Rama’s Trump Joke Overshadows Copenhagen Summit
Tirana, Albania (Tirana Times). Prime Minister Edi Rama’s attempt at humor during a European summit turned into a viral spectacle on Thursday, overshadowing the European Political Community’s agenda in Copenhagen and sparking both international scrutiny and domestic criticism. The incident unfolded when Rama, known for injecting jokes into international meetings, …
Mayoral Election in Capital Stirs Albanian Opposition Hopes of Comeback
The byelection in Tirana, whose Socialist mayor is behind bars, is a precious opportunity for Albania’s opposition – but analysts warn that victory remains unlikely. Original post Here
Albania Govt Demands Elections in Capital Despite Jailed Mayor’s Court Appeal
Ruling Socialists push for new elections in Tirana as jailed mayor tries to block the move, claiming his dismissal is in breach of his constitutional rights. Original post Here
Kosovo Visitors Drive Summer Tourism Surge as Italian Arrivals Slip
Kosovo Visitors Drive Summer Tourism Surge as Italian Arrivals SlipTirana, September 26, 2025 — By Tirana Times Staff Albania’s summer tourism season ended on a stronger note in August, with a surge in visitors from neighboring Kosovo offsetting weak demand from other markets, particularly Italy. According to official data from …
Fourth estate’s useful idiots
(cases from Albania in which international media should had known better) The cashless dream This July, a Politico-Europe journalist texted me about comments regarding Albanian PM Edi Rama’s recent statement that he would abolish all cash payments by 2030. I replied that this would be a recurring attention-seeking stunt and …
Digital Rights Review: AI and Growing Uncertainty Over What’s Real Online
BIRN monitoring during August revealed widespread misuse of AI to impersonate citizens and politicians across Southeast Europe, while Albania appointed an AI as a government minister, and Turkey treated an AI chatbot as a criminal for insulting the President. Original post Here
Albanian Mayor’s Dismissal Seemingly Ends Rising Star’s Career
Erion Veliaj’s dismissal as Tirana mayor appears to have terminated the career of a man once seen as a possible successor to Edi Rama. Original post Here
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 …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that the “Flamingo Mirror” platform recorded more than 127,000 searches within its first 24 hours online. He described the platform as marking a new era of transparency. In a social media post, Rama said that “Flamingo Mirror” recorded 3,397 page searches during its first …
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said today that growing interest from international brands in Albania highlights the country’s tourism potential and investor confidence in the sector’s continued development. Gonxhja referred to the “Future Hospitality Forum,” which took place in Tirana several days ago. He said Albania has …
A delegation from the Albanian Customs Administration, led by Director General Besmir Beja, held its first coordination meeting in Brussels with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD). The meeting focused on implementing the European Union’s digital customs systems and achieving full interoperability with the EU’s …
Albanian emigrants from different parts of Germany gathered outside the German Parliament in Berlin on Sunday for a protest under the slogan “Not in My Name.” The rally was organized to express opposition to the guilty verdicts handed down by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against former leaders of the Kosovo …
Parliament will hold a series of parliamentary committee meetings on October 5, ahead of the plenary session scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. At the center of attention is the draft law “On the Administrative-Territorial Division of Local Government Units in the Republic of Albania,” which will be discussed and …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday that more than 127,000 searches were recorded within 24 hours of the launch of the “Flamingo Mirror” platform, which he described as marking a new era of transparency. In a Facebook post, Rama said that in its first 24 hours, “Flamingo Mirror” recorded …
The parliamentary group of the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) submitted a request on Sunday for the Kosovo Assembly to hold a plenary session on Monday at 9:00 a.m. The requested session is also expected to consider amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers, commonly known as the Law on the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced the creation of a National Council for children with disabilities, aimed at introducing a new approach to relations between institutions, children and their families. The announcement was made during the “Flasim” podcast, where part of the discussion focused on support for children on the …
A fire broke out today in the Zall-Herr area, within the Municipality of Tirana. According to reports, the flames do not pose a threat to homes, as there are no residential buildings near the site of the fire. Six fire engines and 25 firefighters have been deployed to contain and …
Albania’s insurance market continues to expand. In the first eight months of the year, insurance companies collected around ALL 18.3 billion in gross written premiums. According to data from the Albanian Financial Supervisory Authority (AFSA), this represents an increase of 2.4% compared with the same period last year. The increase …