Reality Bites: Illegal, Isolated, Overworked Albanians Count Cost of UK Dream
Though numbers are down, Albanians are still being drawn to British shores by the social media promise of a better life. The reality is often very different. Original post Here
Italy-Albania Migrant Deal Branded ‘Failure’ After Court Ruling
After Italian judges scuppered a second attempt to send migrants for processing in Albania, critics say the ‘offshoring’ agreement between the two countries is in deep trouble. Original post Here
Digital Rights Review: ‘Foreign Agent’ Laws Target Online Media
BIRN’s monitoring of digital rights violations in October highlighted new threats to freedom of expression online in south-east and eastern Europe as countries embraced legislation against foreign-funded NGOs and media. Original post Here
Trump will not sap the strength of US democratic institutions
Ilir Ikonomi, author, journalist, AIIS Associate In your opinion what were the factors that prompted Trump’s election victory? Donald Trump had a strong, dedicated, and enthusiastic base of support throughout the election process. His message was focused heavily on issues, such as immigration, the economy, and national security, that …
Kosovo is not fashionable!
By Sylë Ukshini The greatest ambassador of the Albanian nation in the world, of all time, has been and will remain, without any doubt, our world-renowned writer, Ismail Kadare. In an article written exclusively for the well-known French newspaper “Le Monde” on December 14, 1999, he recounted ten years earlier, …
Italy Sends Second Migrant Ship to Albania as Legal Disputes Continue
After an initial attempt to send refugees and migrants for processing in Albania failed, owing to Italian court rulings, a second ship with eight on board arrived in Shengjin port on Friday. Original post Here
Donald Trump’s Comeback is Bad News for Bosniaks and Kosovars
Bosniaks and Kosovo Albanians will be lucky if all Washington does is ignore them under Donald Trump’s new administration, while Serb leaders and populists like Hungary’s Viktor Orban will feel emboldened. Original post Here
Central and Southeast Europe’s Populists Celebrate Trump Win
The region’s populists could hardly contain their glee at the return of the former president to the White House. Original post Here
Bosnian Serb Leaders Hold Cocktail Party to Toast Trump Victory
The US-sanctioned president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, threw a cocktail party in honour of Trump’s victory in the American presidential elections, saying his win “symbolises a return to values we hold dear”. Original post Here
‘Like Prison’: How African Migrant Workers Suffer Exploitation in Albania
Migrant workers from Africa have told BIRN about having to surrender their passports on arrival in Albania, working unpaid overtime and facing deportation once they are no longer required. Many are left with debts to the agencies that act as middlemen. Original post Here
Albania continues to attract growing numbers of visitors through cruise tourism, with the Port of Saranda remaining one of the country’s main gateways for foreign tourists during the summer season. The Port of Saranda welcomed the cruise ship Seabourn Quest today, carrying 467 passengers who chose to explore the Albanian …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-3″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-8″ data-turn=”assistant”> The Albanian government has decided to temporarily suspend construction work and related activities in tourist areas during the summer season. The measure takes effect immediately and will remain in force until September 15, 2026. The announcement was made by Tourism Minister …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”1b47f020-c5ab-4529-8422-350d4c117adb” data-turn-id-container=”1b47f020-c5ab-4529-8422-350d4c117adb” data-testid=”conversation-turn-9″ data-turn=”user”> Prime Minister Edi Rama has shared new footage on social media showing the progress of construction works on the Elbasan–Qafë Thanë road, describing it as one of Albania’s most important infrastructure investments. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-turn=”assistant”> …
Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Saturday that excavations at a site where human remains believed to belong to people missing from the 1998–99 Kosovo war have been discovered could continue for months due to the difficult terrain and the scattered nature of the remains. Speaking to reporters …
MeteoAlb meteorologist Hakil Osmani has forecast another spell of extreme heat for Albania, warning that temperatures could climb as high as 41°C in several parts of the country during the first half of August. Speaking to Euronews Albania, Osmani said the first two weeks of the month are expected to …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-turn=”assistant”> More than half of Albanians cannot afford to spend one week on holiday away from home due to financial constraints. According to Eurostat data, which refers to 2025 for Europe and 2023 for Albania, around 53% of households in Albania are …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”72f69213-2f23-4414-8091-864f914f4def” data-turn-id-container=”72f69213-2f23-4414-8091-864f914f4def” data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-turn=”user”> Just 25 kilometers from the town of Maliq lies Strelcë, one of the best-known villages in the Gora region, which has experienced a revival in recent years thanks to the growth of mountain tourism. Once home to more than 300 houses …
The latest edition of the Sunny Hill Festival has kicked off in Bërnicë, Pristina, attracting thousands of music fans from Kosovo and abroad. The high turnout caused long traffic queues on roads leading to the festival grounds on the opening night. The highlight of the evening was the performance by …
The first weekend of August has brought a surge of visitors to Vlora, with the city’s beaches packed with both domestic and international tourists enjoying the peak of the summer season. The start of the month has seen a significant influx of holidaymakers, many of whom have chosen the Albanian …
Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at Washington’s shifting foreign policy priorities in the Balkans, a suspicious drug trawl, surging property prices and more. Original post Here