The severe impacts of the CrowdStrike outage on the world economy and national critical services, e.g., banking, healthcare, and airports, invoked the urgent need to decrease governmental dependence on foreign tech companies to store and manage national data. An effective alternative to this approach is data localisation. The latter includes the physical placement of data infrastructure within the state’s territory or imposing ultimate national control over data stored in a server located abroad, along with relevant managing software. The research points out the prominence of data localisation to protect national data, and the functionality of services depending on this data, against technical failures that cause outages. In this endeavour, the research reviews the concepts of territoriality and localisation of cyberspace, along with shedding light on the CrowdStrike outage and explaining its reasons and consequences. Then, it introduces a justification for the validity of data localisation for preventing outages' negative impacts and protecting national data.

This paper examines the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in vocational education and training (VET) institutions, highlighting its significance in aligning education with the demands of a rapidly digitising world. The Council of the European Union recognises VET's role in equipping individuals with skills for digital and green transitions. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ICT adoption in education became imperative, accelerating the digital revolution within the sector. Albania, as an EU candidate country, has emphasised ICT in its national strategies, aligning with European frameworks to foster modernisation in VET. The research employs a quantitative methodology, utilising a questionnaire tailored to the Albanian VET context, to gather insights from public vocational schools and training centers, with a total number of n=46 institutions participating in the research. Findings reveal that VET institutions recognise ICT-supported modernisation as vital for improving teaching quality, management, communication, and students' transition to the labour market. Despite this, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, outdated devices, and limited digital skills among teaching staff impede the full realisation of ICT's potential. To address these barriers, the study recommends targeted interventions, including teacher training and infrastructure development. This research contributes to the discourse on digital transformation in VET, underscoring the importance of strategic investments in ICT for enhancing vocational education's quality and relevance in Albania's evolving educational landscape.

The rise of the gig economy and the increasing demand for flexible, remote work have transformed the freelancing landscape. This paper presents the development of a mobile application designed to streamline the process of project bidding, user management, and service matching for freelancers. Built using Java and Android Studio, the application employs Agile development methodologies to ensure robust performance and a seamless user experience. Key features include user registration and verification, a secure project-bidding platform, and efficient database management with SQLite. The app also utilises the Glide library for optimised image handling, ensuring smooth interaction for freelancers and clients alike. Initial results indicate that the platform effectively connects clients with freelancers by providing an intuitive, reliable, and secure service-matching environment. This paper explores the technical design, challenges, and future directions of the application, emphasising its potential to improve freelancing workflows and address key issues such as decision fatigue and trust in digital platforms.