Excavations Begin in Zubin Potok Over Suspected Mass Grave of Albanian Victims
Just hours after the arrest of two Serbian suspects, Kosovo Police special units and teams from the Institute of Forensic Medicine were deployed to the municipality of Zubin Potok in northern Kosovo. Excavations were carried out in the village of Kalludër e Vogël following suspicions that the site may contain …
Court Dismisses All Witness Intimidation Charges Against Sami Lushtaku
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:bf07789e-c33b-4efe-873c-9eadd6ea0ed5-6″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:bf07789e-c33b-4efe-873c-9eadd6ea0ed5-6″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-14″ data-turn=”assistant”> The Basic Court in Pristina has acquitted Skenderaj Mayor Sami Lushtaku of all charges related to witness intimidation. Lushtaku, a senior figure in Kosovo’s Democratic Party (PDK), had been indicted in the “Drenica 1” case alongside seven other defendants. Presiding Judge …
Kosova acting FM urges The Hague court to deliver a fair decision
TIRANA, July 28 – Kosova’s acting Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca called on the Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague to deliver a judicial decision, not a political one, regarding the upcoming ruling on former Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) leaders. The court is scheduled to issue its decision on September 16. …
Selenicë Folklore Group Brings Albanian Polyphony to Kosovo
Albania’s Selenicë Municipal Folklore Group represented the country at the 8th Balkan Festival “Opoja Vallëzon” in Bresanë, Kosovo, during the weekend. The group from Labëria, Vlora, performed on the festival’s opening night and introduced southern Albanian polyphonic singing to the event for the first time. This traditional art form, recognised …
Shkodër doubles disability benefit for 432 children
TIRANA, July 28 – Around 432 children with disabilities aged 0–18 in Shkodër have started receiving a doubled monthly benefit. The measure covers all disability categories, including beneficiaries under the bio-psycho-social assessment scheme, blind persons, and people with paraplegic or tetraplegic status. Alma Mehmetaj, Director of the Social Service in …
Finance minister Malaj: United States loan ensures prudent public finance management
TIRANA, July 28 – Parliament ratified the loan agreement with the United States under the Foreign Military Financing program. The agreement opens the way for a $302 million investment to modernize Albania’s Armed Forces. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said the agreement marks an important step for national security. He added …
Electoral reform panel discusses measures on administrative resource use
TIRANA, July 28 – The Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform held a technical roundtable on preventing and addressing the use of administrative resources during election campaigns. Committee Chair Damian Gjiknuri said the panel aims to prepare a legislative package before the end of the year. He noted that lawmakers …
15th–16th Century Fountain Discovered in Rromës Village
Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an old fountain with historical value in Rromës village, Selenicë Municipality. Workers found the structure during the construction of a water storage facility. Local residents informed authorities about the discovery, and specialists from the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Vlora inspected and documented …
112 years since the outbreak of World War I
TIRANA, July 28 – World War I began on July 28, 1914. The conflict started after the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand network. The assassination ended the era of European empires and opened a bloody chapter in history. …
Albania and Moldova strengthen cooperation on customs modernization
TIRANA, July 28 – Albania and Moldova are strengthening cooperation to modernize customs systems, align procedures with European Union standards, and facilitate trade. General Director of Customs Besmir Beja met with General Director of Moldova’s Customs Service Radu Vrabie during the first high-level Albania–Moldova meeting. The meeting received support from …
TIRANA, August 18 – Italian tourists continue to arrive at the Port of Vlora in large numbers in late August. Many others are returning home after spending their holidays on Albania’s beaches and in its cities. Albanians living abroad are also arriving for their holidays. As a result, Vlora continues …
Albania continues to attract foreign tourists. Visitors particularly praise its hospitality, cuisine and coastline. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu shared today the views of several foreign tourists who chose Vlora for their holidays. “For the first time in Vlora, and certainly not the last, new friends of Albania are coming …
Berat’s rich historical and cultural heritage continues to attract more visitors. The city of a thousand windows remains one of Albania’s leading cultural tourism destinations. Data from the first seven months of 2026 show growing interest in the “Onufri” Iconographic Museum and the Ethnographic Museum. Miklor Pasku, director of the …
TIRANA, August 18 – Large wildfires have affected Albania and several other European countries. The fires have claimed lives and damaged homes, ecosystems, farmland, infrastructure, cultural heritage and local economies. The European Union Delegation in Tirana said Europe remains united in response to the fires. It stressed that no country …
Gjirokastër continues to inspire young generations with its distinctive houses, architecture and rich cultural heritage. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi Gonxhja shared a video featuring young artist Ajden Nora. He highlighted how young people are keeping Albania’s cultural heritage alive through music and art. “When tradition finds the …
TIRANA, August 18 – Tourist numbers in Shkodër region have risen significantly this summer. The increase has created new challenges for local institutions. Authorities are focusing on visitor safety and service quality. For the Regional Administration of Protected Areas in Shkodër, visitor safety remains a key concern. The focus has …
TIRANA, August 18 – Authorities continue to monitor a wildfire in the Fushë-Laja area of Puka Municipality, in the forests of Mount Tërbun. The Puka Fire Protection and Rescue Service and forestry service have worked at the site for several days. Local service employees, residents, volunteers and personnel from the …
TIRANA, August 18 – Albania registered 6,396 all-electric vehicles for the first time between January and July 2026. The figure represents a 126% increase from the same period last year, according to the General Directorate of Road Transport Services. All-electric vehicles accounted for 40.5% of all newly registered zero-mileage vehicles …
TIRANA, August 18 – Young farmers have submitted 414 applications for investments under the 2026 National Support Scheme, according to the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development. Livestock and agricultural mechanization account for the main investment priorities. Of the total, 223 applications seek funding to purchase animals. Another 164 applications …
TIRANA, August 18 – Albania’s economy grew by 3.71% in the first quarter of 2026. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said the figure places Albania among the fastest-growing economies in the region. He also said the country is narrowing the gap with European economies. According to Malaj, Albania and Kosova recorded …