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Butrint community grants scheme opens applications

TIRANA, August 14 – Butrint hosted the first information session on the Community Grants Scheme, an initiative of the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) and the Butrint Management Foundation (BMF). The scheme supports new initiatives and existing projects that aim to create a positive impact in the local community. Individuals, local …

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Mother Teresa’s first visit to Albania

TIRANA, August 14 – Mother Teresa made her first visit to Albania on August 14-17, 1989. The country still lived under communist rule, while her religious and humanitarian work made her a sensitive figure for the Albanian authorities. Officials classified the visit as private. Marie Goreti, an Albanian-born nun from …

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Kanina offers a scenic stop on the road to southern Albania

TIRANA, August 14 – The road to Vlora offers more than access to the coast. It also gives visitors the chance to enjoy panoramic views along the journey. At the heights of Kanina, tourists can stop and admire Vlora and its bay. The viewpoint offers a wide panorama stretching from …

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Saranda cited as example of public beach management

TIRANA, August 14 – Saranda has emerged as a positive example of public beach management during the current tourist season. The city has increased public access and introduced approved, balanced fees. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said the number of public beach plots and stations has increased …

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Private sector loan portfolio grows by around 14%

TIRANA, August 14 – The private sector loan portfolio grew by around 14% in the second quarter from a year earlier. The increase reflects stronger bank financing for businesses and individuals. According to Bank of Albania data, lending expanded across most categories. Businesses continue to show strong demand for loans, …

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BIRN Reality Check: What Has Albania’s AI ‘Minister’ Achieved So Far?

Nearly a year after Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced an AI chatbot as a ‘virtual minister’ in his cabinet to tackle corruption, has the technology been a success? Original post Here

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Euronews: European Union faces decisive moment on enlargement

TIRANA, August 14 – International media network Euronews says the European Union faces a decisive moment over its enlargement policy. The bloc must balance progress by candidate countries with internal reforms needed to operate as a larger and more complex union. Montenegro and Albania rank among the most advanced candidates, …

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Dinamo reach Conference League play-off

TIRANA, August 14 – Dinamo secured a place in the Conference League play-off after beating Auda 4-0 at Elbasan Arena. Dinamo, coached by Albanian Ilir Daja, overturned a 1-0 first-leg defeat in Latvia and continued their European campaign. Qardaku opened the scoring in the 36th minute, while Qefalia doubled Dinamo’s …

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Egnatia overturn Shamrock defeat to reach Europa League play-off

TIRANA, August 14 – Albanian champions Egnatia reached the Europa League play-off after a 5-1 win over Shamrock Rovers in Rrogozhina. The result overturned their 3-1 first-leg defeat and secured a meeting with Norwegian side Lillestrom. Egnatia have also secured a place in the Conference League league phase. This applies …

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Weather today: Cloudy skies, rain and thunderstorms

TIRANA, August 14 – Albania will experience broadly similar weather conditions today, August 14. Skies will remain mostly clear, with moderate cloud cover that will occasionally become denser over mountainous areas in the south and southeast. Meanwhile, light rain is expected across most of the country. Short thunderstorms may occur …

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Ibrahimaj: 1,179 applications submitted to Startup Albania, support will continue for all applicants

Albania’s Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, has highlighted the strong interest in Startup Albania 2026, which received 1,179 applications this year. Following the selection process, Ibrahimaj stressed that the programme will continue to support applicants who were not selected as winners. “Every idea deserves an opportunity,” Ibrahimaj said. …

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Rama shares family message from the US

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared a special photo on social media, saying that the Hasa family from the United States sent it to him. The photo shows a cat with a business card bearing the name “Prime Minister Edi Rama” placed in front of its paws. In addition, Rama …

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Rama shares Israeli professor Harari’s view: Algorithms target engagement, not truth

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared a video featuring Israeli professor Yuval Noah Harari discussing the way social media algorithms influence human behaviour. Harari argues that platforms such as Facebook, X and TikTok designed their algorithms to increase user engagement rather than build trust or promote truth. According to the …

News
Hoxha announces Virtual Diplomatic Presence for 24/7 consular services

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha described Albania’s consular service as a success story for citizens at home and abroad. He said the transformation involves technology, but also the quality, speed, and accessibility of services. In a video message posted on social media, Hoxha said authorities administered 1.378 …

News
Sevasti Qiriazi, a pioneer of education for Albanian girls and women

On August 30, 1949, Sevasti Qiriazi Dako, a teacher, patriot, and pioneer of education for Albanian girls and women, passed away. Born on February 24, 1871, in Manastir, Qiriazi became one of the earliest pioneers of organized national education for Albanian girls and women. She also played an important role …

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Shaban Demiraj, the patriarch of the Albanian language

Colleagues called him “the patriarch of the Albanian language.” Today, Albania remembers academic, linguist, and scholar Shaban Demiraj on the anniversary of his death on August 30, 2014. Demiraj was born in Vlora on January 1, 1920. He completed his secondary education at the Madrasa in Tirana before studying Albanian …

News
Seven wildfires remain active across four counties, with 284 personnel deployed

Albania continues to battle wildfires across several parts of the country. The Ministry of Defense reported 20 wildfires across the country by 20:00. Seven remain active, while authorities continue to monitor three others. A total of 284 operational personnel and 33 firefighting vehicles are supporting the response. The Armed Forces …

News
Albanian Foreign Ministry to Launch Virtual Diplomatic Presence to Improve Consular Services

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha has described consular services for Albanians at home and abroad as a success story, linked not only to technological transformation but also to improvements in the way services are delivered, their quality and speed. In a video message published on social media, …

News
Missing persons, Kurti: We cannot wait until 2044, the EU must put pressure on Serbia to open the archives

Kosovo’s acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti paid tribute at the Memorial to Missing Persons on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Haxhiu said that more than 1,500 people who disappeared by force during the last war in Kosovo are …

News
Durrës port authority bars tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet

TIRANA, August 29 – The Durrës Port Harbour Master’s Office barred the tanker HANUMAN from entering the port’s roadstead on August 28. The Sierra Leone-flagged vessel continued sailing about 12 miles from the port after the decision. Ukraine’s military intelligence service, known as GUR, and partner agencies have identified the …

News

Ibrahimaj: 1,179 applications submitted to Startup Albania, support will continue for all applicants

Albania’s Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, has highlighted the strong interest in Startup Albania 2026, which received 1,179 applications this year. Following the selection process, Ibrahimaj stressed that the programme will continue to support applicants who were not selected as winners. “Every idea deserves an opportunity,” Ibrahimaj said. …

News

Rama shares family message from the US

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared a special photo on social media, saying that the Hasa family from the United States sent it to him. The photo shows a cat with a business card bearing the name “Prime Minister Edi Rama” placed in front of its paws. In addition, Rama …

News

Rama shares Israeli professor Harari’s view: Algorithms target engagement, not truth

Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared a video featuring Israeli professor Yuval Noah Harari discussing the way social media algorithms influence human behaviour. Harari argues that platforms such as Facebook, X and TikTok designed their algorithms to increase user engagement rather than build trust or promote truth. According to the …

News

Hoxha announces Virtual Diplomatic Presence for 24/7 consular services

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha described Albania’s consular service as a success story for citizens at home and abroad. He said the transformation involves technology, but also the quality, speed, and accessibility of services. In a video message posted on social media, Hoxha said authorities administered 1.378 …

News

Sevasti Qiriazi, a pioneer of education for Albanian girls and women

On August 30, 1949, Sevasti Qiriazi Dako, a teacher, patriot, and pioneer of education for Albanian girls and women, passed away. Born on February 24, 1871, in Manastir, Qiriazi became one of the earliest pioneers of organized national education for Albanian girls and women. She also played an important role …

News

Shaban Demiraj, the patriarch of the Albanian language

Colleagues called him “the patriarch of the Albanian language.” Today, Albania remembers academic, linguist, and scholar Shaban Demiraj on the anniversary of his death on August 30, 2014. Demiraj was born in Vlora on January 1, 1920. He completed his secondary education at the Madrasa in Tirana before studying Albanian …

News

Seven wildfires remain active across four counties, with 284 personnel deployed

Albania continues to battle wildfires across several parts of the country. The Ministry of Defense reported 20 wildfires across the country by 20:00. Seven remain active, while authorities continue to monitor three others. A total of 284 operational personnel and 33 firefighting vehicles are supporting the response. The Armed Forces …

News

Albanian Foreign Ministry to Launch Virtual Diplomatic Presence to Improve Consular Services

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha has described consular services for Albanians at home and abroad as a success story, linked not only to technological transformation but also to improvements in the way services are delivered, their quality and speed. In a video message published on social media, …

News

Missing persons, Kurti: We cannot wait until 2044, the EU must put pressure on Serbia to open the archives

Kosovo’s acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti paid tribute at the Memorial to Missing Persons on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Haxhiu said that more than 1,500 people who disappeared by force during the last war in Kosovo are …

News

Durrës port authority bars tanker suspected of belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet

TIRANA, August 29 – The Durrës Port Harbour Master’s Office barred the tanker HANUMAN from entering the port’s roadstead on August 28. The Sierra Leone-flagged vessel continued sailing about 12 miles from the port after the decision. Ukraine’s military intelligence service, known as GUR, and partner agencies have identified the …