Albania honors US military officer for strengthening defense cooperation
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi awarded the “Golden Medal of Military Service” to US Army Lieutenant Colonel Joshua A. Magnusson after he completed his mandate as head of the US Military Group in Albania. The medal recognized Magnusson’s contribution to strengthening the partnership between the United States and the Albanian Armed …
Bank of Albania highlights record-low non-performing loans in meeting with EBRD
Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko met with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by its new Resident Representative in Albania, Hannes Takacs. During the meeting, Sejko presented the latest economic and financial developments in Albania and said the economy is expected …
Rama: “Open Balkan” was controversial because of its political backers, not its objectives
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the “Open Balkan” initiative was considered “a terrible idea” only because he and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić backed it. “It was a terrible idea for one reason only: Vučić and I were behind it. If we removed our names and replaced them with five others, …
Berisha Attends IDC-CDI General Assembly in Brussels as Organization’s Vice President
*]: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:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-14″ data-turn=”assistant”> Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha is attending the General Assembly of the Centrist Democrat International (IDC-CDI) in Brussels, where he serves as one of the organization’s Vice Presidents. The assembly has brought together political leaders, former presidents, Members of the European …
Penal Amnesty: Around 60 Inmates to Be Released from Drenova Prison
*]: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:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> Around 60 inmates at Drenova Prison are expected to be released under Albania’s new penal amnesty law, which is scheduled to be implemented on July 15. Under the amnesty, eligible male prisoners will receive a one-year sentence reduction, while eligible female …
Ombudsman Raises Alarm Over Conditions at Shënkoll Prison: “It Should Be a High-Security Hospital, Not a Prison with Two Psychiatrists”
Albania’s Ombudsman is carrying out an unannounced inspection on Monday and Tuesday at the Shënkoll Prison Institution as part of its mandate as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. According to the Ombudsman, the preliminary findings are deeply concerning. The inspection team identified severe overcrowding in accommodation facilities and a …
Parliament joins 51st Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie
TIRANA, July 13 – Albania’s permanent parliamentary delegation took part in the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, held in Yaounde, Cameroon. Hatixhe Konomi led the delegation, alongside Ilirian Pendavinji and Luçiano Boçi. More than 300 lawmakers from 42 national, subnational and inter-parliamentary sections attended the session. …
Next NATO summit to put Albania and PM Rama in international spotlight
TIRANA, July 13 – Albania will host the 37th NATO Summit after the alliance concluded its 36th summit in Ankara. Analysts say the decision highlights the strategic importance of Albania and the Western Balkans for NATO. Experts say the alliance has renewed its focus on the region as Europe reshapes …
Albania marks 31 years in the Council of Europe
TIRANA, July 13 – Albania marks 31 years of membership in the Council of Europe on July 13, a milestone that reflects the country’s democratic transition and its commitment to European standards, according to the Agency for Media and Information (MIA). MIA said membership has supported reforms, strengthened institutions and …
Murat Toptani, a versatile artist of the National Renaissance
TIRANA, July 13 – Murat Toptani, a sculptor, painter, poet, publicist and prominent figure of the Albanian National Renaissance, was born on July 13, 1868, in Aka, present-day Türkiye. His father, Said Toptani, lived in exile in Türkiye at the time, which led to Murat’s birth there. In 1884, Toptani …
TIRANA, July 29 – State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi called for changes to the Electoral Code to strengthen the separation between state institutions and the ruling party. At the technical meeting of the Special Parliamentary Commission on Electoral Reform, Celibashi said the misuse of state resources and the blurred line …
TIRANA, July 29 – Nikaj-Mërtur has gained fresh attention as one of the Albanian Alps’ distinctive destinations, following new efforts to promote sustainable mountain tourism and strengthen cooperation with local tourism operators. Prime Minister Edi Rama highlighted the area’s tourism potential in a social media post. He described Nikaj-Mërtur as …
The “Si Era” villa in Brataj, in the heart of the Vjosa River region, offers visitors a unique experience that combines nature, local landscapes and Albanian hospitality. Located only 30 minutes from Vlora and Himara, the accommodation stands opposite the historic Brataj Bridge. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of …
TIRANA, July 29 – The Albanian Academy of Sciences marked the 40th anniversary of the death of distinguished writer Shefqet Musaraj, recognizing his contribution to 20th-century Albanian literature. Musaraj was born in Berat on February 15, 1914, and died in Tirana on July 28, 1986. He emerged on the literary …
TIRANA, July 29 – The Albanian government is supporting investment in agricultural processing, stronger cooperation with farmers and the expansion of exports through business financing programmes and sector policies. Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Andis Salla highlighted those priorities during a visit to Fenix, a company in Elbasan that processes …
TIRANA, July 29 – Albania’s Ministry of Education will fund two new research laboratories and 23 scientific projects in 2026 through the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation. The initiative will support biodiversity protection, ecosystem monitoring, sustainable management of natural resources and the development of green technologies. On World …
Kosovo judoka Akil Gjakova has started a new chapter in his career as he aims to qualify for his third Olympic Games. Gjakova announced that he is beginning the new Olympic qualification cycle after more than a decade competing at the highest level of international judo. He said that staying …
TIRANA, July 29 – On July 29, 1913, the Conference of Ambassadors in London granted de jure recognition to the independent Albanian state. The conference recognized Albania as a sovereign and autonomous state under the guarantee of the Great Powers. The decision established Albania’s international status and laid the foundations …
TIRANA, July 29 – A new publication documents the latest developments in contemporary Albanian architecture. It highlights the work of Albanian architects in the region. The book “Fragments of Contemporary Albanian Architecture” was presented as the third volume in a series. The series aims to promote and document architecture created …
TIRANA, July 29 – British broadcaster Channel 4 interviewed Prime Minister Edi Rama about the proposed investment in Zvërnec, focusing on environmental concerns and the project’s current status. Rama told Channel 4 that authorities have not approved a final project for Zvërnec. He also said Sazan Island is not part …