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Michelin Guide Selects 20 Hotels Across Albania, from Tirana to the Riviera

Albania is strengthening its presence on the international tourism map, with 20 accommodation establishments featured in the Michelin Guide’s selection of hotels. The selected properties span several of the country’s main destinations, including Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Himarë, Berat, Gjirokastër, Korçë and Sarandë. The list covers a wide range of accommodation, …

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Albanian sports minister and FIBA leaders discuss basketball development

Albania’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, met with FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Europe Board member Michal Konecny and Albanian Basketball Federation President Avni Ponari at the ministry. The talks focused on increasing support for the national federation and investing in sports infrastructure. The participants highlighted …

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Albania marks 95th birth anniversary of author Dritëro Agolli

Albania marks 95 years since the birth of writer and academic Dritëro Agolli, born on October 13, 1931. He died in Tirana on February 3, 2017. Agolli developed a distinctive literary voice rooted in Albanian language, tradition and folk wisdom. His first poetry collection, “Në rrugë dola” (I Set Out …

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Italian travel platform Skyscanner selects Dhërmi in the Albanian Riviera among 20 autumn destinations

Italian travel platform Skyscanner.it has included Dhërmi among 20 destinations recommended for enjoying warmer weather during autumn. Its guide highlights places where visitors can combine sunny days, cultural heritage, traditional cuisine and scenic landscapes beyond the peak summer season. The selection spans European cities, Mediterranean resorts and destinations farther afield. …

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Fishtë Brings Music and Art to Its Rural Tourism Experience

The village of Fishtë in Lezhë is expanding its tourism offer with a new cultural initiative that brings artists closer to audiences and creates a lively atmosphere for residents and visitors. “Hambar Teatri” offers an intimate space for music, poetry and artistic storytelling. Local residents launched the initiative through voluntary …

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Albanian agriculture minister discusses financing for medicinal plant exporter

Albania’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Andis Salla, visited Çela Herbal in Bradashesh, near Elbasan, to discuss financial support for business expansion. The family-owned company, run by Aleksandër Çela, has traded medicinal plants for more than 30 years. It works with around 400 farmers nationwide and exports about 400 …

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Buried in Case Files, Lacking Security: Albania’s Courts Struggle in Dilapidated Buildings

Courts across the country are struggling under a double burden: dilapidated buildings and mountains of case files, while repeated demands for adequate premises and solutions continue to fall on deaf ears. Original post Here

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Letter from Brussels: EU’s 15-Year ‘Probation’ Plan is an Unfair Deal for Balkan States

A safeguard clause placing new the bloc’s members under monitoring for 15 years reflects real fears of Viktor Orban-style disruptors – but it could be a gift to anti-EU nationalists as well as a deterrent to backsliders. Original post Here

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Israeli FM Praises Rama as a “Courageous Voice” on the International Stage

Prime Minister Edi Rama met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in Tirana on Monday. Sa’ar praised Rama’s support for Israel’s security and his firm stance against antisemitism and terrorism. In a statement on X, Sa’ar said the two officials held an in-depth discussion on strengthening bilateral relations and the …

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EU Ambassador: SME Support and Investment Climate Key to Albania’s EU Integration

Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and improving the investment climate are essential to Albania’s EU accession process, EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa said on Monday. Moreira de Sousa met with Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj to discuss Albania’s EU integration, SME development and ways to …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

News
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 …

News
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 …

News
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 …

News
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 …

News
Albania and Turkey conduct joint naval exercise in Vlora Bay

As part of NATO’s “Neptune Strike-26” exercise, the Albanian and Turkish Naval Forces conducted a joint military exercise in Vlora Bay and at the Pashaliman Naval Base. The exercise involved the Albanian patrol vessel “Oriku” P-132 and its boarding team, alongside the Turkish naval vessels TCG Anadolu and TCG Gaziantep. …

News
Supreme Court postpones hearings after court files damaged during protests in Tirana

Albania’s Supreme Court has announced the postponement of court hearings, except for urgent cases, following property damage and damage to judicial files caused by a fire during the protests on October 17. In a public statement issued on October 20, the court said that damage to its premises and infrastructure …

News
UN Security Council to discuss key issues concerning Kosovo today: What does the new UN report say?

The United Nations Security Council will hold its next meeting on the situation in Kosovo today, with discussions expected to focus on political developments, the security situation, and the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. New York time, corresponding to 9:00 p.m. …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

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 …

News

Albania and Turkey conduct joint naval exercise in Vlora Bay

As part of NATO’s “Neptune Strike-26” exercise, the Albanian and Turkish Naval Forces conducted a joint military exercise in Vlora Bay and at the Pashaliman Naval Base. The exercise involved the Albanian patrol vessel “Oriku” P-132 and its boarding team, alongside the Turkish naval vessels TCG Anadolu and TCG Gaziantep. …

News

Supreme Court postpones hearings after court files damaged during protests in Tirana

Albania’s Supreme Court has announced the postponement of court hearings, except for urgent cases, following property damage and damage to judicial files caused by a fire during the protests on October 17. In a public statement issued on October 20, the court said that damage to its premises and infrastructure …

News

UN Security Council to discuss key issues concerning Kosovo today: What does the new UN report say?

The United Nations Security Council will hold its next meeting on the situation in Kosovo today, with discussions expected to focus on political developments, the security situation, and the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. New York time, corresponding to 9:00 p.m. …