Thousands of Tons of Hazardous Waste Illegally Exported from Albania
At least 20,000 tonnes of hazardous waste have been illegally exported from Albania since 2020; experts say Albanian authorities are failing in their monitoring obligations. Original post Here
Albania Opposition Chief to Ask Trump to Review ‘Persona Non Grata’ Status
Declaring Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections “a miracle”, Sali Berisha said he will call on the new US administration to remove his ‘persona non grata’ designation, which he called a “corrupt” decision. Original post Here
Albanian PM Under Fire Over TikTok Ban in Election Year
Civil society groups in Albania have questioned the rationale behind an announced 12-month ban on TikTok in the wake of the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old. Opposition parties say PM Edi Rama’s decision is more about the upcoming election than child safety. Original post Here
Great Expectations: Trump’s Return Sparks Hope on All Sides in Divided Albania
Both the ruling Socialists and opposition conservatives spy potential dividends from a second Trump term in the White House. Original post Here
Kushner granted ‘strategic investor’ status for Sazan development ahead of Trump’s inauguration
TIRANA, Jan. 16, 2025 – Albania has officially approved Jared Kushner’s ambitious plans to transform the uninhabited Sazan Island into a luxury eco-resort. The Albanian government’s Strategic Investments Committee granted strategic investor status to Kushner’s Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC late last month, just three weeks ahead of the return to …
Albania signs €1bn deal with Italy and UAE on renewable energy, new undersea connection
TIRANA, Jan. 16, 2025 – Albania, Italy and the United Arab Emirates have signed a trilateral agreement to develop renewable energy infrastructure, marking a €1 billion investment to produce and share solar, wind and other clean energy resources. The project will include an undersea cable linking Albania’s port of Vlorë …
Emigration and Infrastructure Woes Hold Back Albania’s Olive Growers
Albania should be well-placed to take advantage of growing demand for olive oil amid rising prices, but poor roads and a lack of labour during harvest season are stifling the sector. Original post Here
Albania Greenlights Jared Kushner Plan to Develop Island as Luxury Resort
The government has granted Strategic Investor Status to a proposal by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump, to build a luxury resort on the uninhabited island of Sazan. Original post Here
Albania’s Government Criticised for Pre-Election ‘Sweeteners’
Though not strictly in violation of the law, a string of generous gestures by Albania’s government appears designed to curry favour with large segments of the electorate ahead of parliamentary polls in May. Original post Here
Often Unnoticed, Albania’s Graft Prosecutors are Targeting Mayors Too
Besides targeting political figures at the state level, special prosecutors in Albania are also going after mayors at the local level where corruption is often more prevalent. Original post Here
Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed the opposition’s support for a parliamentary resolution on Albania’s European Union integration process. Speaking on the “FLASIM” podcast, Rama described the joint vote in Parliament as a positive step for Albania’s European future. He said opposition parties unexpectedly joined the ruling majority in backing the …
The Academy of Sciences commemorated writer, publicist, and patriot Haki Stërmilli on the anniversary of his birth. Stërmilli was born on May 17, 1895, in Dibër e Madhe. He studied in Manastir but could not finish school due to the Balkan Wars. After Dibra was left outside Albania’s borders, he …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has achieved strong progress in public procurement, ranking first in the region based on European Union assessments. Speaking on the “FLASIM” podcast, Rama described public procurement as one of the most important chapters in the EU integration process. He said international evaluations show significant …
The concert “Brez pas Brezi” brought back the legacy, emotion, and artistic heritage of the National Ensemble at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania, uniting past, present, and future on one stage. The event gathered veteran artists and young performers in a live dialogue between tradition and …
The joint training exercise between Albanian Special Operations Forces and instructors from United States Special Forces has been highlighted by NATO on social media. The Alliance shared images of the exercise focused on movement in difficult terrain and low-visibility operations. NATO stated: “Before the mission comes training. Before pressure comes …
Cannes Film Festival hosts a historic agreement between Albania and France on film co-productions. Minister Blendi Gonxhja signs the deal and calls it a strategic step for Albanian cinema. He says the agreement opens new doors for Albanian filmmakers in Europe and beyond. French officials welcome the partnership. They say …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha announces that Albania develops the National Diaspora Strategy 2026–2030 after the 4th Diaspora Summit. He says the government finalizes the strategy and action plan through consultations with an inter-institutional working group. The strategy promotes investment, strengthens the Albanian language and culture, and …
The grand final of Eurovision was also marked by an incident at the Media Center. During the performance of Albanian singer Alis Kallaci, a member of the Serbian delegation allegedly tried to prevent the waving of the Kosovo flag. Albert Limani, a member of Eurovision Kosova who was present in …
Through an official telegram sent to local police directorates and departments, Police Chief Skënder Hita has ordered increased security measures in schools and stronger action against the distribution of narcotics within the security perimeter of educational institutions. It is learned that Hita’s order came after an analysis of issues during …
Vlora is bringing back traffic lights after many years in an effort to ease traffic on the city’s most problematic roads. For the first time in a long period, traffic lights will be installed at several key road intersections as part of measures aimed at improving circulation and preventing heavy …