‘Dua’ by Blerta Basholli achieves historic success at Cannes, wins the prestigious ‘SACD’ award
*]: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:28455baa-0e1c-46e3-8107-4093d764c751-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:28455baa-0e1c-46e3-8107-4093d764c751-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The film Dua by Kosovar director Blerta Basholli has placed Kosovo among the world’s film elite. Following its emotional premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the film was honored with the prestigious “SACD” award, presented by the Society of Dramatic …
PM Rama receives Greek defence minister in Tirana
TIRANA, May 25 – Prime Minister Edi Rama received Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias in Tirana during his official visit to Albania. Meanwhile, Rama shared images from the meeting on social media. He described Dendias as a valued friend and a strong supporter of the strategic partnership between Albania and …
US congress members visit Balkans, Kosova trip also planned
TIRANA, May 25 – US congress members Keith Self, a Republican, and Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat, are visiting Serbia. They will also visit the Presheva Valley, a region with an ethnic Albanian majority. Meanwhile, Serbian parliament speaker Ana Brnabic will receive the delegation in Belgrade. The congress members will also …
Prime Minister Rama to attend eighth intergovernmental conference with EU in Brussels
TIRANA, May 25 – Albania and the European Union will hold tomorrow the eighth Intergovernmental Conference on accession negotiations in Brussels. The meeting focuses on advancing reforms under Cluster 1 “Fundamentals” of the negotiation process. The conference will confirm Albania’s fulfilment of interim benchmarks. It will also define final benchmarks …
Opposition Democratic Party MP calls for special national status for Albanian Film Archive
TIRANA, May 25 – Democratic Party of the opposition MP Ina Zhupa, chair of the Committee on Culture, Tourism and Diaspora, visited the National Film Archive of Albania. Zhupa called for stronger institutional attention and concrete government support for the archive. She described it as a key institution for preserving …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: May 25, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Protect Nature, EU interactive contest promotes Albania’s biodiversity
TIRANA May 25 – The Delegation of the European Union in Albania has launched the “Protect Nature” contest. The initiative promotes biodiversity and environmental protection through an interactive experience in several Albanian cities. The campaign covers Tirana, Shkodër, Durrës, and Vlora. It uses green stickers placed in public areas. Each …
Vatican honors Albanian ambassador Majlinda Frangaj for contribution to bilateral relations
TIRANA, May 25 – The Vatican has awarded Albanian ambassador to the Holy See Majlinda Frangaj the title “Dame Grand Cross of the Piano Order”, one of the highest civil decorations of the Holy See. The Piano Order was founded by Pope Pius IX. It is considered one of the …
Rama: Bënja Baths to become a modern tourism destination in nature
Renovation works at Bënja Baths are continuing. The site is located about 14 kilometers from the city of Përmet. It lies in the Petran administrative unit, near the meeting point of the Vjosa River and the Lengarica stream. Prime Minister Edi Rama said the transformation will be completed soon. He …
Tirana hosts elite padel tournament, free entry at Skanderbeg Square from 26–30 May
TIRANA, May 25 – Tirana will become an international centre for elite padel sport. The city will host a major tournament from 26 to 30 May at Skanderbeg Square, with free entry for the public. Top international players will compete in the event. They will play for key ranking points …
TIRANA, August 4 – Children attending the Horizont Center day camp visited RTSH Korça, where they discovered how a regional public television station produces and broadcasts its programmes. The station’s management welcomed the group and introduced them to the newsroom, television studios, control room and other production facilities. The children …
TIRANA, August 4 – The Port of Durrës processed 2,057,526 tonnes of cargo during January–June 2026, marking a 7.2% increase compared with the same period of 2025. According to the Port Authority of Durrës, imports accounted for 1,430,236 tonnes of the total volume, while exports reached 627,290 tonnes. Export activity …
*]: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:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-5″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-5″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-12″ data-turn=”assistant”> The U.S. Department of State has officially announced the ratification of a $302 million loan agreement with Albania to support investments in the country’s defence sector. In its official statement, the State Department said the agreement will help Albania meet its …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”149fb836-ca6f-41ab-b866-328f2f5bb8c2″ data-turn-id-container=”149fb836-ca6f-41ab-b866-328f2f5bb8c2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-turn=”user”> The U.S. Embassy in Tirana has issued a statement on Facebook regarding the ratification of the $302 million loan agreement between the United States and Albania. The embassy said the agreement will support Albania’s progress toward fulfilling the Hague Defence Commitment. …
*]: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:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-3″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-8″ data-turn=”assistant”> Albania’s Ministry of Interior has declared two North Macedonian citizens persona non grata over activities deemed harmful to Albania’s national security and public order. The two individuals have been identified as Valon Bela and Bekir Halimi. The measure imposed on both …
The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) announced that a total of 14,628,595 cyberattack attempts targeting Albania’s cyber ecosystem infrastructure were recorded during the first half of 2026, covering the period from January to June. According to AKSK, this is equivalent to approximately 56.4 cyberattack attempts every minute. Of the total …
*]: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:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-turn=”assistant”> Minister of Defence Ermal Nufi announced that 727 operational personnel have been deployed over the past 24 hours to manage 20 active wildfire hotspots across different parts of Albania. According to a statement posted on Facebook, support for local authorities included …
The Vlora Border Police will continue carrying out daily inspections in Albania’s coastal waters throughout the tourist season, with a focus on ensuring maritime safety and preventing accidents. The head of the Triport Border Police Station, Amarilda Shabani, said that during July alone, authorities imposed 32 administrative penalties and seized …
A large wildfire has broken out in the Nivicë area of the Municipality of Himarë, raising concerns as the flames continue to spread rapidly. According to preliminary information, strong winds are fueling the fire, making it more difficult for firefighters to bring the blaze under control. Firefighting crews have arrived …
As the beginning of August approaches, construction on the final section of the “Taulantia” promenade in Durrësremains unfinished, despite earlier promises from the contractor’s engineer and Mayor Emiriana Sako that the project would be completed by the end of June. At the construction site, located in one of the city’s …