National Maritime Museum to highlight Shkodër’s historic link with the lake
TIRANA, August 21 – The National Maritime Museum is taking shape at the entrance to Shkodër. The museum will tell the story of the city’s historic links with the lake, rivers and navigation. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the construction work on social media as the project adds …
NATO: Any decision on reopening Ibër bridge must address all communities
TIRANA, August 21 – NATO says any decision to reopen the main bridge over the Ibër River to vehicle traffic must address the needs of all local communities. A NATO official told Radio Free Europe that KFOR continues to provide security support for European Union diplomatic efforts. The official said …
Albanian anthem omitted in Pustec, PM Rama: ‘Parody’, minorities are a national asset, we will not respond in kind
TIRANA, August 21 – Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the cultural event held in Pustec on August 20. Organisers played the North Macedonian national anthem but omitted the Albanian national anthem. In a post on X, Rama described the incident as a “meaningful parody”. He said Pustec Mayor …
Albania’s Diverse Fruit Production: From Korçë Apples to Berat Figs
Albania has a diverse fruit production map, with different regions specializing in different crops. Korçë remains one of the country’s leading apple-producing areas. The municipality produced around 17,700 tonnes of apples in 2025. Maliq followed with about 17,200 tonnes, while Devoll produced nearly 13,000 tonnes. Elbasan leads the country in …
Gjirokastër Castle Welcomes 161,000 Visitors in Seven Months, Up 13%
Gjirokastër Castle continues to attract growing numbers of visitors. Between January and July 2026, the historic site welcomed 161,274 visitors, marking a 13% increase from the same period last year. Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced the figures. He said the castle continues to attract visitors because of …
Albanian Olympic Committee delegation attends election of new Mediterranean Games chief
TIRANA, August 21 – Albanian Olympic Committee President Fidel Ylli and Secretary General Gerti Shima took part in the election of Francesco Purromuto as the new president of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games. The election took place in Taranto ahead of the opening of the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games. …
Albania’s National Cinematography Center Opens Call for Debut Feature Films
The National Cinematography Center (QKK) has opened applications for its “First Feature Film” category. The call targets Albanian filmmakers and emerging talents who want to bring their first feature-length projects to the big screen. QKK aims to support new filmmakers with original ideas and distinctive stories. The initiative gives young …
Albanian Football Federation chief Duka highlights competition and young talent as new season begins
TIRANA, August 21 – The new Abissnet Superiore season starts today on RTSH. The 88th edition of Albania’s top football division opens with Vllaznia against Skënderbeu at Loro Boriçi Stadium at 21:00. Albanian Football Federation President Armand Duka says the new season will bring stronger competition and new opportunities for …
Zelensky Visit to Belgrade: What Could He Learn from Israeli Experience
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 …
‘Return Hubs’ for Migrants Anticipated in Balkans for ‘Era of Deportations’
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
TIRANA, August 24 – The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed Albania’s support for Ukraine on its Independence Day. The ministry said the Ukrainian people have the right to determine their future as a free nation. It also praised Ukraine’s courage and resilience in defending its sovereignty and …
Albania has celebrated a historic success at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026” as wrestler Islam Dudaev won the country’s first gold medal of the Games. Dudaev claimed the title in the men’s freestyle 74-kilogram category. He reached the final and secured the gold after his opponent, Fati Vejseli of North …
Albania has celebrated a major success at the Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026”, with wrestler Islam Dudaev winning the country’s first gold medal. Dudaev triumphed in the men’s freestyle wrestling event in the 74-kilogram category. He secured the title after his opponent, North Macedonia’s Fati Vejseli, withdrew from the final because …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said citizen protests can challenge the government and help improve governance and its relationship with the public. Speaking after a government cabinet meeting in Pogradec, Rama said the recent protests over a tourism project in Zvërnec had provided a real challenge for the government. He argued …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has outlined new government priorities focused on improving living standards and strengthening social policies across Albania. Following a cabinet meeting in Pogradec, Rama said the government will give particular attention to healthcare and education. He also called for stronger policies that directly improve the quality of …
President Bajram Begaj has called for stronger efforts to preserve the memory of the victims of Albania’s communist regime. During a visit to Lushnjë, Begaj paid tribute to people who suffered political persecution and internment. He laid flowers at the Memorial of Political Persecution and visited the former internment camp …
Albania has celebrated a strong start in wrestling at the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, winning three medals. Islam Dudaev secured the gold medal, giving Albania its first gold at the Games. Zelimkhan Abakarov followed with a silver medal, while Ardit Zeneli won bronze. President Bajram Begaj congratulated the Albanian …
The Tirana Traffic Police announced that it issued 11,420 administrative fines over the past week as part of checks aimed at preventing road accidents and managing traffic on major roads, as well as at the entry and exit points of the capital. During the inspections, 55 people were arrested or …
*]: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:abd5f9c3-e6f6-4ffd-a368-acf87625c22f-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:abd5f9c3-e6f6-4ffd-a368-acf87625c22f-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> Former U.S. Congressman Joe DioGuardi has said that Kosovo needs to elect a president as soon as possible. Speaking in Pristina, he said that the ongoing political crisis is putting Kosovo in a difficult situation. “I am here, as you know, …
This Monday, President Bajram Begaj honored the victims of internment under Albania’s communist regime in Lushnje, where he called for the preservation of historical memory as both a lesson and a responsibility to future generations. On the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes, …