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Shkodër Art Gallery brings artworks to city streets through digital exhibitions

TIRANA, June 30 – Shkodër Art Gallery presents its collection in public spaces this summer. The gallery places digital exhibitions across the city for visitors and residents. The works include paintings created over different years. Albanian painters and young artists contribute to the collection. The exhibits appear through barcode access. …

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Albania Women’s Basketball Team Finishes Runner-Up at European Small Countries Championship

The Albanian women’s national basketball team finished second at the European Championship for Small Countries. As a result, they won the silver medal after losing the final to Malta 72–55. The final took place at the “Karagaç” sports hall in Peja. From the start, Malta controlled the game. They built …

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190th anniversary of first publication of The Songs of Milosao

TIRANA, June 30 – Albania marks the 190th anniversary of the first publication of The Songs of Milosao, the masterpiece of Jeronim De Rada that is widely regarded as the foundation of Albanian Romanticism. First published in Naples on June 30, 1836, the work introduced a new artistic and national …

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Jonid Jorgji becomes member of European Film Academy

TIRANA, June 30 – The National Center of Cinematography announced Jonid Jorgji as a member of the European Film Academy. It confirmed his selection in an official statement. In addition, the institution described the appointment as recognition of his contribution and vision in the audiovisual sector. It framed the membership …

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Albania U-21 to compete at Taranto 2026 Mediterranean games

TIRANA, June 30 – Albania’s U-21 national football team will compete at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026” in Italy. The event runs from 23 August to 1 September 2026. The International Committee of the Mediterranean Games organizes the competition. The football tournament features eight national teams. Organizers split the teams …

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Italian Foreign Minister says Western Balkans EU membership should be accelerated

TIRANA, June 30 – Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy will work to accelerate European Union membership for Western Balkan countries during the Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia. He said Albania and Montenegro are ready for membership. He also said other countries in the region should move forward so most …

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97 years since adoption of statute of Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church

TIRANA, June 30 – Albania marked 97 years since the adoption of the Statute of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church on June 30, 1929. The development followed the country’s independence in 1912. Religious institutions also moved toward separation from traditional external dependencies shaped by political and administrative conditions. In the …

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PM Rama: Zvërnec investment to create 10,000 jobs as Vlora Bay naval base deal strengthens maritime industry cooperation

TIRANA, June 30 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said foreign investment drives jobs and economic growth in Albania. He said the Zvërnec project alone will create 10,000 jobs. Speaking in Pashaliman, Vlora, Rama attended the signing of a cooperation memorandum between Italy’s “Fincantieri”, Albania’s “Kayo”, and the “Pavarësia” industrial school. …

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The Political Myth of the “Beautiful Protest”

A Barthesian Reading By Diana Gëllçi, Ph.D. Tirana Times, June 30, 2026 – A beautiful protest has been unfolding in Tirana for several weeks. What is particularly interesting is that the same description has been adopted not only by the protesters themselves but also by government officials and media outlets aligned …

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Bulldozers Leave Their Mark on Albanian Seafront Coveted by Developers

Preparatory works for construction of a resort linked to Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, which helped spark Albania’s ongoing demonstrations, have been suspended – but they’ve left their mark on this protected habitat. Original post Here

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Albania and North Macedonia to Introduce New Protocol for Joint Customs Controls

Albania and North Macedonia are strengthening customs cooperation by preparing a new protocol for the implementation of their Joint Border Controls Agreement. The initiative aims to improve the efficiency of border inspections, facilitate trade, and reduce waiting times at border crossings. During a visit to the Qafë Thanë–Qafasan joint border …

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Rama Shares Images of Saranda’s Public Beaches

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared new images of Saranda’s public beaches, highlighting the growing number of international visitors enjoying the city’s coastline, hospitality, local cuisine, and clean beaches during the summer season. This year, Albania’s coastal municipalities have expanded the areas designated as public beaches and are providing free …

News
EU’s Kallas Praises Albania’s Progress Toward Membership

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas praised Albania’s progress toward EU membership and said the EU is ready to welcome Albania and Montenegro as future members. Speaking in an interview with a Bosnian news agency, Kallas said the European Union will accelerate its enlargement process and identified the integration …

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Balla Meets Jacksonville Official, Highlights Strong US–Albania Ties

Parliamentary Group Leader of the Socialist Party Taulant Balla received Kevin Carrico, president of the Jacksonville City Council in the United States, at the Albanian Parliament. During the meeting, both sides discussed cooperation between Albania and the United States, with a particular focus on the role of the Albanian-American community …

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Gogu: Justice System Is Measured by Law Enforcement and Results for Citizens

Minister of Justice Toni Gogu met today with the Free Legal Aid Service branches, the State Enforcement Service, the Probation Service, and the Center for the Prevention of Crimes by Minors and Youth. During the meeting, officials prioritized raising citizens’ awareness of their right to free legal aid, improving the …

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Ekrem Bajroviq Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Again in Retrial for War Crimes Against Albanians in Istog

The Basic Court in Pristina has once again sentenced Ekrem Bajroviq to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of war crimes against the civilian population committed during the 1998–1999 Kosovo war in the municipality of Istog. The case had been returned for retrial by the Supreme Court of …

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National Flight School Opens, Nufi: A Strategic Investment in the Future of the Armed Forces

Albanian Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi announced the official opening of the National Flight School on Friday, describing it as a strategic step toward strengthening the country’s defense and national security capabilities. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Nufi said the National Flight School is more than just a new educational …

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Rama at National Flight School Inauguration: We Will Train NATO and Kosovo Pilots

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi attended the inauguration ceremony of the National Flight School on Friday. During his address, Rama highlighted the growing interest among young people in joining the Albanian Air Force, adding that the new institution will also be open to training …

News
Task Force Conducts Inspections on Pogradec Beaches to Prevent Illegal Occupation of Lakeshore Areas

A joint task force made up of representatives from the National Coastline Agency, the Municipality of Pogradec, and the State Police carried out inspections along Pogradec’s lakeshore this Friday to monitor compliance with beach station permits and ensure that designated public beach areas remain accessible. Shpëtim Çiku, Director of the …

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Eurostat: Albanians Work the Longest Hours, Exceeding the EU Average

Workers in Albania continue to put in significantly longer working hours than the European average. According to Eurostat, the average working week across the European Union stood at 35.9 hours in 2025. In Albania, however, data from INSTAT show that employees worked an average of 42.6 hours per week—6.7 hours …

News

Albania and North Macedonia to Introduce New Protocol for Joint Customs Controls

Albania and North Macedonia are strengthening customs cooperation by preparing a new protocol for the implementation of their Joint Border Controls Agreement. The initiative aims to improve the efficiency of border inspections, facilitate trade, and reduce waiting times at border crossings. During a visit to the Qafë Thanë–Qafasan joint border …

News

Rama Shares Images of Saranda’s Public Beaches

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared new images of Saranda’s public beaches, highlighting the growing number of international visitors enjoying the city’s coastline, hospitality, local cuisine, and clean beaches during the summer season. This year, Albania’s coastal municipalities have expanded the areas designated as public beaches and are providing free …

News

EU’s Kallas Praises Albania’s Progress Toward Membership

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas praised Albania’s progress toward EU membership and said the EU is ready to welcome Albania and Montenegro as future members. Speaking in an interview with a Bosnian news agency, Kallas said the European Union will accelerate its enlargement process and identified the integration …

News

Balla Meets Jacksonville Official, Highlights Strong US–Albania Ties

Parliamentary Group Leader of the Socialist Party Taulant Balla received Kevin Carrico, president of the Jacksonville City Council in the United States, at the Albanian Parliament. During the meeting, both sides discussed cooperation between Albania and the United States, with a particular focus on the role of the Albanian-American community …

News

Gogu: Justice System Is Measured by Law Enforcement and Results for Citizens

Minister of Justice Toni Gogu met today with the Free Legal Aid Service branches, the State Enforcement Service, the Probation Service, and the Center for the Prevention of Crimes by Minors and Youth. During the meeting, officials prioritized raising citizens’ awareness of their right to free legal aid, improving the …

News

Ekrem Bajroviq Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Again in Retrial for War Crimes Against Albanians in Istog

The Basic Court in Pristina has once again sentenced Ekrem Bajroviq to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of war crimes against the civilian population committed during the 1998–1999 Kosovo war in the municipality of Istog. The case had been returned for retrial by the Supreme Court of …

News

National Flight School Opens, Nufi: A Strategic Investment in the Future of the Armed Forces

Albanian Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi announced the official opening of the National Flight School on Friday, describing it as a strategic step toward strengthening the country’s defense and national security capabilities. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Nufi said the National Flight School is more than just a new educational …

News

Rama at National Flight School Inauguration: We Will Train NATO and Kosovo Pilots

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi attended the inauguration ceremony of the National Flight School on Friday. During his address, Rama highlighted the growing interest among young people in joining the Albanian Air Force, adding that the new institution will also be open to training …

News

Task Force Conducts Inspections on Pogradec Beaches to Prevent Illegal Occupation of Lakeshore Areas

A joint task force made up of representatives from the National Coastline Agency, the Municipality of Pogradec, and the State Police carried out inspections along Pogradec’s lakeshore this Friday to monitor compliance with beach station permits and ensure that designated public beach areas remain accessible. Shpëtim Çiku, Director of the …

News

Eurostat: Albanians Work the Longest Hours, Exceeding the EU Average

Workers in Albania continue to put in significantly longer working hours than the European average. According to Eurostat, the average working week across the European Union stood at 35.9 hours in 2025. In Albania, however, data from INSTAT show that employees worked an average of 42.6 hours per week—6.7 hours …