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
How Allocation of EU Rapporteur Jobs Might Impact Western Balkan Accession Hopes
The names of the new EU rapporteurs for each of the six Western Balkan countries will emerge over the coming weeks. The relative strength of the various party groupings in the European parliament indicates how some countries might fare better than others. Original post Here
Baku hosting Global Summit of Religious Leaders within the framework of COP29
Baku, Azerbaijan – On November 5-6, 2024, the city of Baku is hosting the Global Summit of Religious Leaders within the framework of COP29, a highly significant event that brings together religious leaders and prominent figures from around the world to discuss the challenges of the climate crisis and the …
TIRANA, August 4 – Children attending the Horizont Center day camp visited RTSH Korça, where they discovered how a regional public television station produces and broadcasts its programmes. The station’s management welcomed the group and introduced them to the newsroom, television studios, control room and other production facilities. The children …
TIRANA, August 4 – The Port of Durrës processed 2,057,526 tonnes of cargo during January–June 2026, marking a 7.2% increase compared with the same period of 2025. According to the Port Authority of Durrës, imports accounted for 1,430,236 tonnes of the total volume, while exports reached 627,290 tonnes. Export activity …
*]: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:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-5″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-5″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-12″ data-turn=”assistant”> The U.S. Department of State has officially announced the ratification of a $302 million loan agreement with Albania to support investments in the country’s defence sector. In its official statement, the State Department said the agreement will help Albania meet its …
*]: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=”149fb836-ca6f-41ab-b866-328f2f5bb8c2″ data-turn-id-container=”149fb836-ca6f-41ab-b866-328f2f5bb8c2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-turn=”user”> The U.S. Embassy in Tirana has issued a statement on Facebook regarding the ratification of the $302 million loan agreement between the United States and Albania. The embassy said the agreement will support Albania’s progress toward fulfilling the Hague Defence Commitment. …
*]: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:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-3″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-3″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-8″ data-turn=”assistant”> Albania’s Ministry of Interior has declared two North Macedonian citizens persona non grata over activities deemed harmful to Albania’s national security and public order. The two individuals have been identified as Valon Bela and Bekir Halimi. The measure imposed on both …
The National Cyber Security Authority (AKSK) announced that a total of 14,628,595 cyberattack attempts targeting Albania’s cyber ecosystem infrastructure were recorded during the first half of 2026, covering the period from January to June. According to AKSK, this is equivalent to approximately 56.4 cyberattack attempts every minute. Of the total …
*]: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:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-4″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:6450831a-d16b-4993-b314-03f540205914-4″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-10″ data-turn=”assistant”> Minister of Defence Ermal Nufi announced that 727 operational personnel have been deployed over the past 24 hours to manage 20 active wildfire hotspots across different parts of Albania. According to a statement posted on Facebook, support for local authorities included …
The Vlora Border Police will continue carrying out daily inspections in Albania’s coastal waters throughout the tourist season, with a focus on ensuring maritime safety and preventing accidents. The head of the Triport Border Police Station, Amarilda Shabani, said that during July alone, authorities imposed 32 administrative penalties and seized …
A large wildfire has broken out in the Nivicë area of the Municipality of Himarë, raising concerns as the flames continue to spread rapidly. According to preliminary information, strong winds are fueling the fire, making it more difficult for firefighters to bring the blaze under control. Firefighting crews have arrived …
As the beginning of August approaches, construction on the final section of the “Taulantia” promenade in Durrësremains unfinished, despite earlier promises from the contractor’s engineer and Mayor Emiriana Sako that the project would be completed by the end of June. At the construction site, located in one of the city’s …