Rama Offers Dialogue to Student Protesters, but They Reject His Invitation
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has invited protesting students and university lecturers to talks, saying he and his government are ready to meet anyone willing to engage in dialogue. In a video posted on social media on October 20, Rama said he remained available for discussions. To underline his offer, …
Albania Calls on the Public to Support Eslin Kurti at Junior Eurovision 2026
Albania will be represented by 12-year-old singer Eslin Kurti at the 2026 Junior Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Ta’ Qali, Malta, on October 24. Kurti will perform “Kërce me mua” (“Dance with Me”), a song that aims to bring energy, rhythm and a message of unity through …
Protests in Albania and Europe: UN Human Rights Chief Calls for De-escalation
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has responded to protests in Albania, Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal. Türk condemned all acts of violence during the demonstrations and called on all parties involved to immediately ease tensions and prevent further escalation. According to the senior UN official, the best …
Albania and Turkey hold joint naval exercise under NATO
Albanian and Turkish naval forces held a joint exercise in the Bay of Vlora and the naval base in it. The activity took place under NATO’s Neptune Strike 26-4 programme. The exercise involved Turkish warships TCG Anadolu and TCG Gaziantep, aircraft and the Albanian Boarding Team. According to the Ministry …
US report finds progress against human trafficking in Kosova, but gaps remain
Kosova remains at Tier 2 in the US State Department’s 2025 report on human trafficking. The report notes more funding for victim assistance and more convictions, but highlights gaps in law enforcement, identifying children forced to beg and providing long-term support. Police investigated four trafficking cases in 2025, down from …
Ombudsman reports overcrowding and rights concerns after Tirana protests
Ahmet Prençi, commissioner of the Ombudsman’s National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture, presented preliminary findings from monitoring police stations, the Security Block and the University Trauma Hospital on October 19. He said the investigation continued. Police escorted 50 people to stations, including 18 minors. The Security Block held 109 …
Bank of Albania reports higher loan demand and easier terms for small and medium-sized businesses
Demand for loans from businesses and individuals increased in the third quarter of 2026. Banks expect this trend to continue in the final quarter, according to the Bank of Albania’s lending survey. Businesses increased borrowing across all size categories for investment and liquidity needs. Higher investment needs, inventory financing and …
Assembly deputy Speaker, Kushi discusses parliamentary reform with international delegation
Assembly of Albania Deputy Speaker Evis Kushi and Secretary General Genci Gjonçaj met a delegation from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, led by Kevin Casas Zamora. The talks focused on continuing cooperation under the European Union-funded STEP-EU project. The initiative aims to strengthen the Assembly’s legislative, oversight …
OSCE human rights office calls for peaceful protests and independent investigations
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed concern over reports of violence during student and high school protests in Albania. It called for immediate and independent investigations into every reported case of unlawful use of force. In a statement published on X, ODIHR urged all sides …
Frontex reports nearly one-third fewer irregular border crossings into the European Union
Irregular border crossings into the European Union fell by almost one-third in the first nine months of 2026, with preliminary data recording just over 91,000 crossings, according to Frontex. The Central Mediterranean route saw the sharpest decline, with detections down 56% year on year. However, the Western Mediterranean route recorded …
Prime Minister Edi Rama renewed his call for dialogue on Wednesday morning, putting back the chairs he had set up the previous day, which students had demonstratively rejected. He said there may be 1,001 grievances and problems, but none of them justify violence. “There are a thousand and one grievances, …
The head of the University Lecturers’ Union, Sandër Kovaçi, announced in a statement to the media that the union has declared a teaching boycott starting today, October 21, until further notice. He said lecturers support students’ demands for quality education and called for a full and independent investigation into the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama described the acts of violence during eight days of protests in Albania as orchestrated by domestic and foreign elements seeking to destabilise Albania and other European countries. During a meeting with representatives of Albania’s banking sector, Rama announced that the government would soon introduce a package …
Ahead of Serbia’s high-stakes snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, citizens abroad are organising shared transport and accommodation to reach polling stations, sometimes thousands of kilometres away. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama has renewed his call for dialogue with protesters. He has once again placed chairs outside the Prime Minister’s Office. Signs invite citizens and social groups to discuss their concerns and demands. In a video posted on social media, Rama acknowledged that citizens have many reasons to …
Albania will experience unstable weather conditions on Wednesday, according to the Military Meteorological Service. Moderate to dense clouds will cover the country. Light rain will begin in the morning along the coast before gradually spreading inland. Meanwhile, northwestern areas may experience moderate showers and thunderstorms with lightning. Southerly winds will …
Justice Minister Toni Gogu stressed the importance of free legal aid for citizens facing disputes who cannot afford a lawyer. In a social media post, he said violence could not resolve disagreements. Every citizen should have the opportunity to defend their rights and seek solutions through the law. Gogu stressed …
Albanian skier Lara Colturi is preparing for her next challenge as the new Ski World Cup season gets underway in Sölden, Austria. Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Blendi Gonxhja shared footage of Colturi during training and wished her success in the upcoming competition. “Lara Colturi is ready for her next …
Albanian Defence Minister Ermal Nufi met with Major General Roberto Vergori, the new commander of NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR), in Tirana on October 20. They discussed KFOR’s role in ensuring security and stability in Kosovo and maintaining peace across the region. During the meeting, Nufi highlighted the importance of KFOR …
Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has reaffirmed the government’s readiness to hold talks with students and citizens, while ruling out dialogue with those who damage public and private property. In an interview with Klan News on October 20, Koçiu condemned the violence during recent protests in Tirana. She said …