Blog
News

US Ambassador Wendt presents credentials to President Begaj

New US Ambassador to Albania Eric Wendt formally began his diplomatic mission on Saturday. He presented his credentials to President Bajram Begaj at the Palace of Brigades. The two also held a private meeting. Wendt has more than 34 years of service in the US military, much of it with …

Read More
News

Officially takes office: Who is the new U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Eric Wendt?

Eric Wendt officially took office this Saturday as the new U.S. Ambassador to Albania, following a meeting with President Bajram Begaj at the Palace of Brigades. Wendt was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in June with 51 votes in favor and 47 against, receiving final approval for his diplomatic post. …

Read More
News

Rama Urges Global Agreement on Sovereign and Democratic AI at UN

Prime Minister Edi Rama urged the international community to establish a global agreement on sovereign and democratic artificial intelligence during his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. First, Rama warned that the misuse of content distribution now threatens freedom of speech. He said citizens must know …

Read More
News

Rama: We Created Diella to Make Public Services More Accessible and Government More Accountable

Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania became the first country to introduce an artificial intelligence instrument into the architecture of government through Diella, the country’s AI minister. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Rama stressed that the initiative was not designed to transfer sovereignty from people …

Read More
News

Vuno Declared a Historical Center and Immovable Cultural Heritage Site

The Albanian government has approved a decision declaring the village of Vuno an immovable cultural heritage site and a Historical Center, while also defining its protected zone. According to the decision, authorities established the boundaries of Vuno’s Historical Center based on zoning maps and coordinates within the Albanian Geodetic Reference …

Read More
News

Rama Ahead of UN General Assembly Address: Proud of Albania

Prime Minister Edi Rama is set to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York today. Before delivering his speech, Rama shared a photo on social media standing beside the Albanian flag at the UN headquarters. “Proud of Albania,” Rama wrote alongside the image. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is …

Read More
News

Rama: Albania Building an AI-Powered Digital Mirror to Detect Manipulation

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that Albania is developing an artificial intelligence-powered Digital Mirror designed to identify manipulation in real time. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Rama said the Digital Mirror will not act as an arbiter of opinion. Instead, it will serve as a …

Read More
News

Rama posts photo shortly before UN speech, Prime Minister beside Albanian flag

Prime Minister Edi Rama has posted a photograph shortly before his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. In the image shared on social media, Rama is seen standing beside the Albanian flag as he waits to take the podium at the UN. Rama is in New …

Read More
News

Rama at the UN: “Flamingo Revolution” was fabricated through a “strategic lie” about an Israeli takeover of Albania’s coast

Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke in his address to the United Nations General Assembly about the impact of disinformation and Artificial Intelligence on society, citing the “Flamingo Revolution” protests in Albania as an example. Rama claimed that the movement was driven by a fabricated narrative alleging an Israeli takeover of …

Read More
News

Week in Review: Spyware, AI and Arrests

Tech concerns mount over elections in Serbia, spy chief’s arrest tests Albania’s NATO ties, protests over court verdicts continue in Kosovo and North Macedonia mulls impact of dangerous virus, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

Read More
News
EU policy review ahead of enlargement, government: Albania confirmed as a leader in the integration process

The government has reacted after the European Commission today formally presented its “Pre-Enlargement Policy Reviews”, setting out the framework for internal institutional and governance reforms, as well as safeguard mechanisms that will accompany the European Union’s next wave of enlargement. In its response, the government stressed that this strategic document …

News
International Conference of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in France, Archbishop Joan also in attendance

Archbishop Joan of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania has attended the International Scientific Conference organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania shared details and images from the conference, noting that its theme is “The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (2016–2026): Assessments and Perspectives”. …

News
129th day of protest, citizens gather outside the Prime Minister’s Office

Numerous citizens and activists took to the streets again this Tuesday as the ongoing protest entered its 129th day. As they do every afternoon, protesters gathered in Skanderbeg Square, chanting slogans including: “Your time is up”, “A new Albania”, “Rama resign”, and “Rama in prison, Berisha in prison”. After gathering …

News
George Orwell’s 1984 comes to National Experimental Theatre stage

George Orwell’s literary classic “1984” will be staged at the Kujtim Spahivogli National Experimental Theatre in a co-production with the Shkodër’s Migjeni Theatre. Directed by Dino Mustafic and adapted for the stage by Jeton Neziraj, the production will run on October 16, 17, 18 and 22, 23, 24 and 25. …

News
Kosova acting president Haxhiu seeks court guidance as six-month mandate expires

Kosova’s acting President Albulena Haxhiu has asked the Constitutional Court to clarify who can exercise presidential powers after her six-month mandate expires if the Assembly fails to elect a new president. The Office of the President confirmed the request to Radio Free Europe on October 6, the deadline for electing …

News
New Tirana-Durrës-Airport rail service moves closer to launch

Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said the Tirana-Durrës-Rinas Airport (TIA) rail project forms part of a broader railway modernisation programme. He spoke during a consultation with major international companies on the Public Service Contract for passenger rail transport on the corridor. The project includes rehabilitation of the existing line. …

News
Payment system moves closer to European Union rules

Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said proposed changes to Albania’s banking and payment laws will further align the country’s financial framework with European Union rules. Presenting the changes to the parliamentarian Economy Committee, he said the measures support Albania’s European integration process. They also address closing benchmarks for Chapter 4 …

News
Albanian Armed Forces Academy starts academic year at new campus, Nufi: Modernization in line with Euro-Atlantic standards is a priority

The Armed Forces Academy has opened the 2026–2027 academic year at its new campus. A total of 289 students have started their professional and military training to serve the country. At the opening ceremony, Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi described the new campus as a sign of Albania’s commitment to …

News
YouthCamp 2026 in Theth turns young people’s ideas into initiatives for Shkodër

Theth hosted young people this weekend for YouthCamp 2026, an initiative focused on discussion, cooperation and the exchange of ideas. Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the initiative and said it aims to turn young people’s ideas into concrete initiatives for Shkodër. Over two days, participants discussed issues related to the …

News
EU enlargement, Hoxha: Time for action, Albania is doing its part

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part today in the 12th edition of the Tirana Connectivity Forum. The forum focuses on connectivity, regional cooperation and the European future of the Western Balkans. In his speech, Hoxha said political commitments to EU enlargement must lead to concrete steps …

News

EU policy review ahead of enlargement, government: Albania confirmed as a leader in the integration process

The government has reacted after the European Commission today formally presented its “Pre-Enlargement Policy Reviews”, setting out the framework for internal institutional and governance reforms, as well as safeguard mechanisms that will accompany the European Union’s next wave of enlargement. In its response, the government stressed that this strategic document …

News

International Conference of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in France, Archbishop Joan also in attendance

Archbishop Joan of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania has attended the International Scientific Conference organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania shared details and images from the conference, noting that its theme is “The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (2016–2026): Assessments and Perspectives”. …

News

129th day of protest, citizens gather outside the Prime Minister’s Office

Numerous citizens and activists took to the streets again this Tuesday as the ongoing protest entered its 129th day. As they do every afternoon, protesters gathered in Skanderbeg Square, chanting slogans including: “Your time is up”, “A new Albania”, “Rama resign”, and “Rama in prison, Berisha in prison”. After gathering …

News

George Orwell’s 1984 comes to National Experimental Theatre stage

George Orwell’s literary classic “1984” will be staged at the Kujtim Spahivogli National Experimental Theatre in a co-production with the Shkodër’s Migjeni Theatre. Directed by Dino Mustafic and adapted for the stage by Jeton Neziraj, the production will run on October 16, 17, 18 and 22, 23, 24 and 25. …

News

Kosova acting president Haxhiu seeks court guidance as six-month mandate expires

Kosova’s acting President Albulena Haxhiu has asked the Constitutional Court to clarify who can exercise presidential powers after her six-month mandate expires if the Assembly fails to elect a new president. The Office of the President confirmed the request to Radio Free Europe on October 6, the deadline for electing …

News

New Tirana-Durrës-Airport rail service moves closer to launch

Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said the Tirana-Durrës-Rinas Airport (TIA) rail project forms part of a broader railway modernisation programme. He spoke during a consultation with major international companies on the Public Service Contract for passenger rail transport on the corridor. The project includes rehabilitation of the existing line. …

News

Payment system moves closer to European Union rules

Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said proposed changes to Albania’s banking and payment laws will further align the country’s financial framework with European Union rules. Presenting the changes to the parliamentarian Economy Committee, he said the measures support Albania’s European integration process. They also address closing benchmarks for Chapter 4 …

News

Albanian Armed Forces Academy starts academic year at new campus, Nufi: Modernization in line with Euro-Atlantic standards is a priority

The Armed Forces Academy has opened the 2026–2027 academic year at its new campus. A total of 289 students have started their professional and military training to serve the country. At the opening ceremony, Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi described the new campus as a sign of Albania’s commitment to …

News

YouthCamp 2026 in Theth turns young people’s ideas into initiatives for Shkodër

Theth hosted young people this weekend for YouthCamp 2026, an initiative focused on discussion, cooperation and the exchange of ideas. Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the initiative and said it aims to turn young people’s ideas into concrete initiatives for Shkodër. Over two days, participants discussed issues related to the …

News

EU enlargement, Hoxha: Time for action, Albania is doing its part

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part today in the 12th edition of the Tirana Connectivity Forum. The forum focuses on connectivity, regional cooperation and the European future of the Western Balkans. In his speech, Hoxha said political commitments to EU enlargement must lead to concrete steps …