Blog
News

Additional ALL 1.5 billion allocated to strengthen justice system

TIRANA, July 10 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu announced that a normative act approved on June 30 has secured more than ALL 1.5 billion in additional funds for the Ministry of Justice and its dependent institutions for the 2026–2028 period. According to the minister, the funds will support infrastructure improvements, …

Read More
News

PM Rama unveils EUR 1.5 billion plan for a new phase of urban development in Albania

TIRANA, July 10 – Prime Minister Edi Rama presented the “Urban Renaissance 2.0” programme, an ambitious development initiative that aims to further transform Albania’s urban landscape with a EUR 1.5 billion funding target. According to Rama, the new programme responds to a new stage of Albania’s development, where citizens have …

Read More
News

PM Rama: Albania has entered a new phase of development

TIRANA, July 10 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has entered a new phase of development, where improved standards have increased citizens’ expectations for better services and greater dignity in daily life. During the presentation of the “Urban Renaissance 2.0” programme, Rama said society’s new demands should not be …

Read More
News

Birth Tourism on Tourist Visas: U.S. Embassy Warns Albanians They May Be Denied Future Visa Renewals

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana has issued a warning to Albanian citizens who travel to the United States on tourist visas to give birth and use the Medicaid program to cover their medical expenses. In a post shared on Instagram, the Embassy stated that this practice could affect their eligibility …

Read More
News

‘Urban Renaissance 2.0’: Rama Unveils €1.5 Billion Program, Electric Buses Planned for All Municipalities

Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday unveiled the “Urban Renaissance 2.0” program, which foresees €1.5 billion in investments aimed at transforming Albania’s urban infrastructure and public services. One of the program’s main pillars is the modernization of public transport. Rama announced that a joint company will be established between the …

Read More
News

Defense Minister Nufi Reveals Who Will Set the Date for the NATO Summit in Tirana

Defense Minister Ermal Nufi, in an interview with Euronews Albania’s Thimi Samarxhiu, spoke about Tirana’s selection as the host city for a future NATO Summit. He said the summit is expected to take place in 2027 or early 2028, stressing that the final date will be decided by NATO heads …

Read More
News

Ombudsman on Protests: My Duty Is to Identify Cases Where Citizens’ Rights Are Violated

Albania’s Ombudsman, Endri Shabani, was in Vlora on Friday to present the Ombudsman’s 2025 Annual Report. Speaking to the media, Shabani said the purpose of the institution’s visit was to hear citizens’ complaints and concerns firsthand. According to Shabani, the majority of complaints in Vlora relate to property issues and …

Read More
News

Rama: Urban Renaissance Has Fulfilled Its Mission, Now It’s Time for the Next Phase

Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania’s Urban Renaissance program has fulfilled its original mission, announcing a new stage of urban development during the presentation of the “Urban Renaissance 2.0” initiative. Rama described the new program as the beginning of a fresh phase of national development, arguing that the original Urban …

Read More
News

Diana Gellçi’s Question to Reinier de Graaf: What Would You Say Today?

This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read. The post Diana Gellçi’s Question to Reinier de Graaf: What Would You Say Today? appeared first on Tirana Times. Original post Here

Read More
News

‘Cancel It!’: State Cash for Kanye West Show Sparks Outrage in Albania

The government’s use of 4.2 million euros from its emergency reserve to finance the controversial rapper’s concert – after earlier pledging to spend nothing – has angered its critics. Original post Here

Read More
News
Rama joins Paris summit on Ukraine at Macron’s invitation

Prime Minister Edi Rama joined the Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris on Sunday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit brought together heads of state and government, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to coordinate international support for Ukraine. During the …

News
EU Ambassador Gonzato encourages young people to drive Albania’s EU integration

EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato called on young Albanians to defend their rights and take an active role in shaping their future. During the weekend, Gonzato met young participants at RinCamp, organized by the National Youth Agency. During the discussion, he stressed that young people are not only beneficiaries …

News
Albania condemns Iran’s attacks on Gulf Arab states, says Hoxha

Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha strongly condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Gulf Arab states, calling them a violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. In a statement on X, Hoxha said the attacks further escalate tensions, undermine regional stability and pose a serious threat to international …

News
Albania honors US military officer for strengthening defense cooperation

Defense Minister Ermal Nufi awarded the “Golden Medal of Military Service” to US Army Lieutenant Colonel Joshua A. Magnusson after he completed his mandate as head of the US Military Group in Albania. The medal recognized Magnusson’s contribution to strengthening the partnership between the United States and the Albanian Armed …

News
Bank of Albania highlights record-low non-performing loans in meeting with EBRD

Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko met with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by its new Resident Representative in Albania, Hannes Takacs. During the meeting, Sejko presented the latest economic and financial developments in Albania and said the economy is expected …

News
Rama: “Open Balkan” was controversial because of its political backers, not its objectives

Prime Minister Edi Rama said the “Open Balkan” initiative was considered “a terrible idea” only because he and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić backed it. “It was a terrible idea for one reason only: Vučić and I were behind it. If we removed our names and replaced them with five others, …

News
Berisha Attends IDC-CDI General Assembly in Brussels as Organization’s Vice President

*]: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:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-14″ data-turn=”assistant”> Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha is attending the General Assembly of the Centrist Democrat International (IDC-CDI) in Brussels, where he serves as one of the organization’s Vice Presidents. The assembly has brought together political leaders, former presidents, Members of the European …

News
Penal Amnesty: Around 60 Inmates to Be Released from Drenova Prison

*]: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:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> Around 60 inmates at Drenova Prison are expected to be released under Albania’s new penal amnesty law, which is scheduled to be implemented on July 15. Under the amnesty, eligible male prisoners will receive a one-year sentence reduction, while eligible female …

News
Ombudsman Raises Alarm Over Conditions at Shënkoll Prison: “It Should Be a High-Security Hospital, Not a Prison with Two Psychiatrists”

Albania’s Ombudsman is carrying out an unannounced inspection on Monday and Tuesday at the Shënkoll Prison Institution as part of its mandate as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. According to the Ombudsman, the preliminary findings are deeply concerning. The inspection team identified severe overcrowding in accommodation facilities and a …

News
Parliament joins 51st Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania’s permanent parliamentary delegation took part in the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, held in Yaounde, Cameroon. Hatixhe Konomi led the delegation, alongside Ilirian Pendavinji and Luçiano Boçi. More than 300 lawmakers from 42 national, subnational and inter-parliamentary sections attended the session. …

News

Rama joins Paris summit on Ukraine at Macron’s invitation

Prime Minister Edi Rama joined the Coalition of the Willing summit in Paris on Sunday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The summit brought together heads of state and government, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to coordinate international support for Ukraine. During the …

News

EU Ambassador Gonzato encourages young people to drive Albania’s EU integration

EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato called on young Albanians to defend their rights and take an active role in shaping their future. During the weekend, Gonzato met young participants at RinCamp, organized by the National Youth Agency. During the discussion, he stressed that young people are not only beneficiaries …

News

Albania condemns Iran’s attacks on Gulf Arab states, says Hoxha

Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha strongly condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Gulf Arab states, calling them a violation of international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. In a statement on X, Hoxha said the attacks further escalate tensions, undermine regional stability and pose a serious threat to international …

News

Albania honors US military officer for strengthening defense cooperation

Defense Minister Ermal Nufi awarded the “Golden Medal of Military Service” to US Army Lieutenant Colonel Joshua A. Magnusson after he completed his mandate as head of the US Military Group in Albania. The medal recognized Magnusson’s contribution to strengthening the partnership between the United States and the Albanian Armed …

News

Bank of Albania highlights record-low non-performing loans in meeting with EBRD

Governor of the Bank of Albania Gent Sejko met with a delegation from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by its new Resident Representative in Albania, Hannes Takacs. During the meeting, Sejko presented the latest economic and financial developments in Albania and said the economy is expected …

News

Rama: “Open Balkan” was controversial because of its political backers, not its objectives

Prime Minister Edi Rama said the “Open Balkan” initiative was considered “a terrible idea” only because he and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić backed it. “It was a terrible idea for one reason only: Vučić and I were behind it. If we removed our names and replaced them with five others, …

News

Berisha Attends IDC-CDI General Assembly in Brussels as Organization’s Vice President

*]: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:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-6″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-14″ data-turn=”assistant”> Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha is attending the General Assembly of the Centrist Democrat International (IDC-CDI) in Brussels, where he serves as one of the organization’s Vice Presidents. The assembly has brought together political leaders, former presidents, Members of the European …

News

Penal Amnesty: Around 60 Inmates to Be Released from Drenova Prison

*]: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:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:5f2c0e64-bc31-47c7-92dd-f2c184ecbc38-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-turn=”assistant”> Around 60 inmates at Drenova Prison are expected to be released under Albania’s new penal amnesty law, which is scheduled to be implemented on July 15. Under the amnesty, eligible male prisoners will receive a one-year sentence reduction, while eligible female …

News

Ombudsman Raises Alarm Over Conditions at Shënkoll Prison: “It Should Be a High-Security Hospital, Not a Prison with Two Psychiatrists”

Albania’s Ombudsman is carrying out an unannounced inspection on Monday and Tuesday at the Shënkoll Prison Institution as part of its mandate as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture. According to the Ombudsman, the preliminary findings are deeply concerning. The inspection team identified severe overcrowding in accommodation facilities and a …

News

Parliament joins 51st Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie

TIRANA, July 13 – Albania’s permanent parliamentary delegation took part in the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, held in Yaounde, Cameroon. Hatixhe Konomi led the delegation, alongside Ilirian Pendavinji and Luçiano Boçi. More than 300 lawmakers from 42 national, subnational and inter-parliamentary sections attended the session. …