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 …
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. …
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 …
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. …
The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) has urged institutions, businesses, organizations and system administrators to address two critical vulnerabilities in PHP, a technology widely used to run websites and web applications. If exploited, the flaws could allow attackers to execute code remotely without authorization, putting systems and sensitive data at …
Prime Minister Edi Rama is traveling to Budva, Montenegro, to attend the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit on October 21–22. The summit will bring together Western Balkan leaders and European partners to strengthen regional cooperation, advance economic integration and support the region’s European prospects. During the journey, Rama held a virtual …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has defended Parliament’s decision not to lift MP Belinda Balluku’s immunity while SPAK investigates her. He said the government did not obstruct justice but sought to protect it from bias. Rama addressed the issue during a virtual exchange with a student protester. He also criticised recent …
Albania plans to help 10,000 young people find jobs in 2027 through its Youth Guarantee Programme. To support this goal, the government has allocated nearly €60 million, Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said. Speaking to Euronews Albania, Ibrahimaj explained that the government developed the programme in cooperation with the …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared footage of his meeting with a young man with a disability, describing him as “a special visitor with no stones in his pockets, but with his heart in the right place.” In a social media post, Rama said the young man had contacted him …
Albania’s Council of Ministers has approved in principle an agreement on the country’s participation in the International Stabilization Force in Gaza. The agreement involves the Republic of Albania, represented by the Council of Ministers, and the Board of Peace. The government approved it at Wednesday’s meeting following a proposal from …
Albania formed a government led by Mehdi Frashëri 91 years ago, promising a programme of liberal reforms aimed at modernising the country. King Zog’s appointment of Frashëri as prime minister received a positive response in the press at the time. His cabinet included figures educated at leading Western universities. Frashëri …
Drenova has opened “Mulberry House,” a new space dedicated to the village’s traditional production of mulberry brandy. Korçë Mayor Sotiraq Filo announced the initiative, which forms part of the “Flavours of the Region” project, a partnership between the Albanian Development Fund and Korçë Municipality. The project aims to create new …
Albania’s Council of Ministers has approved changes to the organisation and operation of the Food Safety and Veterinary Institute (ISUV) to strengthen laboratory capacity and improve controls over veterinary health, food safety and plant health. Under the decision, ISUV will conduct laboratory tests under national programmes, sectoral strategies, monitoring plans, …
The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) issued a warning on Wednesday to institutions, businesses and system administrators regarding two critical vulnerabilities affecting websites and web applications. According to the announcement, these vulnerabilities could allow unauthorized individuals to execute code remotely, directly threatening the security of systems and data. Full statement: …