“Albanian Is Part of Our Identity,” Bebe Rexha Supports Albanian Students in North Macedonia
World-famous Albanian singer Bebe Rexha has spoken out in support of Albanian students in North Macedonia, who have announced a protest regarding the right to take the Jurisprudence exam in the Albanian language. Through a message shared on social media, the artist emphasized the importance of the Albanian language to …
Bulgaria wins Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Albania ranks 13th with “Nân”
TIRANA, May 17 – Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 late Saturday night in Vienna, after securing strong support from national juries across Europe. Albania, represented by Alis Kallaçi with the song “Nân”, finished in 13th place in the Grand Final. The Eurovision 2026 final took place at the …
The Times highlights Albania as emerging Mediterranean tourism destination
TIRANA, May 16 – British daily The Times highlights Albania among emerging Mediterranean tourism destinations this summer. The newspaper says travellers increasingly search for more affordable holiday destinations across the Mediterranean region. It adds that demand for holidays in Italy, Spain and Greece has increased this year. However, the report …
Eurovision 2026 Grand Final tonight, Albania performs fifth with “Nan”, how to vote for song 05
TIRANA, May 16 – The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Grand Final takes place tonight at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, where Albania will perform fifth among 25 competing countries. Albania’s representative Alis Kallaçi will take the stage with Nân after Denmark, Germany, Israel and Belgium open the show. In recent hours, the …
Alis tells “In Real Time” viewers to vote for Albania, No. 05, in Eurovision final
TIRANA, May 16 – Albanian singer Alis Kallaçi sent a video message from Vienna to the RTSH1 programme “Në Kohë Reale” [In Real Time] after qualifying for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final. He thanked supporters and said the competition had not ended yet. Alis invited viewers to vote for …
Eurovision final 2026: Votes from abroad crucial for Albania’s No. 05, Alis urges support
TIRANA, May 16 – Europe’s attention turns to Vienna this Saturday as the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 grand final takes place at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Austria. Albania will perform fifth among the 25 competing countries with singer Alis Kallaçi and the song “Nân” [Mother]. Alis qualified for the …
Gonzato: Cooperation with General Prosecution Important for EU Membership Priorities
Silvio Gonzato met with Albania’s Prosecutor General Olsian Çela to discuss stronger institutional cooperation in delivering justice and fighting crime. During the meeting, the parties reaffirmed support for Albania’s prosecution system at all levels. They also highlighted assistance for the Case Management System. Moreover, both sides agreed that justice and …
Koçiu: Albania Committed to Stronger Institutions Through UN80 Initiative
Albana Koçiu attended the UN80 initiative conference and highlighted the importance of reforming and modernizing the United Nations system. First, Koçiu said global challenges require stronger international cooperation. Therefore, she stressed that reforms within the UN are essential for supporting Albania’s European aspirations. Moreover, Koçiu reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to stronger …
Rama: Trump Forced Europe to Face Its Weaknesses
Edi Rama said U.S. President Donald Trump pushed Europe to recognize its weaknesses and rethink its future security strategy. He made the remarks during the Lennart Meri Conference in Estonia. First, Rama argued that Europe should take Trump seriously, even if not every statement should be interpreted literally. According to …
Rama: Europe Risks Distorting Economic Priorities Under Security Pressure
Edi Rama warned that Europe risks weakening its economic priorities if security concerns dominate political decision-making. He delivered the remarks during the Lennart Meri Conference in Estonia. First, Rama reaffirmed Albania’s strong commitment to NATO. He described Albanians as “Western Taliban,” explaining that Albania remains fully loyal to the transatlantic …
by Albert Rakipi, PhD Tirana Times, September 11, 2026 – The increasingly visible re-emergence of international terrorism against the backdrop of the major conflict unfolding in the Middle East is a new development, but hardly an unexpected one. The experience of the past three decades has shown that terrorism finds its …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has officially announced a change in of Albania’s Interior Ministry, with Besfort Lamallari leaving the post and Ervin Demo taking over as minister. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Rama said the move was part of a reshuffle within the government team. Lamallari will …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced changes to his government, with Ervin Demo taking over as Interior Minister as of Friday. Demo had served as Minister of State for Local Government since September 2025. As part of the latest government changes, the Ministry of State for Local Government will be …
Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted after the Administrative Court issued a decision unblocking salaries for the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) and the Durrës Court. In a post on X, Rama criticized the speed with which, according to him, the court acted on the issue of judges’ …
Historical narratives, political systems, institutions and economies across the region are being put to the test as old problems collide with new pressures, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a change at the helm of the Interior Ministry. Besfort Lamallari will leave the post and move to the Prime Minister’s Office, while Ervin Demo will take over the ministry. Rama announced the move while presenting changes to the government. He said Lamallari would …
The Ministry of Defense reported 40 wildfires across Albania in the past 24 hours. Six remain active, nine are under monitoring and 25 have been fully extinguished. A total of 492 local personnel and 36 firefighting vehicles are supporting operations. The Armed Forces have deployed 133 personnel, one helicopter, two …
Klodiana Spahiu has been sworn in as Minister of Health and Social Welfare at the Presidency. President Bajram Begaj appointed her following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s proposal, after Evis Sala resigned from the post. Spahiu is a cardiologist and holds a medical degree from the University of Tirana. She later …
An exhibition dedicated to one of Albania’s leading 20th-century artists, Ibrahim Kodra, will open in Tirana on September 23. “Ibrahim Kodra – The Sea and Music” will be held at the Bank of Albania and will remain open until November 23. The exhibition features 41 works created between 1947 and …
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the launch of a national campaign to register artisans across Albania. The campaign aims to identify, assess and promote traditional crafts and the people who preserve them. Gonxhja said the campaign would give greater visibility to artisans and their work. It will …