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Environment Bill Proposes National Fund and Up to 100% Financing for Environmental Projects

The Council of Ministers has proposed amendments to the Law on Environmental Protection to strengthen nature restoration, carbon removal certification and financial support for environmental projects. The draft law adds the “restoration of natural elements” as a new measure for environmental protection. The Council of Ministers will approve specific measures …

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“Opera Gala” Opens TKOBAP’s New Season with Iconic Voices and Masterpieces

The National Theatre of Opera, Ballet and Folk Ensemble opened its new artistic season last night with an “Opera Gala”. The special evening celebrated lyrical music and brought together powerful voices, orchestral music and emotion on stage. The artists performed a rich program of world opera masterpieces. The gala marked …

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Abissnet Superiore: Skënderbeu and Tirana Share the Points

Skënderbeu and Tirana shared the points after a dramatic 1-1 draw in Korçë in the fourth week of the Abissnet Superiore. A packed stadium created an intense atmosphere, with strong support from both sets of fans. The match also saw moments of tension between the two fan groups. Tirana started …

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The Re-emergence of Terrorism and the Threat to the Global Economy

by Albert Rakipi, PhD Tirana Times, September 11, 2026 – The increasingly visible re-emergence of international terrorism against the backdrop of the major conflict unfolding in the Middle East is a new development, but hardly an unexpected one. The experience of the past three decades has shown that terrorism finds its …

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Government reshuffle, Interior Minister Lamallari leaves, Ervin Demo takes over

Prime Minister Edi Rama has officially announced a change in of Albania’s Interior Ministry, with Besfort Lamallari leaving the post and Ervin Demo taking over as minister. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Rama said the move was part of a reshuffle within the government team. Lamallari will …

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Ervin Demo, who is Albania’s new Interior Minister?

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced changes to his government, with Ervin Demo taking over as Interior Minister as of Friday. Demo had served as Minister of State for Local Government since September 2025. As part of the latest government changes, the Ministry of State for Local Government will be …

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Administrative Court unblocks magistrates’ salaries, Rama: If only it had the same standard for citizens’ problems…

Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted after the Administrative Court issued a decision unblocking salaries for the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) and the Durrës Court. In a post on X, Rama criticized the speed with which, according to him, the court acted on the issue of judges’ …

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Week in Review: Tests and Pressures

Historical narratives, political systems, institutions and economies across the region are being put to the test as old problems collide with new pressures, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Ervin Demo to take over Interior Ministry as Lamallari moves to Prime Minister’s Office

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a change at the helm of the Interior Ministry. Besfort Lamallari will leave the post and move to the Prime Minister’s Office, while Ervin Demo will take over the ministry. Rama announced the move while presenting changes to the government. He said Lamallari would …

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Ministry of Defense: 40 wildfires reported across Albania, six remain active

The Ministry of Defense reported 40 wildfires across Albania in the past 24 hours. Six remain active, nine are under monitoring and 25 have been fully extinguished. A total of 492 local personnel and 36 firefighting vehicles are supporting operations. The Armed Forces have deployed 133 personnel, one helicopter, two …

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Albania expresses solidarity with Poland after deadly shooting in Krakow

TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ – The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Saturday expressed shock and condolences following a deadly shooting in Krakow, Poland, in which six people were killed and at least 15 others injured. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the ministry extended its …

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Two separate protests held in Tirana as demonstrators clash with police

Two separate protests took place in Tirana on Saturday, one organised by students and the other by the opposition Democratic Party. Students gathered outside the Ministry of Education. Democratic Party supporters marched from the Prime Minister’s Office towards the Education ministry, seeking to join the students. The students rejected their …

News
Albania makes progress in EU accession talks on culture and intellectual property

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Albania has made progress in aligning its legislation on culture and intellectual property with European Union standards, Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Blendi Gonxhja said following a meeting with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa on Saturday. The talks focused on the country’s …

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Clashes escalate outside Education Ministry as protesters set bins on fire, throw stones at police

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Clashes escalated outside the Ministry of Education in Tirana on Saturday after several protesters set fire to two rubbish bins and pushed them towards police officers. Protesters also threw various objects at police, who responded with pepper spray and tear gas. Tensions intensified further when …

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Deputy PM condemns masked protesters throwing stones at police

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has condemned acts of violence during Saturday’s protest outside the Ministry of Education in Tirana, after footage she shared on social media showed masked demonstrators throwing stones at police officers. In her post, Koçiu denounced the violence and expressed support …

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Protesters throw stones, fireworks and Molotov cocktails at police outside Prime Minister’s office

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Protesters moved from the area outside the Ministry of Education, where clashes with police had erupted earlier, and marched towards the Prime Minister’s office in Tirana on Saturday. The march was marked by rising tensions and further incidents, with protesters attempting to block the road …

News
Albania and Türkiye seek closer cooperation on digitising cadastral records

TIRANA, Nov. 7 ATA/ – Albania’s General Directorate of Archives and Türkiye’s General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre plan to deepen cooperation on the preservation and digitisation of cadastral records. On the second day of an official visit to Istanbul, the Archives Director-General Auron Rrokaj met Haki Shahin, head …

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PM Rama shares footage of Corridor VIII tunnel construction in Librazhd

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared footage of ongoing construction work on tunnels along the Corridor VIII route in the Librazhd area, describing the project as part of Albania’s ongoing infrastructure development. The video, posted on social media on Saturday, shows progress at the construction …

News
Zaçaj: Faster, lower-cost payments for citizens and businesses

TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Albania Holta Zaçaj participated in the “Fast Payments in the Western Balkans” panel in Tirana, where she highlighted the significance of Albania’s accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). She noted that SEPA membership is expected to lower …

News
QSUT medical team performs successful surgery to remove giant nasal tumour

TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ A complex operation to remove a giant tumour on the side of the nose has been successfully carried out at the Mother Teresa University Hospital Centre (QSUT). According to a social media post by QSUT, the patient was initially assessed by the Otorhinolaryngology Department, where a comprehensive …

News

Albania expresses solidarity with Poland after deadly shooting in Krakow

TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ – The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on Saturday expressed shock and condolences following a deadly shooting in Krakow, Poland, in which six people were killed and at least 15 others injured. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the ministry extended its …

News

Two separate protests held in Tirana as demonstrators clash with police

Two separate protests took place in Tirana on Saturday, one organised by students and the other by the opposition Democratic Party. Students gathered outside the Ministry of Education. Democratic Party supporters marched from the Prime Minister’s Office towards the Education ministry, seeking to join the students. The students rejected their …

News

Albania makes progress in EU accession talks on culture and intellectual property

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Albania has made progress in aligning its legislation on culture and intellectual property with European Union standards, Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Blendi Gonxhja said following a meeting with EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa on Saturday. The talks focused on the country’s …

News

Clashes escalate outside Education Ministry as protesters set bins on fire, throw stones at police

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Clashes escalated outside the Ministry of Education in Tirana on Saturday after several protesters set fire to two rubbish bins and pushed them towards police officers. Protesters also threw various objects at police, who responded with pepper spray and tear gas. Tensions intensified further when …

News

Deputy PM condemns masked protesters throwing stones at police

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has condemned acts of violence during Saturday’s protest outside the Ministry of Education in Tirana, after footage she shared on social media showed masked demonstrators throwing stones at police officers. In her post, Koçiu denounced the violence and expressed support …

News

Protesters throw stones, fireworks and Molotov cocktails at police outside Prime Minister’s office

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Protesters moved from the area outside the Ministry of Education, where clashes with police had erupted earlier, and marched towards the Prime Minister’s office in Tirana on Saturday. The march was marked by rising tensions and further incidents, with protesters attempting to block the road …

News

Albania and Türkiye seek closer cooperation on digitising cadastral records

TIRANA, Nov. 7 ATA/ – Albania’s General Directorate of Archives and Türkiye’s General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre plan to deepen cooperation on the preservation and digitisation of cadastral records. On the second day of an official visit to Istanbul, the Archives Director-General Auron Rrokaj met Haki Shahin, head …

News

PM Rama shares footage of Corridor VIII tunnel construction in Librazhd

TIRANA, Nov. 7 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared footage of ongoing construction work on tunnels along the Corridor VIII route in the Librazhd area, describing the project as part of Albania’s ongoing infrastructure development. The video, posted on social media on Saturday, shows progress at the construction …

News

Zaçaj: Faster, lower-cost payments for citizens and businesses

TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Albania Holta Zaçaj participated in the “Fast Payments in the Western Balkans” panel in Tirana, where she highlighted the significance of Albania’s accession to the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). She noted that SEPA membership is expected to lower …

News

QSUT medical team performs successful surgery to remove giant nasal tumour

TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ A complex operation to remove a giant tumour on the side of the nose has been successfully carried out at the Mother Teresa University Hospital Centre (QSUT). According to a social media post by QSUT, the patient was initially assessed by the Otorhinolaryngology Department, where a comprehensive …