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Saranda municipality upgrades road infrastructure ahead of 2026 tourist season

TIRANA, April 8 – Saranda municipality has started work to address issues identified during the previous tourist season. A dedicated task force is now monitoring conditions on the ground. At the same time, officials have included all key concerns in the 2026 budget. As a result, current investments focus on …

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New farm support scheme takes effect in Albania, expanding beneficiaries and subsidies

TIRANA, April 8 – Albania has put its 2026 agricultural support scheme into force. Authorities will publish detailed guidelines soon. These will set criteria and open applications for farmers. The programme is backed by a €52m fund. It introduces key changes to widen access and increase support in priority sectors. …

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35 million euros allocated to modernize electricity network and substations in Shëngjin, Shkodër and Fushë-Kruja

TIRANA, April 8 – Albania secured a 35 million euro soft loan to upgrade its electricity network in the north. The Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration approved the funding agreement today with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Edona Bilali, said the …

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“Albania United and Indivisible”: Tirana hosts IV Diaspora Summit from 13–16 April

TIRANA, April 8 – Tirana will host the IV Diaspora Summit from 14 to 16 April. The event gathers Albanians from around the world who live and work abroad while keeping strong ties to their roots. The summit opens on Monday evening, 13 April, at 18:00 with a welcome ceremony …

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Transparency Board cuts diesel price by 4 Lek per litre, gasoline unchanged

TIRANA, April 8 – The Transparency Board set new fuel prices today following fluctuations on the Mediterranean Platts market. Retail diesel standard SSH EN 590 dropped by 4 Lek per litre, from 224 Lek to 220 Lek. Wholesale diesel will not exceed 208 Lek per litre. Gasoline prices remain unchanged. …

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Albania’s Ombudsman in Skopje: Guaranteeing the Albanian language is a constitutional right

TIRANA, April 8 – The ombudsman of the Republic of Albania, Endrit Shabani, met in Skopje with his counterpart from North Macedonia, Faton Selami. Kosovo ombudsman Naim Qelaj also attended. They discussed Albanian student protests and the guarantee of using Albanian in higher education. Shabani, also president of the Mediterranean …

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Transparency Board Announces New Fuel Prices, Diesel Price Decreases

The Transparency Board announced on Wednesday a reduction in the price of diesel and its by-products. According to the decision, the retail price of gasoil (diesel) under the SSH EN 590 standard will be no more than 220 lek per liter, while the wholesale price will be no more than …

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Strengthened Alliance Between the State Police and Europol to Crack Down on High-Risk Criminal Groups

The newly appointed Director General of the State Police, Skënder Hita, held his first meeting with international partners, specifically a delegation from the European Serious and Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC) at Europol. According to a press release, the delegation was led by Andy Kraag, Head of the Centre for Combating …

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US–Iran Ceasefire: Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Reacts

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania has expressed its position regarding the recent agreement on a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a positive step toward reducing tensions. In an official statement, Albanian diplomacy emphasized that it has consistently supported efforts aimed …

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PM Kurti Unveils 2030 Plans: New Judo Hall to Host Combat Sports at the Mediterranean Games

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has emphasized the importance of investing in sports infrastructure, directly linking the development of judo with preparations for the Mediterranean Games 2030, which will be held in Kosovo. In a statement made during the launch of works for the expansion of the National …

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Instagram Takedowns and AI Deepfakes Target Albania’s ‘Flamingo’ Protesters

Far from isolated incidents, experts say the targeting of social media accounts linked to anti-government protesters in Albania is part of a ‘coordinated pattern’ of censorship. Original post Here

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Foreign trade: €223 million in exports in August, imports also increase

Exports continued to remain in positive territory in August 2026, but at a significantly slower pace than in previous months. The latest data from INSTAT show that sales of Albanian goods abroad reached ALL 20.5 billion, an increase of 1.6% compared with August last year. Albania’s foreign trade saw an …

News
110th protest in Tirana, demonstrators march towards the Prime Minister’s Office

Protesters gathered this Thursday in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana and began marching towards the Prime Minister’s Office as part of the latest protest against the government. This marks the 110th protest held so far, with demonstrators opposing the government and its policies. Organizers have announced that the protests will continue …

News
High prices reduce consumption, citizens say: Pensions go towards medicines and food

High prices for basic goods are reducing consumer spending. Although these are essential food items, citizens say they are buying less and are even avoiding fruits or vegetables that are too expensive. “They are very expensive. We can’t afford them. There is high unemployment, and we are barely managing. How …

News
It’s not just the verdict that is unjust

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – The Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ has convicted former President Hashim Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army leaders of war crimes but acquitted them of crimes against humanity. The sentence for Thaci is 25 years. This is happening while Aleksandar Vucic is resigning from …

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How a Sanctioned Russian Oligarch’s Business Interests Reached Albanian Public Contracts

Millions of euros flowed to companies linked to Strabag while Oleg Deripaska remained a major shareholder, exposing gaps in Albania’s ability to identify who ultimately benefits from public money Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – For years, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s economic interests in Albania were largely invisible. They did …

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Taulant Xhaka Backs Former KLA Leaders: Always With You

The Hague verdict against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders has drawn reactions from the sports world. Former Albania national team footballer Taulant Xhaka has publicly expressed his support for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Xhaka posted a poster on Instagram featuring the four former KLA …

News
Endrit Thaçi Backs OVL-KLA Protest

Endrit Thaçi, son of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, has voiced support for a protest organized by the War Veterans’ Organization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVL-KLA). He shared the organization’s call for a “Protest in Defense of the KLA.” Meanwhile, the protest will take place on Friday at 12:00 …

News
Albanian public broadcaster begins transformation process with European Broadcasting Union support

RTSH has officially begun implementing its 2026–2030 transformation and restructuring process. The Task Force established to lead and coordinate the process held its first meeting today. The European Broadcasting Union organized the meeting as a workshop focused on RTSH’s Transformation Strategy and its implementation. Radka Betcheva, the European Broadcasting Union’s …

News
Judge Smith Launches Procedures for Victim Reparations Following KLA Leaders’ Convictions

Charles L. Smith, the presiding judge of the Trial Panel, has issued a decision launching procedures for reparations to victims in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli. The Trial Panel issued the decision on September 16 and published it today. It decided to initiate …

News

Instagram Takedowns and AI Deepfakes Target Albania’s ‘Flamingo’ Protesters

Far from isolated incidents, experts say the targeting of social media accounts linked to anti-government protesters in Albania is part of a ‘coordinated pattern’ of censorship. Original post Here

News

Foreign trade: €223 million in exports in August, imports also increase

Exports continued to remain in positive territory in August 2026, but at a significantly slower pace than in previous months. The latest data from INSTAT show that sales of Albanian goods abroad reached ALL 20.5 billion, an increase of 1.6% compared with August last year. Albania’s foreign trade saw an …

News

110th protest in Tirana, demonstrators march towards the Prime Minister’s Office

Protesters gathered this Thursday in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana and began marching towards the Prime Minister’s Office as part of the latest protest against the government. This marks the 110th protest held so far, with demonstrators opposing the government and its policies. Organizers have announced that the protests will continue …

News

High prices reduce consumption, citizens say: Pensions go towards medicines and food

High prices for basic goods are reducing consumer spending. Although these are essential food items, citizens say they are buying less and are even avoiding fruits or vegetables that are too expensive. “They are very expensive. We can’t afford them. There is high unemployment, and we are barely managing. How …

News

It’s not just the verdict that is unjust

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – The Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ has convicted former President Hashim Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army leaders of war crimes but acquitted them of crimes against humanity. The sentence for Thaci is 25 years. This is happening while Aleksandar Vucic is resigning from …

News

How a Sanctioned Russian Oligarch’s Business Interests Reached Albanian Public Contracts

Millions of euros flowed to companies linked to Strabag while Oleg Deripaska remained a major shareholder, exposing gaps in Albania’s ability to identify who ultimately benefits from public money Tirana Times, September 17, 2026 – For years, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska’s economic interests in Albania were largely invisible. They did …

News

Taulant Xhaka Backs Former KLA Leaders: Always With You

The Hague verdict against former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders has drawn reactions from the sports world. Former Albania national team footballer Taulant Xhaka has publicly expressed his support for Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Xhaka posted a poster on Instagram featuring the four former KLA …

News

Endrit Thaçi Backs OVL-KLA Protest

Endrit Thaçi, son of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, has voiced support for a protest organized by the War Veterans’ Organization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (OVL-KLA). He shared the organization’s call for a “Protest in Defense of the KLA.” Meanwhile, the protest will take place on Friday at 12:00 …

News

Albanian public broadcaster begins transformation process with European Broadcasting Union support

RTSH has officially begun implementing its 2026–2030 transformation and restructuring process. The Task Force established to lead and coordinate the process held its first meeting today. The European Broadcasting Union organized the meeting as a workshop focused on RTSH’s Transformation Strategy and its implementation. Radka Betcheva, the European Broadcasting Union’s …

News

Judge Smith Launches Procedures for Victim Reparations Following KLA Leaders’ Convictions

Charles L. Smith, the presiding judge of the Trial Panel, has issued a decision launching procedures for reparations to victims in the case against Hashim Thaçi, Jakup Krasniqi, Rexhep Selimi and Kadri Veseli. The Trial Panel issued the decision on September 16 and published it today. It decided to initiate …