Fire in Shëngjin mountain brought under control after overnight battle with flames
TIRANA, July 5 – Firefighters brought a blaze under control in the Shëngjin mountain area near the main road in the “Sakë” neighbourhood in Lezha after an overnight operation. Fire units from Lezha and Tirana worked through the night to contain the flames. Lezha Mayor Pjerin Ndreu said firefighters stayed …
Tirana Accuses Kremlin of Being Behind Protests?
Russian Embassy rejects the claims as “completely unfounded” and tells Albanian officials not to “look for enemies where they do not exist.” Tirana Times, July 04, 2026 – Albania’s government is increasingly casting the country’s month-long anti-government protests as part of a foreign-backed effort to destabilize the country, with senior …
PM Rama congratulates the United States on Independence Day, calls July 4 a shared celebration for Albanians
TIRANA, July 4 – Prime Minister Edi Rama has extended his congratulations to the United States of America on the occasion of July 4, Independence Day. He said July 4 is also a special celebration for Albanians. He highlighted the historic ties and friendship between the two countries. Rama referred …
President Begaj congratulates United States on 250th Independence anniversary, expresses gratitude for long-standing support
TIRANA, July 4 – President Bajram Begaj has extended congratulations to the United States of America on the 250th anniversary of Independence Day. He conveyed his warmest wishes to President Donald Trump and the American people. Begaj said Albania deeply values its enduring friendship and strategic partnership with the United …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
The Hague verdict against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders has drawn reactions from the sports world. Former Albania national team footballer Taulant Xhaka has publicly expressed his support for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Xhaka posted a poster on Instagram featuring the four former KLA …
Endrit Thaçi, son of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, has voiced support for a protest organized by the War Veterans’ Organization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVL-KLA). He shared the organization’s call for a “Protest in Defense of the KLA.” Meanwhile, the protest will take place on Friday at 12:00 …
RTSH has officially begun implementing its 2026–2030 transformation and restructuring process. The Task Force established to lead and coordinate the process held its first meeting today. The European Broadcasting Union organized the meeting as a workshop focused on RTSH’s Transformation Strategy and its implementation. Radka Betcheva, the European Broadcasting Union’s …
Charles L. Smith, the presiding judge of the Trial Panel, has issued a decision launching procedures for reparations to victims in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli. The Trial Panel issued the decision on September 16 and published it today. It decided to initiate …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu said today that Albania will continue its digitalization process and use of artificial intelligence. He stressed that the country will protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Gogu spoke in Parliament during the review of the draft law on the ratification of the Council …
Defense cooperation and regional security issues were at the center of meetings held during the 2026 US-Adriatic Charter Conference of Chiefs of Defense in Zadar, Croatia. The US Embassy in Tirana said that US General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the US European Command (USEUCOM) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), …
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti met today with Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) leader Bedri Hamza. The meeting came one day after the Kosovo Specialist Chambers issued verdicts against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders received combined sentences of …
The Albanian diaspora in the United States held a protest in Times Square, New York, following the first-instance verdict by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders. Tirana Prefect Shkëlqim Hajdari shared images from the gathering on social media. He conveyed the …
President Bajram Begaj met today with German representatives of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Dieter Althaus, former Prime Minister of Thuringia and board member, and Thomas Kunze, the foundation’s current head in Albania. Begaj thanked Germany for its continued support for Albania’s European Union accession process. He also praised the Konrad …
Improved laboratory infrastructure and stronger food safety control capacities marked the main results of the TYPIC-AL project, which concluded with a closing meeting in Albania. The project received funding from the Italian government through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). CIHEAM Bari implemented the project in cooperation with the …