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The Empty Seat in Strasbourg

When the newly elected European Parliament convenes this year on July 16 there will be an empty seat in the plenary hall within the Louise Weiss building in Strasbourg. Fredi Beleri, a dual Albanian and Greek national, who will surely be elected on the ticket of Greece’s ruling party, cannot …

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Criminal amnesty/Manja: About 800 convicts benefit, no senior official is amnestied

The implementation of the criminal amnesty began this Wednesday. The Minister of Justice, Ulsi Manja, after a visit to the Rrogozhina prison, declared that about 800 convicts will benefit. Manja clarified that no senior official, who has been convicted by GJKKO, benefits from the criminal amnesty. According to Manja, from …

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Criminal amnesty, among them former democratic mayor of Lezha, Fran Frrokaj

This Wednesday, the implementation of the criminal amnesty began. The number of convicts who benefit is 1100, of which 700 will be released immediately, while another 400 will benefit from a reduced sentence. In the Reçi prison, the beneficiaries are 150 convicts, among them the mayor of Lezha, Frran Frokaj. …

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Criminal amnesty, will benefit 314 convicts

The implementation of the criminal amnesty begins this Wednesday. It was learned from IEVP Reç in Malësi i Madhe that about 150 convicts will benefit from the amnesty. There are about 700 prisoners in Reçi prison. Meanwhile, 150 people in IEVP Fier benefit from the amnesty. There are about 800 …

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Convicted in absentia for drug production and sale, a 35-year-old man was arrested in Shkoder

A 35-year-old man was arrested in Shkodër as part of the police operation codenamed “Temple 2”. His arrest was carried out after on April 22, 2024, the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of Shkoder assigned the security measure “Arrest in prison”, for the criminal offense “Production and …

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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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Monday Briefing from the Balkans: July 6, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News
Second phase of soft loan scheme opens, applications due by July 31, official says

TIRANA, July 6 – The second phase of the municipal soft loan scheme opened on July 1 after the completion of the first stage, a city official said. He said 2,500 applicants were approved in the first phase out of 4,909 applications. However, he added that several applicants were excluded …

News
Turkey at the centre of global diplomacy as Ankara hosts NATO Summit on 7 July, agenda revealed

TIRANA, July 6 – Turkey will host the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara on 7 July. The meeting takes place amid global uncertainty. Ankara last hosted a NATO summit in Istanbul in 2004. Meanwhile, the summit will gather 32 heads of state and government. …

News
Preza Castle: Where History and Nature Meet in a Peaceful Landscape

Just a few kilometers from Tirana, Preza Castle rises on a green hill, and it stands as one of the most distinctive historical and panoramic sites in the area. First, visitors reach the castle through a rural landscape, and they pass traditional houses and green hills that create a calm …

News
RTSH Governing Council head outlines reforms for RTSH Parliament channel, archives and auditing

TIRANA, July 6 – RTSH Governing Council Chairman Fatjon Hoxhalli said the public broadcaster is strengthening the structure of the RTSH Parliament channel as part of a broader effort to modernize its operations. Speaking at the parliamentary Committee on Citizens’ Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight, Hoxhalli said the channel has …

News
RTSH targets digital transformation, Director Vasili: Public media must be present wherever the audience is

TIRANA, July 6 – RTSH Director General Eni Vasili highlighted digital transformation as the public broadcaster’s main strategic priority during a parliamentary committee session reviewing RTSH’s 2025 performance. She said public media must reach audiences wherever they consume content. According to Vasili, the future of public broadcasting depends on a …

News
Ministry of Defence reports 16 wildfire hotspots across Albania, five active but under control

TIRANA, July 6 – The Ministry of Defence said 16 wildfire hotspots were recorded across Albania during the day under the coordination of the National Civil Protection Agency. Meanwhile, the ministry said five active hotspots remain under control. It added that operational structures continue work to fully extinguish them. Operations …

News
Velipojë: Well-Managed Public Beaches Offer Clean and Organized Conditions for Visitors

Velipojë beach, with a coastline stretching over 14 kilometers, remains one of the most visited destinations by both domestic and foreign tourists this summer season. First, authorities have expanded public beach areas and improved coastal management, which has significantly increased the number of visitors. Next, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared …

News
Parliament committee approves resolution on RTSH activity for 2025

TIRANA, July 6 – The Parliamentary Committee on Civic Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight approved on Sunday the draft resolution assessing the activity of Albanian Radio Television (RTSH) for 2025. Earlier in the session, RTSH Director General Eni Vasili said digital transformation remains a core institutional priority in cooperation with …

News
Today marks final deadline for National Agriculture Support Scheme applications

TIRANA, July 6 – Albania’s Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (AZHBR) said today is the final day to apply for the 2026 National Agriculture Support Scheme after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development extended the deadline. The agency said it will accept applications for all support measures until …

News

Monday Briefing from the Balkans: July 6, 2026

Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here

News

Second phase of soft loan scheme opens, applications due by July 31, official says

TIRANA, July 6 – The second phase of the municipal soft loan scheme opened on July 1 after the completion of the first stage, a city official said. He said 2,500 applicants were approved in the first phase out of 4,909 applications. However, he added that several applicants were excluded …

News

Turkey at the centre of global diplomacy as Ankara hosts NATO Summit on 7 July, agenda revealed

TIRANA, July 6 – Turkey will host the 36th NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government in Ankara on 7 July. The meeting takes place amid global uncertainty. Ankara last hosted a NATO summit in Istanbul in 2004. Meanwhile, the summit will gather 32 heads of state and government. …

News

Preza Castle: Where History and Nature Meet in a Peaceful Landscape

Just a few kilometers from Tirana, Preza Castle rises on a green hill, and it stands as one of the most distinctive historical and panoramic sites in the area. First, visitors reach the castle through a rural landscape, and they pass traditional houses and green hills that create a calm …

News

RTSH Governing Council head outlines reforms for RTSH Parliament channel, archives and auditing

TIRANA, July 6 – RTSH Governing Council Chairman Fatjon Hoxhalli said the public broadcaster is strengthening the structure of the RTSH Parliament channel as part of a broader effort to modernize its operations. Speaking at the parliamentary Committee on Citizens’ Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight, Hoxhalli said the channel has …

News

RTSH targets digital transformation, Director Vasili: Public media must be present wherever the audience is

TIRANA, July 6 – RTSH Director General Eni Vasili highlighted digital transformation as the public broadcaster’s main strategic priority during a parliamentary committee session reviewing RTSH’s 2025 performance. She said public media must reach audiences wherever they consume content. According to Vasili, the future of public broadcasting depends on a …

News

Ministry of Defence reports 16 wildfire hotspots across Albania, five active but under control

TIRANA, July 6 – The Ministry of Defence said 16 wildfire hotspots were recorded across Albania during the day under the coordination of the National Civil Protection Agency. Meanwhile, the ministry said five active hotspots remain under control. It added that operational structures continue work to fully extinguish them. Operations …

News

Velipojë: Well-Managed Public Beaches Offer Clean and Organized Conditions for Visitors

Velipojë beach, with a coastline stretching over 14 kilometers, remains one of the most visited destinations by both domestic and foreign tourists this summer season. First, authorities have expanded public beach areas and improved coastal management, which has significantly increased the number of visitors. Next, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared …

News

Parliament committee approves resolution on RTSH activity for 2025

TIRANA, July 6 – The Parliamentary Committee on Civic Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight approved on Sunday the draft resolution assessing the activity of Albanian Radio Television (RTSH) for 2025. Earlier in the session, RTSH Director General Eni Vasili said digital transformation remains a core institutional priority in cooperation with …

News

Today marks final deadline for National Agriculture Support Scheme applications

TIRANA, July 6 – Albania’s Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development (AZHBR) said today is the final day to apply for the 2026 National Agriculture Support Scheme after the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development extended the deadline. The agency said it will accept applications for all support measures until …