Blog
News

Two arrested as over EUR 82,000 caught in Muriqan border

Two people have been arrested and two others have been criminally prosecuted this Friday. Police revealed that they were punished after attempting to smuggle several thousand euros through the border point of Muriqan without declaring them. Owner and driver of the bus, in the dashboard of which were hidden 82,010 …

Read More
News

Rama in Berlin: We will do our best to have a growth in energy and tourism

Prime Minister Edi Rama in Berlin, invited for one of the talks at the new international forum “Berlin Global Dialogue”, also spoke about Albania’s economy. He emphasized that very soon the Berlin Summit will be held in Tirana, where President Von der Leyen has a new growth plan for the …

Read More
News

The son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha summons at SPAK

The Special Prosecutor’s Office has requested to call as witnesses in the “Gerdeci” file, the son of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Shkelzen Berisha and the former Minister of Justice of the time Aldo Bumçi. In addition to them, SPAK asked the court to provide clarifications to the former Minister …

Read More
News

Albanian woman shot dead in middle of street in Italy

A 35-year-old Albanian woman was shot in the middle of the road in the province of Casterlfiorentino, Italy, around 20:00 on Thursday. Passers-by immediately notified the ambulance, but 35-year-old Klodiana Vefa, who worked as a waitress in a pizzeria a few meters from the scene, died before being transferred to …

Read More
News

Kosovo police conducts checks in North after ‘terrorist attack’

Kosovo Police has announced that its officersare conducting checks in five places in three municipalities in the north of Kosovo, related to the recent events in the village of Banjské, where police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed in the attack and two others were injured. According to local media, it …

Read More
News

Husband of woman shot to death in Italy main suspect

New details have come to light regarding the incident in Castelfiorentino, where the 35-year-old Albanian Klodiana Vefa was shot in the middle of the street. Preliminary suspicions focus on her husband, Alfred Vefa, with whom the 35-year-old was separating and no longer lived. Her husband is missing and is believed …

Read More
News

Rama: From October 1, over 767,000 pensioners benefit from an 8.6% increase

Prime Minister Edi Rama started the day with a post about the decision on pension indexation. From October 1, over 767,000 pensioners will benefit from an 8.6% increase in their pension. “GOOD MORNING and informing you that from October 1, over 767 thousand pensioners of all categories will benefit from …

Read More
News

Woman involved in murder threatened by victim’s family

Cooperation of Artan Tafani, Laert Haxhi’s “friend” with the justice system, brought to light dozens of criminal events in the country and abroad, including six murders. Police have carried out several operations and so far 12 people have been arrested, including a woman, identified as Klea Gjata, 27 years old. …

Read More
News

Police: Only one suspect for Dukagjin assassination

Director of Shkodra Police, Ervin Hodaj has held this Friday in a media conference, where he spoke about the recent criminal events that occurred in this district. In his speech, Hodaj revealed that regarding the assassination attempt in Dukagjin, where Lek Guri was killed and Gjin Guri was injured, until …

Read More
News

Two persons to face justice on vote-rigging charges

Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has taken this Friday for trial Kristo Agalliu, who was filmed talking about buying and selling votes in the May 14 elections. According to the local media, the 52-year-old was the coordinator of the Freedom Party in Kuçova that promised to bring …

Read More
News
The False Civil Society and the Real One

In Albania, real civic society is no longer in donor-funded conference rooms. It is in the streets. By Mrika Temali Tirana Times, June 16, 2026 – Thirty-five years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed …

News
UEFA Inspects Albania’s Stadiums Ahead of EURO U-21 2027

UEFA representatives continued inspections in Albania as preparations advance for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027, which Albania will co-host. First, UEFA experts visited stadiums over a four-day inspection tour. They assessed technical and operational readiness for the tournament. They focused on lighting systems, backup generators, security measures, and other …

News
Housing prices continue to rise as tourism drives property market demand

TIRANA, June 16 – Housing prices in Albania continued to rise during 2025. At the same time, transaction volumes fell in the second half of the year. The Bank of Albania said the trend requires more time and data to determine whether it reflects a slowdown or a correction after …

News
Fuel prices cut, diesel at 180 ALL per litre, petrol at 168 ALL per litre

TIRANA, June 16 – The Transparency Board has decided to reduce fuel prices in Albania. It cut diesel by 3 ALL per litre and petrol by 2 ALL per litre. Under the decision, diesel will sell at a maximum retail price of 180 ALL per litre. The board set the …

News
Albania U-19 Draw Armenia and Cyprus in Euro 2027 Qualifiers

Albania’s U-19 national team learned its opponents for the second round of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2027 qualifiers. UEFA held the draw in Nyon, Switzerland. It placed Albania U-19 in Group 6 of League B. First, Albania will face Armenia and Cyprus in the group stage. The team will …

News
US signals “adjustment of contribution” to KFOR mission

TIRANA, June 16 – The United States is expected to adjust its contribution to NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosova. The move comes as part of a broader review of the Alliance’s military presence in the country. A US European Command (EUCOM) official told Radio Free Europe that the decision follows …

News
Speaker Peleshi in Netherlands, support reaffirmed for faster EU negotiation process

TIRANA, June 16 – Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Niko Peleshi has paid an official visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, where he met Speaker of the House of Representatives Thom van Campen, Senate President Mei Li Vos, and members of the European Affairs Committee. The visit comes at …

News
PM Rama to attend Eastern Committee Annual Conference in Berlin, focus on investment and EU path

TIRANA, June 16 – Prime Minister Edi Rama will take part in the Eastern Committee Annual Conference in Berlin, one of the key platforms for economic and political dialogue between Germany and Eastern European countries. The Media and Information Agency said Rama will also meet members of the committee’s board …

News
Israeli photographer captures Vjosa river landscapes in Albania

TIRANA, June 16 – Natural landscapes across Albania continue to attract visitors from around the world. Unspoiled rivers, mountains, and rural scenery are shaping growing interest among photographers who seek less-explored Mediterranean destinations. Iris from Israel is among them. She is a photographer with more than 40 years of professional …

News
Lezha and Bra sign twinning agreement

TIRANA, June 16 – The Municipality of Lezha and the Municipality of Bra in Italy signed a twinning agreement that aims to strengthen ties between the two communities and expand cooperation in several areas. Lezha Mayor Pjerin Ndreu and Bra Mayor Giovanni Fogliato signed the agreement in the presence of …

News

The False Civil Society and the Real One

In Albania, real civic society is no longer in donor-funded conference rooms. It is in the streets. By Mrika Temali Tirana Times, June 16, 2026 – Thirty-five years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed …

News

UEFA Inspects Albania’s Stadiums Ahead of EURO U-21 2027

UEFA representatives continued inspections in Albania as preparations advance for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2027, which Albania will co-host. First, UEFA experts visited stadiums over a four-day inspection tour. They assessed technical and operational readiness for the tournament. They focused on lighting systems, backup generators, security measures, and other …

News

Housing prices continue to rise as tourism drives property market demand

TIRANA, June 16 – Housing prices in Albania continued to rise during 2025. At the same time, transaction volumes fell in the second half of the year. The Bank of Albania said the trend requires more time and data to determine whether it reflects a slowdown or a correction after …

News

Fuel prices cut, diesel at 180 ALL per litre, petrol at 168 ALL per litre

TIRANA, June 16 – The Transparency Board has decided to reduce fuel prices in Albania. It cut diesel by 3 ALL per litre and petrol by 2 ALL per litre. Under the decision, diesel will sell at a maximum retail price of 180 ALL per litre. The board set the …

News

Albania U-19 Draw Armenia and Cyprus in Euro 2027 Qualifiers

Albania’s U-19 national team learned its opponents for the second round of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship 2027 qualifiers. UEFA held the draw in Nyon, Switzerland. It placed Albania U-19 in Group 6 of League B. First, Albania will face Armenia and Cyprus in the group stage. The team will …

News

US signals “adjustment of contribution” to KFOR mission

TIRANA, June 16 – The United States is expected to adjust its contribution to NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosova. The move comes as part of a broader review of the Alliance’s military presence in the country. A US European Command (EUCOM) official told Radio Free Europe that the decision follows …

News

Speaker Peleshi in Netherlands, support reaffirmed for faster EU negotiation process

TIRANA, June 16 – Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Niko Peleshi has paid an official visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, where he met Speaker of the House of Representatives Thom van Campen, Senate President Mei Li Vos, and members of the European Affairs Committee. The visit comes at …

News

PM Rama to attend Eastern Committee Annual Conference in Berlin, focus on investment and EU path

TIRANA, June 16 – Prime Minister Edi Rama will take part in the Eastern Committee Annual Conference in Berlin, one of the key platforms for economic and political dialogue between Germany and Eastern European countries. The Media and Information Agency said Rama will also meet members of the committee’s board …

News

Israeli photographer captures Vjosa river landscapes in Albania

TIRANA, June 16 – Natural landscapes across Albania continue to attract visitors from around the world. Unspoiled rivers, mountains, and rural scenery are shaping growing interest among photographers who seek less-explored Mediterranean destinations. Iris from Israel is among them. She is a photographer with more than 40 years of professional …

News

Lezha and Bra sign twinning agreement

TIRANA, June 16 – The Municipality of Lezha and the Municipality of Bra in Italy signed a twinning agreement that aims to strengthen ties between the two communities and expand cooperation in several areas. Lezha Mayor Pjerin Ndreu and Bra Mayor Giovanni Fogliato signed the agreement in the presence of …