Judge sets September for closing statements in Thaçi trial on obstruction charges
TIRANA, August 6 – The Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague announced that closing statements in the trial against former Kosova President Hashim Thaçi and four others will take place in mid-September. The court scheduled the hearings for September 10, 11 and 14. The case involves Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni …
PM Rama shares message: Trust, empathy, service, commitment
TIRANA, August 6 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a handwritten message on social media with four key words: “trust, empathy, service, commitment”. Rama shared the message weeks after presenting the political document “Besa” [Good Faith]. He described the platform as a new effort to restore trust between citizens and …
President Begaj at ‘Ulqin Book Fair’ in Montenegro: Books keep Albanian language and identity alive
TIRANA, August 6 – President Bajram Begaj attended the opening ceremony of the 25th anniversary edition of the Ulqin Book Fair in Montenegro. The event is considered one of the region’s most important cultural gatherings and brings together authors, publishers and readers from Montenegro, Albania, Kosova, North Macedonia and other …
National Library inspires students and tourists across generations
TIRANA, August 6 – Despite technological developments, social media and wider access to online information, the number of visitors to the National Library’s “Sotir Kolea” Center continues to grow, even during the hot summer days. The increasing number of visitors shows that the love for books and the need for …
Rama Shares Photo Highlighting Government Priorities: Trust, Empathy, Service and Commitment
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a photo on social media featuring a handwritten note that reads: “Trust, empathy, service and commitment.” Alongside the image, Rama included the Albanian flag and a red heart emoji. The values listed on the note reflect the government’s key priorities in serving citizens and advancing …
Public Consultations Begin in Maliq on Proposed Merger with Korçë
The Maliq Municipal Council has officially announced and invited residents to take part in public consultations regarding the new administrative-territorial reform of local government units. Under the proposed changes, the Municipality of Maliq would be merged with the Municipality of Korçë. According to the announcement, the consultations aim to gather …
Hague Court Sets September Dates for Closing Arguments in Obstruction of Justice Case Against Thaçi and Four Others
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague announced on Thursday that September 10, 11, and 14 have been scheduled for the presentation of closing arguments in the obstruction of justice case against former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni Kilaj, Fadil Fazliu, and Hajredin Kuçi. The five defendants are …
Begaj at the Ulcinj Book Fair: Books Should Be Treated as a National Priority
*]: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:2879f987-ca36-40cf-8eae-63afa084fefc-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:2879f987-ca36-40cf-8eae-63afa084fefc-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-turn=”assistant”> President Bajram Begaj attended the opening ceremony of the 25th anniversary edition of the Ulcinj Book Fair. The fair is regarded as one of the region’s most important cultural events, bringing together authors, publishers, writers, and book enthusiasts from Montenegro, Albania, …
Defense Ministry Defends Procurement Process for Three Firefighting Aircraft
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”70e2f248-5867-4c1f-8cac-5495e6e2f2fb” data-turn-id-container=”70e2f248-5867-4c1f-8cac-5495e6e2f2fb” data-testid=”conversation-turn-15″ data-turn=”user”> Albania’s Ministry of Defense has responded to recent claims made by the Democratic Party regarding the procurement process for the purchase of three firefighting aircraft. *]: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:2879f987-ca36-40cf-8eae-63afa084fefc-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:2879f987-ca36-40cf-8eae-63afa084fefc-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> In its statement, the ministry said that …
Elbasan Begins Public Consultations on New Territorial Reform Following Protests
*]: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:2879f987-ca36-40cf-8eae-63afa084fefc-5″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:2879f987-ca36-40cf-8eae-63afa084fefc-5″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-12″ data-turn=”assistant”> Following protests in several municipalities across Elbasan County against the proposed Administrative-Territorial Reform, local authorities have officially launched the public consultation process. Opposition to the proposed territorial map first emerged in Prrenjas, where hundreds of residents protested against plans to merge …
Albania reported 24 wildfires across the country by Tuesday evening, with six fires still active and five under surveillance. A total of 126 emergency personnel and 18 firefighting vehicles took part in operations. The Armed Forces also deployed 20 personnel, one helicopter and two Air Tractor aircraft. Mount Dajti remains …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said artificial intelligence will help make government services more transparent and responsive, allowing citizens to track their requests in real time. Speaking after the government’s expanded meeting in Pogradec, Rama said a new digital system will allow citizens to submit requests, follow their progress and see …
Albania’s EU membership remains the country’s main foreign policy priority, Foreign Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha said following the government’s seminar in Pogradec. Hoxha said Albania will accelerate its diplomatic efforts and maintain a clear focus on the EU accession process. He also highlighted stronger regional cooperation …
TIRANA, August 25 – Albania’s insurance market maintained steady growth from January to July 2026. Insurance premium income reached ALL 15.92 billion. Meanwhile, payouts to citizens rose by more than 12% to ALL 5.41 billion. Bank lending has strongly driven growth in life insurance, making it one of the market’s …
TIRANA, August 25 – The Albanian Football Federation has launched a project to build 2 modern football fields in the Presheva Valley in southern Serbia, an area with a predominantly ethnic Albanian population. One field will be built in the Municipality of Presheva and the other in the Municipality of …
TIRANA, August 25 – Term deposits in the Albanian Lek (ALL) continued their upward trend in June 2026. According to data from the Bank of Albania, they exceeded ALL 244 billion by mid-year, marking a 14.8% increase from the same period in 2025. The growth rate accelerated from the end …
TIRANA, August 25 – The number of foreigners holding residence permits in Albania reached 32,163 at the end of 2025, according to data from the Institute of Statistics. The figure increased by 46.6% from 2024. Men accounted for 65% and women for 35%, while people aged 30–39 represented the largest …
TIRANA, August 25 – Epidemiologist Adela Vasili of the Institute of Public Health said West Nile fever spreads only through infected mosquitoes and not from person to person. She discussed the main symptoms after Albania confirmed its first case in Korça. Meanwhile, Vasili said authorities have confirmed no other suspected …
TIRANA, August 25 – European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has presented key elements of the European Commission’s plans to reform the European Union enlargement process. Euronews reported that the proposals include gradual integration, stricter checks on candidate countries and a new methodology. Speaking at the Croatian Ambassadors’ Conference in …
TIRANA, August 25 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said the new political season should bring stronger engagement with citizens and greater attention to their concerns. He spoke during a 2-day meeting in Pogradec with government ministers and Socialist Party political leaders from across Albania. Rama said the meeting focused on …