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Two arrested for sports betting

Two people were arrested in a bar in Laç, after placing sports bets with mobile phones. A 34-year-old man and a 41-year-old man were arrested. As material evidence, 2 mobile phones of these citizens were seized. The procedural materials were passed to the Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of First …

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SPAK denies the decision of GJKKO for Alqi Bllako and Lefter Koka

The Special Prosecutor’s Office disputes the innocence of Alqi Bllakos for the Elbasan incinerator and the dropping of the charge of abuse of office against the former Minister of the Environment Lefter Koka, as the latter was only convicted of corruption. SPAK requests in the Special Appeal the punishment of …

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A 65-year-old wanted man is arrested, he killed a pedestrian in an accident in 2014

A 65-year-old man, who was wanted, was arrested in Elbasan as part of the coded police operation “Rule of Law”. In 2014, the 65-year-old, while driving the truck on the “Bilisht-Korçë” road, collided with a vehicle and a pedestrian lost his life in the collision. The 65-year-old was sentenced in …

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Veliaj meets with the mayor of Athens Haris Doukas

The mayor of Tirana met Haris Doukas, the mayor of Athens, at the start of the B40 panel. He said that the two capitals will continue to nurture an excellent relationship between them. Veliaj writes on Facebook: “With Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens, before the launch of the B40 panel”. …

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Court releases the four protesters arrested after protest at Tirana Municipality

The Tirana court has released the four people arrested after the protest of Reestablishment and the Freedom Party in front of the Tirana City Hall at noon on April 19. ABC News journalist, Ervin Leka reports that the court has set for the four people, the security measure “obligation to …

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Drunk and without a license, 28 arrested in one week

28 drivers have been arrested while 32 driving licenses have been suspended during the last week for violating traffic rules. As a result, 28 drivers were arrested, 19 of them for driving while intoxicated and 9 for driving without a license. The police also say that 32 driving licenses have …

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Former MP, Ralf Gjoni in SPAK to testify for Meta

The former deputy of the Socialist Movement for Integration, Ralf Gjoni, was questioned on Monday for about 4 hours by the Special Prosecutor’s Office. Previously, Ralf Gjoni held the position of secretary for foreign relations in LSI, as well as being part of Ilir Mete’s staff when the latter held …

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Two arrested for distribution of drugs in Saranda

The police in Saranda have arrested two people as part of operations “Strike 11” and “Strike 12” for the crackdown on illegal possession of weapons and the distribution of narcotics. During the “Strike 11” operation, in Saranda, a 35-year-old man with a criminal record in the field of narcotics was …

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16 drivers arrested in a week, over 12 thousand fines for various violations

The Traffic Police in Tirana has published the balance sheet of a week, in relation to the administrative measures and arrestimey made in the context of road traffic violations. From April 14-20, the police arrested 16 people for several violations, where: 6 people arrested in the act for drunk driving, …

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Violent protest in front of the City Hall, a 53-year-old man is arrested

A 53-year-old man was detained by the Blues, after he assaulted the police officers, during the protest in front of the Tirana City Hall. “Following the investigative actions carried out in relation to the violent acts during the protest of 19.04.2024, in front of the Tirana Municipality, a 53-year-old citizen, …

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Anti-Government Protests Escalate in Tirana as Demonstrators Block Parliament

Tirana Times, July 03, 2026 – Albania’s month-long anti-government protest movement entered a more confrontational phase on Thursday, as demonstrators gathered outside Parliament, blocked access points and clashed with police while lawmakers were holding a plenary session inside. The protest, now extending into its second month, has moved beyond its …

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Albania and European Commission to sign agreement on EU staff exchanges in September

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania will sign an agreement with the European Commission in September to allow Albanian public officials to work for fixed periods at European Union institutions, Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni said. Pirdeni said the initiative will strengthen the skills of Albania’s …

News
Government allocates €65 mln support package for local authorities

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s government will provide an additional €65 million to strengthen local government capacity and improve public services across the country. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the funding forms part of the 2026 budget amendments approved through a normative act. The package supports investment in basic …

News
Electronic communications authority completes 10 of 11 parliamentary recommendations

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s Electronic and Postal Communications Authority has completed 10 of 11 recommendations issued by Parliament while continuing to align the country’s electronic communications legislation with European Union rules. Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, the authority’s chairman, Gentian Sala, said the …

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Foreign minister Hoxha: Public administration undergoing deep transformation toward European Union standards

TIRANA, July 3 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania’s public administration is undergoing a deep transformation. He linked the process to preparations for European Union membership. He spoke at the third edition of Public Administration Week. The event carried the theme “Public Service for a European Albania.” He said …

News
PM Rama: National Flight School opens, training and certification also for NATO and Kosova pilots

TIRANA, July 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the opening of the National Flight School. He described it as an ambitious project for the modernization of the Armed Forces. He said the initiative was initially met with humour and scepticism. However, Rama added that the project has now become …

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From the Nile to the Balkans

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, July 3, 2026 – If you sit by the banks of the Nile on a quiet afternoon and allow its serene flow to guide your thoughts, you realize that the water remembers not only the lands it traverses, but also the people who shaped …

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Week in Review: Hopes, Schemes and Stand-Offs

While some countries in the region dare to hope that they might join the EU in the near future, BIRN’s selection of Premium stories this week suggests others remain stuck in their usual deadlock. Original post Here

News
ALL 8.9 billion added to health and social welfare budget, focus on salary increases

TIRANA, July 3 – The health and social welfare budget for 2026 increases by 8.9 billion lek compared with the initial projection for the same year. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection records this as the largest increase for the sector. The ministry says the additional funding aims to …

News
Albania completes EU energy legal obligations under EU negotiation Chapter 15

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania has fulfilled all legal obligations under the European Union’s Chapter 15 on energy after Parliament approved the new electricity sector law, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said at the Energy Community Ministerial in Prishtina. Karakaçi said the legislation completes the country’s legal package and …

News

Anti-Government Protests Escalate in Tirana as Demonstrators Block Parliament

Tirana Times, July 03, 2026 – Albania’s month-long anti-government protest movement entered a more confrontational phase on Thursday, as demonstrators gathered outside Parliament, blocked access points and clashed with police while lawmakers were holding a plenary session inside. The protest, now extending into its second month, has moved beyond its …

News

Albania and European Commission to sign agreement on EU staff exchanges in September

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania will sign an agreement with the European Commission in September to allow Albanian public officials to work for fixed periods at European Union institutions, Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni said. Pirdeni said the initiative will strengthen the skills of Albania’s …

News

Government allocates €65 mln support package for local authorities

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s government will provide an additional €65 million to strengthen local government capacity and improve public services across the country. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said the funding forms part of the 2026 budget amendments approved through a normative act. The package supports investment in basic …

News

Electronic communications authority completes 10 of 11 parliamentary recommendations

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania’s Electronic and Postal Communications Authority has completed 10 of 11 recommendations issued by Parliament while continuing to align the country’s electronic communications legislation with European Union rules. Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, the authority’s chairman, Gentian Sala, said the …

News

Foreign minister Hoxha: Public administration undergoing deep transformation toward European Union standards

TIRANA, July 3 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha said Albania’s public administration is undergoing a deep transformation. He linked the process to preparations for European Union membership. He spoke at the third edition of Public Administration Week. The event carried the theme “Public Service for a European Albania.” He said …

News

PM Rama: National Flight School opens, training and certification also for NATO and Kosova pilots

TIRANA, July 3 – Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the opening of the National Flight School. He described it as an ambitious project for the modernization of the Armed Forces. He said the initiative was initially met with humour and scepticism. However, Rama added that the project has now become …

News

From the Nile to the Balkans

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, July 3, 2026 – If you sit by the banks of the Nile on a quiet afternoon and allow its serene flow to guide your thoughts, you realize that the water remembers not only the lands it traverses, but also the people who shaped …

News

Week in Review: Hopes, Schemes and Stand-Offs

While some countries in the region dare to hope that they might join the EU in the near future, BIRN’s selection of Premium stories this week suggests others remain stuck in their usual deadlock. Original post Here

News

ALL 8.9 billion added to health and social welfare budget, focus on salary increases

TIRANA, July 3 – The health and social welfare budget for 2026 increases by 8.9 billion lek compared with the initial projection for the same year. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection records this as the largest increase for the sector. The ministry says the additional funding aims to …

News

Albania completes EU energy legal obligations under EU negotiation Chapter 15

TIRANA, July 3 – Albania has fulfilled all legal obligations under the European Union’s Chapter 15 on energy after Parliament approved the new electricity sector law, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said at the Energy Community Ministerial in Prishtina. Karakaçi said the legislation completes the country’s legal package and …