Blog
News

President Begaj: 25 years ago, the military alliance and the US saved Kosovo

The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, gave a message on the 25th anniversary of the launch of the NATO operation to liberate Kosovo from the Serbian genocide. Through a post on social networks, Begaj expressed thanks to the Alliance and the United States of America for this historic act …

Read More
News

Father and son arrested for carrying firearms in their home

Father and son were arrested this Sunday in the capital, because they had firearms in their apartment. As part of the “Home” police operation, father and son were arrested, specifically Klaos Haldeda and Ismet Haldeda, aged 21 and 42, residents of Vaqarr. During the physical search, the Police services found …

Read More
News

Gunshot in Shijak, one injured

Shooting with firearms is reported to have happened a few moments ago in Shijak. As a result, one person was injured, who was urgently sent to the hospital. According to information from the police, it is known that the incident happened just a few minutes ago in the village of …

Read More
News

Wanted for fraud and drug trafficking, two arrested in Tirana

Two people wanted for fraud and drug trafficking were arrested this Friday in the capital. Citizens aged 35 and 44 have fallen into handcuffs. Services of Police Station No. 6, in implementation of the measures drawn up within the police mega-operation coded “Rule of Law”, based on the information provided …

Read More
News

Three arrested after tried to escape police controls, 1kg cocaine seized

Three people have been arrested by Tirana police during an operation against drug trafficking in Albania. The arrested are Eneo Sulejmani, chairman of the Intercity Transport Association, Shkelqim Ostreni, 26-year-old and Igli Begaj, 21-year-old. Police identified a vehicle type ‘Wolksvagen Tiguan’ and the driver did not stop to the police …

Read More
News

Elections/ Media: Let’s return the pre-election coalitions

The chairman of the Republican Party, Fatmir Mediu, participated in this Thursday’s plenary session in the Assembly. During his speech, he spoke about the discussion on Electoral Reform and Open Lists, where he said that constitutionality should be restored. So he emphasized that the agreement with the OSCE should be …

Read More
News

Basha excluded by Parliament

It is not meant to be at least one normal parliamentary session. After the consensus reached between the democrats and majority for a normal parliamentary life, now the small group of democrat MPs gathered around Lulzim Basha protested. Basha himself urged since the beginning of today’s session, that the Parliament …

Read More
News

Collaborator of Laert Haxhiu, Klea Gjata released from prison

The Special Court against Corruption released from prison, Klea Gjata, friend of Laert Haxhiu. She was arrested last September after the testimony of Arben Tafani, with the accuse for supporting the crime perpetrator and for not denouncing a crime. Her lawyer pretends that the family of Gjata was threatened by …

Read More
News

The Constitutional Court rejected Fredi Beleri’s request to be released from prison

The elected mayor of Himara, Fredi Beleri, was sentenced to two years in prison by the Special Court. A decision for which his lawyer emphasized that they will appeal. Beleri claimed that the court had conducted an irregular process and that his right to be elected had been violated due …

Read More
News

After 6 months, the Assembly returns to normality

The Parliament of Albania returns to normality, after several months of noise and chaos. The Speaker of the Assembly, Lindita Nikolla, at the beginning of the plenary session, presented the agenda to the legislators, while the deputies of Re-establishment are expected to join the votes with the socialists for the …

Read More
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 …

News
Durrës Port Authority assists disabled Maltese yacht

TIRANA, July 3 – The Durrës Port Authority successfully coordinated a towing operation for the Maltese-flagged yacht Infinity Nine after it reported engine failure at sea. The authority said the yacht requested assistance about 20 nautical miles west of Bisht Palla. Meanwhile, the operation became possible through cooperation with the …

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 …

News

Durrës Port Authority assists disabled Maltese yacht

TIRANA, July 3 – The Durrës Port Authority successfully coordinated a towing operation for the Maltese-flagged yacht Infinity Nine after it reported engine failure at sea. The authority said the yacht requested assistance about 20 nautical miles west of Bisht Palla. Meanwhile, the operation became possible through cooperation with the …