NATO: Any decision on reopening Ibër bridge must address all communities
TIRANA, August 21 – NATO says any decision to reopen the main bridge over the Ibër River to vehicle traffic must address the needs of all local communities. A NATO official told Radio Free Europe that KFOR continues to provide security support for European Union diplomatic efforts. The official said …
Albanian anthem omitted in Pustec, PM Rama: ‘Parody’, minorities are a national asset, we will not respond in kind
TIRANA, August 21 – Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the cultural event held in Pustec on August 20. Organisers played the North Macedonian national anthem but omitted the Albanian national anthem. In a post on X, Rama described the incident as a “meaningful parody”. He said Pustec Mayor …
Albania’s Diverse Fruit Production: From Korçë Apples to Berat Figs
Albania has a diverse fruit production map, with different regions specializing in different crops. Korçë remains one of the country’s leading apple-producing areas. The municipality produced around 17,700 tonnes of apples in 2025. Maliq followed with about 17,200 tonnes, while Devoll produced nearly 13,000 tonnes. Elbasan leads the country in …
Gjirokastër Castle Welcomes 161,000 Visitors in Seven Months, Up 13%
Gjirokastër Castle continues to attract growing numbers of visitors. Between January and July 2026, the historic site welcomed 161,274 visitors, marking a 13% increase from the same period last year. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the figures. He said the castle continues to attract visitors because of …
Albanian Olympic Committee delegation attends election of new Mediterranean Games chief
TIRANA, August 21 – Albanian Olympic Committee President Fidel Ylli and Secretary General Gerti Shima took part in the election of Francesco Purromuto as the new president of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games. The election took place in Taranto ahead of the opening of the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. …
Albania’s National Cinematography Center Opens Call for Debut Feature Films
The National Cinematography Center (QKK) has opened applications for its “First Feature Film” category. The call targets Albanian filmmakers and emerging talents who want to bring their first feature-length projects to the big screen. QKK aims to support new filmmakers with original ideas and distinctive stories. The initiative gives young …
Albanian Football Federation chief Duka highlights competition and young talent as new season begins
TIRANA, August 21 – The new Abissnet Superiore season starts today on RTSH. The 88th edition of Albania’s top football division opens with Vllaznia against Skënderbeu at Loro Boriçi Stadium at 21:00. Albanian Football Federation President Armand Duka says the new season will bring stronger competition and new opportunities for …
Zelensky Visit to Belgrade: What Could He Learn from Israeli Experience
by Edward P. Joseph Tirana Times, August 21, 2026 – At the NATO Summit in Ankara last month, I had the high honor of meeting President Zelensky. Had I known he was heading soon to Belgrade, I would have shared critical advice with his advisors. Besieged by an aggressor like …
‘Return Hubs’ for Migrants Anticipated in Balkans for ‘Era of Deportations’
As the EU awaits final approval for plans to set up ‘return hubs’ in third countries for migrants awaiting deportation, it’s predicted that Balkan countries could end up hosting such holding centres despite concerns about human rights violations. Original post Here
Waste Money Wasted: The Millions of Euros Behind Albania’s Ghost Incinerators
BIRN dissects the accusations against 12 individuals standing trial for allegedly siphoning millions of euros in public money supposed to be spent on solving Tirana’s long-standing garbage problem. Original post Here
The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) has urged institutions, businesses, organizations and system administrators to address two critical vulnerabilities in PHP, a technology widely used to run websites and web applications. If exploited, the flaws could allow attackers to execute code remotely without authorization, putting systems and sensitive data at …
Prime Minister Edi Rama is traveling to Budva, Montenegro, to attend the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit on October 21–22. The summit will bring together Western Balkan leaders and European partners to strengthen regional cooperation, advance economic integration and support the region’s European prospects. During the journey, Rama held a virtual …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended Parliament’s decision not to lift MP Belinda Balluku’s immunity while SPAK investigates her. He said the government did not obstruct justice but sought to protect it from bias. Rama addressed the issue during a virtual exchange with a student protester. He also criticised recent …
Albania plans to help 10,000 young people find jobs in 2027 through its Youth Guarantee Programme. To support this goal, the government has allocated nearly €60 million, Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said. Speaking to Euronews Albania, Ibrahimaj explained that the government developed the programme in cooperation with the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared footage of his meeting with a young man with a disability, describing him as “a special visitor with no stones in his pockets, but with his heart in the right place.” In a social media post, Rama said the young man had contacted him …
Albania’s Council of Ministers has approved in principle an agreement on the country’s participation in the International Stabilization Force in Gaza. The agreement involves the Republic of Albania, represented by the Council of Ministers, and the Board of Peace. The government approved it at Wednesday’s meeting following a proposal from …
Albania formed a government led by Mehdi Frashëri 91 years ago, promising a programme of liberal reforms aimed at modernising the country. King Zog’s appointment of Frashëri as prime minister received a positive response in the press at the time. His cabinet included figures educated at leading Western universities. Frashëri …
Drenova has opened “Mulberry House,” a new space dedicated to the village’s traditional production of mulberry brandy. Korçë Mayor Sotiraq Filo announced the initiative, which forms part of the “Flavours of the Region” project, a partnership between the Albanian Development Fund and Korçë Municipality. The project aims to create new …
Albania’s Council of Ministers has approved changes to the organisation and operation of the Food Safety and Veterinary Institute (ISUV) to strengthen laboratory capacity and improve controls over veterinary health, food safety and plant health. Under the decision, ISUV will conduct laboratory tests under national programmes, sectoral strategies, monitoring plans, …
The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) issued a warning on Wednesday to institutions, businesses and system administrators regarding two critical vulnerabilities affecting websites and web applications. According to the announcement, these vulnerabilities could allow unauthorized individuals to execute code remotely, directly threatening the security of systems and data. Full statement: …