Normal situation restored after storm, institutions continue monitoring
TIRANA, July 22 – Authorities have restored normal operations after heavy rainfall and strong winds affected several areas of Albania on Tuesday evening. The storm caused temporary disruptions to electricity supply, water services and some infrastructure. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy said that responsible institutions remained on the ground …
105th anniversary of Albania’s first technical school
TIRANA, July 22 – Albania marks the 105th anniversary of the first technical school in the country. American teachers founded the institution on July 22, 1921. The school offered professional training in different fields. Harry Fultz, a mechanics teacher, served as director of the American Technical School. He introduced a …
Albanian Parliament speaker meets U.S. Congress representatives
TIRANA, July 22 – Albanian Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi met representatives of the United States Congress and the POPVOX Foundation, a U.S.-based civic technology organization. The meeting took place during a regional workshop on parliamentary modernization through artificial intelligence, hosted by Albanian Parliament. Representatives from the parliaments of Kosova, North …
Albania sends army platoon to multinational brigade in Romania
TIRANA, July 22 – Albania will send a platoon from its Armed Forces to a multinational brigade based in Romania. The decision follows a government approval of a draft decision on the deployment, Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said after the Council of Ministers meeting. Nufi said the move is part …
Who Really Benefits from ‘Strategic Investor’ Status in Albania?
The cry of protesters that ‘Albania is not for sale’ is misinterpreted when it is portrayed as a rejection of all investment. Its proper interpretation is procedural: any transfer of common assets must take place in full transparency – with prices determined through competition, permits made public, and beneficiaries clearly …
Local storms cause minor damage in Saranda and Himara
TIRANA, July 22 – Local storms hit several areas of Albania overnight, causing fallen trees and minor material damage, according to reports. Coastal areas, including Saranda, Himara and Vlora, experienced strong winds and storms during the night, following earlier weather forecasts. In Saranda, several people reportedly suffered injuries after a …
Shkodër starts mountain trail inventory to improve visitor safety and promote tourism
TIRANA, July 22 – Albania has started the process of inventorying mountain trails to identify existing routes and map new itineraries, with work also underway in the Shkodër region. Tourism guide Kastriot Faci said the initiative aims to create a complete map of mountain trails across the country. He explained …
Severe storms set to sweep across Albania on Friday
Powerful storm engulfs Albania after battering Kosovo and North Macedonia. The storms will affect almost the entire country. Central and southeastern regions face the highest risk, but severe weather may develop anywhere. Storm cells will form quickly and move over isolated areas. They may bring very heavy rain and powerful …
Restoration project for Saint Nicholas Church in Upper Krutja, Lushnja
TIRANA, July 22 – The National Institute of Cultural Heritage (IKTK) has presented a restoration project for Saint Nicholas Church, a Category I Cultural Monument located in Upper Krutja, Lushnja. IKTK representatives held a working meeting at the Lushnja Municipality, where they discussed planned interventions for the protection, consolidation and …
Justice reform enters consolidation phase as European Commission highlights vetting progress
TIRANA, July 22 – Minister of Justice Toni Gogu said the latest European Commission Rule of Law Report recognizes Albania’s progress in consolidating justice reform, highlighting the completion of the vetting process, the reduction of pending cases at the High Court and the start of justice system digitalization. Speaking at …
Electricity distribution losses in Albania fell to 15.6% in the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Electricity Distribution System Operator. The figure marks a continued improvement from 18.93% in 2023, 17.93% in 2024 and 16.96% in 2025. Regional data also show lower losses. Fier recorded the …
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Albania is among the leading candidates in the European Union enlargement process. In an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, she placed Albania and Montenegro at the front of the process, followed by Moldova and Ukraine. Kos said enlargement had achieved more …
Albania U19 secured a second consecutive victory over Lithuania U19, coming from behind to win 2-1 in a friendly match at the Vora Stadium. Lithuania took the lead in the first half, scoring from one of their few chances of the game. However, Albania responded strongly after the break and …
The International Dance Festival Tirana (IDFT) will launch its fifth edition on October 3, bringing a rich program of contemporary dance, international artists and artistic companies to the Albanian capital through October 21. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the festival will feature 17 performances in nine …
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Michel Tarran, met today with representatives of the Union of Judges, the National Association of Judges and the Association of Prosecutors of Albania to discuss recent developments in the country’s justice system. According to the OSCE Presence, the discussion focused on …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media today from “Gran Tour Albania,” an event that brought Italian collectors of vintage cars to the historic city of Gjirokastër. “Motoring enthusiasts and tourists added a new color to Gjirokastër in autumn,” Rama wrote alongside photos from the event. Rare vintage …
The National Library in Tirana hosted the presentation of “Usta Josifi and the Saze of Përmet,” a new monographic study by author Niko Mihali dedicated to one of Albania’s richest musical traditions. The book explores the urban folk music tradition of Përmet and focuses on the life and contribution of …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi met today with the new U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Eric Wendt, and reaffirmed the strong partnership between Albania and the United States in the fields of defense and security. Nufi described the United States as Albania’s indispensable partner in security and defense, while stressing that Albania …
Albanian film “The Delegation” (Le Dernier Prisonnier), directed by Bujar Alimani, was screened in the French city of Reims on Thursday evening. The event took place through cooperation between the European Commission Representation in France and the association “7ème Œil.” Albanian Ambassador to France Dritan Tola, Montenegro’s Ambassador to France …
Women get a raw deal at elections in Bosnia, a spy chief’s arrest raises security questions in Albania and protesters challenge war crimes verdicts in Kosovo – plus much more in our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories. Original post Here