Archive
Monday, October 19, 2026
25 stories
Politics
Only Politics- PartiesKlosi: Socialists choose their own leader; Rama will win the next two elections tooPS Secretary-General Blendi Klosi defended Rama's leadership on “Top Story” amid pressure from protesters demanding his resignation.
- ParliamentSocialist MP Pirro Vengu after police bonus: teachers and doctors should also top the pay scaleVengu responded to the government's decision on the police, calling for the professions that keep the state running to be the best paid in the administration.
- DiplomacySwiss Embassy in Tirana calls on all sides to lower tensions and choose dialogueThe Swiss mission expressed concern about the violence and property damage, calling for the protection of the right to peaceful assembly and media freedom.
- DiplomacyForeign Ministry denies report of planes from Israel carrying riot-control equipmentSpokesman Alteo Hysi described the information as a fabrication and warned of the risk of manipulation through fake news.
- PartiesBerisha rejects Rama's offer of dialogue and demands the prime minister's immediate resignationThe leader of the Democratic Party said the youth revolt will not stop and called for the intervention of the International Red Cross.
- GovernmentRama renews offer of dialogue with protesters: ready at any time and without conditionsThe prime minister asked the protest organizers to distance themselves from violence and support peaceful rallies.
- GovernmentRama meets police chiefs: 740 million lek bonus for officers deployed at protestsThe government approved a special fund for 2,750 police officers, while the prime minister warned of measures against students who commit violence and blamed foreign actors for the unrest.
Crime & Courts
Only Crime & Courts- PoliceSunday's protest in Tirana: 68 arrested, including 7 minors, and 20 police officers injuredPolice said 22 other people face charges without detention for throwing stones and pyrotechnics at officers and buildings.
- CourtsTirana prosecutors register three complaints over police conduct during protestsTwo of the cases involve a 19-year-old with a broken leg and a 21-year-old injured in the head and spine.
- CourtsProtesters attack Court of Appeal in Tirana, break down door and set notices on firePolice intervened with tear gas and detained several people after the entrance of the judicial institution was damaged.
- PoliceDispute over a boundary wall in Kamëz: military police officer kills two brothers, seriously wounds a thirdThe perpetrator, a military police officer, fired his service weapon and was arrested minutes after the incident in the Bathore area.
- PoliceSold slingshots and drones to protesters: 23-year-old arrested, more than 450 items in warehouseIn the young man's warehouse in Tirana, police found 239 drones, dozens of slingshots with metal balls and electronic equipment without documentation.
- PoliceExplosive blast in Vlora damages car of Shushica administratorThe 29-year-old's vehicle was parked near his home in the village of Llakatund; no one was injured.
Economy
Only Economy- MarketsEuro falls to record low: 91.1 lek at the official rateThe European currency has lost 6.1% against the lek in a year, while experts point to the high supply of foreign currency from tourism and an improved balance of payments.
- MarketsBank of Albania after damage to branches and ATMs: deposits are safe, payments are workingThe central bank says attacks on several bank branches during the protests put neither citizens' savings nor financial stability at risk.
- BusinessExports surge 52% in September, led by Kosovo and GreeceAccording to INSTAT, exports reached 31.2 billion lek, while the trade deficit narrowed to 47.3 billion lek.
- TourismBlue Economy Summit in Orikum: nautical tourism as a year-round source of investmentMinister Blendi Gonxhja said marinas and yacht services can bring income and jobs to coastal communities.
Region
Only Region- North MacedoniaAlbanian students in North Macedonia warn of new protests over exams in AlbanianStudent representative Mevlan Ademi says the current proposal does not guarantee that the bar exam will be held entirely in Albanian.
- KosovoSerbia promotes documentary on the Pristina Corps; analysts in Kosovo: a distortion of historyThe film, produced by the military center “Zastava Film,” was screened in Niš in the presence of Vladimir Lazarević, convicted of war crimes in Kosovo.
- KosovoKSF Commander Bashkim Jashari receives new KFOR commander Roberto VergoriThe meeting focused on KSF–KFOR cooperation and ongoing communication to preserve peace and stability in Kosovo.
- Kosovo“Not in my name!” initiative asks President Shiroka-Pula to carefully review the Specialist Chambers lawÇlirim Haziri said that if the law contains unconstitutional provisions, the president should return it to Parliament.
- KosovoHaxhiu on the protests in Albania: Vetëvendosje has not called for participation, the violence must stopThe speaker of Kosovo's Parliament asked institutions in Tirana to respond to the students' demands and warned that arrogance fuels tensions.
World
Only World- EuropeOvernight Russian attack on Kyiv: one woman killed, metro station hitMayor Klitschko reported three injured and damage to a 25-story apartment building, while Ukraine complains it received no warning from its partners.
- BalkansSerbia: voter roll audit fails, commission members cite obstructionDays before early parliamentary elections, the commission tasked with checking the electoral register says it was obstructed by the authorities.
