This artwork—a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sports and the Central State Film Archive—serves as a tribute to the women who have dedicated themselves to preserving and enriching Albania’s film heritage.

This piece honors all the women who have worked, and continue to work, at the film archive, which is a vital asset for the nation’s audiovisual memory.

Painted by Franko Dine and Klevis Kita, the mural spotlights women’s contributions to preserving Albanian cinema history.

/p.s./

During an online discussion with citizens, Berisha said that the Democratic Party is drawing up a petition and intends to hold a local referendum against the project.

When asked about his stance on the tower to be built at “Rinia” park area, Berisha said that he has always been against skyscrapers.

“If you look back at the 2005–2013 period when the DP was in power, you will find that Sali Berisha did not grant a permit for building any single tower; indeed, during those eight years, not one single tower was built in Tirana or anywhere else in Albania.

“Thus, I am against construction of the tower in “Rinia” park that will lead to its destruction,” he said.

He announced that the Democratic Party is drawing up a petition and is also aiming for a local referendum against the construction.

Berisha described the towers as, “ugly monuments to drugs and corruption.”

Berisha also stated that Tirana’s general regulatory plan, approved during his administration, did not provide for buildings taller than eight stories in any area of ​​the capital. /m.q/a.f/r.e/p.s./

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja and the EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa attended the launch of civil engineering and conservation works at the Bylis–Klos Archaeological Park.

Gonxhja stated that this investment, backed by a €6.25 million fund, is being implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation AICS in cooperation with the Ministry and will help safeguard archaeological heritage while simultaneously contributing to the area’s economic development.

The minister highlighted that approximately €2 million will be allocated for a new multifunctional visitor center, featuring a museum as well as research and conservation spaces. Work will also be carried out to conserve monuments—an effort already underway on five of them, with 11 archaeologists active on-site.

The project aims to create more opportunities for the local community, involving 13 certified local guides and €210,000 in grants for 20 beneficiaries.

“We are preserving Bylis, developing tourism, promoting heritage and creating more opportunities for Mallakastra,” said Minister Gonxhja.

Ambassador Sofia Moreira stated that Bylis is a site of exceptional historical and cultural value for Albania and the European Union is proud to support its restoration.

“The history and beauty of Bylis leave a lasting impression on all who visit. Today, we are proud to launch a significant project, supported by the European Union, to enhance the protection and accessibility of this archaeological park. We believe these interventions will preserve our heritage while fostering local tourism and creating new employment opportunities for the community,” the EU Ambassador emphasized. /p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared in the social media images of this multifunctional community park, which features children’s playgrounds and green recreational areas for all ages.

“The new ‘I want to play’ park in Elbasan is a space spanning approximately 22,000 m², featuring sports fields, running and cycling tracks, children’s playgrounds and plenty of greenery for families of all ages,” Rama wrote.

Supported by the Albanian Development Fund, this project aims to create a functional and inclusive park, promoting an active lifestyle for all age groups.

The multifunctional “I want to play” park offers facilities for sports, recreational, and social activities, establishing one of the largest public spaces of its kind in Elbasan.

The Municipality of Elbasan continues its work to transform public spaces, enhancing greenery and the quality of life for citizens. /k.s/a.f/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the project on social media; the initiative aims to address the growing demand for parking without consuming valuable surface-level public space.

“Here is what the new underground car park to the northern entrance of the Grand Park of the Artificial Lake—near “Frédéric Chopin” square in Tirana—will look like. It will provide more parking spaces, while the area above will be transformed into a green space featuring trees, vegetation and pedestrian paths for the public,” Rama wrote.

The parking facility will consist of two levels: level -1 will serve passenger vehicles, while level -2 will be dedicated to buses.

The surface area above the parking facility will be reclaimed for public use, featuring greenery, trees and pedestrian paths.

The facility will also be equipped with ventilation systems, surveillance cameras, access control and modern lighting. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Jaupaj held bilateral meetings with Kosovo’s Minister of Environment Fitore Pacolli and North Macedonia’s Minister of Environment Muamet Hoxha. They discussed commitments regarding the establishment of the Korab–Koritnik–Sharr Mountain Transboundary Park, as well as the advancement of other regional projects concerning waste management.

During a meeting with Montenegro’s Environment Minister Damjan Ćulafić, discussions focused on exchanging experience and technical expertise regarding Chapter 27 of the EU accession negotiations.

“Our technical teams will soon meet at a bilateral workshop to analyze the methodology and technical data for the development of the Natura 2000 network,” Jaupaj said.

The meetings took place on the sidelines of the ministerial gathering organized by Montenegro, which currently holds the Presidency of the Berlin Process.

/e.xh/a.f/p.s./

Accompanied by Mayor Brunilda Mersini, Rama took a close look at the spaces of the former “Aulona” park, which is expected to get transformed into a green park and public recreational space for the citizens.

During his visit, Rama announced plans to transform Aulona Park into a vibrant public green space. The project will feature a new flower garden and recreational areas dedicated to the citizens of Vlora.

PM Rama continued his visit to Vlora with a stop along the Lungomare, followed by a meeting at ‘Ismail Qemali’ University. /m.m/r.e/p.s./

The General Directorate of Archives (DPA) and Tirana’s Parks and Recreation Agency launched an open-air exhibition featuring rare 20th-century glass-negative photographs by Korça pioneers Vani Burda and Thimi Raci, showcasing daily life, urban landscapes and suburban portraits from the DPA Photo Library.

According to the DPA, around 10 thousand photographs belong to the Vani Burda and Thimi Raci fund, while the Photo Library of the General Directorate of Archives preserves a total of around 135 thousand original photographs.

This collection features roughly 41,000 photographs capturing the political, social, and cultural history of Albania and its people up to 1944. A second major collection of about 43,000 photographs from the Luce Institute documents the period of the fascist occupation.

Archival photographs do more than preserve history and art. They act as direct proof of Albanian life over time, holding the faces and events that shape our national memory.

Digitization of the DPA Photo Library speeds up public access and image downloads. It also protects these historic photographs in their original form for the future.

This exhibition at Rinia Park in Tirana opens up historical archives for everyone, showing how photography keeps Albania’s past alive. /j.p/p.s./

Squirrels are forest-dwelling mammals that eat seeds, fruits and buds. Their presence in Cangonj natural park proves that the local forest provides healthy conditions for wildlife to live and grow.

Squirrels spend most of their lives in trees, using their long tails for balance while leaping through branches, and descend to the ground only when needed. Because they are solitary and non-territorial, their daily activity centers entirely on foraging. Tracking these animals also supports broader conservation efforts, as monitoring biodiversity in protected areas helps identify species and assess natural habitats. /p.s./

The conservation work involved assessing the mosaic’s condition, consolidating the substrates, securing loose tesserae and cleaning the surface.

The project also doubled as practical training for regional heritage specialists and archaeology students, helping safeguard cultural heritage while empowering the next generation of professionals.

The European Union-funded restoration of the Basilica B mosaic at Bylis Archaeological Park was co-financed and implemented by AICS and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Its Scuola Cantiere (Open Restoration Site) approach elevated the project into an innovative capacity-building experience, seamlessly integrating cultural heritage conservation with hands-on professional training. /r.e/p.s./