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
Egnatia Draw 0–0 with Lillestrøm, Europa League Tie Remains Open
Albanian champions Egnatia drew 0–0 with Norway’s Lillestrøm in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off. Egnatia played the match at Arena Egnatia. The Rrogozhina side defended well and created several chances. Gruda came closest to scoring in the second half. His header hit the crossbar. Egnatia missed …
From Turkey’s search for peace to Serbia’s creeping elections, our selection of Premium stories takes a look at the hopes and dilemmas bubbling away in the background of these developments. Original post Here
TIRANA, August 28 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Kociu highlighted the story of Haxhire, a beekeeper who has worked in the field for around 50 years. She currently cares for 68 beehives. In a social media post, Kociu praised Albanian beekeepers and the support they receive through the National Agriculture …
TIRANA, August 28 – Egnatia were eliminated by Norway’s Lillestrom in the final qualifying round for the Europa League despite taking the lead and controlling much of the match. The Albanian champions will continue their European campaign in the Conference League. Dinamo City also ended its European campaign after losing …
TIRANA, August 28 – Kosova’s Donjeta Sadiku won the gold medal in boxing at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games after defeating Serbia’s Kristina Kuluhova in the final of the women’s up to 60 kg category. Sadiku dominated the bout and forced her opponent to stop in the second round. The …
Ali Podrimja (August 28, 1942–July 21, 2012) was one of the most influential Albanian poets from Kosovo. Critics regard him as a leading figure in modern Albanian poetry, while readers around the world have discovered his work through numerous translations. Born in Gjakova in 1942, Podrimja studied Albanian language and …
TIRANA, August 28 – Authorities reported 22 wildfires across Albania over the past 24 hours. Three remain active, while four others remain under monitoring. The Ministry of Defence said 288 operational personnel and 21 firefighting vehicles have joined the response. The Armed Forces also deployed two helicopters, which took part …
TIRANA, August 28 – The state will take concrete measures to save, restore and protect homes that hold cultural heritage monument status and face deterioration or loss. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said the measures will address neglect, fragmented ownership, abandonment and deliberate inaction. Gonxhja said the state …
TIRANA, August 28 – Health and Social Welfare Minister Evis Sala ranks among the top 10 names on OncoDaily’s “100 Women of Impact in Oncology 2026” list. The international initiative recognizes women making significant contributions to cancer care and treatment worldwide. OncoDaily has run the initiative since 2023. The organization …
TIRANA, August 28 – Albania will begin its new UEFA Nations League campaign with four Group 1 League C matches in September and October. The national team will host Belarus at Air Albania Stadium on September 26 before playing away on September 29 and October 3. Albania will return to …
TIRANA, August 28 – Former US congressman Joseph DioGuardi has proposed Faton Bislimi for president of Kosova. His proposal follows a similar move by retired US ambassador and former head of the OSCE Verification Mission in Kosova, William G. Walker. Bislimi is a Kosova academic, former member of the Kosova …