Albanians gain visa-free access to China as Tirana and Beijing sign bilateral deal
TIRANA, Jan. 18, 2022 – Albanians will soon have a new — and rather large — global destination they can access without a visa: mainland China. While Chinese citizens have already had the right to visit Albania without a visa, first as part of a tourist season program which Albania …
Albania had Europe’s fastest post-pandemic recovery in tourism sector, official data show
TIRANA, Jan. 19, 2023 – The visible increase in foreign tourists in Albania in the past two years now has statistical backing: Albania has had the fastest post-pandemic recovery in tourism in the entire continent, according to official numbers by Albanian and European statistical bodies. Experts say pent up demand …
Obituary: Isuf Kalo, 80, one of Albania’s top physicians and a key witness to communist history
TIRANA, Jan. 19, 2023 – Isuf Kalo, one of Albania’s most renowned medical doctors and a key witness to the country’s communist history as the personal doctor of the former dictator, has passed away at the age of 80, his family has announced. Professor Kalo was born in Albania’s southern …
U.S. arrest of former senior FBI official with ties to PM leads to opposition calls for investigation in Albania
TIRANA, Jan. 23, 2023 – The ties of the Albanian prime minister to a former senior FBI official recently arrested in the United States have led to calls by the political opposition for a full investigation of any possible Albania-related wrongdoings. The retired FBI senior official has been arrested on …
Op/Ed: Italy and the Western Balkans talk cooperation
By Antonio Tajani* The fate of Europe in these last months is being played, dramatically, around Ukraine. But the future of our continent is also connected with what will happen in the Western Balkans. History teaches us the strategic importance that this region has for our security. Therefore, the international …
Collaku contributes to international conference on women’s contribution to interfaith relations hosted by Pope Francis
TIRANA, Jan. 26, 2023 – An Albanian civil society representative, Rudina Collaku, founder and executive director of Women’s Center for Development and Culture, has addressed a conference on women and interfaith relations organized by Pope Francis. Pope Francis upheld the importance of protecting dignity of and caring for women and …
In Albania’s olive oil boom, lack of proper export system means producers go bust
TIRANA, Jan. 26, 2023 – One the largest olive harvests ever has led to a record production of olive oil in Albania this year. But the boom in production has exposed another problem: Albania’s inability to export. Most oil producers have not been able to secure the needed certification to …
Op/Ed: Serbia, Kosovo, and Russia’s interest in another conflict in continental Europe
By Arash Toupchinejad* Serbia recently found itself in a perilous standoff with Kosovo this past December when ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo established roadblocks to protest the arrest of a former Kosovo Serb police officer who had assaulted serving police officers. In response to this provocation, Kosovo called upon NATO-led …
Germany asks suspension of tax, Kosovo’s PM says
Kosovo’s Prime Minister admitted Monday that the two advisors to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who last Saturday visited Kosovo, asked Pristina authorities to suspend tax on Serbian goods. Original post Here
Rasic: Belgrade manipulating Kosovo Serbs
Nenad Rasic, the president of the Serb Progressive Democratic Party, said Belgrade is manipulating Serbs in Kosovo and political entity of Srpska List has been created by Belgrade to manipulate Kosovo Serbs. Original post Here
Kosovo faces Turkey tonight at 20:45 at Prishtina’s “Fadil Vokrri” Stadium. The match is part of the 2026 World Cup play-offs, hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. President Bajram Begaj wished the Kosovo team success. “Heart in Prishtina. Go, Kosovo!” Begaj wrote on social media. The match is seen …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, announced the creation of a state oil company. He said it will transform the hydrocarbon market and protect consumers. At the Socialist Party Assembly in Unit 7, Rama addressed rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict. He explained that removing …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, said today that Albania fights corruption more than ever. He credited government reforms that make systems less vulnerable to corruption. At the Socialist Party Assembly in Unit 7, Rama highlighted that Albania leads the region in public procurement quality. Ministries and agencies …
Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania faces no blockage in its EU accession process. He stressed that the country has advanced in closing chapters, but member states make the final decisions. “Reforms are our key to joining the European family,” Hoxha told Top Channel. He rejected claims of any obstacles …
Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj attended the presentation of a report on Albanian businesses’ readiness for the EU single market. She called it the starting point for a new support program for the private sector. The program will guide businesses over the next four years. It will help them …
Albania participated in the 2026 OECD Global Forum on Anti-Corruption and Integrity in Paris, the Public Administration Department (DAP) announced. Marcela Kërëku, Director of Integrity, Oversight, and Administrative and Judicial Complaints at DAP, represented the country. She highlighted integrity as a key factor for competitiveness and development. During the session …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party (PS) leader, said PS will succeed in the next local elections. At the PS Assembly in Unit 7, Rama said, “We start preparing for elections long before others. When others watch us, we focus on ourselves.” He added the party balances election planning …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, also Socialist Party leader, said Albania’s EU negotiation process is on track. At the PS Assembly in Unit 7, Rama rejected media claims of a stalled integration. “These reports are 100% false,” he said. He added, “We follow an agreed calendar with the EU. The European …
Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport describes Kosovo as a Balkan fairy tale, a mix of roots, departures, returns, and children scattered across Europe. Kosovo dreams of its first World Cup, and today, that goal in America no longer seems distant. The dramatic 4-3 victory over Slovakia, which boosted the team’s …
Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi met today with co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ionut-Marian Stroe and Pavel Jablonski, to discuss Albania’s reform progress and democratic standards. During the meeting, Peleshi highlighted that since exiting the monitoring system in April 2024, Albania has made significant advances …