Albania-Kazakhstan ties: Air links, investment and regional cooperation in focus
TIRANA, August 19 – Opportunities to strengthen relations between Albania and Kazakhstan were discussed at a meeting at the Kazakh Embassy in Tirana. The talks focused on air links, economic and investment cooperation, tourism and contacts between regions. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Albania, Iskander Aisariyev, met Albanian media representatives, experts, a …
Shkodër wildfires: Situation under control on Mount Tërbun, firefighting continues in Gjegjan-Gojan
TIRANA, August 19 – Wildfires remain active in the forests of Mount Tërbuni and the Gjegjan-Gojan area in Puka Municipality, Shkodër County. The county authorities said the situation on Mount Tërbuni is under control. However, firefighters continue to battle the flames in Gjegjan-Gojan, where high temperatures and strong winds have …
Heavy traffic in Lezha during tourist season: Traffic police chief urges use of alternative routes
TIRANA, August 19 – The high number of tourists visiting Lezhë and surrounding areas has increased traffic on local roads. As a result, the Road Police has increased its presence to manage traffic and prevent long queues at the most congested points. Officers are monitoring traffic continuously and intervening where …
Draft bill on Chamber of Commerce: Businesses to become automatic members, with fees up to ALL 70,000
TIRANA, August 19 – A draft bill on the Chamber of Commerce proposes replacing the current Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a new National Economic Chamber. The Ministry of Economy and Innovation has opened the draft for public consultation. The proposal aims to establish a new model for business …
AKSHI: Diella follows security standards and does not expose internal server addresses
The National Agency of Information Society (AKSHI) has responded to recent claims about Diella, the artificial intelligence system operating on Albania’s e-Albania portal. AKSHI said the webpage users see is only the system’s interface. It is not the system itself. When citizens ask Diella for a document, the request is …
Clear skies and variable cloud cover, temperatures up to 35 degrees Celsius
TIRANA, August 19 – Albania will experience relatively stable atmospheric conditions on Wednesday. The Military Meteorological Service forecasts mainly clear skies with periods of moderate and locally dense cloud cover over hilly and mountainous areas. Clouds will remain present until the afternoon. Later, they will gradually clear and mostly sunny …
Quartz: Tirana among Europe’s most affordable destinations for 2026
TIRANA, August 19 – International business and economics publication Quartz has highlighted Tirana as one of Europe’s most affordable capitals to visit in 2026. The article estimates the cost of a full day in the city at around 60 euros, about one quarter of the cost of a comparable day …
Visitors Enjoy Canoeing in the Blue Waters of the Ionian Sea
The crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea continue to attract visitors seeking more than a traditional beach holiday. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared social media footage showing tourists enjoying the coast and canoeing in the Ionian waters. The footage shows visitors exploring the sea by canoe. The blue waters and …
Lin village attracts visitors with heritage and Lake Ohrid scenery
TIRANA, August 19 – Lin, a picturesque village on the shores of Lake Ohrid, continues to attract thousands of local and foreign visitors throughout the year. Located around 22 kilometres from Pogradec, the village combines natural scenery with local heritage and traditions. Perched on a hillside, Lin features traditional houses, …
European Commission calls for coordination over opening of Ibër Bridge in Kosova
TIRANA, August 19 – The European Commission expects effective coordination over the opening of the main bridge on the Ibër River. It also calls for meaningful consultations between the affected municipalities and Kosova’s central institutions. The bridge connects South Mitrovica, where Albanians form the majority, with North Mitrovica, where Serbs …
by Edward P. Joseph Tirana Times, August 21, 2026 – At the NATO Summit in Ankara last month, I had the high honor of meeting President Zelensky. Had I known he was heading soon to Belgrade, I would have shared critical advice with his advisors. Besieged by an aggressor like …
As the EU awaits final approval for plans to set up ‘return hubs’ in third countries for migrants awaiting deportation, it’s predicted that Balkan countries could end up hosting such holding centres despite concerns about human rights violations. Original post Here
BIRN dissects the accusations against 12 individuals standing trial for allegedly siphoning millions of euros in public money supposed to be spent on solving Tirana’s long-standing garbage problem. Original post Here
Albanian champions Egnatia drew 0–0 with Norway’s Lillestrøm in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off. Egnatia played the match at Arena Egnatia. The Rrogozhina side defended well and created several chances. Gruda came closest to scoring in the second half. His header hit the crossbar. Egnatia missed …
Albanian actress Rezana Çeliku has died, leaving behind family, friends, colleagues and admirers who remember her with deep affection. Her relatives announced the sad news. They described Çeliku as a warm, kind and exceptional person. Although she did not appear in many film productions, she made a lasting impression in …
Albania will take part in the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026” as the country prepares to co-host the Prishtina-Durrës 2030 edition. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said Albania will use the event to gain valuable experience from Italy. “Albania is going to Taranto not only to compete, but also …
Korçë Mayor Sotiraq Filo met with Greek Ambassador to Albania Lambrini Komini to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Korçë and Greece. The two sides focused on tourism, the economy, culture, education and environmental cooperation. Filo said the meeting aimed to turn the close historical, cultural and people-to-people ties between …
Tirana International Airport (TIA) has reached the final stage of the 2026 Airport Honour Awards. The airport is one of six international finalists selected by International Airport Review. TIA will compete against airports in New York, Munich, Vienna, Pittsburgh and Buenos Aires. The selection recognizes TIA’s growth, investment, innovation and …
The U.S. Department of State is cancelling the visas of foreign nationals who commit crimes, encourage violence against Americans or threaten U.S. national security, the U.S. Embassy in Albania said on Thursday. The embassy said the policy follows the Trump administration’s approach of taking action against foreign nationals who pose …
The Academy of Sciences of Albania has commemorated academician Bahri Beci on the anniversary of his death. Beci died on August 20, 2023. Born in Shkodër in 1936, he began his scientific career in 1958 at the Institute of Linguistics and Literature. Soon after, he became involved in major research …