Saudi Cultural Heritage Celebrated in Prishtina with Opening of “Urat” Exhibition
Tirana Times | May 2nd | Prishtina, Kosovo — A unique cultural bridge between Kosovo and Saudi Arabia was inaugurated on Thursday with the opening of the “Urat” exhibition in central Prishtina, showcasing the Kingdom’s rich Islamic and cultural heritage. Organized in partnership between the Islamic Community of Kosovo and …
Criminal Enterprise and Investment Policy in Albania
The involvement of individuals with criminal backgrounds or ties to the underworld among Albania’s so-called strategic investors must be examined in a broader context. Politically, this phenomenon represents one of the clearest signs of the symbiosis between crime and politics — and of the state being effectively captured by organized …
RSF Report: Media Freedom Tumbling in Most Balkan Countries
Press freedom has continued a downward slide in most Balkan countries according to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders – although Albania, Montenegro and Serbia have bucked the trend. Original post Here
The EU Court’s Verdict on Golden Passports: Implications for Albania
Genc Pollo – President of the Paneuropa Albania MovementFormer Minister and MP April 2025 “Whatever the European Court decides—if it says it can’t be done, we won’t do it; if it says it can, we will.” This was, roughly speaking, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s stance in March 2023, expressed at …
Corridor VIII – the Forgotten Lifeline of the Balkans
An in-depth investigation into the EU-backed trans-Balkan transport project that remains stalled decades after its launch. Over two decades ago, European planners and Balkan leaders laid out the idea off Corridor VIII, a transport route that would traverse and link the difficult-to-navigate terrains of Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Its …
Italy Queried Over Fate of 16 ‘Missing’ Migrants Outsourced to Albania
Opposition MP demands answers after a visit to the Italian-run Repatriation and Detention Centre in Albania revealed that 16 out of 41 migrants sent there two weeks ago had gone. Original post Here
Surveillance and Censorship Worsening in Western Balkans: BIRN Report
New report shows governments in the region increasingly use technology to suppress dissent, filter content, restrict access to digital platforms and carry out mass and targeted surveillance. Original post Here
In a depopulating Albania, why is the PM campaigning on a promise to make it easier for young people to leave?
If Rama wants to be the prime minister who ushers Albania into the European Union, he must first be the leader who makes Albania worth staying in. It means building a country where the EU passport is a gateway — not an escape route. Because freedom is not just the …
Call to Arms for the ‘Next Generation’
Albania is in a precarious situation at the moment. We are faced with a prevailing cultural acceptance of complacency and corruption. This reality had periodically made itself known to me during my summer trips back to Albania. Truthfully, however, this had no bearing on my life back then. I was …
Is AI worsening the mental health crisis in journalism?
Mental health remains a relatively under-discussed issue for those working in journalism, a profession that is often precarious for many. AI has now been added to this situation. Instability and precariousness, low salaries, the “obligation to stay connected” and the pressure to keep up the pace: these are the factors …
Roland Sejko’s documentary “Film di Stato” (“State Film”) has been selected as Albania’s entry for the 2027 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film draws on an extensive collection of archival material. Through historical footage and images, it tells the story of Albania during the communist …
Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed Albania’s economic growth and tourism targets during a meeting with members of the Albanian community in Staten Island, New York. Rama said Albania has undergone significant economic transformation over the past decades. He also linked this progress to the contribution of the Albanian diaspora. “The …
Three young Albanians have returned from abroad and chosen to build their professional futures in their home country. Their stories, ranging from tourism to medicinal and aromatic plants, featured in the “Flasim” podcast with Prime Minister Edi Rama. The three entrepreneurs all share a similar journey. They left Albania, gained …
Wizz Air brought a group of travellers, content creators and media representatives from Warsaw to Albania with its mystery “Let’s Get Lost” flight. The participants discovered their destination only after they landed at Tirana International Airport. Tirana International Airport “Nënë Tereza” announced the initiative on social media. The airport said …
The Albanian Parliament will host the Inter-Parliamentary Conference “A Strategic Agenda for EU Enlargement and Albania’s Accession” tomorrow, Sept. 28, in Tirana. The conference will bring together representatives of Albanian institutions, the European Parliament and parliaments from other European countries. Participants will discuss the EU enlargement process and Albania’s path …
Albania secured their first UEFA Nations League win with a 2-0 victory over Belarus in Group I. A crowd of 18,150 watched the national team claim the win in Italian coach Maran’s first official match in charge. Belarus started strongly and controlled possession early in the game. The visitors held …
Farka Lake, 9.6 kilometers from central Tirana, turned into a sports arena on Sunday as the sixth edition of “Tiranathlon” brought together cycling, running and swimming. The international triathlon attracted sports fans and participants of different ages. They competed across the three disciplines in one of Tirana’s natural settings. This …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a video message from Mother Teresa International Airport shortly after returning from the United States, described the measure imposed on the former head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service (SHISH) as extreme. “I have just returned from New York, where, as you know, I represented Albania …
Interest among public administration employees in 0% interest housing loans has significantly exceeded the number of available quotas. By the application deadline, 2,164 applications had been submitted for 300 new home-purchase loans, around seven times the number of expected beneficiaries. The Ministry of Health recorded the highest number of applications, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to opposition demands for explanations regarding the appointment of Vlora Hyseni as head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service (SHISH). In a message from Mother Teresa International Airport, Rama said that Hyseni’s appointment to lead the State Intelligence Service was also based on assessments and references …