Trump’s son-in-law rejects allegations of preferential treatment, outlines plans for a €4 billion investment and addresses environmental concerns over the
Investigators examine weapons deals, state-linked defense companies and the role of businessman Ron Yeffet after allegations of international arms trafficking
Special Report, prepared by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Introduction: From More Than 100 Days of Protests to an Escalating Political Crisis
Student-led demonstrations turn into violent confrontations, with attacks on state institutions and luxury buildings amid allegations of systemic corruption, police brutality and a deepening
Vera Prokopieva is a nutrition scientist from Bulgaria who has studied food from three angles: as an anthropologist, as a cook in Copenhagen kitchens, and as a researcher at Stanford, working on clinical trials of food as medicine and on how fermented foods shape the gut microbiome. Albania is living
by Dr. Elez Bebiraj Tirana Times, October 17, 2026 – Albania is facing the most serious political crisis of Edi Rama’s thirteen years in power. Protesters demanding the prime minister’s resignation have attacked government buildings, clashed with police, and damaged public and private property. The unrest has spread from Tirana
Olta Xhaçka under investigation for corruption and money laundering as prosecutors examine a separate case involving the husband of former minister Ogerta Manastirliu. Tirana Times, October 16, 2026 – Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has formally placed former Defense and Foreign Minister Olta Xhaçka under
Special Report, prepared by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Introduction: From More Than 100 Days of Protests to an Escalating Political Crisis Albania is facing a serious escalation of political and social tensions. The student protests of October 13 and 14, 2026, accompanied by violent clashes, damage and
By Enrico Letta Delivery as the defining challenge Thank you. I am genuinely pleased to be here, and I will tell you why I rearranged my agenda to make it. When I saw the title of this event — “Proof, Not Promises”, I understood immediately that this is the title
The Middle East faces a historic choice: to remain trapped in rivalries that define security through the weakening of adversaries, or to build a regional order based on sovereignty, cooperation and diplomacy. By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, October 11, 2026 – The greatest danger facing the Middle East today
Millions of euros flowed to companies linked to Strabag while Oleg Deripaska remained a major shareholder, exposing gaps in Albania’s ability to identify who ultimately benefits from public money Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – For years, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s economic interests in Albania were largely invisible. They did
Vera Prokopieva is a nutrition scientist from Bulgaria who has studied food from three angles: as an anthropologist, as a cook in Copenhagen kitchens, and as a researcher at Stanford, working on clinical trials of food as medicine and on how fermented foods shape the gut microbiome. Albania is living
Kosovo-born, Austria-based artist honored for a career that has turned memory, displacement and identity into a bridge between cultures Tirana Times, September 29, 2026 – Kosovo-born Albanian painter Gazmend Freitag, who has built his artistic career in Austria, has been awarded the title “Painter of the Year 2025”, receiving the distinction
by Sokol Lleshi, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of New York Tirana Background The political systems in the Western Balkan region feature politicized public administrations, weak enforcement of rule of law norms, and inconsistent practices of political accountability. In general, the historical experience of the region is such that
Debates about EU enlargement tend to focus on the risks of admitting countries before they are ready. In her recent paper, Marta Szpala broadens the debate by examining what prolonged delay means for both candidate countries and the European Union itself. Tirana Times spoke with Szpala about how prolonged uncertainty
Spain clinches second FIFA World Cup title as Europe continues its dominance on football’s biggest stage By Gautam Karve, Editor-in-Chief, World Media Organization Tirana Times, July 22, 2026 – Spain secured its second FIFA World Cup title with a commanding performance, defeating Argentina in a final that showcased the Spanish
Tirana Times, July 21, 2026 – Relations between Albania and Canada have expanded steadily in recent years, from growing trade and new bilateral agreements to closer cooperation within NATO and the launch of the first direct flight between the two countries. In an interview with Tirana Times, Canada’s Ambassador to Albania,
Vera Prokopieva is a nutrition scientist from Bulgaria who has studied food from three angles: as an anthropologist, as a cook in Copenhagen kitchens, and as a researcher at Stanford, working on clinical trials of food as medicine and on how fermented foods shape the gut microbiome. Albania is living
Albania’s Concrete Economy: How Construction Became the Country’s Dominant Growth Model Tirana Times, July 10, 2026 – A booming construction sector has made Albania
by Nora Ahmeti & Vilson Blloshmi Albania’s investigation into Bankers Petroleum Albania Ltd. is often narrated as a “China case” because the operator has
Special Report, prepared by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Introduction: From More Than 100 Days of Protests to an Escalating Political Crisis
SPAK investigation reaches the heart of Albania’s security establishment, raising unprecedented questions over classified information, organized crime and institutional integrity in a NATO member
Planned before Albania’s protest movement began, the concert was intended to strengthen the country’s international profile. But public financing, free tickets and a radically
The Albanian Files suggests that international architecture may have served not only as design, but as a prestigious façade for opaque money, captured institutions
Challenging Communism’s Legacy and Conspiracy Theories on Anti-Semitism in Albania. By Albert Rakipi, PhD When Johanna Juta Neumann arrived in Durrës from Hamburg, she
Special Report, prepared by the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) Introduction: From More Than 100 Days of Protests to an Escalating Political Crisis
SPAK investigation reaches the heart of Albania’s security establishment, raising unprecedented questions over classified information, organized crime and institutional integrity in a NATO member
By Ilir Ikonomi One of the most important modern works ever written about Albania’s experience in the Second World War—Bernd Jürgen Fischer’s Albania at War,