Tribute to Ismail Kadare, state ceremony in honor of the well-known writer
Tributes have begun at the National Theater of Opera and Ballet in honor of the writer Ismail Kadare, who passed away at the age of 88. Helena Kadare, the wife of the late writer, arrived at the theater accompanied by the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj. The highest heads of …
Anti-drug operation with France/ GJKKO leaves in prison the arrested
GJKKO has left in prison the three people arrested as part of a criminal group that operated in the French state for drug trafficking. Redian Doda, who is also considered the leader of the group, as well as Zabit Fisniku and Fabi Isaku, all three arrested in Albania, will remain …
Interview Ismail Kadare: All Totalitarian Regimes Are Mad
May 31, 2008 Ismail Kadare wrote for decades under Enver Hoxha’s brutal communist regime in Albania, was suspected of spying and threatened with punishment for subversive writing. Despite all this, at 72 he is serene. Sitting on a cream sofa in his lovely Paris flat, his architectural face and booming, …
Organized the transportation of 7 immigrants who died in an accident, Stivljano Ndou arrested
Stivljano Ndou has been handcuffed by the police as part of the police mega-operation coded “Rule of Law”. The detainee tried to escape from the services of the Shkodra Police, with the motorcycle he was driving. The 24-year-old was wanted by the blues of Gjirokastra, after he organized the transportation …
Found unconscious on the street, a 22-year-old allegedly fell from a height
The 22-year-old who was found unconscious on the road near the Shengjin roundabout in Lezhë has been identified as Gentjan Bajrami from Shkodra. Journalist Gjergj Figuri reports that at first it was suspected that the young man was violeted, but according to the police, the track being investigated is the …
Tribute to Kadare’s house in Gjirokastër
Homages in honor of Ismail Kadare will also take place in his birthplace in Gjirokastër. Journalist Elidon Berberi reported from the house, where the writer started the first lines, while he said that the tributes will also take place in the center of the bazaar, where the corner of honor …
SPAK operation with the French authorities, three Albanians arrested and assets seized
SPAK has developed a joint operation with the French authorities, which led to the crackdown on a drug trafficking group. The criminal group operated in the Lyon region and supplied sales groups in the Rhone, Ain, Savoie, and Haute-Savoie regions from an Albanian citizen in France. The gang was led …
Albanian’s Leap to Freedom Was Only the Start of His Journey
An Albanian who 34 years ago jumped over an embassy wall in Tirana to escape the country’s repressive communist regime recalls his struggle to find freedom and a new home in Western Europe. Original post Here
Obituary: Ismail Kadare, the global writer who helped ‘making Albania’
TIRANA, June 1, 2024 – Albania’s greatest writer and perennial Nobel Prize candidate, Ismail Kadare, has died at the age of 88. Kadare had permanently moved back to his homeland of Albania from France in recent years and died of a heart attack Monday morning, doctors at Tirana’s largest public …
Drug trafficking and organized criminal group/ SPAK sends for trial Gezim Çela and 13 others
The Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has closed the investigations and sent Gëzim Çela and 13 other people to trial for drug trafficking and organized criminal group. Gëzim Çela and Arlind Ismailukaj are considered to be the leaders of the criminal group that were hit during the “Flame at Sea” operation. …
The European Commission has launched a call for civil society organizations that want to join the new Civil Society Platform, a permanent dialogue mechanism between civil society groups and European Union institutions. The platform aims to create a forum where organizations can exchange ideas and experiences, discuss challenges facing civil …
Albania has become part of the soundtrack of one of the year’s most anticipated films, “The Odyssey” by director Christopher Nolan. The film, which premiered worldwide this week, is Nolan’s latest adaptation of Homer’s epic poem. Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus and featuring a major Hollywood cast, the production was …
The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF), in cooperation with the Butrint Management Foundation (BMF), has launched the first call for applications under the Butrint Community Grant Scheme. The initiative supports individuals, local businesses and nonprofit organizations with projects focused on economic, cultural, social and tourism development in the Butrint National Park …
Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a photo album highlighting the week’s key events. First, he attended the Coalition of the Willing Summit on Ukraine in Paris at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. He also joined France’s National Day ceremony and reaffirmed Albania’s strong partnership with its Euro-Atlantic allies. …
Tirana Times, July 18, 2026 – For years, the U.S. and the EU invested significant political capital, funding, and diplomatic pressure into helping Albania build one of the most ambitious anti-corruption institutions in the Balkans: the Special Anti-Corruption Structure, known as SPAK. SPAK was created to do what previous institutions …
The European Commission says Albania continued to implement judicial reform and the Cross-Sector Justice Strategy throughout 2026. First, Albania completed the vetting process for all judges and prosecutors after authorities finalized the appeals phase. Consequently, the process further strengthened judicial independence, accountability, and integrity across the justice system. In addition, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said tourism and foreign investments currently bring €8.5 billion into Albania’s economy. Speaking at an event promoting the national program “Double Your Business,” Rama highlighted the growth of tourism and its impact on economic development. According to him, tourists now fill the streets of Tirana in …
A new space dedicated to art, culture, and community has become part of Tirana’s urban landscape. The Art Park in Kinostudio has transformed the former film studio area into a new meeting point for residents, artists, and visitors. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on social media showing large numbers …
TIRANA, July 17 – The Artistic Ensemble “Skanderbeg” from Korça represented Albania at the 59th edition of the International “Festival des Cultures du Monde” in Chambéry, France. The festival brought together folklore and cultural groups from different parts of the world. The Albanian ensemble presented traditional costumes, music and dances, …
TIRANA, July 17 – Minister of Economy and Innovation Delina Ibrahimaj presented the sovereign scheme “Double your business”, which aims to help Albanian companies access financing and increase investment, productivity and competitiveness in European markets. Ibrahimaj said the initiative responds to the real needs of businesses and supports the development …