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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 …

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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. …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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, …

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US Embassy Warns: Iran-Linked Groups Could Target Opposition in Albania

The US Embassy in Albania has warned that groups linked to Iran may target Americans or members of the Iranian opposition living in Albania. These groups could also strike public areas, including tourist sites, shopping centers, hotels, clubs, and restaurants, the embassy said in a social media statement. The embassy …

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The Re-emergence of Terrorism and the Threat to the Global Economy

by Albert Rakipi, PhD Tirana Times, September 11, 2026 – The increasingly visible re-emergence of international terrorism against the backdrop of the major conflict unfolding in the Middle East is a new development, but hardly an unexpected one. The experience of the past three decades has shown that terrorism finds its …

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Government reshuffle, Interior Minister Lamallari leaves, Ervin Demo takes over

Prime Minister Edi Rama has officially announced a change in of Albania’s Interior Ministry, with Besfort Lamallari leaving the post and Ervin Demo taking over as minister. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Rama said the move was part of a reshuffle within the government team. Lamallari will …

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Ervin Demo, who is Albania’s new Interior Minister?

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced changes to his government, with Ervin Demo taking over as Interior Minister as of Friday. Demo had served as Minister of State for Local Government since September 2025. As part of the latest government changes, the Ministry of State for Local Government will be …

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Administrative Court unblocks magistrates’ salaries, Rama: If only it had the same standard for citizens’ problems…

Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted after the Administrative Court issued a decision unblocking salaries for the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) and the Durrës Court. In a post on X, Rama criticized the speed with which, according to him, the court acted on the issue of judges’ …

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Week in Review: Tests and Pressures

Historical narratives, political systems, institutions and economies across the region are being put to the test as old problems collide with new pressures, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Ervin Demo to take over Interior Ministry as Lamallari moves to Prime Minister’s Office

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a change at the helm of the Interior Ministry. Besfort Lamallari will leave the post and move to the Prime Minister’s Office, while Ervin Demo will take over the ministry. Rama announced the move while presenting changes to the government. He said Lamallari would …

News
Ministry of Defense: 40 wildfires reported across Albania, six remain active

The Ministry of Defense reported 40 wildfires across Albania in the past 24 hours. Six remain active, nine are under monitoring and 25 have been fully extinguished. A total of 492 local personnel and 36 firefighting vehicles are supporting operations. The Armed Forces have deployed 133 personnel, one helicopter, two …

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Klodiana Spahiu sworn in as new health minister

Klodiana Spahiu has been sworn in as Minister of Health and Social Welfare at the Presidency. President Bajram Begaj appointed her following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s proposal, after Evis Sala resigned from the post. Spahiu is a cardiologist and holds a medical degree from the University of Tirana. She later …

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Ibrahim Kodra exhibition “The Sea and Music” to open in Tirana on September 23

An exhibition dedicated to one of Albania’s leading 20th-century artists, Ibrahim Kodra, will open in Tirana on September 23. “Ibrahim Kodra – The Sea and Music” will be held at the Bank of Albania and will remain open until November 23. The exhibition features 41 works created between 1947 and …

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Gonxhja: National Campaign to Register Artisans Begins

Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the launch of a national campaign to register artisans across Albania. The campaign aims to identify, assess and promote traditional crafts and the people who preserve them. Gonxhja said the campaign would give greater visibility to artisans and their work. It will …

News

The Re-emergence of Terrorism and the Threat to the Global Economy

by Albert Rakipi, PhD Tirana Times, September 11, 2026 – The increasingly visible re-emergence of international terrorism against the backdrop of the major conflict unfolding in the Middle East is a new development, but hardly an unexpected one. The experience of the past three decades has shown that terrorism finds its …

News

Government reshuffle, Interior Minister Lamallari leaves, Ervin Demo takes over

Prime Minister Edi Rama has officially announced a change in of Albania’s Interior Ministry, with Besfort Lamallari leaving the post and Ervin Demo taking over as minister. During a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, Rama said the move was part of a reshuffle within the government team. Lamallari will …

News

Ervin Demo, who is Albania’s new Interior Minister?

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced changes to his government, with Ervin Demo taking over as Interior Minister as of Friday. Demo had served as Minister of State for Local Government since September 2025. As part of the latest government changes, the Ministry of State for Local Government will be …

News

Administrative Court unblocks magistrates’ salaries, Rama: If only it had the same standard for citizens’ problems…

Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted after the Administrative Court issued a decision unblocking salaries for the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) and the Durrës Court. In a post on X, Rama criticized the speed with which, according to him, the court acted on the issue of judges’ …

News

Week in Review: Tests and Pressures

Historical narratives, political systems, institutions and economies across the region are being put to the test as old problems collide with new pressures, our selection of Balkan Insight’s Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Ervin Demo to take over Interior Ministry as Lamallari moves to Prime Minister’s Office

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a change at the helm of the Interior Ministry. Besfort Lamallari will leave the post and move to the Prime Minister’s Office, while Ervin Demo will take over the ministry. Rama announced the move while presenting changes to the government. He said Lamallari would …

News

Ministry of Defense: 40 wildfires reported across Albania, six remain active

The Ministry of Defense reported 40 wildfires across Albania in the past 24 hours. Six remain active, nine are under monitoring and 25 have been fully extinguished. A total of 492 local personnel and 36 firefighting vehicles are supporting operations. The Armed Forces have deployed 133 personnel, one helicopter, two …

News

Klodiana Spahiu sworn in as new health minister

Klodiana Spahiu has been sworn in as Minister of Health and Social Welfare at the Presidency. President Bajram Begaj appointed her following Prime Minister Edi Rama’s proposal, after Evis Sala resigned from the post. Spahiu is a cardiologist and holds a medical degree from the University of Tirana. She later …

News

Ibrahim Kodra exhibition “The Sea and Music” to open in Tirana on September 23

An exhibition dedicated to one of Albania’s leading 20th-century artists, Ibrahim Kodra, will open in Tirana on September 23. “Ibrahim Kodra – The Sea and Music” will be held at the Bank of Albania and will remain open until November 23. The exhibition features 41 works created between 1947 and …

News

Gonxhja: National Campaign to Register Artisans Begins

Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the launch of a national campaign to register artisans across Albania. The campaign aims to identify, assess and promote traditional crafts and the people who preserve them. Gonxhja said the campaign would give greater visibility to artisans and their work. It will …