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Shkoder, a 51-year old is killed in his own home

Gunshots were recorded a few minutes ago in the city of Shkodra. As a result, it is reported that the citizen, Petrit Vukansi, about 51 years old, died. The event happened in the “Skenderbeg” neighborhood, near the Catholic cemetery. ABC News reporter Simon Shkreli reports that the author killed the …

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Op-Ed: The connection between justice reform and prosperity

By Ambassador YURI KIM* U.S.-Albanian relations are at an all-time high. We are Allies in NATO and partners on the UN Security Council. Albania has emerged as a thriving – even if imperfect – democracy in the Western Balkans.  As we know from our own experience, democracy can never be taken …

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New lead on Kenyan young woman’s murder in Albania

State Police and the Prosecution have recently opened a new investigative lead regarding the death of the Kenyan young girl, Joy Ayoko. According to the local media, the investigators have doubts that the 22-year-old woman, who worked as a croupier in a casino in Tirana, gave information to a player …

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SP’s candidate for May 14th polls introduced in Belsh

Prime minister and Head of the Socialist Party (SP), Edi Rama has introduced this Monday his political force’s candidate of Belsh Municipality, Arif Tafani. In his speech, the Head of Government underlined that Belsh has an extraordinary tourist potential, promising that they will work with concrete projects, in order for …

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The murder of Nikolaj, Harry Simpson was discovered first by police

In a video obtained by ABC News, the Portuguese citizen who killed Nikulaj, Ruben Saraiva, can be seen taking a selfie video with the residents of the area in the city of Shkodra, where he stayed for several days on rent before the murder. He seems to be in the …

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Vanishing Foreign Workers Leave Albania’s Short-Staffed Businesses Frustrated

Importing foreign workers from poor countries sounds like a quick fix for Albania’s labour shortage – but many of them soon disappear to the West. Original post Here

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The new judicial map, 9 courts and the prosecutor’s office “dissolve”

Nine courts and the prosecutor’s office will no longer function starting from today due to the implementation of the second phase of the new judicial map. The Courts of First Instance that are closed are those of Tropoja, Mati, Kurbin, Puka, Kruja, Kavaja, Lushnja, Permet and Pogradec. The first phase …

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A 36-year arrested for trying to smuggle Sri Lanka woman into Montenegro

A 36-year-old man from Sri Lanka has been arrested his Monday by the Police of Shkodra after trying to illegally cross a citizen to Montenegro. According to the police, citizen with the initials J.J., 36 years old, resident in Paris, France, was arrested for the criminal offense of “Assisting in …

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Murder of Albanian businessman, 4 arrested, among them a woman

The number of those arrested for the murder of Ardian Nikulaj in Shengjin has reached 4. The police also announced the arrest of the British citizen, Harriet Bridgeman. “Following the research work on the location and capture of the persons wanted for the murder of the citizen Ardian Nikulaj, thanks …

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Vlora: Ex-husband beats woman and family members, then burns house

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the village of Llakatund in Vlora was shocked as a man got into a fight with his former wife and her family members, then burned their house, leading to the hospitalization of several people. Sources say that the cause had been the divorce …

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PM Rama responds to Belgrade over Ibër: Rivers follow geography, not diplomatic points

TIRANA, August 11 – Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to the dispute between Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha and Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric over Serbia’s intention to change the course of the Ibër River. Rama described the exchange as an interesting summer debate. He said Albania has no …

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Hot weather to push temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius

TIRANA, August 11 – Albania will experience stable atmospheric conditions on Tuesday, according to the Military Meteorological Service. Clear skies will prevail across the country. Passing clouds will develop over mountainous areas from midday through the afternoon. Local rain may accompany the clouds in the high mountains of southern Albania. …

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25 wildfires reported in 24 hours, 5 remain active

TIRANA, August 11 – Authorities reported 25 wildfires across Albania over the past 24 hours. Firefighters have extinguished most of the blazes. Five remain active and 1 area remains under monitoring. The Ministry of Defence said 37 firefighting vehicles and 365 operational personnel joined the response. The Armed Forces provided …

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Tourism grows in Dropull as natural beauty and cultural heritage attract visitors

TIRANA, August 11 – Dropull and its surrounding areas are emerging as an increasingly attractive tourist destination in Gjirokastër Municipality. Local tourism officials report a steady rise in visitor numbers each year. Foreign tourists have visited sites including the Adrianople amphitheatre in Sofratika, the Church of Lower Peshkëpi and Sotir …

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New tourist information office to promote Shkodër destinations and local offers

TIRANA, August 11 – Shkodër Municipality is setting up a new tourist information office in the city centre. The facility will guide visitors and provide information about local destinations, activities and tourism services. The office will have dedicated staff and digital services. Visitors will receive free information throughout the day. …

News
FM Hoxha responds to Serbian counterpart over Ibër: Using water as punishment poisons peaceful coexistence

TIRANA, August 11 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha has responded to Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric over the dispute surrounding the Ibër River. Duric said Albania had no hydrological basis to comment on Serbia’s management of its water resources. Hoxha said Albania would react if someone threatened Serbia’s water supply. …

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Albania’s Justice minister Gogu: Justice is not certified by one ruling, but proven every day

TIRANA, August 11 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu has highlighted the balance between judicial independence and executive responsibility. He said the minister must not interfere in specific court cases. “Where judges and prosecutors act, the executive stays silent,” Gogu wrote in the first of 3 notes he plans to publish …

News
218 more births than deaths in Albania in second quarter, Tirana records highest natural increase

TIRANA, August 11 – Albania recorded a positive natural population increase in the second quarter of 2026. The country registered 218 more births than deaths, according to preliminary data from the Institute of Statistics. Between April and June, authorities recorded 5,083 births, down 3% from the same period in 2025. …

News
Customs revenue reaches ALL 23.5 billion in July

TIRANA, August 11 – Customs revenue reached ALL 23.5 billion in July 2026. The figure increased by around ALL 223 million from the same month in 2025. According to data from the General Directorate of Customs, several major revenue items drove the increase. Value-added tax provided the largest contribution, with …

News
Civil emergency budget rises more than 13-fold in seven years

TIRANA, August 11 – Albania has increased funding for civil emergencies more than 13-fold over the past seven years. The budget rose from ALL 430 million in 2020 to ALL 5.79 billion in 2026, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said on Monday. Malaj said the higher funding will strengthen capacity to …

News

PM Rama responds to Belgrade over Ibër: Rivers follow geography, not diplomatic points

TIRANA, August 11 – Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded to the dispute between Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha and Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric over Serbia’s intention to change the course of the Ibër River. Rama described the exchange as an interesting summer debate. He said Albania has no …

News

Hot weather to push temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius

TIRANA, August 11 – Albania will experience stable atmospheric conditions on Tuesday, according to the Military Meteorological Service. Clear skies will prevail across the country. Passing clouds will develop over mountainous areas from midday through the afternoon. Local rain may accompany the clouds in the high mountains of southern Albania. …

News

25 wildfires reported in 24 hours, 5 remain active

TIRANA, August 11 – Authorities reported 25 wildfires across Albania over the past 24 hours. Firefighters have extinguished most of the blazes. Five remain active and 1 area remains under monitoring. The Ministry of Defence said 37 firefighting vehicles and 365 operational personnel joined the response. The Armed Forces provided …

News

Tourism grows in Dropull as natural beauty and cultural heritage attract visitors

TIRANA, August 11 – Dropull and its surrounding areas are emerging as an increasingly attractive tourist destination in Gjirokastër Municipality. Local tourism officials report a steady rise in visitor numbers each year. Foreign tourists have visited sites including the Adrianople amphitheatre in Sofratika, the Church of Lower Peshkëpi and Sotir …

News

New tourist information office to promote Shkodër destinations and local offers

TIRANA, August 11 – Shkodër Municipality is setting up a new tourist information office in the city centre. The facility will guide visitors and provide information about local destinations, activities and tourism services. The office will have dedicated staff and digital services. Visitors will receive free information throughout the day. …

News

FM Hoxha responds to Serbian counterpart over Ibër: Using water as punishment poisons peaceful coexistence

TIRANA, August 11 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha has responded to Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric over the dispute surrounding the Ibër River. Duric said Albania had no hydrological basis to comment on Serbia’s management of its water resources. Hoxha said Albania would react if someone threatened Serbia’s water supply. …

News

Albania’s Justice minister Gogu: Justice is not certified by one ruling, but proven every day

TIRANA, August 11 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu has highlighted the balance between judicial independence and executive responsibility. He said the minister must not interfere in specific court cases. “Where judges and prosecutors act, the executive stays silent,” Gogu wrote in the first of 3 notes he plans to publish …

News

218 more births than deaths in Albania in second quarter, Tirana records highest natural increase

TIRANA, August 11 – Albania recorded a positive natural population increase in the second quarter of 2026. The country registered 218 more births than deaths, according to preliminary data from the Institute of Statistics. Between April and June, authorities recorded 5,083 births, down 3% from the same period in 2025. …

News

Customs revenue reaches ALL 23.5 billion in July

TIRANA, August 11 – Customs revenue reached ALL 23.5 billion in July 2026. The figure increased by around ALL 223 million from the same month in 2025. According to data from the General Directorate of Customs, several major revenue items drove the increase. Value-added tax provided the largest contribution, with …

News

Civil emergency budget rises more than 13-fold in seven years

TIRANA, August 11 – Albania has increased funding for civil emergencies more than 13-fold over the past seven years. The budget rose from ALL 430 million in 2020 to ALL 5.79 billion in 2026, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said on Monday. Malaj said the higher funding will strengthen capacity to …