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INSTAT: Financial Statistics Reporting to Eurostat Aligns with EU Standards

INSTAT said on Friday that it transmits Government Finance Statistics (GFS) and Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP) data to Eurostat in full compliance with European methodological standards. It stressed that this process does not represent “data concealment,” as some media have reported. In a statement to the media, INSTAT highlighted that …

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Ermal Nufi: Porto Romano and Corridor VIII to Boost NATO Mobility

Ermal Nufi visited the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on Friday. There, he met Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus G. Grynkewich. Nufi said the visit reflects the strong and stable partnership between the Albanian Armed Forces and NATO allies. He also reaffirmed Albania’s firm commitment to NATO, collective …

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Padel Stars Praise Tirana Atmosphere: “Albania Makes Us Feel at Home”

The atmosphere in the heart of Tirana for the “FIP Platinum Albania” tournament has captivated both Albanian fans and top international padel players. The event has showcased the capital’s hospitality, energy, and growing role in global sports. From Skanderbeg Square, where organizers have installed spectacular courts, international champions have shared …

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Albanian Opera Choir to Perform in Albanian at International Festival in Italy

The choir of the National Theatre of Opera, Ballet and Folk Ensemble of Albania will perform in Albanian in Savigliano, in the Piedmont region of Italy. The performance will take place during the 36th International Choral Singing Festival “Sergio Chiarlo,” scheduled for 5–7 June 2026. The choir represents Albania at …

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Vllaznia Women Crowned Albanian Champions After 2–0 Win Over Apolonia

Vllaznia won the 2025–2026 Albanian women’s football championship after defeating Apolonia 2–0 in the final at Selman Stërmasi Stadium. With this victory, Vllaznia secured their 13th consecutive league title. First, captain Megi Doçi broke the deadlock in the first half. She gave Vllaznia the lead after a tightly contested opening …

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Osmani: Kosovo Must Move Forward in Close Partnership with the U.S. and the Democratic World

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:61aab30d-bbc5-43bf-88df-7f67972364c1-7″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:61aab30d-bbc5-43bf-88df-7f67972364c1-7″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-16″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> “Kosovo needs unity and a vision that strengthens the state both domestically and internationally,” said Vjosa Osmani, the LDK’s candidate for president, during the official opening of the election campaign of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) for the June …

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Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro Issues Guidelines for the State Matura Exams

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”3eac0545-5591-4961-ad2f-83dcbbd1493f” data-turn-id-container=”3eac0545-5591-4961-ad2f-83dcbbd1493f” data-testid=”conversation-turn-11″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro presented the latest developments regarding the “After School” program and preparations for the State Matura exams, highlighting the organizational and disciplinary measures that will be implemented throughout the pre-university education system. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” …

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Evangelical Brotherhood of Albania Reacts to Hormone Therapy for Transgender Individuals

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:61aab30d-bbc5-43bf-88df-7f67972364c1-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:61aab30d-bbc5-43bf-88df-7f67972364c1-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> The Evangelical Brotherhood of Albania (VUSH) has reacted to the decision to provide hormone therapy for transgender individuals through the country’s public healthcare system. In its statement, VUSH emphasized that family is at the center of its faith and biblical …

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Deputy Minister Tomini Clarifies Hormone Therapy Guidelines: The Guidance Applies Only to Adults

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:61aab30d-bbc5-43bf-88df-7f67972364c1-2″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:61aab30d-bbc5-43bf-88df-7f67972364c1-2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-6″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection Eugena Tomini issued a clarification this Friday regarding the guidelines on hormone treatment. According to her, the document is a clinical guidance tool and not a final therapeutic protocol. Tomini stated that the …

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Muslim Community Representatives Oppose Health Ministry’s Hormone Therapy Guidelines

Albania’s Ministry of Health has approved a new guideline on hormone treatment for transgender individuals. In response, Ardit Hoxhllaku, the Mufti of Vlora, and Mirel Mazelli, imam of the Pogradec Mosque, have voiced their opposition to the initiative. According to them, the measure is wrong and contrary to the teachings …

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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. …