Concrete, Cocaine and Corruption: Albania’s Fragile Growth Model
Albania’s Concrete Economy: How Construction Became the Country’s Dominant Growth Model Tirana Times, July 7, 2026 – A booming construction sector has made Albania an outlier in Europe, but behind the cranes and luxury towers lies a deeper story of weak productivity, distorted investment and suspected flows of illicit money. …
Albanian PM Cheers on Kanye West Concert Despite Antisemitism Row
Edi Rama defends concert planned for Saturday by controversial US rapper, saying it will transform Tirana for a day into a ‘global capital of music’. Original post Here
Environmental Website Highlights Vjosa as Europe’s Last Wild River
Environmental Website A well-known environmental website has highlighted the Vjosa as Europe’s last major wild river, emphasizing its unique natural and cultural value. According to the Italian environmental platform LifeGate, the Vjosa River Basin remains one of the few places in Europe where water still flows freely and without barriers. …
Young Albanian MPs Complete Study Visit to the European Parliament
The Parliamentary Youth Club and ten newly elected members of Albania’s Parliament completed a three-day study visit to the European Parliament as part of the Young Political Leaders (YPL) Programme for the Western Balkans. The European Parliament invited the delegation to take part in the visit, which took place from …
Rama: Kanye West Concert Will Turn Tirana into a Global Music Entertainment Hub
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media today showing the construction of a stadium in Kashar for the upcoming concert of Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. According to Rama, organizers built the venue specifically for what he described as the largest concert ever held in Albania. He …
Aldo Shllaku Brings Hollywood Film Scores to the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet
The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet hosted a special concert last night featuring Hollywood film scores composed by Albanian composer Aldo Shllaku. The TKOB Symphony Orchestra and Choir performed Shllaku’s compositions, bringing to life music that has accompanied some of Hollywood’s most recognized films. Under the composer’s own direction, …
Albania Remembers Historian and Academic Aleks Buda on the Anniversary of His Passing
Albania honors the memory of Aleks Buda, one of the country’s most influential historians and scholars, on the anniversary of his passing on July 7, 1993. Buda left a rich intellectual legacy and established himself as a leading figure in Albanian historiography and academic life. As the first president of …
Tourists choose the Albanian Alps for summer adventures and natural beauty
Albanian Alps attract thousands of domestic and international visitors as mountain tourism continues to grow during the summer season. In early July, visitors explore the National Park of the Albanian Alps, drawn by its spectacular landscapes, hiking routes, and unique natural attractions. Moreover, foreign tourists choose the region for outdoor …
Kanye West concert to bring global music spectacle to Tirana on Saturday
TIRANA, July 7 – Tirana will host an international music event on Saturday, July 11, as Kanye West, also known as Ye, performs in the capital. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the stadium under construction in Kashar, on the outskirts of Tirana. Organisers are preparing the venue specifically …
Albania to sign Defence Bank agreement with 9 NATO allies in Ankara
TIRANA, July 7 – Albania is expected to join 9 NATO allies in signing an agreement to establish the Defence Bank during the Alliance’s summit in Ankara. The new financial mechanism will support investments in the defence industry, military technologies, and the strengthening of member states’ defence capabilities. From Ankara, …
From fresh battles over memory in Bosnia to the acquittal of North Macedonia’s former PM and Turkey’s post-coup legacy, this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories show how contested history keeps the region chained to its past. Original post Here
TIRANA, July 17 – Prime Minister Edi Rama congratulated Ukraine’s newly appointed Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi on his appointment by the Verkhovna Rada. Rama wished Koretskyi success as he joins President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in leading Ukraine during one of the most difficult chapters in its history. He said the country …
TIRANA, July 17 – The Central State Film Archive presented the restored version of the film “The Brave Ones” at Drita Cinema. The 1970 production by Film Studios “New Albania” returned to the big screen through the “Adopt a Film for Restoration” initiative. The screening presented one of the most …
TIRANA, July 17 – Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH) President Fidel Ylli presented the “Tirana Olympic City” project during an official meeting with Olympic judge and global sports investment adviser Eng. Almohanad Alzooaabe. Ylli described the project as one of Albania’s most ambitious initiatives for developing sports infrastructure. He said …
TIRANA, July 17 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha attended a ministerial meeting on the resurgence of political terrorism in Washington, D.C. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened the meeting, which brought together representatives from more than 60 countries. Hoxha said political extremism and the use of violence to achieve …
TIRANA, July 17 – Igli Hasani, head of the Albanian Parliament’s Permanent Delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly, visited Ottawa, Canada, from July 13 to 15 for an event organized by the Parliamentary Assembly in cooperation with the Parliament of Canada. During the visit, Hasani met Canadian …
Radomira village, 37 kilometers from Dibër, has become a popular destination for mountain and adventure tourism. Environment Minister Sofjan Jaupaj shared images of Black Lake, located in the heart of Korab-Koritnik National Park. The glacial lake lies among beech and pine forests and offers visitors an untouched natural landscape. The …
TIRANA, July 17 – Albania announced the winners of the Innovation4Albania Grant 2026 programme, including startups and incubators that will receive financial support. Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said the government has invested 16.5 million euros in startups over the past four years. She noted that the initial commitment …
TIRANA, July 17 – Archaeologists will soon resume excavations at the medieval city of Sarda on Shurdhah Island in Lake Vau i Dejës as part of the Albanian-French project The River Drin Valley in the Middle Ages. The project has documented the city’s structures and traced its development during the …
Albania’s audiovisual industry is taking an important step toward integration into the international market. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said Albania is moving toward approving the Council of Europe Convention on Co-production of Audiovisual Works in the Form of Series. The convention will create a common legal framework …