After the complete restoration and reconstruction of the site, this mosaic has become much more frequented by domestic and foreign tourists.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja stated today that, “This mosaic is restored as a space where cultural heritage dialogues with the present, using technology in the service of preserving, interpreting and experiencing history”.

“Through 3D reconstruction, interactive installations and Gigapixel technology, this site sets a new standard for the documentation and presentation of cultural heritage in Albania”, stated Gonxhja.

The Tirana Mosaic is a Category I Cultural Monument. It is part of a Roman villa dating back to the 3rd century AD. During the construction of a residential building in the “Partizani” block, in 1972, there were encountered the ruins of this ancient building. Its latest restoration was completed last year and was conceived in such a way as to include a platform that allows the exhibition of closed mosaics from the period of antiquity and late antiquity, preserved in our most important sites such as Apolonia, Butrint, Bylis, Durrës, Elbasan and many others, since they remain covered to be protected from atmospheric factors./k.s/a.f/p.s./

Under a joint directive issued by the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the use of Smart Labs, school performance and teachers’ professional development will be closely monitored during the academic year.

Technology will be used as a tool to support teaching, improve students’ learning experience and develop skills needed for the future.

Another priority will be strengthening teachers’ professional development through enhanced skills and support in meeting the changing demands of education.

Schools will also be assessed through the School Performance Card, an instrument aimed at monitoring and improving the quality of education.

The government will also focus on strengthening vocational education and expanding the “After School” programme, creating more opportunities for students and helping prepare them for the labour market and future challenges.

School safety will remain a key priority, with measures focused on preventing bullying and violence and creating a safer and more inclusive environment for students.

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

Speaking at a regional conference titled “From Property to Progress”, which brought together representatives from Western Balkan countries, Rama said digital transformation had delivered “a real blessing” for Albania by enabling reforms that would otherwise have been extremely difficult to implement.

He said Albania’s transition from a fully state-owned property system under communism to a post-1990 reality marked by weak territorial control had created lasting legal and administrative complications.

“There is no other country in the region where property rights have been under such pressure,” Rama said, adding that the past 35 years had produced one of the most difficult reform environments the country had faced.

Rama also pointed to what he described as irregularities in the early post-communist period, including conflicting ownership claims and misuse of land-use certificates that later enabled widespread disputes.

He said Albania had been forced to adopt new legislation, developed in consultation with international partners and endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights, to address compensation and ownership claims.

However, Rama noted that legal challenges persist, saying some court rulings continue to rely on outdated laws, creating additional financial burdens for the state.

He said digitalisation and artificial intelligence were increasingly helping authorities process complex property data, but warned that the quality of results depends on accurate underlying information.

Rama also said Albania’s broader EU accession process remained a demanding institutional exercise, but insisted that ongoing digital reforms, including full digitisation and future blockchain applications, would help resolve long-standing ownership disputes and reduce opportunities for abuse.

/a.f/u.sh/

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said that in this laboratory, innovative technology and professional expertise make it possible to identify respiratory viruses, in order to protect public health.

Dr. Iris Hatibi stated that in one of the laboratory rooms, there is carried out the identification of genetic material at the molecular level with regard to the influenza virus and other respiratory viruses Sars Cov 2, RSV, etc”.

According to her, this is an efficient way that differentiates between respiratory viruses that circulate in the winter and autumn seasons, but also during the summer. So, surveillance for monitoring respiratory viruses is active throughout the year.

During the explanatory process for performing these analyses at the Virology Laboratory at the Institute, Dr. Hatibi also spoke of another space where there are performed molecular techniques for the rapid identification of clinical samples.

“In 45 minutes, we are able to see a preliminary result for syncytial viruses, Sarsc Cov 2, Covid 19 and influenza. It is a fast technique, with a high sensitivity of 98%”, affirmed Hatibi.

For his part, Dr. Artan Simaku, an epidemiologist at the Institute, appealed that the best protection against viruses is vaccination. /e.i/a.f/p.s./

Speaking at the “Tirana Economic Forum,” Rama said, “Albania has never been closer to the EU than today, so investors should understand that the moment is now.”

“We welcome partnerships that bring knowledge, expertise, and innovation. Investing today means entering the market of tomorrow, and we invite engagement in four strategic pillars that will shape our next decade,” he said.

Rama said green energy is one of the country’s strategic sectors, noting that Albania has one of the highest shares of renewable energy in the world and aims to become not only a net exporter but a regional energy hub.

He also highlighted modern infrastructure as a key sector that will position Albania as a logistics crossroads between the Balkans and Europe.

Rama cited sustainable, high-quality tourism, which combines natural beauty with heritage and authenticity, creating year-round destinations with high standards.

The Prime Minister also pointed to technology and innovation, highlighting a growing start-up ecosystem and talent in IT, artificial intelligence, fintech, and creative industries. “These are sectors where Albania is moving quickly, and the government is ready to support investors with fiscal incentives,” he said.

“We want partners, not passersby,” Rama added. “Our message is simple: believe in this rising Albania, invest in this transforming Albania, and become part of the success story we are building before it is too late.”

He concluded by stressing that the future is not something to wait for—it is something Albania builds every day, together.

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

The Embassy said the programme is part of Albania’s State Partnership with the New Jersey National Guard.

According to the Embassy, the advanced U.S.-made anti-drone systems will strengthen Albania’s defence capabilities and support NATO’s mission to safeguard collective security.

“We provide Mk4 anti-drone weapons and tactical anti-drone weapons. This is a non-destructive counter-drone system,” Nate Edwards of DroneShield said in a video released by the U.S Embassy.

“For the Albanian military, it means an approach to confronting unmanned systems, which are an increasing threat globally. Our goal is to reduce risk to troops both at a distance and within the counter-strike range of unmanned systems in urban areas across the country,” he said.

/gj.m/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

The pledge was made during the annual meeting of Directors General of Civil Aviation from ECAC member states, which focused on reviewing developments in 2025 and setting strategic priorities for the year ahead.

According to the CAA, discussions covered safety standards, operational efficiency, technological innovation and environmental sustainability in aviation.

Participants stressed the importance of European cooperation and the harmonisation of practices among member states, as well as the exchange of data and expertise to improve risk management and sector performance.

Environmental sustainability featured prominently, with member states underlining the need to pursue European policies aimed at cutting emissions, boosting flight efficiency and investing in new technologies to reduce aviation’s environmental footprint.

The outcomes and commitments from the meeting reinforce ECAC’s mission to promote safe, efficient and sustainable civil aviation across Europe. The CAA said it will continue working to implement the agreed initiatives and strengthen cooperation with its European partners.

/e.xh/ /a.g/u.sh/

During the event, Director General of the Customs Genti Gazheli emphasized that the fight against evasion knows no borders and that technology, data and international partnerships are the main weapons for improving efficiency.

He highlighted the use of systems such as ASYCUDA, Artificial Intelligence and cooperation with institutions such as the Guardia di Finanza, UNDP, OECD and SECO, to analyze risks and improve revenues.

According to Gazheli, the results achieved speak for themselves, with 2 billion euros in revenue in just 10 months, despite the existing challenges.

The forum also highlighted the significance of transparency, digitalization and partnerships, as key elements for creating a fair and efficient economy.

This activity strengthens Albania’s efforts to modernize its tax and customs administration, using international best practices and technology to combat tax evasion. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Speaking at the International Congress on Nanotechnology in Tirana, the government head said the appointment of “Diella” – a digital AI entity serving as Albania’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence – signals more than a symbolic step into the future.

“With the creation of the first AI minister in the world, Albania is not merely embracing the future, but working to help shape it,” Rama said. “We are at a new dawn for Albania – a country daring not to follow, but to lead, at the front of science and technology in the region.”

The congress gathered key government figures including Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro, Spain’s Ambassador to Albania Gabriel Cremades Ventura, members of the Albanian Academy of Sciences, and experts in nanotechnology. Diella also delivered remarks during the event.

Rama dismissed the notion that Diella is a novelty or experiment, saying it represents a structural transformation in how government works.

“Diella is not a toy – it can be nothing less than what it is. Through her, we have turned what used to be a domain into a transparent algorithm, transforming the power of the state into the power of service,” he said.

The Prime Minister voiced confidence that Diella will soon help make public procurement in Albania more open and accountable.

“Sooner rather than later, we will be able to offer, through Diella, an extraordinary tool for making public tenders open, transparent, and carried out with integrity – in a way never seen before,” Rama said.

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

Speaking at the launch of the “Startup Albania” platform, the government head noted that digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly improved access to services once hampered by inefficiency and corruption.

“Citizens no longer need to queue or pay bribes for basic documents. Today, most services can be accessed from a smartphone,” Rama said, calling technology a “blessing” for countries catching up with more advanced economies.

He added that the next step will be integrating the startup platform with the e-government portal, e-Albania, using AI to further streamline public service delivery.

/j.p/u.sh/