EU Ambassador meets Demo: Rule of law at center of Albania’s EU path

Minister of Interior Ervin Demo met today with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa. The ambassador congratulated Demo on his appointment and stressed the importance of strengthening the rule of law as Albania moves toward EU membership. During the meeting, the two officials discussed priorities and challenges related …

News
Rama: Zvernec project will be decided based on environmental impact

Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke today about protests against the planned investment in Zvernec. He said scientific assessments and the project’s environmental impact will determine whether construction moves forward. Speaking at the Euronews Summit 2026, Rama said the investment has no political link to Donald Trump. Instead, he said investors …

News
Albania dominate San Marino, lead 2-0 at half-time

Albania dominated San Marino in their second Group C1 match of the UEFA Nations League. The Red and Blacks needed less than 27 minutes to take control at the San Marino Stadium. Anis Mehmeti opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Just five minutes later, Myrto Uzuni doubled Albania’s lead. …

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Protest in Tirana, Rama: I come from the protesters’ side myself, I risked my life for free speech

Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at the Euronews 2026 Tourism Summit in Brussels, addressed the ongoing protests in Tirana and also commented on singer Dua Lipa’s support for the demonstrations. Rama said that he is proud of Dua Lipa, just as she is proud of the protests taking place in …

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Berisha in Strasbourg: Appeals court should review former KLA leaders’ sentences objectively

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha delivered a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he addressed developments in Kosovo and the convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders in The Hague. Berisha first focused on the repeated elections in Kosovo, saying they had been conducted …

News

Rama: National Council for Children with Disabilities, financial bonus for support teachers

Prime Minister Edi Rama met with a group of parents today to discuss the creation of a National Council for Children with Disabilities and ways to strengthen the support-teacher system. Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro and State Social Service Director Reme Lala …

News

Hoxha meets Austrian counterpart: Albania’s EU progress praised

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met with Austria’s Federal Minister for Europe Claudia Bauer in Vienna during the high-level ministerial meeting “Slavkov 3 – Western Balkans”. Hoxha and Bauer discussed Albania’s EU accession process, the country’s ongoing reform agenda and key priorities in the negotiations. Hoxha expressed …

News

EU path, Hoxha in Vienna: Albania making merit-based progress

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in a high-level meeting of European affairs ministers from the Slavkov format countries and the Western Balkans in Vienna on September 29, 2026. The Slavkov format brings together Austria, Czechia and Slovakia, along with the Western Balkan countries. Austrian Federal …

News

Ambassador Wendt begins mission in Tirana as US flag raised at official residence

New U.S. Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt has officially taken up his post, as the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the ambassador’s official residence. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana announced that the U.S. Marine Corps raised the American flag at the official residence to mark the beginning …

News

Teodor Laço remembered on what would have been his 90th birthday

September 29 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of renowned Albanian writer and screenwriter, and former Culture Minister, Teodor Laço. Laço was born on September 29, 1936, in the village of Dardhë, Korçë. He studied Agronomy at the University of Tirana. However, his early passion for writing shaped his …

News

EU Ambassador meets Demo: Rule of law at center of Albania’s EU path

Minister of Interior Ervin Demo met today with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa. The ambassador congratulated Demo on his appointment and stressed the importance of strengthening the rule of law as Albania moves toward EU membership. During the meeting, the two officials discussed priorities and challenges related …

News

Rama: Zvernec project will be decided based on environmental impact

Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke today about protests against the planned investment in Zvernec. He said scientific assessments and the project’s environmental impact will determine whether construction moves forward. Speaking at the Euronews Summit 2026, Rama said the investment has no political link to Donald Trump. Instead, he said investors …

News

Albania dominate San Marino, lead 2-0 at half-time

Albania dominated San Marino in their second Group C1 match of the UEFA Nations League. The Red and Blacks needed less than 27 minutes to take control at the San Marino Stadium. Anis Mehmeti opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Just five minutes later, Myrto Uzuni doubled Albania’s lead. …

News

Protest in Tirana, Rama: I come from the protesters’ side myself, I risked my life for free speech

Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at the Euronews 2026 Tourism Summit in Brussels, addressed the ongoing protests in Tirana and also commented on singer Dua Lipa’s support for the demonstrations. Rama said that he is proud of Dua Lipa, just as she is proud of the protests taking place in …

News

Berisha in Strasbourg: Appeals court should review former KLA leaders’ sentences objectively

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha delivered a speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he addressed developments in Kosovo and the convictions of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders in The Hague. Berisha first focused on the repeated elections in Kosovo, saying they had been conducted …