Albania and Poland sign social security agreement
TIRANA, August 14 – Albania has welcomed the signing of the Social Security Agreement between the two countries by Polish President Karol Nawrocki. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said the agreement marks an important step for Albanian citizens. It allows them to have their employment periods recognized and …
Butrint community grants scheme opens applications
TIRANA, August 14 – Butrint hosted the first information session on the Community Grants Scheme, an initiative of the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) and the Butrint Management Foundation (BMF). The scheme supports new initiatives and existing projects that aim to create a positive impact in the local community. Individuals, local …
Mother Teresa’s first visit to Albania
TIRANA, August 14 – Mother Teresa made her first visit to Albania on August 14-17, 1989. The country still lived under communist rule, while her religious and humanitarian work made her a sensitive figure for the Albanian authorities. Officials classified the visit as private. Marie Goreti, an Albanian-born nun from …
Kanina offers a scenic stop on the road to southern Albania
TIRANA, August 14 – The road to Vlora offers more than access to the coast. It also gives visitors the chance to enjoy panoramic views along the journey. At the heights of Kanina, tourists can stop and admire Vlora and its bay. The viewpoint offers a wide panorama stretching from …
Saranda cited as example of public beach management
TIRANA, August 14 – Saranda has emerged as a positive example of public beach management during the current tourist season. The city has increased public access and introduced approved, balanced fees. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the number of public beach plots and stations has increased …
Private sector loan portfolio grows by around 14%
TIRANA, August 14 – The private sector loan portfolio grew by around 14% in the second quarter from a year earlier. The increase reflects stronger bank financing for businesses and individuals. According to Bank of Albania data, lending expanded across most categories. Businesses continue to show strong demand for loans, …
BIRN Reality Check: What Has Albania’s AI ‘Minister’ Achieved So Far?
Nearly a year after Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced an AI chatbot as a ‘virtual minister’ in his cabinet to tackle corruption, has the technology been a success? Original post Here
Euronews: European Union faces decisive moment on enlargement
TIRANA, August 14 – International media network Euronews says the European Union faces a decisive moment over its enlargement policy. The bloc must balance progress by candidate countries with internal reforms needed to operate as a larger and more complex union. Montenegro and Albania rank among the most advanced candidates, …
Dinamo reach Conference League play-off
TIRANA, August 14 – Dinamo secured a place in the Conference League play-off after beating Auda 4-0 at Elbasan Arena. Dinamo, coached by Albanian Ilir Daja, overturned a 1-0 first-leg defeat in Latvia and continued their European campaign. Qardaku opened the scoring in the 36th minute, while Qefalia doubled Dinamo’s …
Egnatia overturn Shamrock defeat to reach Europa League play-off
TIRANA, August 14 – Albanian champions Egnatia reached the Europa League play-off after a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers in Rrogozhina. The result overturned their 3-1 first-leg defeat and secured a meeting with Norwegian side Lillestrom. Egnatia have also secured a place in the Conference League league phase. This applies …
Theth welcomes the “Ah Theth” festival this weekend. The festival combines music, sports, adventure and tradition. It takes place from August 21 to 23. The event features two nights and three days of activities. Visitors can enjoy events from sunset to sunrise amid the spectacular landscapes of the Albanian Alps. …
Albania has reached its target of more than 600 MW in new renewable energy capacity ahead of schedule. Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi said the energy sector reforms are producing concrete results. He said the government is modernizing the legal framework and aligning it with European Union standards. …
Albania’s cultural heritage sites recorded a strong increase in visitors during the first seven months of 2026. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja released the figures for January–July 2026. A total of 824,340 local and foreign visitors explored these destinations. The figure marks an 80% increase compared with …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi visited Gojan i Madh in Puka on Friday evening. He inspected the situation after wildfires affected the area. Nufi said the situation had been difficult during the day. However, firefighting teams brought the fires under control after several hours of work. He praised the local forces …
TIRANA, August 21 – The Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games open today in Italy, with Albania represented by 72 athletes. The delegation is the largest in Albania’s history at the Mediterranean Games. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi Gonxhja congratulated the Albanian athletes as the competition began. The delegation includes …
TIRANA, August 21 – The cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants is becoming an increasingly important sector for Albanian agriculture. It provides income for farmers and contributes to the country’s exports. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images from fields in Devoll, where farmers have turned to medicinal plant cultivation in …
TIRANA, August 21 – Border traffic has increased at Kakavija border crossing with Greece as Albanian emigrants return, with more than 10,000 people and 3,000 vehicles processed over the past 24 hours. Border services processed 10,581 people at the Kakavija crossing. A total of 4,294 entered Albania, while 6,287 left …
TIRANA, August 21 – Albania’s cultural heritage institutions and sites recorded a significant rise in visitors during the first 7 months of 2026. A total of 824,340 domestic and foreign visitors visited the sites from January to July, marking an 80% increase from the same period in 2023. According to …
TIRANA, August 21 – The Ministry of Defence reported 16 wildfires by 14:00. Ten remained active and two were under monitoring. The ministry said 240 military personnel, 3 firefighting vehicles, 4 helicopters and 2 Air Tractor aircraft supported the operations. In Gojan–Gjegjan, Puka, the situation remains calm and authorities report …
Big changes are afoot amid the heat of the summer holiday season. Our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories takes a deep dive into the motives and agendas driving these changes. Original post Here