Kosova acting president Haxhiu seeks court guidance as six-month mandate expires
Kosova’s acting President Albulena Haxhiu has asked the Constitutional Court to clarify who can exercise presidential powers after her six-month mandate expires if the Assembly fails to elect a new president. The Office of the President confirmed the request to Radio Free Europe on October 6, the deadline for electing …
New Tirana-Durrës-Airport rail service moves closer to launch
Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi said the Tirana-Durrës-Rinas Airport (TIA) rail project forms part of a broader railway modernisation programme. He spoke during a consultation with major international companies on the Public Service Contract for passenger rail transport on the corridor. The project includes rehabilitation of the existing line. …
Payment system moves closer to European Union rules
Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said proposed changes to Albania’s banking and payment laws will further align the country’s financial framework with European Union rules. Presenting the changes to the parliamentarian Economy Committee, he said the measures support Albania’s European integration process. They also address closing benchmarks for Chapter 4 …
Albanian Armed Forces Academy starts academic year at new campus, Nufi: Modernization in line with Euro-Atlantic standards is a priority
The Armed Forces Academy has opened the 2026–2027 academic year at its new campus. A total of 289 students have started their professional and military training to serve the country. At the opening ceremony, Minister of Defense Ermal Nufi described the new campus as a sign of Albania’s commitment to …
YouthCamp 2026 in Theth turns young people’s ideas into initiatives for Shkodër
Theth hosted young people this weekend for YouthCamp 2026, an initiative focused on discussion, cooperation and the exchange of ideas. Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the initiative and said it aims to turn young people’s ideas into concrete initiatives for Shkodër. Over two days, participants discussed issues related to the …
EU enlargement, Hoxha: Time for action, Albania is doing its part
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part today in the 12th edition of the Tirana Connectivity Forum. The forum focuses on connectivity, regional cooperation and the European future of the Western Balkans. In his speech, Hoxha said political commitments to EU enlargement must lead to concrete steps …
Dardan Cena earns two big wins at Baku World Judo Championships, collects 320 Olympic points
Dardan Cena delivered a strong performance at the World Judo Championships in Baku, recording two wins in the -73 kg category and reaching the last 16. He defeated Ireland’s Joshua Green in his opening bout before securing a major victory over Georgian Olympic champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili. Although he lost in …
Ahmetaj: Green financing can support more environmentally friendly economic growth
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards are becoming increasingly important for business competitiveness, access to financing and integration into the European market, said Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Albania Natasha Ahmetaj. Speaking at the conference “Turning ESG Standards into Business Value – Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth in Albania …
EU Enlargement, Minister Hoxha: Time for Action, Albania Is Doing Its Part
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha took part in the 12th edition of the “Tirana Connectivity Forum”, a platform for discussions on connectivity, regional cooperation and the European future of the Western Balkans. Minister Hoxha stressed that political commitments to European Union enlargement must be accompanied by concrete …
Demo in Shkodër: Targets for Police and Focus on Fight Against Narcotics
Interior Minister Ervin Demo has made his first visit outside the capital since taking office, travelling to Shkodër, where, together with State Police Director General Skënder Hita, he held a meeting with senior officials and officers of the State Police. Discussions focused on the work of police structures, relations with …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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. …