Judicial reform enters phase of consolidation of European standards
TIRANA, May 8 – Minister of Justice Toni Gogu reported today to the National Council for European Integration on progress in Chapter 23 “Judiciary and Fundamental Rights”. He said judicial reform is entering a consolidation phase of European standards. He also said Albania fulfilled 14 interim benchmarks during 2025–February 2026. …
French ambassador: Negotiations continue, result is close
TIRANA, May 8 – French Ambassador to Albania Catherine Suard said Albania’s EU accession negotiations continue without interruption in an interview for “Klan News”. Reform momentum remains strong, she said, with judicial reform and the opening of negotiation clusters as key areas. She also underlined the need for reforms across …
“Otello” Premieres at National Theatre with a Strong Cast
Othello will premiere soon at the National Theatre of Albania under the direction of Qëndrim Rijani. The production brings together a well-known cast of Albanian actors, including Arben Derhemi, Viktor Zhusti, Lulzim Zeqja, Linda Jarani, Donald Shehu, Luli Bitri, Artan Imami, and others. The play is based on Shakespeare’s tragedy, …
Fuel prices fall again, diesel down by 3 ALL, petrol by 1 ALL
TIRANA, May 8 – The Transparency Board decided new reductions in fuel prices in the country. Diesel drops by 3 ALL per litre and will be sold at 193 ALL per litre. Petrol falls by 1 ALL per litre and will be sold at 179 ALL per litre. The decision …
Zucchero to Perform Live in Tirana in 2026 World Tour Stop
Zucchero will perform in Tirana on July 21, 2026, as part of his “Overdose D’Amore Gold – World Tour 2026”. The concert will take place at the Pista Olimpike e Vrapit and will bring blues, rock, and soul music to the Albanian capital. Meanwhile, the announcement was shared by Blendi …
Nexhmije Pagarusha, icon of Albanian music
TIRANA, May 7 – Nexhmije Pagarusha, one of the most iconic figures in Albanian music, was born 93 years ago in the village of Pagarusha in Malisheva of Kosova. Her career lasted more than five decades and moved between folk and operatic music, shaped by a distinctive soprano voice. “Baresha” …
More than 200 artists to perform during 10-day VjosArt festival in Albania
TIRANA, May 7 – More than 200 artists from Albania and across the region will perform during the 2026 edition of the VjosArt festival. The 10-day event combines art, tourism and environmental awareness along the Vjosa River. The festival will take place from May 21 to May 31 across several …
Albania, Kosovo Strengthen Defense Cooperation
Ermal Nufi met with Gegë Lleshi on Wednesday to discuss closer cooperation in defense and security. During the meeting, both sides highlighted their shared commitment to expanding cooperation in military education, joint training, and exercises. In addition, they discussed cooperation in civil protection and emergency management. Nufi stressed that Kosovo …
Demo Meets Austrian Delegation on EU Integration Cooperation
Ervin Demo welcomed Monika Zach and an Austrian delegation in Tirana on Wednesday. The delegation included 14 mayors and around 60 senior local government representatives. The group was led by Johannes Pressl. During the meeting, both sides discussed the role of local government in the European integration process. In addition, …
EU Calls for Quick Government Formation in Kosovo
Eva Palatova called for the rapid formation of a new government in Kosovo following the June 7 elections. Speaking during Europe Day activities in Prishtina, Palatova also urged political parties to reach a compromise on electing the country’s president. She stressed that the future government should have a strong parliamentary …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again defended the upcoming Kanye West concert in Tirana, scheduled for Saturday evening. In a post on social media, Rama shared footage of the completed concert venue, saying the stadium is ready and that the event will place Albania on the global map of music fans. The prime …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:e5659a20-7ccd-4ac7-ac8b-8f8f08377e9a-28″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-58″ data-turn=”assistant”> Visitors to the southeastern Albanian region of Kolonja are not only exploring its natural attractions and cultural heritage sites, but also learning how to prepare traditional dishes before enjoying them. Cooking alongside local residents has become one of the area’s most popular experiences …
Albania’s Competition Authority has launched a market monitoring process focused on the retail sale of essential grocery products, following complaints from citizens and concerns raised by members of parliament over the prices of everyday consumer goods. According to an official statement, the monitoring will cover the country’s main supermarket chains …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again reacted to negative online reviews, this time sharing a video highlighting critical ratings of Rozafa Castle in Shkodra. The prime minister said such posts are harming Albania’s tourism sector and expressed hope that prosecutors will swiftly take action against those he described as individuals who …
Prime Minister Edi Rama met with young people in Jalë on Saturday, where he discussed the recent protests and the impact of social media algorithms. Rama said algorithms play a significant role in amplifying negativity, online noise and manipulated content, describing such videos as “fuel added to a fire” that, he argued, was started by …
One of the world’s best-known rappers, Kanye West, was welcomed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who shared footage of their meeting on social media. The video shows Rama introducing the American artist to aspects of Albania’s culture and history. West arrived in Albania ahead of his concert scheduled for …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, together with Prime Minister Edi Rama, took part in an open discussion with 150 young activists from Albania, North Macedonia and Montenegro at #RinCamp2026. Albania’s EU accession process and the country’s progress towards membership were among the key topics discussed during the panel organised by the National …
by Monika Grill Tirana Times, July 11, 2026 – “K’cimi i Tropoja” – the dance that endured over centuries and kept the Albanian identity alive, has been officially declared part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. “K’cimi i Tropoja” refers to a traditional …
Tirana, July 11 – International artist Kanye West will perform today in Tirana. The concert will take place at Eagle Stadium, a venue built specifically in the Kashar area. To ensure public safety and manage traffic, Tirana Police has announced temporary road restrictions around the event area. From 07:00 to …
Tirana, July 11 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu said justice system reforms and the implementation of the National Reform Agenda under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans are concrete steps toward Albania’s European Union membership. Gogu said a strong, independent and accountable justice system remains a key pillar of …