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Education services agreement with Albanian-American Development Foundation, PM Rama: Cambridge excellence for services in education

TIRANA, May 6 – The Albanian-American Development Foundation and the Ministry of Education signed an agreement in Tirana. The agreement focuses on the modernization of assessment systems in the new National Agency for Education Services. It aims to strengthen digital transformation in education and reinforce merit-based principles in the system. …

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Albania and New Jersey National Guard mark 25 years of partnership, Nufi highlights cooperation with United States

TIRANA, May 6 – The Albanian Armed Forces and the New Jersey National Guard marked 25 years of partnership under the State Partnership Program. The anniversary highlighted long-term cooperation in defence and security. A United States delegation visited Albania for the occasion. Brigadier General Yvonne Mays led the delegation as …

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Tax Relief on Inheritance and Gifts Cuts Budget Revenue in 2025

New tax relief measures reduced state revenue from inheritance and property gifts in 2025. First, authorities expanded tax exemptions. As a result, revenue dropped sharply. Data from the General Directorate of Taxes show collections at 16.2 million lekë in 2025. This marks a fall from 35.8 million lekë in 2024. …

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Rinas Rail Station Project Opens, €91.6 Million Budget Allocated

Hekurudha Shqiptare has opened a procurement procedure for the detailed design and construction of the Rinas airport railway station. The project is part of the Tirana–Durrës–Rinas rail line. The allocated budget for this phase stands at around 91.6 million lekë. The authority says the new station is essential to improve …

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Nufi: Further Consolidation of Cyber Defence Capabilities

Defence Minister Ermal Nufi visited the Cyber Operations Centre, part of the Cyber and Communications Command at the Ministry of Defence. He assessed progress in building cyber defence capabilities. He said the country has made significant advances in protecting defence ministry and armed forces infrastructure. He praised the results achieved …

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Tax Administration Launches 8-Point Plan to Formalize Tourism Sector

The Tax Administration has approved a sectoral plan for tourism in 2026 aimed at reducing informality and increasing tax compliance. The plan introduces eight key measures to strengthen control, improve reporting, and increase revenue collection in the tourism sector. First, authorities will increase declared turnover compared to 2025. They will …

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Rama: Technology Opens Global Market Opportunities for Youth

Prime Minister Edi Rama said technology is creating new opportunities for young people to access the global job market. He spoke during a discussion with young people in Gjirokastër. He focused on innovation, employment, and entrepreneurship. First, he said the government aims to increase funding for startup programs. At the …

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Kosova marks George Kastrioti’s birth anniversary with cultural events

TIRANA, May 6 – Prishtina hosts a full day of commemorative, cultural, and academic events in honour of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albanians. The programme brings together citizens, scholars, and delegations from Albanian territories and the Arbëresh diaspora from Italy. The organisation “Shqiptaria” [Albanian-ness] coordinates the activities. …

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Rama: Family Business Becomes Success Story with 80 Employees and 4,000 Daily Customers

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the “Alegria” enterprise in Gjirokastër. He described it as a strong example of Albanian family business success and the potential of “Made in Albania” products abroad. He said the company has multiplied its exports tenfold in recent years. It has expanded into markets such as …

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Former Speaker of Parliament Servet Pëllumbi Passes Away at 89

Former Speaker of Parliament Servet Pëllumbi has died at the age of 89. He co-founded the Socialist Party of Albania. He shaped the country’s democratic transition. Colleagues respected his integrity and leadership. He was born in Korça. He studied at the University of Saint Petersburg. He earned a PhD in …

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The Re-emergence of Terrorism and the Threat to the Global Economy

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 …

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Government reshuffle, Interior Minister Lamallari leaves, Ervin Demo takes over

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 …

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Ervin Demo, who is Albania’s new Interior Minister?

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 …

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Administrative Court unblocks magistrates’ salaries, Rama: If only it had the same standard for citizens’ problems…

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’ …

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Week in Review: Tests and Pressures

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

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Ervin Demo to take over Interior Ministry as Lamallari moves to Prime Minister’s Office

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 …

News
Ministry of Defense: 40 wildfires reported across Albania, six remain active

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 …

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Klodiana Spahiu sworn in as new health minister

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 …

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Ibrahim Kodra exhibition “The Sea and Music” to open in Tirana on September 23

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 …

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Gonxhja: National Campaign to Register Artisans Begins

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 …

News

The Re-emergence of Terrorism and the Threat to the Global Economy

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 …

News

Government reshuffle, Interior Minister Lamallari leaves, Ervin Demo takes over

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 …

News

Ervin Demo, who is Albania’s new Interior Minister?

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 …

News

Administrative Court unblocks magistrates’ salaries, Rama: If only it had the same standard for citizens’ problems…

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’ …

News

Week in Review: Tests and Pressures

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

News

Ervin Demo to take over Interior Ministry as Lamallari moves to Prime Minister’s Office

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 …

News

Ministry of Defense: 40 wildfires reported across Albania, six remain active

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 …

News

Klodiana Spahiu sworn in as new health minister

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 …

News

Ibrahim Kodra exhibition “The Sea and Music” to open in Tirana on September 23

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 …

News

Gonxhja: National Campaign to Register Artisans Begins

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 …