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Ministry of Education and AADF Launch Major Education Reform Initiative

Albania Signs Agreement to Create National Agency for Educational Services The Ministry of Education and the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) signed an agreement in Tirana to establish the National Agency for Educational Services. The initiative aims to transform the current education services administration into a modern, autonomous institution aligned with …

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Albania Strengthens Dialogue on Protection of Disabled Persons’ Rights

Ombudsman Hosts Italian Activist Maximiliano Ulivieri on Disability Rights The Ombudsman of Albania held an official meeting with Italian activist Maximiliano Ulivieri, a global advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Ulivieri was accompanied by activist Suela Lala from the “Së Bashku” foundation and UNFPA representative Elsona Agolli. The …

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Maks Velo, the artist and uncompromising opponent of the communist regime

TIRANA, May 7 – Maks Velo, artist, writer, architect, and intellectual, died on 7 May 2020. He was born on 31 August 1935 in Paris. His family later returned to Albania, where he graduated in civil engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Tirana in 1957. Between 1960 and 1973, he …

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Government Approves New Procedures for Funding Cultural and Artistic Projects

The government has approved a new set of procedures for financing artistic and cultural projects in Albania. The decision replaces the 2022 regulation and aims to improve transparency, efficiency, and quality in state support for the arts. The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport will manage the new system. Under …

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Albania secures $40 mln climate project, expands forestry reform agenda, minister Jaupaj say

TIRANA, May 7 – Albania secured a $40 million climate project under the “Albadap” programme, which Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj described as the largest climate initiative in the Western Balkans. At a press conference in Tirana, Jaupaj said no EU or Western Balkan country runs a similar project financed by …

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NATO more important than ever in current geopolitical environment, FM Hoxha tells Secretary General Rutte

TIRANA, May 7 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said NATO has become more important than ever in the current geopolitical environment after meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in talks focused on Euro-Atlantic security, Ukraine, the Western Balkans and Albania’s role in the Alliance. The meeting marked Hoxha’s first encounter …

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Interior Minister Lamallari at United Nations highlights Albania’s return migration approach

TIRANA, May 7 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari attended the International Forum on Migration Review at the United Nations in New York. He joined a panel discussion on “Migration as a creative force”. At the discussion, Lamallari presented Albania’s approach to migration. He focused on the return of emigrants and …

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“After School” Programme Pilot Starts in Tirana Schools

TIRANA, May 7 – The “After School” programme started its pilot phase in several schools in Tirana. Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro announced the launch on her official page. She said the pilot began this week after regular classes. The programme includes activities such as dance, crafts, visual arts, and …

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Elbasani, Vllaznia, Egnatia and Dinamo City Reach “Final Four” in Superiore League

Elbasani, Vllaznia, Egnatia and Dinamo City have secured places in the “Final Four” of the Albanian Superiore League. The teams will compete to determine the league champion. At the same time, Flamurtari has been relegated to the First Division after the 35th round results. Tirana earned a crucial 1-0 victory …

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Fuel prices capped at 196 Lek per litre, Transparency Board decides

TIRANA, May 7 – The Transparency Board cut the price of diesel by 10 lek per litre at its latest meeting. It set a new maximum retail price for standard diesel at 196 lek per litre. It fixed the wholesale price at 184 lek per litre. The Board also set …

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Parliament joins 51st Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania’s permanent parliamentary delegation took part in the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, held in Yaounde, Cameroon. Hatixhe Konomi led the delegation, alongside Ilirian Pendavinji and Luçiano Boçi. More than 300 lawmakers from 42 national, subnational and inter-parliamentary sections attended the session. …

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Next NATO summit to put Albania and PM Rama in international spotlight

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania will host the 37th NATO Summit after the alliance concluded its 36th summit in Ankara. Analysts say the decision highlights the strategic importance of Albania and the Western Balkans for NATO. Experts say the alliance has renewed its focus on the region as Europe reshapes …

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Albania marks 31 years in the Council of Europe

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania marks 31 years of membership in the Council of Europe on July 13, a milestone that reflects the country’s democratic transition and its commitment to European standards, according to the Agency for Media and Information (MIA). MIA said membership has supported reforms, strengthened institutions and …

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Murat Toptani, a versatile artist of the National Renaissance

TIRANA, July 13 – Murat Toptani, a sculptor, painter, poet, publicist and prominent figure of the Albanian National Renaissance, was born on July 13, 1868, in Aka, present-day Türkiye. His father, Said Toptani, lived in exile in Türkiye at the time, which led to Murat’s birth there. In 1884, Toptani …

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UK bans support for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps

TIRANA, July 13 – The United Kingdom has announced measures to ban support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designating the group as a threat to national security, according to the BBC. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the new powers will make support for the IRGC a criminal …

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Governor Sejko Meets EBRD’s New Resident Representative in Albania, Hannes Takacs

On Monday, the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, held an official meeting with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by Hannes Takacs, the EBRD’s newly appointed Resident Representative in Albania. The delegation also included Ekaterina Solovova, along with other representatives from …

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Coalition of the Willing Summit: Rama Welcomed by Macron in Paris, Shares Footage from the Meeting

Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived in Paris on Monday to attend the Coalition of the Willing Summit in support of Ukraine. Rama said he had been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron and shared footage of his arrival, where he was welcomed by the French leader. Rama and other European …

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Violations and Evasion at Currency Exchange Offices, Bank of Albania Revokes 83 Licenses

The Bank of Albania revoked the licenses of 83 currency exchange offices during 2025 following inspections that uncovered regulatory violations and financial irregularities related to cash circulation. According to the central bank, the inspections revealed shortcomings in customer identification procedures, transaction monitoring, screening against sanctions lists, and the reporting of …

News
Tax Authorities Audit High-Income Individuals, Identify €770,000 in Suspicious Findings

Around 200 high-income individuals in Albania are being audited as part of an intensified effort by the tax authorities to verify their wealth and income. The General Directorate of Taxes says it has identified €770,000 in suspicious findingsso far. The Tax Administration has stepped up inspections targeting individuals with significant …

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Rama: ‘Open Balkan’ Was Branded a “Terrible Idea” Simply Because Vučić and I Supported It

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the Open Balkan initiative was labeled “a terrible idea” for one reason only: because it was backed by him and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. “It was considered a terrible idea for only one reason – because Vučić and I were behind it. If you removed our …

News

Parliament joins 51st Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania’s permanent parliamentary delegation took part in the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, held in Yaounde, Cameroon. Hatixhe Konomi led the delegation, alongside Ilirian Pendavinji and Luçiano Boçi. More than 300 lawmakers from 42 national, subnational and inter-parliamentary sections attended the session. …

News

Next NATO summit to put Albania and PM Rama in international spotlight

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania will host the 37th NATO Summit after the alliance concluded its 36th summit in Ankara. Analysts say the decision highlights the strategic importance of Albania and the Western Balkans for NATO. Experts say the alliance has renewed its focus on the region as Europe reshapes …

News

Albania marks 31 years in the Council of Europe

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania marks 31 years of membership in the Council of Europe on July 13, a milestone that reflects the country’s democratic transition and its commitment to European standards, according to the Agency for Media and Information (MIA). MIA said membership has supported reforms, strengthened institutions and …

News

Murat Toptani, a versatile artist of the National Renaissance

TIRANA, July 13 – Murat Toptani, a sculptor, painter, poet, publicist and prominent figure of the Albanian National Renaissance, was born on July 13, 1868, in Aka, present-day Türkiye. His father, Said Toptani, lived in exile in Türkiye at the time, which led to Murat’s birth there. In 1884, Toptani …

News

UK bans support for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps

TIRANA, July 13 – The United Kingdom has announced measures to ban support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designating the group as a threat to national security, according to the BBC. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the new powers will make support for the IRGC a criminal …

News

Governor Sejko Meets EBRD’s New Resident Representative in Albania, Hannes Takacs

On Monday, the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Gent Sejko, held an official meeting with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by Hannes Takacs, the EBRD’s newly appointed Resident Representative in Albania. The delegation also included Ekaterina Solovova, along with other representatives from …

News

Coalition of the Willing Summit: Rama Welcomed by Macron in Paris, Shares Footage from the Meeting

Prime Minister Edi Rama arrived in Paris on Monday to attend the Coalition of the Willing Summit in support of Ukraine. Rama said he had been invited by French President Emmanuel Macron and shared footage of his arrival, where he was welcomed by the French leader. Rama and other European …

News

Violations and Evasion at Currency Exchange Offices, Bank of Albania Revokes 83 Licenses

The Bank of Albania revoked the licenses of 83 currency exchange offices during 2025 following inspections that uncovered regulatory violations and financial irregularities related to cash circulation. According to the central bank, the inspections revealed shortcomings in customer identification procedures, transaction monitoring, screening against sanctions lists, and the reporting of …

News

Tax Authorities Audit High-Income Individuals, Identify €770,000 in Suspicious Findings

Around 200 high-income individuals in Albania are being audited as part of an intensified effort by the tax authorities to verify their wealth and income. The General Directorate of Taxes says it has identified €770,000 in suspicious findingsso far. The Tax Administration has stepped up inspections targeting individuals with significant …

News

Rama: ‘Open Balkan’ Was Branded a “Terrible Idea” Simply Because Vučić and I Supported It

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the Open Balkan initiative was labeled “a terrible idea” for one reason only: because it was backed by him and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. “It was considered a terrible idea for only one reason – because Vučić and I were behind it. If you removed our …