Zog I: The Rise of Albania’s First Modern King
Ahmet Zogu rose from a powerful leader in Mat to become one of the most influential figures in Albania’s modern history. He served as prime minister, president and, ultimately, king, leading the country through a turbulent period of state-building and political transformation. Born on October 8, 1895, at Burgajet Castle …
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 …
Albania’s Transparency Board has set new maximum wholesale and retail prices for diesel and petrol. The new prices will take effect on October 9 at 13:00 and will remain in force until the board’s next meeting. The maximum retail price for diesel will be ALL 213 per litre, while the …
Klodjan Braho, head of Albania’s Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK), met European Commissioner Michael McGrath on Thursday. McGrath is responsible for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection. The talks covered the Code of Criminal Procedure, political rhetoric towards the anti-corruption structure and continued cooperation …
Kosovo will compete at the 2026 European Individual Table Tennis Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) will host the tournament at Arena Stozice, bringing together the continent’s top players. Kreshnik Mahmuti and Shega Hashani will represent Kosovo, with Ridvan Hashani as their coach. FPPK President Nehat …
Specialists from the Korçë Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage have started maintenance work at the Monumental Tombs of Lower Selca. They are replacing and restoring the protective shelters over the ancient tombs to shield the structures from weather damage and preserve the site. The tombs stand in the Mokër area, …
Tickets are now on sale for Albania’s UEFA Nations League match against Finland at Air Albania Stadium on November 12. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45. The match will be the penultimate fixture in Group C1. The Albanian Football Association has announced that fans can buy tickets in the stadium’s designated …
The Kosova Security Force won a gold medal at the Cambrian Patrol 2026 competition in the United Kingdom. Kosova’s Defence Minister Ejup Maqedonci announced the result, achieved among 120 participating teams. Maqedonci said the award reflects the force’s professionalism, discipline and high level of training. Meanwhile, members of the team …
Albania’s foreign currency reserves exceeded 8.4 billion euros at the end of August 2026. This marked their highest recorded level. According to the Bank of Albania, reserves increased by 15.1% from the end of 2025. They also rose by 18.7% year on year. Foreign currency purchases by the central bank …
Albania’s Prosecutor General, Olsjan Çela, welcomed efforts to improve criminal procedure law. However, he called for urgent solutions to infrastructure problems, security concerns and magistrates’ pay. He spoke at the general meeting of prosecutors, which is electing new members of the High Prosecutorial Council (KLP). Çela said staff shortages and …
Minister of Public Administration and Anti-Corruption Adea Pirdeni presented a reform of the public administration’s performance appraisal and career development system. She said the initiative aims to identify individual contributions, assess performance and link career advancement to merit. Pirdeni referred to findings from the National Public Service Survey. She said …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania ranks first in the region for public administration reform, according to the European Union’s SIGMA index. He made the remarks during the presentation of the “Merit Ladder” initiative. He said the government aims to strengthen merit-based career progression in public administration. Rama said he …