Blog
News

Rain showers and short thunderstorms expected across Albania

TIRANA, April 2 – The Military Weather Service reported that Albania will experience unstable atmospheric conditions on Thursday. Clouds will range from moderate to dense, with short sunny intervals in the Western Lowlands after midday. Light rain will appear across much of the country from the early hours. Isolated short …

Read More
News

Political parties in Kosova show no progress on presidential election talks

TIRANA, April 2 – Kosova’s main political parties have not taken steps toward a possible agreement to elect a new president, despite a one-month deadline set by the Constitutional Court. The court gave lawmakers 34 days to choose the country’s next president, warning that failure would trigger early elections within …

Read More
News

PM Rama: Integrations process is not slowing down, Albania faces historic opportunity

TIRANA, April 2 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania does not face conditions of a slowing integration process. During a discussion with young students on the country’s European Union accession negotiations, he stressed that much of the information circulating in media reports is often inaccurate and misleads the public. …

Read More
News

Government Updates National Hospital Planning Committee

The Council of Ministers approved changes to the National Hospital Planning Committee. The committee advises the Health Minister on hospital services across Albania. It now has 9 members: cardiologists, surgeons, neonatologists, radiologists, gynecologists, emergency doctors, and an economist. The committee analyzes hospital coverage, assesses capacity and needs, proposes the National …

Read More
News

PM Rama: Digital services removed tension between citizens and the state

TIRANA, April 2 – At the discussion held today at the “Liria” [Freedom] hall on the Tirana State University campus, Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke with students about Albania’s EU accession progress. A student asked him about the fight against corruption. Rama said corruption today exists more in perception than …

Read More
News

Gogu Meets Students: Supporting Minors to Break the Cycle of Crime

Justice Minister Toni Gogu presented a new approach to handling minors in conflict with the law, focusing on restorative justice as an alternative to traditional punishment. Speaking to social science students, Gogu emphasized that a criminal act is not just a law violation—it causes real harm to people and the …

Read More
News

Albanian Government Approves 203 Million Lek Support for Religious Communities

The Council of Ministers approved 203 million lek to support religious communities this year. Muslim Community of Albania: 57.3 million lek Autocephalous Orthodox Church: 48.6 million lek Catholic Church: 48.6 million lek Bektashi World Headquarters: 48.5 million lek Funds will be distributed in April 2026. The Ministry of Finance and …

Read More
News

Iran could target Albania?

U.S. Embassy warns of possible Iran-linked attacks against MEK and public locations. Tirana Times, April 01, 2026 –  The U.S. Embassy in Tirana has warned that Iran or groups linked to Tehran could carry out potential attacks in Albania, targeting members of the Iranian opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of …

Read More
News

Rama: We Will Intervene in the Oil Market to Protect Consumers

Prime Minister Edi Rama met with the Socialist Party assembly in Unit 4, Tirana. Rama said the government will act in the oil market through a public company. The goal is to protect consumers and increase transparency. He added that the legal framework for strategic fuel reserves is also in …

Read More
News

Ryanair Opens New Base at Tirana Airport

Ryanair officially opened its new base at Tirana’s “Mother Teresa” International Airport. The airline stations three planes in Tirana and adds 21 new destinations across Europe. The Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) says direct connections boost economic growth and increase GDP per capita. AAC adds the move supports government priorities: infrastructure, …

Read More
News
Albanian President Begaj Attends Farewell Ceremony for Norway’s King Harald V

Albanian President Bajram Begaj attended the farewell ceremony for King Harald V of Norway in Oslo, joining monarchs and world leaders in paying tribute to the late Norwegian king. The ceremony took place at Oslo Cathedral following a solemn procession from the Royal Palace. Representatives from several countries attended the …

News
NATO Delegation Visits Durres Port to Discuss Security and Corridor VIII

A high-level NATO delegation visited the Port of Durres on Wednesday to assess its port capacities and strategic role in regional security and logistics. The delegation was led by the Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples. Representatives of the Albanian Armed Forces and Naval Force Commander Rear Admiral …

News
Citizens Can Now Rate Consular Services Online Across Albania’s Diplomatic Network

Albanian citizens can now rate consular services online as part of a new initiative aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of services. Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha announced the new evaluation system on Wednesday. Starting today, citizens can scan a QR code at any location where …

News
UNDP Approves New Albania Program Focused on Jobs, Economy and Justice

The Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has approved a new Country Programme for Albania for 2027–2031. The five-year programme will support Albania’s development. It will also accelerate reforms and advance the country’s European Union integration process. The programme has three main priorities. First, it will promote …

News
Hoxha: News Agencies Stand on the Front Line Against Disinformation

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha attended the international conference “The Balkans Meet in Trieste” on Wednesday. The Italian news agency ANSA and the Alliance of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) organized the conference. The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Central European Initiative (CEI) also supported the event. …

News
Former Deputy PM Balluku Faces New Corruption Evidence

Tirana Times, September 09, 2026 — Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime has uncovered new evidence in its widening investigation of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, increasing pressure on one of the most powerful figures of the governing Socialist Party. SPAK said Wednesday that a special …

News
High Fire Risk in Shkodër, Elbasan and Fier as temperatures reach 33°C

The Institute of GeoSciences (IGJEO) warns of a high fire risk this afternoon and tomorrow in Shkodër, Elbasan and Fier counties. Meanwhile, other parts of the country will face a moderate risk. However, the high-risk level will affect only localised areas in some counties. These include northeastern Lezhë, northeastern Tirana …

News
Territorial reform, OSCE ambassador: No decision should be made without national-level consultation

The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Michel Tarran, said in Pogradec that the territorial reform remains under discussion and that no final decision has been made so far. Asked about the consultation process, Tarran stressed that the OSCE does not impose a specific model for territorial organization. He …

News
Bank of Albania, World Bank step up cooperation on digital payments

Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko met with a World Bank delegation to discuss Albania’s economic performance, EU integration and payment-system modernization. Sejko said the economy continues to perform well, supported by growth, stronger employment and incomes, and financial stability. He also highlighted Albania’s progress toward EU standards. The talks …

News
Lek strengthens against major foreign currencies on domestic market

The lek strengthened against major foreign currencies in the domestic foreign exchange market on Wednesday, compared with the previous day. According to the official exchange rate published by the Bank of Albania, the euro fell by 0.05 lek, to 92.02 lek, while the US dollar dropped by 0.19 lek, to …

News

Albanian President Begaj Attends Farewell Ceremony for Norway’s King Harald V

Albanian President Bajram Begaj attended the farewell ceremony for King Harald V of Norway in Oslo, joining monarchs and world leaders in paying tribute to the late Norwegian king. The ceremony took place at Oslo Cathedral following a solemn procession from the Royal Palace. Representatives from several countries attended the …

News

NATO Delegation Visits Durres Port to Discuss Security and Corridor VIII

A high-level NATO delegation visited the Port of Durres on Wednesday to assess its port capacities and strategic role in regional security and logistics. The delegation was led by the Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples. Representatives of the Albanian Armed Forces and Naval Force Commander Rear Admiral …

News

Citizens Can Now Rate Consular Services Online Across Albania’s Diplomatic Network

Albanian citizens can now rate consular services online as part of a new initiative aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of services. Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha announced the new evaluation system on Wednesday. Starting today, citizens can scan a QR code at any location where …

News

UNDP Approves New Albania Program Focused on Jobs, Economy and Justice

The Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has approved a new Country Programme for Albania for 2027–2031. The five-year programme will support Albania’s development. It will also accelerate reforms and advance the country’s European Union integration process. The programme has three main priorities. First, it will promote …

News

Hoxha: News Agencies Stand on the Front Line Against Disinformation

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha attended the international conference “The Balkans Meet in Trieste” on Wednesday. The Italian news agency ANSA and the Alliance of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) organized the conference. The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Central European Initiative (CEI) also supported the event. …

News

Former Deputy PM Balluku Faces New Corruption Evidence

Tirana Times, September 09, 2026 — Albania’s Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime has uncovered new evidence in its widening investigation of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, increasing pressure on one of the most powerful figures of the governing Socialist Party. SPAK said Wednesday that a special …

News

High Fire Risk in Shkodër, Elbasan and Fier as temperatures reach 33°C

The Institute of GeoSciences (IGJEO) warns of a high fire risk this afternoon and tomorrow in Shkodër, Elbasan and Fier counties. Meanwhile, other parts of the country will face a moderate risk. However, the high-risk level will affect only localised areas in some counties. These include northeastern Lezhë, northeastern Tirana …

News

Territorial reform, OSCE ambassador: No decision should be made without national-level consultation

The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Michel Tarran, said in Pogradec that the territorial reform remains under discussion and that no final decision has been made so far. Asked about the consultation process, Tarran stressed that the OSCE does not impose a specific model for territorial organization. He …

News

Bank of Albania, World Bank step up cooperation on digital payments

Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko met with a World Bank delegation to discuss Albania’s economic performance, EU integration and payment-system modernization. Sejko said the economy continues to perform well, supported by growth, stronger employment and incomes, and financial stability. He also highlighted Albania’s progress toward EU standards. The talks …

News

Lek strengthens against major foreign currencies on domestic market

The lek strengthened against major foreign currencies in the domestic foreign exchange market on Wednesday, compared with the previous day. According to the official exchange rate published by the Bank of Albania, the euro fell by 0.05 lek, to 92.02 lek, while the US dollar dropped by 0.19 lek, to …