PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo's new Parliament on Wednesday swiftly approved a new government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, ending a yearlong political deadlock in the Balkan country.
Lawmakers backed Kurti's Cabinet with 66 votes for and 49 against in the 120-member assembly. The vote was held just hours after Parliament convened for the first time since a snap election in December.
Kurti secured a new mandate after his Self-Determination party won 57 seats in Parliament in December. The party formed an alliance with several ethnic minority groups.
In his speech before Parliament, Kurti pledged to fight corruption and invest in defense in the nation of some 2 million people.
“Today we are the most democratic country in the region, an achievement of both our society and our institutions and this standard must be preserved and advanced," Kurti said.
Lawmakers earlier on Wednesday chose former justice minister Albulena Haxhiu as Parliament speaker.
The snap ballot on Dec. 28 was scheduled after the Self-Determination party failed to form a government despite winning the most votes in a February 2025 election. This led to a crippling political deadlock throughout last year.
The new Parliament's formation was further delayed by a recount vote over widespread irregularities.
A former Serbian province, Kosovo declared independence in 2008 following a 1998-99 war that ended after a U.S.-led NATO intervention. Serbia does not recognize the split and tensions have simmered ever since.
The new Parliament needs to approve this year's budget that has been delayed because of the political crisis. Lawmakers also are set to elect a new president in March as current President Vjosa Osmani’s mandate expires in early April.
Prime Minister Kurti, 50, came to power in 2021 after also briefly occupying the role in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A former political prisoner during Serbia’s rule in Kosovo, Kurti has taken a tough stand in talks mediated by the European Union on normalizing relations with Belgrade. Kosovo and Serbia have been told they must normalize ties if they wish to join the 27-nation bloc.
Washington and its allies have recognized Kosovo's independence while Russia and China have sided with Serbia in the dispute.
Associated Press Writer Jovana Gec contributed from Belgrade, Serbia.
FILE - Kosovo's acting prime minister and leader of VeteVendosje political party Albin Kurti casts his ballot in Kosovo's capital Pristina, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu, File)
NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — Lauren Coughlin continued her strong play at Shadow Creek even in windy conditions Friday that played havoc with the second-round scores at the Aramco Championship to shoot a 3-under 69 and open a five-shot lead.
Coughlin was 8 under. Hyo Joo Kim kept alive her hopes for a third straight LPGA Tour tournament victory, shooting 73 to match Leona Maguire (71) at 3 under.
Coughlin entered the day in a three-way tie for the lead after opening with a 67, but now has created clear separation. She nearly won here last year when it was a match-play event before falling to Madelene Sagstrom in the final pairing.
Now Coughlin is close again. Even with a sizable lead, though, she isn't ready to celebrate.
“There is a lot of golf to be played,” Coughlin said. “As you can see, you can make big numbers really easily. So just try to stick to what I’ve been doing the last two days and see what happens.”
Wind gusts of 20 mph and higher made for a difficult round. A day after 26 players posted red numbers, that total was 11 on Friday, making the picturesque but demanding course almost hidden from the lights of the Las Vegas Strip even more difficult.
“It’s almost bordering on a U.S. Open-style setup,” Maguire said. “You see how few people are under par. It feels a little bit like a major without being a major.”
Miyu Yamashita got to experience that full effect. Sitting at 5 under with two holes to play, she went in the water on the par-3 17th and then took three shots to get on the green. The triple bogey put her at 2 under with second-ranked Nelly Korda (74) and Nanna Koerstz Madsen (70).
Korda, who won this event two years ago, struggled over the final nine in the second round. She bogeyed two holes and had a double on the par-4 first.
The top 20 players in the world signed up for the Aramco Championship, no doubt attracted to the $4 million purse in the first year that this tournament is strictly stroke play. This event is co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour.
Coughlin birdied Nos. 7, 8, 10 and 12, holing a 50-foot putt on No. 8. But she bogeyed the par-4 14th and 15th to halt her momentum and bring her back to the field. Coughlin then rolled in a 25-foot putt on the par-5 16th for an especially timely birdie.
“Yeah, definitely kind of helped smooth things out there towards the end,” Coughlin said. “Felt like I was playing good, especially those two holes before that. I think the easiest way to describe this golf course, especially when it gets windy, it’s so easy to make bogey. One little thing and you’re making bogey. Maybe even worse.”
Amelia Garvey made the largest leap, answering an opening 79 with a 69 even with a triple bogey on the par-3 17th. That got her to 4 over, enough to make the cut of 7 over.
“I actually played really well yesterday,” Garvey said. “I just couldn’t putt. Was putting a bit like Stevie Wonder out there.”
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Nelly Korda hits from a bunker on the 14th hole during the first round of the Aramco Championship golf tournament Thursday, April 2, 2026, in North Las Vegas, Nev. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)
Lauren Coughlin hits an approach shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the Aramco Championship LPGA golf tournament, Thursday, April 2, 2026, in North Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)
