Albania’s Capital Rocked by Chaotic Weekend of Street Unrest
Thousands of people joined student-led protests in Tirana at the weekend to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, as clashes with police resulted in more injuries and arrests. Original post Here
Kosovo Wins Two Medals at WAKO Kickboxing World Cup in Uzbekistan
Kosovo kickboxers Nart Kastrati and Art Dulaj won two medals at the WAKO Kickboxing World Cup, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from October 13 to 18. Kastrati claimed silver in the under-81kg category after reaching the final, while Dulaj secured bronze in the under-67kg division. According to the Kosovo Kickboxing Federation, …
Blue Economy Summit in Orikum: Gonxhja Highlights Marine Tourism as a Year-Round Source of Investment and Jobs
Marine tourism and the potential of sailing marinas to boost Albania’s economy took centre stage at the Balkan Blue Economy Summit, held at Marina Orikum as part of the “Balkans Sea Fair.” Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said marine tourism could attract more investment, improve service quality and …
Egnatia Beat Vllaznia 3-1 to Close in on League Leaders
Egnatia beat Vllaznia 3-1 on Sunday to strengthen their title challenge and move within one point of league leaders Teuta. The hosts took control early in Rrogozhina. Alessandro Albanese opened the scoring in the ninth minute, while Danjel Adjessa doubled Egnatia’s lead in the 41st minute to give the home …
European Parliament lawmakers condemn protest violence in Albania, urge dialogue
*]: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:7820d53c-fce0-4375-9777-7d149d39c22e-552″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:7820d53c-fce0-4375-9777-7d149d39c22e-552″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-2″ data-turn=”assistant”> div:has([data-free-thinking-preview-answer=true])+:is(.text-message,.relative:has(>.text-message))]:-mt-2 grow”> Two European Parliament representatives have expressed deep concern over recent developments in Albania, particularly incidents in Tirana over the past few days. They condemned escalating violence during protests, attacks on public institutions and damage to public and private property. …
Kosovo and Greece drive Albanian export growth in September
Kosovo and Greece were among the main contributors to Albania’s export growth in September 2026, while the European Union retained its dominant position in the country’s foreign trade, accounting for 54.6% of total trade. According to foreign trade data, Albanian exports to Kosovo rose by 22.5% in September compared with …
Albanian karate athlete Neevis Hasani wins bronze at world championships
Albanian karate athlete Neevis Hasani has won a bronze medal at the World Karate Championships in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced. Hasani finished third in the junior under-55kg category, securing a place among the competition’s top three athletes. He reached the podium after a series …
Ertjan Kofsha wins European gold in snatch, silver in total
Albanian weightlifter Ertjan Kofsha has won European gold in the snatch event and silver in the overall total, the Albanian Weightlifting Federation announced. In a social media post, the federation praised Kofsha’s performance and described his medals as another important achievement for Albanian weightlifting. The competition took place in Durrës, …
Luiza Gega wins Balkan half-marathon title in Serbia
Albanian distance runner Luiza Gega returned to international athletics competition with a victory on Sunday, October 18, winning the 21km race at the Balkan Championships in Apatin, Serbia. Her two-year absence from international athletics competitions did not affect her form. The athlete, who represents K.S. Tirana, claimed first place in …
Gonxhja: Intangible Cultural Heritage Is a Living Legacy Passed Down Through Generations
On International Intangible Cultural Heritage Day, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja paid tribute to the bearers of Albanian traditions who preserve and pass the country’s cultural heritage from one generation to the next. Gonxhja highlighted the importance of protecting this living heritage, including iso-polyphony, songs accompanied by …
Albania’s prime minister and Tirana’s imprisoned mayor clash over allegations of political pressure and control of the capital, exposing divisions within the ruling Socialist Party amid widespread anti-government protests. TIRANA, Albania – An unprecedented confrontation has erupted between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, turning a …
President Bajram Begaj has promulgated the new law on the administrative and territorial division of local government units, paving the way for the revised map to take effect in the local elections on May 9, 2027. The law, numbered 100/2026, establishes a new structure of 46 municipalities. Voters will elect …
Albania’s National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg” marks 44 years since its inauguration today. The museum stands inside the historic Castle of Krujë, once the centre of the medieval Albanian state. The castle also witnessed three successive defeats of Ottoman armies in the 15th century. Architects designed the museum as a …
Kosova’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Dimal Basha, met with Arnaud Dauphin, the French Development Agency’s director for the Western Balkans, to discuss railway connections between Kosova and Albania. The talks focused on expanding cooperation on railway projects and advancing a three-way partnership between Kosova, Albania and the agency. The …
Albania will make its debut on the internationally acclaimed television show “The Amazing Race”, bringing Tirana’s culture, energy and hospitality to audiences around the world. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced the news in a social media post. He said the production would showcase Albania as a …
Kosova’s Prime Minister and leader of the Self-Determination Movement, Albin Kurti, has denied the movement’s involvement in the protests in Tirana. He said it had never operated anonymously during protests and had always taken an open, leading role. Speaking at the movement’s 64th General Council meeting, Kurti said it now …
The National Cinematography Centre has announced the passing of actor and director Gjergji Mena at the age of 41. The centre paid tribute to the young artist, highlighting his contribution to theatre and screen productions. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja also expressed condolences, describing Mena as a talented …
Renowned Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho serves as an Artist Ambassador for Opera Rara, a London-based opera organisation dedicated to reviving neglected works and bringing rarely performed repertoire to modern audiences. Founded in 1970, Opera Rara specialises in researching, restoring, recording and performing operas that have largely disappeared from the mainstream …
Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha says Albania aims to complete the technical phase of European Union accession negotiations by December 2027. The goal is to advance to the political phase and join the bloc within this decade. Presenting the 2027 budget priorities to the parliamentary Committee on Europe and Foreign Affairs, …
Finance Minister Petrit Malaj says the 2027 draft budget provides for public spending exceeding €10 billion for the first time. The plan prioritises social welfare, fiscal stability, public investment and reforms linked to European Union integration. Revenue is projected at ALL 907.9 billion, or around €9.4 billion. The budget deficit …