Wildfires in Albania, Defence Ministry: 7 active fires, 3 under monitoring
TIRANA, August 18 – The Ministry of Defence said authorities recorded 13 wildfires across Albania by 20:00 on August 17. Seven remained active, while authorities monitored 3 others. A total of 424 operational personnel and 14 firefighting vehicles joined the response. The Armed Forces deployed 129 personnel, 2 firefighting vehicles, …
Albania to Compete at Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, Gonxhja: We Increased Support for Elite Athletes
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja attended the flag handover ceremony for Albania’s delegation to the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. Gonxhja praised the athletes who will represent Albania at the major international sporting event. He said elite athletes remain one of the country’s greatest sporting assets. Therefore, the government …
World Bank Europe and Central Asia: From emigration to return, tourism revives Albanian cities
TIRANA, August 18 – Tourism is creating new opportunities in southern Albania and encouraging some people who left the country to return, according to the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia region, known as WorldBankECA. The shift follows years of population decline, particularly among young people, even as the region …
More than half of Albania’s trade with European Union countries, INSTAT data show
TIRANA, August 18 – European Union countries remained Albania’s main trading partner for goods in July 2026, accounting for 53.6% of total trade, according to INSTAT. European markets also received the largest share of Albanian exports during the month. Exports to European Union countries accounted for 68.4% of Albania’s total …
Albania Tourism in Numbers: AIDA Highlights 12.5 Million Foreign Tourists and 22% GDP Contribution
The Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) has published “FactSheet Tourism”. The guide gives investors key data on Albania’s tourism sector and its investment potential. According to the factsheet, Albania has recorded 12.5 million foreign tourists. Tourism contributes around 22% to the country’s GDP. International hotel brands also operate in Albania. …
Albania’s First Football League championship to start on August 21 with new format
TIRANA, August 17 – Albania’s First Football League championship, the Abissnet Superiore, will start its 2026/27 season on August 21. The new season will introduce reforms aimed at increasing competition, creating more opportunities for young players and improving the organization of the championship. All matches will be broadcast on RTSH. …
Exports rise 10.6% in July to 33.7 billion ALL
TIRANA, August 17 – Albanian exports continued their positive trend in July 2026, reaching 33.7 billion ALL, up 10.6% from the same month a year earlier, according to INSTAT. Compared with June 2026, exports fell 5%. Meanwhile, goods imports reached 86.4 billion ALL, rising 3.6% year-on-year and 3.5% from June. …
New police unit to focus on environmental crimes
TIRANA, August 17 – Albania’s State Police will establish a new unit focused specifically on environmental crimes. Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari announced the move during a meeting with State Police local directors from Albania’s 12 counties. Lamallari called for a more proactive approach to wildfires. He said police should investigate …
Infrastructure Minister Karakaçi visits Tirana-Durrës motorway works, targets early completion
TIRANA, August 17 – Albania’s Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi visited the Tirana-Durrës motorway, where workers are carrying out the third phase of its expansion. After opening the first 6 kilometres, crews now focus on the section from the Rinas overpass towards Limuth. Workers are widening the road, while …
Albania’s Defence Minister Nufi: Ground and air operations continue to fight wildfires
TIRANA, August 17 – Albania’s Armed Forces continue intensive ground and air operations to fight wildfires in several parts of the country, Defence Minister Ermal Nufi said. Nufi shared footage of aerial firefighting operations in areas with difficult terrain. On Mount Dajti in Tirana, 50 Armed Forces personnel and 2 …
Tirana Times, October 26, 2026 — Albania’s government has announced sweeping legal and financial penalties against anti-government protesters, including restrictions on foreign travel, signaling a tougher response to a student-led revolt that has plunged the country into its most serious political crisis in years. The measures include heavy fines, prison …
By Veton Surroi Tirana Times, October 26, 2026. Seven Points Following The Elections in Serbia 1. The Student Movement in Serbia, which won the parliamentary elections and paved the way for the end of the fourteen-year rule of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the autocrat Aleksandar Vučić, is a …
Amid continuing violence at anti-government protests at the weekend, during which one protester was hit in the eye with a rubber bullet, premier Edi Rama announced new measures to tackle “urban anarchy”. Original post Here
Tepelena Municipality has focused on cleaning and maintaining its territory throughout October. The work covers the city and its administrative units. The aim is to keep public spaces clean and improve the environment for residents and visitors. Leonidha Shumeli, head of the central administrative unit, said the municipality had organised …
The photo exhibition “Venetiku: Tracing a Photographic Collection” will remain open to visitors this weekend at the Marubi National Museum of Photography in Shkodra. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja described the exhibition, curated by Mikaela Minga, as an encounter with photography, collective memory and the human stories behind …
Albanian national team players made their mark for their clubs in international leagues this week. Several players scored goals or provided assists. Myrto Uzuni scored twice as Austin FC came from behind to beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 away. The Albanian forward scored in the 64th minute and added his …
Tirana Municipality has announced around 1,500 new winners under its social housing programme that subsidises loan interest. The scheme supports individuals and families seeking to buy an apartment in the capital. The municipality has submitted the list of successful applicants to the Tirana Municipal Council for approval at its October …
Armenia has won the 2026 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, held in Malta. The event featured 16 singers from 16 countries, including Albania’s representative, Eslin Kurti. RTSH 1, RTSH Muzikë and Radio Tirana 1 broadcast the contest live. Albania received 62 points from the votes of professional juries and the public. …
Recent protests in Tirana have caused minimal disruption to commercial banks, banking expert Elvin Meka said. However, the events have had a psychological impact on the sector. Meka stressed that banking services continued without interruption. He said banks could absorb the additional costs of repairing damaged automated teller machines and …
Albania and Azerbaijan are seeking to expand tourism cooperation and build new partnerships between travel operators in both countries. National Tourism Agency Director General Jola Hysaj and Albania’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Besart Kadia, met in Baku with Goydaniz Gahramanov, chairman of the board of the Azerbaijan Tourism Agencies Association. The …