Kosova votes as citizens elect 120-seat parliament
TIRANA, June 7 – Voters in Kosova headed to the polls on Saturday to elect the 11th legislature of the 120-seat parliament. The Central Election Commission distributed voting materials across all 38 municipalities. A total of 23 political parties and three coalitions are competing, with 917 candidates running for office. …
Spring Festival names 12 finalists after opening night
TIRANA, June 7 – The Spring Festival returned to the Albanian stage after a 23-year break. It selected 12 finalists on its opening night, in a show marked by nostalgia, live orchestration and competition. The event took place at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. It brought together emerging …
Lake Shkodër receives UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status
TIRANA, June 6 – Lake Shkodër has received UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, gaining international recognition for one of Albania’s most important natural assets. Meanwhile, Shkodër Mayor Benet Beci describes the decision as a source of pride for the city and for communities living around the lake. He says the designation …
Spring Festival returns to RTSH as 20 artists compete on opening night
TIRANA, June 6 – The Spring Festival returns to the Albanian Public Radio and Television tonight after a long absence. Twenty artists will take the stage in the opening show, which will feature special guests and a mix of classic and contemporary music. Meanwhile, the festival’s hosts, singer Bleona Qereti …
PM Rama: Iran Is Behind Tirana Protests
The prime minister casts the widening unrest as a “hybrid war,” citing antisemitic narratives, claims about resettling Palestinians and AI-manipulated content. Tirana Times, June 6, 2026 — Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused Iran of standing behind the growing protests in Tirana against the proposed Zvërnec tourism project, shifting the …
Western Balkans – EU summit in Montenegro pushes for faster enlargement and reforms
TIRANA, June 6 – European Union and Western Balkan leaders meet in Tivat for the Western Balkans–EU summit. They focus on speeding up enlargement and advancing reforms across candidate countries. Meanwhile, European Council President António Costa says enlargement remains merit-based, but he adds that the process must become faster and …
Nik Xhelilaj and Bleona Qereti host revived RTSH’s Spring Festival
TIRANA, June 6 – The Spring Festival returns to Albania after two decades. It takes place on June 6 and 7 at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana. The event brings together established and emerging artists. Organisers present the festival as a revival of a major cultural …
Rama: Sazan Island Remains State Property, Not for Privatization
Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Sazan Island will remain property of the Albanian state. He stressed that it will not be privatized. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Vlora, Rama said Sazan is a national asset. Therefore, any development project will be carried out in partnership …
EU Leaders: Albania Next in Line After Montenegro for Membership
Albania received strong support from European Union leaders at the summit in Tivat, Montenegro. EU officials said the country is moving in the right direction toward membership. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s goals are clear. She stated that Montenegro is expected to join the EU …
Rama: No Strategic Investor Status Requested for Zvërnec Project
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama said that no request for strategic investor status has been submitted for the Zvërnec project. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Vlora, Rama rejected criticism of strategic investments. He said that when his government took office, Vlora lacked major …
After being on the run for several months, businessman Ergys Agasi was arrested over his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal surrounding tenders for the national agency overseeing the development of state information systems. Original post Here
TIRANA, August 27 – The State Police said several institutions in cities across Albania had received threatening emails this morning claiming that bombs had been placed inside the buildings. Police said officers had immediately begun checks at the institutions named in the threats. So far, they had found no bombs …
TIRANA, August 27 – A total of 387 new recruits officially joined Albania’s State Police after completing the General Patrol training course. The certification ceremony took place at the Security Academy, where Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari and State Police Director General Skënder Hita stressed the need to strengthen crime prevention …
TIRANA, August 27 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of Theth on social media and described the mountain area as one of the most visited destinations by domestic and foreign tourists during the summer season. Theth lies about 70 kilometres from Shkodër. In recent years, the area has become …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi today shared footage from the construction site of Guna Tactical. The company is developing one of the most important public-private investments in Albania’s defense industry. According to Nufi, Guna Tactical will produce military clothing not only for Albania but also for the region and other countries. …
TIRANA, August 27 – Albania’s Under-21 national team ended its campaign at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games after finishing third in Group B with 4 points. The team, coached by Alban Bushi, lost 2-0 to Algeria in its third group match. The first half ended goalless. Algeria then scored twice …
TIRANA, August 27 – The Vjosa River National Park, one of Albania’s most important natural assets, has faced several threats identified through monitoring and management of the area. Waste dumping has remained among the main concerns. It has damaged the landscape and polluted the environment, while also threatening the river …
TIRANA, August 27 – Brazilian magazine Estado de Minas has highlighted Lake Neuron, an underground thermal lake located in the Vjosa Valley in southern Albania. According to the magazine, the lake lies beneath the mountains and contains about 8.3 million litres of water. Its unusual underground setting makes it a …
TIRANA, August 27 – Domestic electricity production increased by 34.4% in the second quarter of 2026, while exports rose sharply and imports declined, according to data released by INSTAT. Net domestic production reached 2,361 GWh, up from 1,757 GWh in the same quarter of 2025. Hydropower plants accounted for most …
TIRANA, August 27 – The number of foreign nationals holding residence permits in Albania reached 32,163 at the end of 2025, up 46.6% from a year earlier. Men accounted for 65% of the total, while women made up 35%. Employment remained the main reason for residence, accounting for 55.1% of …