From the Nile to the Balkans
By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, July 3, 2026 – If you sit by the banks of the Nile on a quiet afternoon and allow its serene flow to guide your thoughts, you realize that the water remembers not only the lands it traverses, but also the people who shaped …
Week in Review: Hopes, Schemes and Stand-Offs
While some countries in the region dare to hope that they might join the EU in the near future, BIRN’s selection of Premium stories this week suggests others remain stuck in their usual deadlock. Original post Here
ALL 8.9 billion added to health and social welfare budget, focus on salary increases
TIRANA, July 3 – The health and social welfare budget for 2026 increases by 8.9 billion lek compared with the initial projection for the same year. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection records this as the largest increase for the sector. The ministry says the additional funding aims to …
Albania completes EU energy legal obligations under EU negotiation Chapter 15
TIRANA, July 3 – Albania has fulfilled all legal obligations under the European Union’s Chapter 15 on energy after Parliament approved the new electricity sector law, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said at the Energy Community Ministerial in Prishtina. Karakaçi said the legislation completes the country’s legal package and …
Durrës Port Authority assists disabled Maltese yacht
TIRANA, July 3 – The Durrës Port Authority successfully coordinated a towing operation for the Maltese-flagged yacht Infinity Nine after it reported engine failure at sea. The authority said the yacht requested assistance about 20 nautical miles west of Bisht Palla. Meanwhile, the operation became possible through cooperation with the …
Summer Afternoon Draws Crowds of Tourists to Durrës
Durrës continues to attract local and foreign tourists, who enjoy the city’s beaches, seaside atmosphere, and cultural attractions. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of residents and visitors spending a summer afternoon in the city center and along the Taulantia Promenade, known as the Vollga area. The city recently transformed …
Special anti-corruption prosecution chief: Strategy targets 70% cut in case backlog
TIRANA, July 3 – Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK) chief Klodian Braho said the institution has finalized its strategy against organized crime and aims to reduce its case backlog by more than 70%. Reporting to Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration on SPAK’s 2025 activity, Braho …
PM Rama: Albania develops first artificial intelligence model for public procurement
TIRANA, July 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania is developing the world’s first artificial intelligence model for public procurement, describing the project as a major step toward improving the management of public funds and eliminating problems linked to tenders and contracts. Speaking during Public Administration Week, Rama said …
Former Kosova President Thaçi sends message to citizens
TIRANA, July 3 – Former Kosova President Hashim Thaçi has sent a message to Kosova’s citizens through Bedri Hamza following a meeting between the two. Hamza said in a social media post that Thaçi asked him to convey his warmest greetings to all citizens. He added that they ended their …
Valbona Valley draws global travelers to Albania’s wild north
TIRANA, July 3 – Valbona Valley unfolds in the high folds of the Albanian Alps as a vast natural amphitheatre of stone, forest, and ice-cold water. A crystal-clear river cuts through the valley and shapes its dramatic northern identity. The Valbona River runs fast and clear. It reflects shifting tones …
Discussions in the parliamentary committees on the Socialists’ draft for territorial reform will last two weeks. According to the calendar expected to be approved tomorrow at the Conference of Chairpersons, the vote in the plenary session is scheduled to take place on October 8. The Socialists’ draft to divide the …
The number of newly registered businesses reached 1,200 in August, while the National Business Center (NBC) processed 9,200 applications. The data show a considerable volume of services provided electronically to businesses, both in the area of registration and in that of licenses, permits and authorizations. Of the 9,200 applications submitted …
Interior Minister Ervin Demo and State Police Director General Skënder Hita inspected the management of passenger flows and the work of Border Police units at Tirana International Airport. During the inspection, Demo stated that 9.2 million tourists entered Albania during the first eight months of the year, while around 1.7 …
The creation of local associations for the protection of the territory and the establishment of a fund to support them are among the initiatives presented by Prime Minister Edi Rama during the “Flasim” podcast, where he spoke about tourism development and environmental protection. According to Rama, local communities will be …
Interior Minister Ervin Demo held a meeting with the leadership and personnel of the Tirana Fire Service, thanking them for their commitment during the fire season and for their response to various emergency situations. During the meeting, Demo said that preparations for the next season should begin now, stressing that …
Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who is visiting the United States, said the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to providing support in every possible way and with all the means at its disposal to help overturn the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ verdict against former KLA leaders, which he described …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a video message delivered as part of the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Moment, reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and integration into the European Union as part of a single transformation process. According to Rama, since 2018, poverty has fallen from 23.7% to 19%, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and European Union integration. He described both as part of a single transformation process. In a video message for the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Moment, Rama said poverty had fallen from 23.7% in 2018 to 19%. He also said …
More than 9.4 million foreign visitors entered Albania in the first eight months of 2026, up 5.3% from the same period last year. Tourism Minister Blendi Gonxhja said more than 2.4 million foreign tourists visited Albania in August alone, marking a 2% annual increase. Meanwhile, Gonxhja said Albania must turn …
Surrounded by the green landscapes of northern Albania and waters flowing toward the Adriatic Sea, the Buna River remains one of the country’s most distinctive natural treasures. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video of the Buna River on social media today, highlighting the natural beauty of one of northern …