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Buying votes, SPAK closes investigations for Agim Loci

The Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has closed the investigation into Agim Loci, who is accused of election corruption. According to SPAK, Loci has given a monetary sum of up to 10,000 ALL to vote in favor of his daughter, who competed in the May 14 elections, on the list of …

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Analysis: Albania’s parliament undermines Constitutional Court in Xhaçka ruling

Albania’s parliament, under the control of the Socialist Party, has overturned a decision made by the Constitutional Court that would see to the expulsion of MP Olta Xhaçka from parliament. Xhaçka is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the Minister of Defence, and is seen as a …

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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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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. …

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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 …