Lila, Director of the Operations Department at SHISH, has been named acting head of the institution.

The decision, published in the Official Gazette, is dated September 22 and follows Vlora Hyseni’s dismissal from office.

SPAK put former SHISH chief Hyseni under house arrest amid an active probe, following her April 2023 appointment and subsequent dismissal.

/m.m/j.p/p.s./

The conference is organised by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the German Eastern Business Association, the Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services, and the German-Albanian Business Association.

The event focuses on strengthening economic cooperation and identifying new investment opportunities in Albania within the framework of the country’s European integration process.

Particular attention at the conference was paid to the development of port infrastructure and the strategic role of the Port of Durrës within Corridor VIII, as a key connecting hub in the region.

The participation of the Durrës Port Authority in this international forum aims to promote the port’s potential as a modern logistics centre and to expand cooperation with international partners in the transport and trade sectors.

/k.s/r.e/a.f/u.sh/

Kozeli inspected the Qafë-Thore route, which connects the northern tourist destinations of Bogë and Theth, and said all necessary measures have been taken to maintain traffic. Temperatures on the route are expected to drop to -16°C overnight.

He said the main challenges in northern areas are ice, heavy snow and occasional landslides from mountain slopes, but contractors have implemented measures to clear roads and maintain vehicle access.

Kozeli urged drivers to follow road safety rules, use winter tires and carry chains, noting that improperly equipped vehicles can block traffic and endanger other drivers.

He added that ARRSH has been on full alert from November 15 to March 15 under winter safety protocols and has stocked 5,300 tonnes of salt.

Additional issues were reported in Kukës and Valbonë due to landslides, and in Gjirokastër, Tepelenë, and sections of the Tirana-Durres highway where runoff has flooded roads. In Selenicë’s Vajzë village, a hillside collapse occurred, while mudslides affected the Qukës–Qafë-Plloçë route.

“All 3,367 kilometres under ARRSH management remain open to traffic,” Kozeli said.

/m.q/j.p/ u.sh/

During a partnership roundtable organized to discuss the achievements, innovations and challenges of the State Cadastre Agency in this transformation phase, Director General Lorena Goxhobelli said that the work on digitalization is making progress at a very good pace and that this process not only facilitates the daily work of this agency, but above all significantly improves the quality and security of cadastral information for every citizen.

“Today, we are closer than ever to the digitalization of cadastral maps. Together with UNOPS, we have started work and a process that requires time, for the full digitalization of 33 thousand tablets. The end of 2026 will find us with a fully digital Cadastre”, said Goxhobelli.

The Cadastre has recently increased the number of automatic services through blockchain technology to 10, and has finalized the direct payment through the e-Albania portal with a bank card, without the need to appear at the post office or at the bank counters.

And yet, she said, digital transformation does not mean distancing from the citizen. “On the contrary, it aims for simplification, accessibility and shorter processing time for applications. Exploiting the advantages created by Artificial Intelligence remains another ambitious objective of the Cadastre throughout 2026,” Goxhobelli emphasized.

According to her, with the completion of the digitalization of cadastral data, there are created all the prerequisites for exploiting the benefits brought by the use of Artificial Intelligence.

While this year’s strategic focus has been on digitalization and initial registration, two fundamental processes that are not only improving service to citizens, but are also laying a strong foundation for ensuring the security and clarity of property rights, another significant indicator for the State Cadastre Agency is the reduction of the processing time of citizens’ applications.

Currently, 79% of applications are processed within the legal deadlines.

Present at the agency’s partnership roundtable were Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo, Director of the Territorial Development Agency Adelajda Roka, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation Ritva Heikkinen, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Albania Giulia Re and representatives of other Albanian institutions and interest groups related to issues of property, notary service, real estate market, etc. /m.m/a.f/p.s./

During her speech, Minister Balluku highlighted the significance of the Albanian Post present with its affiliated enterprises throughout the country, with 533 active offices that provide thousands of postal services every day.

She emphasized that the Post is one of the most vital state-owned companies, offering both postal and financial services.

Balluku also focused on the innovation reforms of recent years, which, according to her, have significantly transformed the Albanian postal service.

“Today, the Post offers 51 financial services and 20 postal services, carrying out around 65 thousand financial and 70 thousand postal transactions every day. The government is committed to improve human capital, as technology can be developed, but human capacities are irreplaceable”, emphasized the minister.

Balluku emphasized that Albania is at a key moment in the process of EU accession negotiations and that every institution must make its contribution to this process. She added that innovation and Artificial Intelligence must be personalized according to the needs of different groups of citizens.

Balluku also emphasized the preservation of the tradition of philately, as an important part of the cultural and historical heritage of the Albanian Post.

“Philately is an asset that must be protected and developed, both in terms of stamp issuance and in the museum dimension. The post office plays an important role as a bridge between the public, private and individual sectors, but we must ensure that philately remains a special value of the institution,” concluded Balluku. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Balluku praised the professionalism and experience of the new director, a mechanical engineer by profession and with a long career in public transport and management of infrastructure structures, who previously headed the Port of Durres.

For his part, Bajraktari considered it a special privilege to lead an institution with public significance and spoke about improvement of services for the citizens.

Deputy PM Balluku emphasized that before the reform, the citizens faced delays and bureaucracy, while applications for driving permits took weeks and often depended on personal acquaintances.

She underlined that the radical change in the structure and philosophy of work has turned the Directorate of Road Transport Services into an innovation model, which since 2019 has brought faster and better quality services in all the regional directorates of the country.

According to Balluku, if compared to 2018, today there are offered 425 thousand more services or 9 times more in total, saving 21 million kilometers of travel for citizens, 1.4 million liters of fuel and 260 million lekë in expenses.

Balluku noted that the digitalization of services is another important step in improving citizens’ access, by reducing bureaucracy and waiting time.

She emphasized that the goal remains to provide transparent and fast services, in accordance with European Union standards, while the legal framework and the Road Code are being adapted to EU rules. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

Press service at the intelligence agency said Monday that the meeting with Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, focused on cooperation, security and intelligence challenges with a particular emphasis on the national security of both Albania and the United States.

“The parties exchanged views on major developments in regional and international security, highlighting their shared commitment to ensuring stability and collective security. SHISH was reaffirmed as a reliable partner, while Albania was recognized as a key stabilizing force in the Balkan region,” the statement read.

In her meeting with CIA Director John Ratcliffe, the close cooperation between the two agencies was emphasized, particularly in identifying and preventing shared threats. Further discussions addressed enhancing bilateral collaboration and strengthening SHISH’s intelligence capabilities.

“This visit reflects both countries’ commitment and readiness to support strategic decision-making with high-quality and timely intelligence, contributing to regional and global security,” SHISH concluded.

/m.m/a.f/u.sh/

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported Tuesday that Igli Tare will serve as AC Milan’s sporting director under a two-year contract and an option for a third, expected to be finalized in the coming days.

Selection of the new sporting director lasted several months, as the club had to consider several other candidates, including Andrea Berta, Fabio Paratici, Tony D’Amico, and Cristiano Giuntoli.

Albania’s former forward Igli Tare emerged as Milan’s preferred choice also with backing from Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Igli Tare will have to work to restore stability and leadership following an underwhelming season.

/r.e/u.sh/

Vasili received a majority of three-fifths in the second round after none of the candidates secured the required majority of votes. Three main candidates Zoje Jakaj, Engjëllush Musai, and Eni Vasili competed in the third round.

“The second vote for the Director General of the Albanian Radio and Television proved successful, meeting the statutory requirement of the Albanian Radio and Television on election of the Director General with three-fifths of votes of the Governing Council members. Candidate Eni Vasili is elected Director General with seven votes,” announced Fatjon Hoxhalli, Chairman of the Governing Council.

According to the public broadcaster’s status, Vasili is set to serve a five-year term leading RTSH. The renowned journalist and moderator was one of the 12 initial candidates for the position. She has worked at main national television stations previously.

/J.P/u.sh/

In addition to foreign tourists, Tirana has also recorded a growing number of local visitors from all over Albania to attend a range of events over the weekends.

Ketrina Jarazi, Director of Tourism Department at Tirana Municipality, citing data from the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), told Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) that a total of 9.680.030 tourists visited the Albanian capital from January through October 2024, marking a 16.7% increase compared with the same period of the previous year.

In  an interview with ATA, Jarazi focused on tourism strategy and events scheduled to take place in Tirana until the end of the year, saying: “Tirana, like Albania, has clearly opted for the sustainable tourism development model, based on three basic aspects, namely environmental, social and economic ones.”

“Albania has grown to become one the most exciting new destinations in Europe, offering the best value based on aspects of quality, inclusiveness and sustainability. This strategic vision for tourism, based on forecasts until 2030, constitutes the foundation on which all strategic initiatives will be built and harmonized for tourism in the entire territory of Tirana with the immediate need for strategic transformation as well as to build a more prosperous and profitable sector,” she noted.

According to Jarazi, Tirana is quickly becoming known as the most attractive new city and destination in Europe, attracting many visitors and tourists with a combination of traditional and modern, vibrant nightlife, culinary, and stunning landscapes.

“Having been declared the Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue in 2025 by the Union for the Mediterranean, an intergovernmental organization with 43 member states, all EU states, is a huge commitment for the Albanian capital and the Municipality of Tirana. The title aims to turn Tirana into a bridge that connects cities and cultures between the countries in the Mediterranean region. The activities set to take place during 2025 will focus on cooperation between all national and international stakeholders in issues of culture and dialogue. Hosting such events will, among other things, also increase the number of visitors and tourists to the capital city,” she said.

/e.i/j.p/r.e/ /u.sh/