Albania Opposition MPs Claim Police Threatened Them in Parliament With Guns
After opposition MPs continued their protest in parliament on Thursday, clashing with the police and parliamentary guards, they claimed ‘armed persons threatened the deputies with weapons’. Original post Here
Italian ship brings first migrants to Albania-based camp under controversial asylum-processing deal
TIRANA, Oct. 16, 2024 – An Italian military ship carrying the first group of migrants arrived in the Albanian port of Shëngjin early Wednesday, marking the launch of a controversial project to process Italian asylum applications on Albanian soil, drawing much international attention. The initiative is part of a bilateral …
First Italian Ship With Refugees Arrives in Albania
The first Italian ship holding 16 refugees intercepted at sea arrived in Albania early on Wednesday, as Italy’s controversial plan to ‘offshore’ the processing of migrants and refugees got underway. Original post Here
Albanian Environmentalists See Red Over Green Sludge Coating Tirana’s Lake
The main artificial lake in the capital has been covered for weeks by thick green algae, which environmental activists blame on untreated urban sewage flowing into the water. Original post Here
Could Michigan’s Albanian-Americans Swing the Vote for Trump?
Albanian-American supporters of Donald Trump are campaigning hard in the swing state of Michigan, where their numbers could sway the result. But some fear the return of Trump’s controversial Balkan envoy Richard Grenell. Original post Here
Moldova Should Learn from Albania’s Mistakes in Justice Reform
As EU hopeful Moldova embarks on a complex process of judicial reform and vetting to root out corruption, experts advise it to note what has gone right – and wrong – in Albania, which began the same process a decade ago. Original post Here
Albania Opens EU Accession Negotiations, Seeks Membership by 2030
In Luxembourg on Tuesday, Albania opened its first negotiation ‘cluster’, with Prime Minister Edi Rama saying his country has its sights set on joining the European club by the end of the decade. Original post Here
Digital Rights Review: Websites Promote and Profit from Abuse of Women
BIRN’s monitoring of digital rights violations in August and September highlighted a threatening Hungarian ‘dark web’ site that contained illegally obtained images of women, plus a series of arrests for online sexual abuse in Romania. Original post Here
As Talks Begin, EU Chides Albania’s ‘Limited Progress’ in Tackling Corruption
As accession talks got underway, the EU ‘negotiating position’, published on Tuesday, says corruption remains “prevalent in most areas of public and business life, including in all branches of central and local government”. Original post Here
Androulakis Wins Second Chance to Revive Greece’s Centre-Left Party
After his re-election as leader of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis promised that “the best things are ahead” – but only time will show whether he can win back the trust of Greek voters for the once-powerful party he has supported since his youth. Original post Here
Friday is expected to bring mostly stable atmospheric conditions across Albania, with clear skies and partly cloudy weather over mountainous areas. According to the Military Meteorological Service, clouds will be more present in the north and partly in central Albania. Light rain is expected in northern mountain areas and locally …
Albania and Slovenia aim to expand economic cooperation and create new investment partnerships. Mountain tourism and wood processing are among the sectors in focus. The business forum “Slovenia–Albania: An Economic Bridge” took place in Celje as part of MOS Fair 2026. Laura Saro, executive director of the Albanian Investment Development …
The French edition of Italian travel publication FullTravel.it highlights Albania as a Mediterranean destination where visitors can combine historic cities, culture, gastronomy and Ionian beaches in a seven-day journey. In an article by Raffaele Giuseppe Lopardo, the publication presents Albania as a country whose appeal extends beyond its coastline. According …
The Assembly of Albania held a marathon session on Thursday and approved several bills and decisions after extensive debate. The agenda included a law on the status of judges and prosecutors. The law also addresses magistrates’ salaries. MPs also approved government changes, changes to standing committees, and international agreements. The …
The Organization of Kosova Liberation Army War Veterans has called a public protest in Prishtina today following the Hague ruling against four former KLA leaders. The protest will begin at noon in Prishtina’s Skanderbeg Square, and the organization says it will remain peaceful. Gazmend Syla of the organization announced the …
British travel media outlet CN Traveller highlights Albania among Balkan destinations worth visiting. In an article by Christopher Beanland, the publication describes the region as a destination combining mountains, beaches, waterfalls, diverse cultures and historic cities. The article also notes that many Balkan countries remain less crowded and more affordable …
Korça is preparing to host another major sporting event as the city holds the title of European City of Sport 2026. The Korça Marathon will take place on September 20. Participants will compete in 3 km, 5 km and 21 km races, with free entry. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared …
Goods exports reached 20.5 billion lek in August. They rose 1.6% compared with August 2025, according to INSTAT data. Imports rose 12.6% year-on-year. They reached 75.6 billion lek. Compared with July, exports fell 39%. Imports also fell, by 12.6%. The trade deficit reached 55 billion lek in August. It increased …
Ukraine’s voice resonated at the Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) through literature, memory and humor. The center hosted Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov, one of the country’s best-known contemporary authors. Kurkov is visiting Albania for the first time. The discussion focused on his novel “Jimmy Hendrix Live in Lviv.” The …
Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu met with the heads of 28 social care institutions to discuss challenges and needs related to improving social services. According to a social media post by Spahiu, the meeting focused on support for children, older people, young people and people with disabilities. …