Albania, Greece and North Macedonia Join Forces to Seek UNESCO Status for Prespa
Albania, Greece and North Macedonia have launched preparations for a joint bid to add the Prespa region to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The initiative aims to protect the area’s natural, historical and cultural heritage while promoting sustainable tourism and creating new opportunities for local communities. The European Union will provide …
Tirana to Celebrate Japanese Culture with Food, Film and Martial Arts
Tirana will host Japanese Cultural Week from October 14 to 18, offering five days of activities that showcase Japan’s traditions, art, architecture, cuisine, cinema and martial arts. The programme will feature traditional tea ceremonies, Japanese food demonstrations, exhibitions, film screenings and judo and karate competitions. On October 16, visitors can …
New Archaeological Excavations Shed Light on Butrint’s Ancient Fortifications
Archaeologists have begun excavating the upper city’s defensive walls at Butrint for the first time, seeking new evidence about the ancient city’s fortifications and urban development. The research forms part of the “Urban Topography of Butrint in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages” project, which examines the site’s evolution between …
Begaj Meets Senators Shaheen and Durbin, Ambassador Wendt Also Present
President Bajram Begaj welcomed US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Dick Durbin to the Palace of Brigades on Friday. Begaj awarded them the high distinction of “Commander of the Supreme Order of the Eagle.” The senators were accompanied by US Ambassador to Tirana Eric Wendt. During the meeting, Begaj praised the …
US Senator: Washington Should Focus on Economy and Stability in Western Balkans
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen said in Tirana on Friday that the United States should focus its policy towards the Western Balkans on three key areas: economic opportunities, stability and democratic institutions. Shaheen, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is leading a US congressional delegation on a multi-day …
Rama: Albania Closes Fourth Chapter in EU Negotiations, Countdown Begins Towards Historic Goal
Prime Minister Edi Rama has commented on the progress of Albania’s European Union accession negotiations in a social media post. He announced the closure of the fourth chapter in the European integration process, stressing that this would strengthen prospects for investment, employment and competitiveness. “Albania closes its fourth chapter, and …
Week in Review: Realities Old and New
A string of long-awaited elections, as well as changing international dynamics, are reshaping the region, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlights. Original post Here
Albania sets new maximum fuel prices from 13:00
Albania’s Transparency Board has set new maximum wholesale and retail prices for diesel and petrol. The new prices will take effect on October 9 at 13:00 and will remain in force until the board’s next meeting. The maximum retail price for diesel will be ALL 213 per litre, while the …
Anti-corruption chief Braho meets European Commissioner McGrath
Klodjan Braho, head of Albania’s Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK), met European Commissioner Michael McGrath on Thursday. McGrath is responsible for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection. The talks covered the Code of Criminal Procedure, political rhetoric towards the anti-corruption structure and continued cooperation …
Kosovo to Compete at European Individual Table Tennis Championships
Kosovo will compete at the 2026 European Individual Table Tennis Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) will host the tournament at Arena Stozice, bringing together the continent’s top players. Kreshnik Mahmuti and Shega Hashani will represent Kosovo, with Ridvan Hashani as their coach. FPPK President Nehat …
Thousands of people joined student-led protests in Tirana at the weekend to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, as clashes with police resulted in more injuries and arrests. Original post Here
Kosovo kickboxers Nart Kastrati and Art Dulaj won two medals at the WAKO Kickboxing World Cup, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from October 13 to 18. Kastrati claimed silver in the under-81kg category after reaching the final, while Dulaj secured bronze in the under-67kg division. According to the Kosovo Kickboxing Federation, …
Marine tourism and the potential of sailing marinas to boost Albania’s economy took centre stage at the Balkan Blue Economy Summit, held at Marina Orikum as part of the “Balkans Sea Fair.” Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said marine tourism could attract more investment, improve service quality and …
Egnatia beat Vllaznia 3-1 on Sunday to strengthen their title challenge and move within one point of league leaders Teuta. The hosts took control early in Rrogozhina. Alessandro Albanese opened the scoring in the ninth minute, while Danjel Adjessa doubled Egnatia’s lead in the 41st minute to give the home …
*]: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:7820d53c-fce0-4375-9777-7d149d39c22e-552″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:7820d53c-fce0-4375-9777-7d149d39c22e-552″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-2″ data-turn=”assistant”> div:has([data-free-thinking-preview-answer=true])+:is(.text-message,.relative:has(>.text-message))]:-mt-2 grow”> Two European Parliament representatives have expressed deep concern over recent developments in Albania, particularly incidents in Tirana over the past few days. They condemned escalating violence during protests, attacks on public institutions and damage to public and private property. …
Kosovo and Greece were among the main contributors to Albania’s export growth in September 2026, while the European Union retained its dominant position in the country’s foreign trade, accounting for 54.6% of total trade. According to foreign trade data, Albanian exports to Kosovo rose by 22.5% in September compared with …
Albanian karate athlete Neevis Hasani has won a bronze medal at the World Karate Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced. Hasani finished third in the junior under-55kg category, securing a place among the competition’s top three athletes. He reached the podium after a series …
Albanian weightlifter Ertjan Kofsha has won European gold in the snatch event and silver in the overall total, the Albanian Weightlifting Federation announced. In a social media post, the federation praised Kofsha’s performance and described his medals as another important achievement for Albanian weightlifting. The competition took place in Durrës, …
Albanian distance runner Luiza Gega returned to international athletics competition with a victory on Sunday, October 18, winning the 21km race at the Balkan Championships in Apatin, Serbia. Her two-year absence from international athletics competitions did not affect her form. The athlete, who represents K.S. Tirana, claimed first place in …
On International Intangible Cultural Heritage Day, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja paid tribute to the bearers of Albanian traditions who preserve and pass the country’s cultural heritage from one generation to the next. Gonxhja highlighted the importance of protecting this living heritage, including iso-polyphony, songs accompanied by …