Albania and Montenegro media authorities sign UHF frequency coordination deal
Albania’s Audiovisual Media Authority and Montenegro’s Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services have signed a final technical agreement on cross-border coordination of the UHF 470–694 MHz frequency band. AMA Chair Armela Krasniqi said the process began in 2022 with an agreement in principle between the two institutions. The sides …
Fuel price board sets retail prices at ALL 217 for diesel, ALL 193 for petrol
Albania’s Transparency and Temporary Price Limitation Board has set the maximum retail price of diesel at ALL 217 per litre and petrol at ALL 193 per litre. The new prices took effect on October 8 at 12:00 and will remain in force until the board’s next meeting. The board set …
Football Federation begins regional selections to identify young talent
The Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) has begun selections for its Regional Representative Teams as part of a nationwide process to identify and select young football talent. The process covers players born in 2014 and 2015. The selections started in Gjirokastra on October 8 and will continue in seven other cities. …
Albanian Criminal Procedure Bill Slammed as Bid to ‘Neuter’ Anti-Graft Body
While addressing widely-held concerns about pretrial detention measures, a bill to rewrite a big chunk of Albania’s Code of Criminal Procedure has been met with consternation among judges, prosecutors and civil society groups worried it will ‘neuter’ a key anti-corruption body none too popular with PM Edi Rama. Original post …
Rama: 32 SME loans worth €5 million approved under “Double Your Business” scheme
Prime Minister Edi Rama said interest from businesses in the “Double Your Business” scheme has increased, with 32 loans worth around €5 million approved by October 5. Speaking at an event dedicated to the scheme, Rama said the program aims to support small and medium-sized businesses that have survived the …
“Double Your Business”, Rama: 32 loans worth €5 million approved
Prime Minister Edi Rama presented the “Double Your Business” programme on Wednesday. He said the programme aims to support small and medium-sized businesses through financing at interest rates of up to 2%. According to Rama, around 400 businesses are currently in the application process. He also said that 32 loans …
Free flu vaccination campaign begins, 280,000 doses available at health centres
Health centres across the country have begun administering seasonal flu vaccinations. The vaccine is provided free of charge to all groups at risk of developing severe forms of the illness, as well as to those who are in constant contact with the public and are therefore at greater risk of …
Judges and prosecutors call for special security and threat assessment unit
One year after Judge Astrit Kalaja was killed in a courtroom, the Union of Judges, the National Association of Judges and the Association of Prosecutors of the Republic of Albania are calling for the establishment of a dedicated police unit to ensure security at courts and prosecutors’ offices, as well …
Who Loses Power When the Map Changes?
Fifteen municipalities are expected to disappear under Albania’s proposed new territorial map. While the government presents the reform as a matter of efficiency and consolidation, communities that may lose municipal status fear that services will move farther away, local representation will weaken, and already shrinking peripheral areas will become even …
Albanian parliamentary delegation visits Berlin to strengthen cooperation
Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Citizens’ Initiatives, Cooperation and Institutional Oversight held a two-day working visit to Berlin. They focused on handling petitions and citizens’ initiatives, strengthening parliamentary oversight and deepening institutional cooperation. At the German Bundestag, the delegation attended a meeting of the Committee on Petitions and exchanged …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …