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Education Minister Kumbaro: New free textbooks for primary school students

TIRANA, September 3 – Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro announced the start of textbook distribution for the new school year. For the first time, all primary school students from first to fifth grade will receive new textbooks free of charge. Kumbaro said the measure would ease the financial burden on families. …

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At the Plane Tree, at the Hunters’ Club…

Gjirokastër has places that history preserves. People also keep them alive through memory. Near the famous plane tree in the city’s Bazaar, the Hunters’ Club became a well-known part of local life after 1947. The building had once housed the Prefecture café. Later, the hunters’ association moved its offices there. …

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“Daily Express”: British travel expert chooses Albania for an autumn getaway: “Absolutely wonderful”

Albania is quickly emerging as a top destination for autumn holidays. The country offers beaches, history, hospitality and affordable prices. British travel expert Simon Calder has highlighted Albania for its natural beauty, reasonable prices and the warm hospitality of its people. He described the country as “absolutely wonderful.” Calder selected …

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PM Rama: Public administration faces performance challenges but performed strongly in EU negotiations

TIRANA, September 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s latest public administration survey had identified challenges in employee performance. He highlighted the lack of measures for poor performance as an important issue, alongside salaries. At the same time, Rama praised the administration’s work during Albania’s European Union accession negotiations. …

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National Theatre closes season with 95 performances and more than ALL 10 million in revenue

TIRANA, September 3 – The National Theatre closed its 2025-2026 artistic season with 95 performances, more than 20,000 tickets sold and revenues exceeding ALL 10 million, according to Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja. The season ran from September 2025 to May 2026 and featured a diverse repertoire of …

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Klodiana Spahiu proposed as Minister of Health and Social Welfare

TIRANA, September 3 – The Agency for Media and Information announced Klodiana Spahiu’s proposed appointment as Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Spahiu graduated from the University of Tirana’s Faculty of Medicine in 1997 with a degree in General Medicine. From 1998 to 2002, she specialised in cardiology at the …

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President Begaj welcomes new Swiss ambassador, calls for increased investment

TIRANA, September 3 – President Bajram Begaj received Switzerland’s new ambassador to Albania, Siri Walt, who presented her credentials. Begaj expressed confidence that her mandate would further strengthen bilateral relations. The meeting covered cooperation in governance, economic development, education, healthcare, local government and environmental protection. Begaj thanked Switzerland for its …

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EU ambassador in Albania Moreira de Sousa meets EU ambassadors

TIRANA, September 3 – EU ambassador in Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa held her first meeting with ambassadors of EU member states in Albania under the joint “Team Europe” approach. The EU Delegation said Moreira de Sousa presented her vision for supporting Albania’s reforms during the crucial stage of accession …

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PM Rama: Digital radar to monitor issues of public interest and online misinformation

TIRANA, September 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government is developing a “digital radar” as part of a new digital system to identify trends and signals in the public-interest sphere. Speaking to the Socialist Party parliamentary group and the government cabinet, Rama said the radar would monitor developments …

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Health Minister Resigns Amid New Controversy

Tirana Times, September 02, 2026 — The resignation of Health and Social Welfare Minister Evis Sala after less than a year in office has opened a new political controversy, with the opposition alleging that her departure followed a dispute over government plans to restructure the health sector. Sala announced Wednesday …

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Week in Review: Campaigns, Crackdowns and Clan Wars

With elections approaching in Bosnia and Serbia, rhetoric is heating up, while in Turkey and Albania, campaigners are feeling the pressure, as our round-up of Balkan Insight Premium stories shows. Original post Here

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US Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell questions Hague court role in Kosova

U.S. Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Richard Grenell has criticized the Hague court following its decision to sentence four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders to a combined 81 years in prison. Grenell described the decision as politically motivated. In an interview with Albanian television channel Top Channel, Grenell said Kosova …

News
National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble Opens Artistic Season with Tour in Italy

The National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble is ready to begin its new artistic season with a calendar of activities that will open with a tour of several Italian cities. Artistic Director Sokol Marsi said the ensemble has just returned from Kosovo, where it took part in a nationwide festival …

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Albanian icon heritage discussed at the Louvre Museum

A conference on cultural and scientific cooperation between Albania and France took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The event focused on Albania’s artistic heritage and the study of its medieval and post-medieval icons. The exhibition “Icons of Albania, Treasures of the National Museum of Medieval Art of Korça,” …

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Marubi exhibition showcases a decade of children’s creativity

The exhibition “Marubi: Education Studio,” curated by Tereza Çuni and Jozefina Vokrri, presents a decade of creativity, experimentation and arts education at the National Museum of Photography. The exhibition at the Marubi Museum features a selection of work developed over 10 years at the museum’s Education Studio. The display brings …

News
United States Embassy in Kosova urged citizens to avoid Skanderbeg Square over traffic disruptions

The United States Embassy in Kosova urged citizens to avoid Skanderbeg Square in Prishtina and surrounding areas on Friday, September 18. Several organizations had announced protests there at noon. The embassy warned United States citizens about large crowds, road closures and severe traffic disruptions. It advised them to avoid the …

News
Justice Minister Gogu: Criminal Procedure Code review follows Council of Europe recommendations

Justice Minister Toni Gogu said the review of Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code follows Council of Europe recommendations on pre-trial detention. He said the work aims to strengthen safeguards for personal liberty. It also seeks to make alternatives to detention more effective. Gogu spoke at a Justice Ministry roundtable on security …

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Eurostat: Commercial flights in Albania rise 22 percent in August

Commercial flights in Albania increased by 22% in August 2026 from the same month last year, according to Eurostat data. The increase ranked among the highest in Europe. Albania also recorded a much higher increase than the European Union average of 2.3%. In the region, Montenegro followed Albania with a …

News
PM Rama calls for talks on magistrates’ salaries and long-term solution

Prime Minister Edi Rama called for institutional dialogue over the law on magistrates’ salaries. He urged judicial representatives to join a joint working meeting and seek a long-term solution. Rama said the meeting should include the heads of the two justice system councils and leaders of judicial institutions. He said …

News
Thousands protest in Prishtina against sentences for former Kosova Liberation Army leaders

Thousands of people gathered in central Prishtina on Friday to protest the prison sentences handed to four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The court found Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi guilty of four war crimes on September 16. …

News

Week in Review: Campaigns, Crackdowns and Clan Wars

With elections approaching in Bosnia and Serbia, rhetoric is heating up, while in Turkey and Albania, campaigners are feeling the pressure, as our round-up of Balkan Insight Premium stories shows. Original post Here

News

US Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell questions Hague court role in Kosova

U.S. Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Richard Grenell has criticized the Hague court following its decision to sentence four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders to a combined 81 years in prison. Grenell described the decision as politically motivated. In an interview with Albanian television channel Top Channel, Grenell said Kosova …

News

National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble Opens Artistic Season with Tour in Italy

The National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble is ready to begin its new artistic season with a calendar of activities that will open with a tour of several Italian cities. Artistic Director Sokol Marsi said the ensemble has just returned from Kosovo, where it took part in a nationwide festival …

News

Albanian icon heritage discussed at the Louvre Museum

A conference on cultural and scientific cooperation between Albania and France took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The event focused on Albania’s artistic heritage and the study of its medieval and post-medieval icons. The exhibition “Icons of Albania, Treasures of the National Museum of Medieval Art of Korça,” …

News

Marubi exhibition showcases a decade of children’s creativity

The exhibition “Marubi: Education Studio,” curated by Tereza Çuni and Jozefina Vokrri, presents a decade of creativity, experimentation and arts education at the National Museum of Photography. The exhibition at the Marubi Museum features a selection of work developed over 10 years at the museum’s Education Studio. The display brings …

News

United States Embassy in Kosova urged citizens to avoid Skanderbeg Square over traffic disruptions

The United States Embassy in Kosova urged citizens to avoid Skanderbeg Square in Prishtina and surrounding areas on Friday, September 18. Several organizations had announced protests there at noon. The embassy warned United States citizens about large crowds, road closures and severe traffic disruptions. It advised them to avoid the …

News

Justice Minister Gogu: Criminal Procedure Code review follows Council of Europe recommendations

Justice Minister Toni Gogu said the review of Albania’s Criminal Procedure Code follows Council of Europe recommendations on pre-trial detention. He said the work aims to strengthen safeguards for personal liberty. It also seeks to make alternatives to detention more effective. Gogu spoke at a Justice Ministry roundtable on security …

News

Eurostat: Commercial flights in Albania rise 22 percent in August

Commercial flights in Albania increased by 22% in August 2026 from the same month last year, according to Eurostat data. The increase ranked among the highest in Europe. Albania also recorded a much higher increase than the European Union average of 2.3%. In the region, Montenegro followed Albania with a …

News

PM Rama calls for talks on magistrates’ salaries and long-term solution

Prime Minister Edi Rama called for institutional dialogue over the law on magistrates’ salaries. He urged judicial representatives to join a joint working meeting and seek a long-term solution. Rama said the meeting should include the heads of the two justice system councils and leaders of judicial institutions. He said …

News

Thousands protest in Prishtina against sentences for former Kosova Liberation Army leaders

Thousands of people gathered in central Prishtina on Friday to protest the prison sentences handed to four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The court found Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi guilty of four war crimes on September 16. …