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A 24 year old arrested for smuggling emigrants

The police operation coded “Road Guard 73” is finalized by the structures of DVP Gjirokastër and DVKM Gjirokastër. A 24-year-old man was arrested in the act of transporting, against payment, 13 immigrants from third countries who had illegally entered Albania and intended to cross to EU countries. A Pakistani citizen …

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“Gerdec file”,the hearing session for former minister Fatmir Mediu is being held today

This Friday, the court session will be held for the former Minister of Defense, Fatmir Mediu, for the Gerdec explosion. In the last session, the lawyers of the former minister asked to waive the summary trial, but the court stated that only the defendant has the right to make this …

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Begaj in Kazakhstan, meeting with his counterpart Tokayev

The President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, accompanied by the First Lady Armanda Begaj, was received today on a state visit to Kazakhstan by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This visit marks the first visit of a president from Albania to Kazakhstan, and comes …

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Osmani with Stoltenberg: Kosovo is a success story of NATO, ready to do our job

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, during the joint conference with the head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said that the successes of her country are also successes of the North Atlantic Alliance. According to her, today Kosovo has the brightest democracy in the region and this achievement is undoubtedly attributed …

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Interior minister praises police operation on cannabis plants’ destruction

Interior Minister, Taulant Balla, has welcomed this Thursday the operation of the State Police, which has made possible the destruction of thousands of cannabis roots and the identification of the perpetrators. Through a post on social networks, Minister Balla declared that so far, 202 perpetrators have been identified nationwide, of …

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About 13,000 cannabis plants destroyed in a huge operation

A large operation was carried out this Thursday in the entire district of Shkodra, where it became possible to destroy by burning 12,831 cannabis sativa narcotic plants. According to the police, the mega-operation was carried out by the Shkodër Local Police Directorate, in cooperation with the “RENEA” Special Department and …

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‘Together We Win’ coalition seeks to run in Kukes election

“Together We Win” coalition has submitted to the Central Elections Comission (CEC) registration of its candidate in the elections for the municipality of Kukës, which will be held on September 24. Demand of the opposition is dated September 6, while even in these elections, Berisha’s candidate, Emri Vata, is registered …

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Israel-Albania business forum, Balluku: Trade exchanges between the two countries have increased

The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, participated in the business forum, Albania – Israel. In her speech, Balluku said that the two countries have a long history of friendship and cooperation. The minister said that in recent years there has been a growing dialogue between Albania and Israel, …

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Seven post office employees arrested for embezzling pensions

Seven employees of the Albanian Post Office ended up in police custody this Thursday. They are accused of embezzling the pensions of citizens who live abroad as well as the payments of disabled people. Their arrest was made after the citizen’s complaint. Detainees worked in Dibra, Shkodra and Tropoja, while …

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Fier, two injured in car crash

An accident happened this Thursday in the vicinity of “Qafa e Koshovices” in Fier, where two vehicles collided. A “Benz” type vehicle collided with a goods van and as a result of the strong collision the two drivers were injured, who were urgently sent to the regional hospital of Fier. …

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Anti-Government Protests Escalate in Tirana as Demonstrators Block Parliament

Tirana Times, July 03, 2026 – Albania’s month-long anti-government protest movement entered a more confrontational phase on Thursday, as demonstrators gathered outside Parliament, blocked access points and clashed with police while lawmakers were holding a plenary session inside. The protest, now extending into its second month, has moved beyond its …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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

Anti-Government Protests Escalate in Tirana as Demonstrators Block Parliament

Tirana Times, July 03, 2026 – Albania’s month-long anti-government protest movement entered a more confrontational phase on Thursday, as demonstrators gathered outside Parliament, blocked access points and clashed with police while lawmakers were holding a plenary session inside. The protest, now extending into its second month, has moved beyond its …

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 …