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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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Tirana/ 13 arrested in one week for various criminal offenses

Thirteen people have been arrested and 13 citizens have been prosecuted for various criminal offenses in the field of road traffic in one week. 13,578 administrative measures have been imposed: 34 measures for black glasses. 1447 measures for speeding over the permitted rates. 452 measures for mobile phone use while …

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“Maritime Security”/ From Ksamil to Velipoja, the border police block 34 vessels

The Border Police has blocked 34 vessels, from Ksamil to Velipojë, within the “Maritime Security” operation. The Maritime Police Unit and the Border Police have intensified controls along the entire coastline, lake and river areas. During this week, the Border Police blocked 34 vessels, of which 24 jet skis, 6 …

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Trump assassination attempt, Rama: This is a tragedy for the democratic world

Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the assassination of former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Through a post on social networks, Rama says that it is disturbing to see that a candidate for president in the USA is shot during a rally and where one person remained a victim. …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

News
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, …

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“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 …

News
Durrës Port records more than 75,000 passengers in first 10 days of August

TIRANA, August 10 – Durrës Port recorded high passenger traffic during the first 10 days of August, as the summer travel season reached its peak. According to the Durrës Port Authority, 75,962 passengers travelled through the port between August 1 and 10. Most of the traffic involved arrivals, with 51,259 …

News
Foreign tourists fill Durrës, praising beaches, hospitality and prices

TIRANA, August 10 – Durrës remains a popular choice for foreign tourists spending their summer holidays in Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video today featuring visitors from Germany, the Netherlands, England, the Czech Republic, Italy and other countries. Rama said the city’s sea, history, culture and Albanian hospitality …

News
Problem loans fall to 3.7% in June, lowest level since 2007

TIRANA, August 10 – Problem loans in Albania’s banking system fell again in June. They accounted for 3.7% of total lending, down from 3.77% in May. According to Bank of Albania statistics, this marks the lowest level since 2007. The ratio also fell by 0.31 percentage points from June 2025. …

News
High wildfire risk in 5 municipalities as temperatures reach 40°C

TIRANA, August 10 – Albania faces a high wildfire risk this afternoon and tomorrow, with temperatures reaching 40°C. The Institute of Geosciences (IGJEO) has placed 5 counties under a high-risk warning for forest fires. The warning covers Lezha, Durrës, Tirana, Elbasan and Fier. IGJEO expects a moderate risk in Shkodër, …

News
Albania handles more than 240,000 flights through July

TIRANA, August 10 – Albania’s civil aviation sector is recording new highs in 2026 as summer tourism drives passenger and flight traffic. Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi visited the public company Albcontrol today, to review measures for managing the increased air traffic. Albcontrol Director Dritan Isaku said the organisation …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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, …

News

“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 …

News

Durrës Port records more than 75,000 passengers in first 10 days of August

TIRANA, August 10 – Durrës Port recorded high passenger traffic during the first 10 days of August, as the summer travel season reached its peak. According to the Durrës Port Authority, 75,962 passengers travelled through the port between August 1 and 10. Most of the traffic involved arrivals, with 51,259 …

News

Foreign tourists fill Durrës, praising beaches, hospitality and prices

TIRANA, August 10 – Durrës remains a popular choice for foreign tourists spending their summer holidays in Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video today featuring visitors from Germany, the Netherlands, England, the Czech Republic, Italy and other countries. Rama said the city’s sea, history, culture and Albanian hospitality …

News

Problem loans fall to 3.7% in June, lowest level since 2007

TIRANA, August 10 – Problem loans in Albania’s banking system fell again in June. They accounted for 3.7% of total lending, down from 3.77% in May. According to Bank of Albania statistics, this marks the lowest level since 2007. The ratio also fell by 0.31 percentage points from June 2025. …

News

High wildfire risk in 5 municipalities as temperatures reach 40°C

TIRANA, August 10 – Albania faces a high wildfire risk this afternoon and tomorrow, with temperatures reaching 40°C. The Institute of Geosciences (IGJEO) has placed 5 counties under a high-risk warning for forest fires. The warning covers Lezha, Durrës, Tirana, Elbasan and Fier. IGJEO expects a moderate risk in Shkodër, …

News

Albania handles more than 240,000 flights through July

TIRANA, August 10 – Albania’s civil aviation sector is recording new highs in 2026 as summer tourism drives passenger and flight traffic. Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi visited the public company Albcontrol today, to review measures for managing the increased air traffic. Albcontrol Director Dritan Isaku said the organisation …