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Rama: Investments in Sazan and Zvërnec Will Not Harm Protected Areas

Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that planned investments in Sazan and Zvërnec will not harm protected areas. Speaking in an interview on “Flasim Shqip”, Rama explained that Sazan is not a protected area. He added that Zvërnec holds the status of a protected landscape under Category V. According to …

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Rama: Investments in Sazan and Zvërnec to Attract High-Value Tourism

Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that investments in Zvërnec and Sazan are expected to attract other high-level investors to Albania. Speaking to journalist Rudina Xhunga on the “Flasim Shqip” program, Rama highlighted several major projects that could follow the investments in Sazan and Zvërnec. “They will create an experience …

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Rama: Sazan Is Not for Sale, State Will Be Partner in Investment

Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that investors have never asked to buy Sazan Island and that the Albanian state will become a partner in the investment. Speaking to journalist Rudina Xhunga on the “Flasim Shqip” program, Rama addressed the investment plans for Sazan. He stressed that no one has …

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Karakaçi: Two Floating Power Plants to Receive Long-Term Licenses, Combined Capacity 100 MW

The two floating thermal power plants will receive licenses, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi said today. Karakaçi explained that the Energy Regulatory Entity (ERE) postponed its licensing decision because the authorities still need to complete several documents. Speaking to reporters after the government meeting, the minister addressed the …

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Korçë Gasification Project Begins Geotechnical and Geophysical Field Surveys

Geotechnical and geophysical field surveys have started for the Korçë gasification project, Mayor Sotiraq Filo announced today. Filo described gasification as one of the city’s most important projects for the future. The project aims to build a modern natural gas distribution network. It will provide a more efficient energy and …

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The Goddess of Butrint Returns to the Place Where It Was Discovered

The Goddess of Butrint, one of Albania’s best-known archaeological heritage works, has returned to the place where archaeologists discovered it, the ancient city of Butrint. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced the return after the statue travelled from Butrint to Rome and later to the National Historical …

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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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Opposition demands 100% open lists, unveils bill to separate state from political parties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ Oerd Bylykbashi, the Democratic Party’s co-chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, accused the Socialist Party of lacking the political will to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Speaking at the committee’s meeting, Bylykbashi said the reform should prioritise separating the state from the ruling party and …

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Begaj, Mattarella hail Arbëreshë community as cornerstone of Albanian-Italian ties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albanian President Bajram Begaj and his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, on Monday hosted the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, highlighting the community’s role in preserving the historic bonds between the two countries. The Arbëreshë, descendants of Albanians …

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Gjiknuri attributes electoral reform delays to lack of consensus

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ The co-chair of the parliamentary electoral reform committee Damian Gjiknuri said the electoral reform process had fallen behind schedule and risked missing its agreed deadlines due to lack of consensus with the opposition. Addressing the committee meeting, Gjiknuri said the work had fallen behind the planned …

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Food and transport prices push Albania’s inflation to 3.4% in October

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albania’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.4% in October 2026, up from 2.3% a year earlier, driven mainly by higher food and transport prices, data from the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) showed on Monday. Consumer prices increased by 0.5% from September, according to INSTAT’s …

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‘Talk to Prime Minister’ platform records more than 971 citizen interactions

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – “Talk to the Prime Minister” platform has recorded more than 971 interactions with citizens to date, the Agency for Media and Information (MIA) said on Monday. The platform collects questions, concerns, criticism, suggestions and opinions from citizens both in Albania and abroad. Complaints account for …

News
EU ambassador delivers 2026 Report to Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Hoxha: Most comprehensive progress assessment

TIRANA, November 9 /ATA/ – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met today with Head of the European Union Delegation to Albania, Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who presented him with a copy of the 2026 Progress Report for Albania. Minister Hoxha described this report as the most …

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New draft law on investments open for public consultation; Ibrahimaj invites business feedback

TIRANA, November 9 /ATA/ – Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj announced that the new draft law “On Investments” has been released for public consultation, inviting businesses, investors, business associations and experts to submit their suggestions and proposals. In a social media post, Ibrahimaj emphasized that the initiative aims …

News
Government plans April pension indexation, doubles monthly bonus with 20 billion leks fund

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – The government has earmarked 4 billion leks for pension indexation in its 2027 draft budget, aiming to bring the annual adjustment forward to April, Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said on Monday. Presenting the draft budget to parliament’s Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance, …

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Constitutional Court issues reasoned ruling on Virtual Minister Diella

TIRANA, November 9 /ATSH/ – The Constitutional Court today issued its final ruling on a petition filed by 39 MPs seeking to annul parts of two presidential decrees concerning the Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Diella. In a ruling reached on October 8, 2026, and announced on November 9, 2026, the …

News
New monthly baby bonus scheme for children under 5 launches July 1, 2027

TIRANA, November 9 /ATSH/ – Starting July 1, 2027, a new “baby bonus” scheme will be implemented, providing monthly financial support to Albanian families for every child up to the age of 5. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today the financial amounts that families will receive, based on the number …

News

Opposition demands 100% open lists, unveils bill to separate state from political parties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ Oerd Bylykbashi, the Democratic Party’s co-chair of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, accused the Socialist Party of lacking the political will to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations. Speaking at the committee’s meeting, Bylykbashi said the reform should prioritise separating the state from the ruling party and …

News

Begaj, Mattarella hail Arbëreshë community as cornerstone of Albanian-Italian ties

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albanian President Bajram Begaj and his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, on Monday hosted the mayors of all Arbëreshë municipalities in Italy at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, highlighting the community’s role in preserving the historic bonds between the two countries. The Arbëreshë, descendants of Albanians …

News

Gjiknuri attributes electoral reform delays to lack of consensus

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ The co-chair of the parliamentary electoral reform committee Damian Gjiknuri said the electoral reform process had fallen behind schedule and risked missing its agreed deadlines due to lack of consensus with the opposition. Addressing the committee meeting, Gjiknuri said the work had fallen behind the planned …

News

Food and transport prices push Albania’s inflation to 3.4% in October

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – Albania’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.4% in October 2026, up from 2.3% a year earlier, driven mainly by higher food and transport prices, data from the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) showed on Monday. Consumer prices increased by 0.5% from September, according to INSTAT’s …

News

‘Talk to Prime Minister’ platform records more than 971 citizen interactions

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – “Talk to the Prime Minister” platform has recorded more than 971 interactions with citizens to date, the Agency for Media and Information (MIA) said on Monday. The platform collects questions, concerns, criticism, suggestions and opinions from citizens both in Albania and abroad. Complaints account for …

News

EU ambassador delivers 2026 Report to Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Hoxha: Most comprehensive progress assessment

TIRANA, November 9 /ATA/ – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met today with Head of the European Union Delegation to Albania, Ambassador Sofia Moreira de Sousa, who presented him with a copy of the 2026 Progress Report for Albania. Minister Hoxha described this report as the most …

News

New draft law on investments open for public consultation; Ibrahimaj invites business feedback

TIRANA, November 9 /ATA/ – Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj announced that the new draft law “On Investments” has been released for public consultation, inviting businesses, investors, business associations and experts to submit their suggestions and proposals. In a social media post, Ibrahimaj emphasized that the initiative aims …

News

Government plans April pension indexation, doubles monthly bonus with 20 billion leks fund

TIRANA, Nov 9 /ATA/ – The government has earmarked 4 billion leks for pension indexation in its 2027 draft budget, aiming to bring the annual adjustment forward to April, Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said on Monday. Presenting the draft budget to parliament’s Committee on Economy, Employment and Finance, …

News

Constitutional Court issues reasoned ruling on Virtual Minister Diella

TIRANA, November 9 /ATSH/ – The Constitutional Court today issued its final ruling on a petition filed by 39 MPs seeking to annul parts of two presidential decrees concerning the Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Diella. In a ruling reached on October 8, 2026, and announced on November 9, 2026, the …

News

New monthly baby bonus scheme for children under 5 launches July 1, 2027

TIRANA, November 9 /ATSH/ – Starting July 1, 2027, a new “baby bonus” scheme will be implemented, providing monthly financial support to Albanian families for every child up to the age of 5. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced today the financial amounts that families will receive, based on the number …