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Arrested by SPAK, Erzen Brecani under house arrest

The security measure for Erzen Breçani has changed. This Tuesday, the Appeal of the Special Court decided that Brecani should be released from the cell and imposed the security measure of “house arrest” on him. “Brecani is suspected to have been aware of the criminal activity. The measure “arrest in …

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SPAK starts investigations for “January 21”

SPAK has officially launched the investigation into the January 21 murders. The Special Prosecutor’s Office announces that the proceedings have been registered for the criminal offenses “Murder in other qualifying circumstances”, “Abuse of duty”, and “Performing actions that prevent the discovery of the truth”, carried out in cooperation. In the …

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Leapfrogging Gas, Western Balkans Can Get Cleaner Air and Save Billions

With significant potential for green energy and limited gas infrastructure, the countries of the Western Balkans have a golden opportunity to skip gas as a transition fuel, savings billions of euros on the way. Original post Here

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Albania’s Authorities Allow Jailed Politician Beleri to be Sworn in as MEP

Authorities in Tirana allowed jailed ethnic Greek mayor-elect of Himara, Fredi Beleri, to go to Strasbourg to be sworn in after he won a seat in the European Parliament on behalf of Greece’s ruling party. Original post Here

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Failure of the meeting for the regulatory commission of elections in Himara, Socialist Party sues CEC

The Socialist Party has filed a lawsuit against the Central Election Commission (CEC). ABC News journalist Fjona Xhafaj reports that the lawsuit from the socialists came after the Regulatory Commission in the CEC did not approve some procedural deadlines for the partial elections in Himara that will be held on …

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Altin Dumani present the SPAK report to the deputies

Monday’s plenary session will focus on justice institutions. The agenda includes the reports of the General Prosecutor’s Office, SPAK, ILD, KLGJ and KLP, with the presence of their leaders. “Olsian Çela will start reporting and then Altin Dumani. This of course comes at a time when SPAK has important issues …

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The law for arms trade/ Minister Tabaku: It is changing twice in a few months

The Parliament has approved the request of the Council of Ministers to pass with an accelerated procedure a draft law on weapons and ammunition. This caused debates from the opposition, where MP Jorida Tabaku said that the law is changing twice in a few months at the request of an …

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Decriminalization/ Chief Prosecutor: In 2023, 77 people were registered for in-depth verification

Chief Prosecutor Olsian Cela says that during 2023, related to decriminalization, out of 91 new requests, 77 processes were registered for in-depth verification. While reporting to the Parliament of Albania, C ela stated that of these, 38 requests were made by the Department of Public Administration and 39 by the …

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Albania’s Promised ‘Open Government’ Remains on Paper Only

More than a decade since it joined, Albania has made little progress in fulfilling the commitments made under the US ‘Open Government’ initiative. Original post Here

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LGBT Pride and Euro 2024 Become Focus for Online Hate Speech

BIRN’s roundup of digital rights violations for June shows how marches to celebrate LGBT Pride month attracted online insults and threats, while nationalists used the Euro 2024 football tournament to voice ethnic slurs on social media. Original post Here

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Kosova acting FM urges The Hague court to deliver a fair decision

TIRANA, July 28 – Kosova’s acting Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca called on the Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague to deliver a judicial decision, not a political one, regarding the upcoming ruling on former Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) leaders. The court is scheduled to issue its decision on September 16. …

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Selenicë Folklore Group Brings Albanian Polyphony to Kosovo

Albania’s Selenicë Municipal Folklore Group represented the country at the 8th Balkan Festival “Opoja Vallëzon” in Bresanë, Kosovo, during the weekend. The group from Labëria, Vlora, performed on the festival’s opening night and introduced southern Albanian polyphonic singing to the event for the first time. This traditional art form, recognised …

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Shkodër doubles disability benefit for 432 children

TIRANA, July 28 – Around 432 children with disabilities aged 0–18 in Shkodër have started receiving a doubled monthly benefit. The measure covers all disability categories, including beneficiaries under the bio-psycho-social assessment scheme, blind persons, and people with paraplegic or tetraplegic status. Alma Mehmetaj, Director of the Social Service in …

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Finance minister Malaj: United States loan ensures prudent public finance management

TIRANA, July 28 – Parliament ratified the loan agreement with the United States under the Foreign Military Financing program. The agreement opens the way for a $302 million investment to modernize Albania’s Armed Forces. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said the agreement marks an important step for national security. He added …

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Electoral reform panel discusses measures on administrative resource use

TIRANA, July 28 – The Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform held a technical roundtable on preventing and addressing the use of administrative resources during election campaigns. Committee Chair Damian Gjiknuri said the panel aims to prepare a legislative package before the end of the year. He noted that lawmakers …

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15th–16th Century Fountain Discovered in Rromës Village

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an old fountain with historical value in Rromës village, Selenicë Municipality. Workers found the structure during the construction of a water storage facility. Local residents informed authorities about the discovery, and specialists from the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Vlora inspected and documented …

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112 years since the outbreak of World War I

TIRANA, July 28 – World War I began on July 28, 1914. The conflict started after the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand network. The assassination ended the era of European empires and opened a bloody chapter in history. …

News
Albania and Moldova strengthen cooperation on customs modernization

TIRANA, July 28 – Albania and Moldova are strengthening cooperation to modernize customs systems, align procedures with European Union standards, and facilitate trade. General Director of Customs Besmir Beja met with General Director of Moldova’s Customs Service Radu Vrabie during the first high-level Albania–Moldova meeting. The meeting received support from …

News
Holta Canyon, a journey through Albania’s natural beauty

TIRANA, July 28 – Holta Canyon in Gramsh is one of Albania’s most visited tourist attractions. The destination offers visitors a journey through a landscape shaped by rock formations and thermal waters. Its caves and natural features make it an attractive site for exploration. PM Rama shared images of Holta …

News
Albanian economy grows 3.7% in first quarter of 2026

TIRANA, July – Albania’s economy grew by 3.7% in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding the average growth rate of Western Balkan countries and the European Union. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj presented the latest economic indicators and said the Finance Ministry expects growth to reach 4% by the end of …

News

Kosova acting FM urges The Hague court to deliver a fair decision

TIRANA, July 28 – Kosova’s acting Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca called on the Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague to deliver a judicial decision, not a political one, regarding the upcoming ruling on former Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) leaders. The court is scheduled to issue its decision on September 16. …

News

Selenicë Folklore Group Brings Albanian Polyphony to Kosovo

Albania’s Selenicë Municipal Folklore Group represented the country at the 8th Balkan Festival “Opoja Vallëzon” in Bresanë, Kosovo, during the weekend. The group from Labëria, Vlora, performed on the festival’s opening night and introduced southern Albanian polyphonic singing to the event for the first time. This traditional art form, recognised …

News

Shkodër doubles disability benefit for 432 children

TIRANA, July 28 – Around 432 children with disabilities aged 0–18 in Shkodër have started receiving a doubled monthly benefit. The measure covers all disability categories, including beneficiaries under the bio-psycho-social assessment scheme, blind persons, and people with paraplegic or tetraplegic status. Alma Mehmetaj, Director of the Social Service in …

News

Finance minister Malaj: United States loan ensures prudent public finance management

TIRANA, July 28 – Parliament ratified the loan agreement with the United States under the Foreign Military Financing program. The agreement opens the way for a $302 million investment to modernize Albania’s Armed Forces. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said the agreement marks an important step for national security. He added …

News

Electoral reform panel discusses measures on administrative resource use

TIRANA, July 28 – The Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform held a technical roundtable on preventing and addressing the use of administrative resources during election campaigns. Committee Chair Damian Gjiknuri said the panel aims to prepare a legislative package before the end of the year. He noted that lawmakers …

News

15th–16th Century Fountain Discovered in Rromës Village

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of an old fountain with historical value in Rromës village, Selenicë Municipality. Workers found the structure during the construction of a water storage facility. Local residents informed authorities about the discovery, and specialists from the Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage in Vlora inspected and documented …

News

112 years since the outbreak of World War I

TIRANA, July 28 – World War I began on July 28, 1914. The conflict started after the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Bosnian Serb Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand network. The assassination ended the era of European empires and opened a bloody chapter in history. …

News

Albania and Moldova strengthen cooperation on customs modernization

TIRANA, July 28 – Albania and Moldova are strengthening cooperation to modernize customs systems, align procedures with European Union standards, and facilitate trade. General Director of Customs Besmir Beja met with General Director of Moldova’s Customs Service Radu Vrabie during the first high-level Albania–Moldova meeting. The meeting received support from …

News

Holta Canyon, a journey through Albania’s natural beauty

TIRANA, July 28 – Holta Canyon in Gramsh is one of Albania’s most visited tourist attractions. The destination offers visitors a journey through a landscape shaped by rock formations and thermal waters. Its caves and natural features make it an attractive site for exploration. PM Rama shared images of Holta …

News

Albanian economy grows 3.7% in first quarter of 2026

TIRANA, July – Albania’s economy grew by 3.7% in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding the average growth rate of Western Balkan countries and the European Union. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj presented the latest economic indicators and said the Finance Ministry expects growth to reach 4% by the end of …