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Ambassador Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi: Saudi Arabia Cultural Week, a Bridge of Communication Between the Two Countries

On the eve of Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Week, which will take place in Tirana from September 16–20 at the Palace of Congresses, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania, Mr. Faisal bin Ghazi Hafzi, through a press statement, praised this event as …

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Dirty Water: Albania’s Polluted Rivers Need Cleaning Now, Activist Says

When Denisa Kasa returned from abroad and saw the state of Albania’s filthy waterways, she was shocked. Now she has formed an independent collective of young people dedicated to the ‘dream of clean rivers’. Original post Here

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Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

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Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here

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Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View

The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here

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After Major Wildfires, Albania Warned to Boost Preparedness Urgently

As Mediterranean fire seasons grow in intensity, Albania’s government faces calls to invest in firefighting and reforestation. Original post Here

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“Challenges of Academic Integrity in Albanian Universities: An Interview with Migen Qiraxhi”

Interview with Migen Qiraxhi, Project Manager at Qëndresa Qytetare, July 17 In Albania, where higher education is often portrayed as a bridge to opportunity and European integration, the reality on the ground tells a darker story. Behind university gates, corruption, nepotism, and political interference have quietly hollowed out institutions that …

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Week in Review: Influence, Repression and Revival

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and a whole lot more. Original post Here

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Digital Rights Review: Privacy and Freedom of Expression Threatened

From data leaks and criminal hacks to smear campaigns, BIRN’s digital rights monitoring team documented widespread privacy violations and assaults on freedom of speech across Southeast Europe in July. Original post Here

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Foreign tourists take part in recreational activities on Vlora coastline

TIRANA, May 19 – Vlora has welcomed the tourist season with visitors from around the world. Tourists explore the Ionian coastline and visit natural and cultural attractions. They also experience local cuisine and hospitality. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media showing tourists taking part in physical …

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Justice reform enters results phase, trust rises to 53 percent, Minister Gogu says

TIRANA, May 19 – Justice reform entered a phase of concrete results for citizens. Minister of Justice Toni Gogu made the statement during the 10th anniversary of the reform. He said institutions now focus on stronger procedural guarantees, higher efficiency in the justice system, and better access to justice for …

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Deputy PM Albana Koçiu presents Albania’s urban vision at World Urban Forum in Baku

TIRANA, May 19 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu participated in the World Urban Forum 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Leaders, international institutions, experts and policymakers discussed urbanisation, sustainable development and the future of cities. Meanwhile, Koçiu said on social media that the forum served as a meeting point for visions …

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Albanian ballet production “Carmen” to be staged in Bologna

TIRANA, May 19 – After strong success with four performances that sold out in record time, the ballet “Carmen” travels to Italy. It will be staged at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Meanwhile, performances are scheduled for 23 and 24 May. The production marks an important step in promoting Albanian …

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e-Albania 2.0 records nearly 23,000 public services in first 24 hours after relaunch

TIRANA, May 19 – The new e-Albania 2.0 platform delivered 22,936 public online services during its first day of operation. The platform has been fully redesigned to ensure faster and more secure access for citizens and businesses. Meanwhile, the portal registered 9,797 online applications for public services. It also generated …

News
Interior Minister Lamallari meets FRONTEX officials on border security cooperation

Tirana, MAY 19 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari met senior FRONTEX representatives Eva Capogna, Holger Farnung, Teuta Krasniqi and Ksenia Hawryszkow in Tirana on Tuesday. During the meeting, Lamallari said discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Albania, FRONTEX and the European Union in border security, migration management and the fight …

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Salianji Sends Letter to EPP and Embassies: Democratic Standards Are Being Undermined in the Democratic Party

Ervin Salianji has addressed a letter to the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, as well as to diplomatic missions of partner countries, raising concerns about recent developments within the Democratic Party of Albania (PD). In his letter, Salianji expresses concern that internal democracy within the PD …

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Former Croatian Foreign Minister: If Montenegro Fails to Join the EU, It Will Lose Its Independence

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”717d6fb0-c4d4-46c7-a7d2-70c0563b3918″ data-turn-id-container=”717d6fb0-c4d4-46c7-a7d2-70c0563b3918″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-17″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić has stated that Montenegro’s accession to the European Union is a matter of survival for the Montenegrin state, warning that failure of this project would endanger the country’s independence and sovereignty. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] …

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Transparency Board Announces New Fuel Prices

The Transparency Board convened this Monday, May 19, 2026, and decided on the new maximum fuel prices for the domestic market. According to the decision, the retail price of diesel must not exceed 205 ALL per liter, which is 3 ALL higher than the Board’s previous decision, while the wholesale …

News
Study Finds Obesity Is Not a Global Epidemic, Albania Sees Rising Numbers

Obesity is not a global epidemic as has long been claimed by international health experts. This is the conclusion of a global study that challenges the idea that obesity is spreading uniformly across the world. The research, published in the scientific journal Nature, shows that obesity rates have stabilized in …

News

Foreign tourists take part in recreational activities on Vlora coastline

TIRANA, May 19 – Vlora has welcomed the tourist season with visitors from around the world. Tourists explore the Ionian coastline and visit natural and cultural attractions. They also experience local cuisine and hospitality. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media showing tourists taking part in physical …

News

Justice reform enters results phase, trust rises to 53 percent, Minister Gogu says

TIRANA, May 19 – Justice reform entered a phase of concrete results for citizens. Minister of Justice Toni Gogu made the statement during the 10th anniversary of the reform. He said institutions now focus on stronger procedural guarantees, higher efficiency in the justice system, and better access to justice for …

News

Deputy PM Albana Koçiu presents Albania’s urban vision at World Urban Forum in Baku

TIRANA, May 19 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu participated in the World Urban Forum 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Leaders, international institutions, experts and policymakers discussed urbanisation, sustainable development and the future of cities. Meanwhile, Koçiu said on social media that the forum served as a meeting point for visions …

News

Albanian ballet production “Carmen” to be staged in Bologna

TIRANA, May 19 – After strong success with four performances that sold out in record time, the ballet “Carmen” travels to Italy. It will be staged at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Meanwhile, performances are scheduled for 23 and 24 May. The production marks an important step in promoting Albanian …

News

e-Albania 2.0 records nearly 23,000 public services in first 24 hours after relaunch

TIRANA, May 19 – The new e-Albania 2.0 platform delivered 22,936 public online services during its first day of operation. The platform has been fully redesigned to ensure faster and more secure access for citizens and businesses. Meanwhile, the portal registered 9,797 online applications for public services. It also generated …

News

Interior Minister Lamallari meets FRONTEX officials on border security cooperation

Tirana, MAY 19 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari met senior FRONTEX representatives Eva Capogna, Holger Farnung, Teuta Krasniqi and Ksenia Hawryszkow in Tirana on Tuesday. During the meeting, Lamallari said discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Albania, FRONTEX and the European Union in border security, migration management and the fight …

News

Salianji Sends Letter to EPP and Embassies: Democratic Standards Are Being Undermined in the Democratic Party

Ervin Salianji has addressed a letter to the President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Manfred Weber, as well as to diplomatic missions of partner countries, raising concerns about recent developments within the Democratic Party of Albania (PD). In his letter, Salianji expresses concern that internal democracy within the PD …

News

Former Croatian Foreign Minister: If Montenegro Fails to Join the EU, It Will Lose Its Independence

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”717d6fb0-c4d4-46c7-a7d2-70c0563b3918″ data-turn-id-container=”717d6fb0-c4d4-46c7-a7d2-70c0563b3918″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-17″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić has stated that Montenegro’s accession to the European Union is a matter of survival for the Montenegrin state, warning that failure of this project would endanger the country’s independence and sovereignty. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] …

News

Transparency Board Announces New Fuel Prices

The Transparency Board convened this Monday, May 19, 2026, and decided on the new maximum fuel prices for the domestic market. According to the decision, the retail price of diesel must not exceed 205 ALL per liter, which is 3 ALL higher than the Board’s previous decision, while the wholesale …

News

Study Finds Obesity Is Not a Global Epidemic, Albania Sees Rising Numbers

Obesity is not a global epidemic as has long been claimed by international health experts. This is the conclusion of a global study that challenges the idea that obesity is spreading uniformly across the world. The research, published in the scientific journal Nature, shows that obesity rates have stabilized in …