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Search continues for mother and two minor children, Civil Defense requests assistance from the Armed Forces

The National Agency of Civil Protection has made an official request to the Armed Forces to join together to provide their assistance in the operation of the police, RENEA and FNSH to find three dead bodies that are suspected to have drowned in the Buna River, mother Alma Arrazi and …

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RENEA and FNSH to help find Bodies of mother and 2 children suspected dead

Officials of the Armed Forces of Albania, along with their vehicles, immediately responded to the call for help and engaged in the operation to find three bodies reported drowned in the Buna River, near the village of Darragjat, Dajç administrative unit, Shkodër. Teams of officers from the Special Forces Battalion …

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Prime Minister congratulate Orthodox believers on Easter

Prime Minister Edi Rama has congratulated the Orthodox believers on the Easter holiday. Through a post on Facebook, which he accompanied with a photo of a boy holding a candle in his hand, the head of government wrote: “Good morning. Happy Orthodox Easter”. At midnight, Orthodox believers across the country …

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The death of the couple in Dropull, police: The author, their fellow villager

The murder of a few days ago in the village of Bodrishte in Dropulli, where the elderly couple Kosta and Kleoniqi Ilia were found dead in their apartment, is revealed. The police, in a press statement, have given details about the incident while also arrested the author of the incident, …

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Mother disappearance with 3 children, one found dead

Just three days ago, a father denounced the disappearance of his wife and three minor children. Unfortunately today, on the Sunday of the Orthodox Easter, one of the children was found dead in the Drini River. The body of the dead child, was seen by a fisherman, while police suspect …

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Begaj commemorates the Martyrs of Motherland

The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, today honored the memory and work of the martyrs of the homeland. In the name of the head of state, a wreath of flowers was placed near the “Mother Albania” Monument. The full message of the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj: “They …

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There is no freedom for Berisha and Malltezi, GJKKO leaves them under “house arrest”

The Special Court deposes Berisha and Malltez again. The lawyers submitted a request for the removal of the measure, which was rejected by the GJKKO. The former prime minister and his son-in-law, Jamarbër Malltezi, were left “under house arrest”. The Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime, with …

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20 years after the EU accession, Czechia and Slovakia reflect on their common journey

A message of peace and regional cooperation shines through in the example of these two EU member states for the rest of the countries in the WB.   Czechia and Slovakia have found themselves together and apart in various forms throughout history: as part of a bigger empire, as a …

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IRI Director brings Albania’s interfaith experience to Baku Forum

Dr. Arben Ramkaj, the chairman of the Inter-Religious Cooperation Center QBNF and the Executive Director of the Albanian Institute for Inter-Religious and Inter-Cultural Dialogue was invited to the 6th World Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. Governments, international organizations, researchers and thought leaders have gathered for the 6th edition of the World …

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Serious accident, the Italian tourist loses control of the motorcycle and collides with a car

A car accident happened this morning on the entrance road of the city of Saranda. The motorcycle driven by an Italian tourist collided with a vehicle and as a result went off the road. It is learned that the tourist suffered minor injuries and was transported to Saranda Hospital for …

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The Cost of Non Enlargement: Why the EU Cannot Afford to Leave the Western Balkans Behind

Tirana Times, June 29, 2026 – For years, the debate on European Union enlargement has been dominated by the presumed costs of admitting new members: institutional complexity, financial burdens, political resistance and the challenges of integrating countries still undergoing democratic and rule of law reforms. Yet a more strategic question …

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The Strategic Price of Non-Enlargement

By Albert Rakipi Tirana Times, June 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, the Western Balkans have lived inside the promise of European integration. In Albania, support for membership in the European Union has often remained above 90 percent. I have sometimes described this support as almost “totalitarian.” Yet …

News
Albanian PM’s Response to Protests Causing Unease Within His Own Party

Faced with unprecedented anti-government protests, Edi Rama has chosen to go on the offensive, to the public unease of several MPs and ex-officials from his own Socialist Party. Original post Here

News
€65 Million Allocated to Strengthen Local Government and Urban Transport in Albania

Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo has announced that the Albanian government has allocated €65 million to strengthen local authorities and improve public services. Speaking after a Council of Ministers meeting, Demo said the funding, approved through a normative act, aims to boost municipal capacity and enhance infrastructure …

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Fincantieri–KAYO Deal Aims to Create 500 Jobs and Build 10 Vessels by 2030 in Albania

A new cooperation memorandum has been signed at the Pashaliman Naval Base in Vlora between Italy’s Fincantieri, the Albanian state company KAYO, and the Industrial School “Pavarësia”. The agreement focuses on training programs, internships, and job opportunities in the naval construction industry. Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero stressed that human capital …

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Rama: Fincantieri–KAYO Agreement Opens Job Opportunities in Naval Industry

Prime Minister Edi Rama has said that the cooperation between Italy’s Fincantieri and the Albanian state company KAYO marks an important step toward strengthening Albania’s military and naval industry. He said the agreement focuses on internships and job opportunities in shipbuilding and maritime industry development. Rama stated that the partnership …

News
EU Commissioner Marta Kos: Albania Meets Key Interim Standards

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos says that Albania has met the interim benchmarks for the fundamental cluster, marking an important step in the country’s EU accession process. In a post on X, Kos also says that Albania receives a positive assessment in the IBAR report. She says the Cypriot …

News
Freedom of Information Still Impeded in Western Balkans, Report Warns

Despite robust legal frameworks, public institutions in the region are finding new ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report finds. Original post Here

News
Fish Market in Vlora to Modernize Fisheries and Boost the Blue Economy

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla and Vlora Mayor Brunilda Mersini visited the new facility after the Municipality of Vlora took ownership. The government invested €1.5 million in the project. The market covers 1,300 square meters and includes 15 cold storage rooms. It connects directly to the Fishing …

News
Albanian Parliament Approves New Law and Several Resolutions

Albania’s Parliament approved a new draft law and several resolutions during a plenary session on Tuesday. Lawmakers passed a law that strengthens official controls on food and animal feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant health, and plant protection products. The measure received 74 votes in favor. Parliament also approved …

News

The Cost of Non Enlargement: Why the EU Cannot Afford to Leave the Western Balkans Behind

Tirana Times, June 29, 2026 – For years, the debate on European Union enlargement has been dominated by the presumed costs of admitting new members: institutional complexity, financial burdens, political resistance and the challenges of integrating countries still undergoing democratic and rule of law reforms. Yet a more strategic question …

News

The Strategic Price of Non-Enlargement

By Albert Rakipi Tirana Times, June 30, 2026 – For more than two decades, the Western Balkans have lived inside the promise of European integration. In Albania, support for membership in the European Union has often remained above 90 percent. I have sometimes described this support as almost “totalitarian.” Yet …

News

Albanian PM’s Response to Protests Causing Unease Within His Own Party

Faced with unprecedented anti-government protests, Edi Rama has chosen to go on the offensive, to the public unease of several MPs and ex-officials from his own Socialist Party. Original post Here

News

€65 Million Allocated to Strengthen Local Government and Urban Transport in Albania

Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo has announced that the Albanian government has allocated €65 million to strengthen local authorities and improve public services. Speaking after a Council of Ministers meeting, Demo said the funding, approved through a normative act, aims to boost municipal capacity and enhance infrastructure …

News

Fincantieri–KAYO Deal Aims to Create 500 Jobs and Build 10 Vessels by 2030 in Albania

A new cooperation memorandum has been signed at the Pashaliman Naval Base in Vlora between Italy’s Fincantieri, the Albanian state company KAYO, and the Industrial School “Pavarësia”. The agreement focuses on training programs, internships, and job opportunities in the naval construction industry. Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero stressed that human capital …

News

Rama: Fincantieri–KAYO Agreement Opens Job Opportunities in Naval Industry

Prime Minister Edi Rama has said that the cooperation between Italy’s Fincantieri and the Albanian state company KAYO marks an important step toward strengthening Albania’s military and naval industry. He said the agreement focuses on internships and job opportunities in shipbuilding and maritime industry development. Rama stated that the partnership …

News

EU Commissioner Marta Kos: Albania Meets Key Interim Standards

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos says that Albania has met the interim benchmarks for the fundamental cluster, marking an important step in the country’s EU accession process. In a post on X, Kos also says that Albania receives a positive assessment in the IBAR report. She says the Cypriot …

News

Freedom of Information Still Impeded in Western Balkans, Report Warns

Despite robust legal frameworks, public institutions in the region are finding new ways to obstruct transparency, a new BIRN report finds. Original post Here

News

Fish Market in Vlora to Modernize Fisheries and Boost the Blue Economy

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla and Vlora Mayor Brunilda Mersini visited the new facility after the Municipality of Vlora took ownership. The government invested €1.5 million in the project. The market covers 1,300 square meters and includes 15 cold storage rooms. It connects directly to the Fishing …

News

Albanian Parliament Approves New Law and Several Resolutions

Albania’s Parliament approved a new draft law and several resolutions during a plenary session on Tuesday. Lawmakers passed a law that strengthens official controls on food and animal feed safety, animal health and welfare, plant health, and plant protection products. The measure received 74 votes in favor. Parliament also approved …