FM Hoxha responds to Serbian counterpart over Ibër: Using water as punishment poisons peaceful coexistence
TIRANA, August 11 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha has responded to Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric over the dispute surrounding the Ibër River. Duric said Albania had no hydrological basis to comment on Serbia’s management of its water resources. Hoxha said Albania would react if someone threatened Serbia’s water supply. …
Albania’s Justice minister Gogu: Justice is not certified by one ruling, but proven every day
TIRANA, August 11 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu has highlighted the balance between judicial independence and executive responsibility. He said the minister must not interfere in specific court cases. “Where judges and prosecutors act, the executive stays silent,” Gogu wrote in the first of 3 notes he plans to publish …
218 more births than deaths in Albania in second quarter, Tirana records highest natural increase
TIRANA, August 11 – Albania recorded a positive natural population increase in the second quarter of 2026. The country registered 218 more births than deaths, according to preliminary data from the Institute of Statistics. Between April and June, authorities recorded 5,083 births, down 3% from the same period in 2025. …
Customs revenue reaches ALL 23.5 billion in July
TIRANA, August 11 – Customs revenue reached ALL 23.5 billion in July 2026. The figure increased by around ALL 223 million from the same month in 2025. According to data from the General Directorate of Customs, several major revenue items drove the increase. Value-added tax provided the largest contribution, with …
Civil emergency budget rises more than 13-fold in seven years
TIRANA, August 11 – Albania has increased funding for civil emergencies more than 13-fold over the past seven years. The budget rose from ALL 430 million in 2020 to ALL 5.79 billion in 2026, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said on Monday. Malaj said the higher funding will strengthen capacity to …
Albania advances EU integration work with more than 20 draft laws for Chapters 16 and 29
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania is stepping up work on its European Union integration process, with more than 20 draft laws already prepared for Chapters 16 and 29. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said the first half of 2026 brought heavy workloads and strategic tasks, but EU integration remained a …
Vlora Airport Heads to Arbitration
Albania faces another potentially costly international dispute after losing several arbitration cases in recent years that have exposed the state to hundreds of millions of euros in compensation and related liabilities. Tirana Times, August 10, 2026 – Albania is no stranger to costly international arbitration. Over the past decade, the …
High passenger and vehicle flows at Albania’s ports and border crossings
TIRANA, August 10 – High passenger and vehicle flows continue at Albania’s ports and border crossing points (BCP-s) during the peak tourist season. Thousands of people and vehicles have entered and left the country in recent hours. At the Port of Vlora, around 2,700 passengers are expected today on 3 …
Inflation rises to 3.4% in July, transport leads price increases at 8%
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.4% in July 2026, from 2.5% in July 2025. Consumer prices also increased by 0.2% from June. According to INSTAT data, food and non-alcoholic beverages made the largest contribution to annual inflation at 1.18 percentage points. The group covering housing, …
“Mokra n’Fest” brings tradition and culture together in Pogradec
TIRANA, August 10 – Tradition, history and local cuisine came together at the 7th edition of “Mokra n’Fest”, held near the stone bridge in Golikë, Pogradec. The festival brought together local residents, visitors and emigrants who returned to their hometowns. An artisan fair and traditional food highlighted local products, including …
After being on the run for several months, businessman Ergys Agasi was arrested over his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal surrounding tenders for the national agency overseeing the development of state information systems. Original post Here
TIRANA, August 27 – The State Police said several institutions in cities across Albania had received threatening emails this morning claiming that bombs had been placed inside the buildings. Police said officers had immediately begun checks at the institutions named in the threats. So far, they had found no bombs …
TIRANA, August 27 – A total of 387 new recruits officially joined Albania’s State Police after completing the General Patrol training course. The certification ceremony took place at the Security Academy, where Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari and State Police Director General Skënder Hita stressed the need to strengthen crime prevention …
TIRANA, August 27 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of Theth on social media and described the mountain area as one of the most visited destinations by domestic and foreign tourists during the summer season. Theth lies about 70 kilometres from Shkodër. In recent years, the area has become …
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi today shared footage from the construction site of Guna Tactical. The company is developing one of the most important public-private investments in Albania’s defense industry. According to Nufi, Guna Tactical will produce military clothing not only for Albania but also for the region and other countries. …
TIRANA, August 27 – Albania’s Under-21 national team ended its campaign at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games after finishing third in Group B with 4 points. The team, coached by Alban Bushi, lost 2-0 to Algeria in its third group match. The first half ended goalless. Algeria then scored twice …
TIRANA, August 27 – The Vjosa River National Park, one of Albania’s most important natural assets, has faced several threats identified through monitoring and management of the area. Waste dumping has remained among the main concerns. It has damaged the landscape and polluted the environment, while also threatening the river …
TIRANA, August 27 – Brazilian magazine Estado de Minas has highlighted Lake Neuron, an underground thermal lake located in the Vjosa Valley in southern Albania. According to the magazine, the lake lies beneath the mountains and contains about 8.3 million litres of water. Its unusual underground setting makes it a …
TIRANA, August 27 – Domestic electricity production increased by 34.4% in the second quarter of 2026, while exports rose sharply and imports declined, according to data released by INSTAT. Net domestic production reached 2,361 GWh, up from 1,757 GWh in the same quarter of 2025. Hydropower plants accounted for most …
TIRANA, August 27 – The number of foreign nationals holding residence permits in Albania reached 32,163 at the end of 2025, up 46.6% from a year earlier. Men accounted for 65% of the total, while women made up 35%. Employment remained the main reason for residence, accounting for 55.1% of …