Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Farage tells Albania’s PM to “take back” convicted nationals
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage demanded that Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama repatriate Albanian prisoners in Britain, after Rama criticised post‑Brexit UK migration policy. Farage claimed one in 50 Albanians in the UK is imprisoned and urged Rama...

Wildfires scorch dozens of hectares across Albania amid heatwave
Albanian authorities reported 18 wildfires across 12 municipalities in the last 24 hours, affecting mostly shrubland and grass. No injuries or damage to homes or livestock were reported. About 36 hectares were burned before the fires were...

Albania to host 2027 NATO summit, draft confirms
Albania is set to host the NATO summit in 2027, according to a draft declaration ahead of next week’s meeting in The Hague. The draft, reviewed by Radio Free Europe, states that alliance leaders will gather in Albania following the 2026 summit in...

Middle East tensions impact Albania’s tourism season
Ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran is affecting tourism in the Western Balkans, with Albania reporting a sharp drop in bookings from Israeli travelers. Albania’s coastal tourism sector has seen cancellations from Middle Eastern tourists as...

TikTok access reportedly restored in Albania three months after ban
Albania has quietly lifted restrictions on TikTok, just over three months after the popular video-sharing app was banned by the government over concerns about harmful content targeting young users. The restoration of access to TikTok was not...

Cham genocide gets official day of remembrance in Albania
Albanian parliament has officially designated June 27 as Cham Genocide Remembrance Day, recognizing atrocities against the Cham Albanian minority during 1944–45. The move was followed by national events honoring an estimated 5,000 Cham Albanian...

Albania gains momentum in EU membership talks
Albania received strong backing for its EU membership path during the 19th meeting of the EU–Albania Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee, held Thursday in Strasbourg. In a joint closing statement, the committee welcomed Albania’s...

Athens Airport passengers up 5% in June
Athens International Airport saw a modest, single-digit increase in passenger traffic in June, with a slightly stronger rise recorded over the first half of the year. The growth is in line with projections by airport management, reflecting a...

Albania launches €30M farm loan guarantee
Albania has launched a €30 million sovereign guarantee to boost financing for farmers and agri-businesses, aiming to speed up investment in production, exports, and rural jobs. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj and Agriculture Minister Anila Denaj met...

Review: Albania’s 2025 Bread & Heart Festival
There’s a transformation under way in Albania. With confidence and a clear political will, the country is building a new future. This incredible shift was presented at the inaugural Bread & Heart Festival over four days in June in a sweltering...

Kosovo, Albania report mixed results in peace index
Kosovo and Albania saw slight drops in the 2025 Global Peace Index, ranking 63rd and 52nd respectively, the latest report from the Institute for Economics and Peace shows. Kosovo fell three spots, Albania six, as regional peace trends shifted...

Fourth migrant group arrives in Albania from Italy
A vessel carrying 15 migrants rejected for asylum in Italy arrived Thursday evening at the Port of Shëngjin as part of a relocation deal between Albania and Italy. The group is the fourth transferred under an agreement allowing Italy to move...

Trakia University Conducts Free Medical Exams in Golemo Ostreni, Albania, until June 28
The Medical College at the Trakia University in Stara Zagora will conduct free medical examinations in the village of Golemo Ostreni in the Golloborde Region in Albania from June 26 to 28. The multidisciplinary examinations will have medical...

Albania speeds up military ties with France
Albania’s defence minister met his French counterpart in Paris, pushing rapid advances in military readiness and air force modernization. Defense Minister Pirro Vengu met Sébastien Lecornu in Paris on June 19, just weeks after Lecornu’s visit to...

Magnitude‑4.0 quake shakes central Albania
A magnitude‑4.0 earthquake struck Thursday near Krujë, about 40 km northwest of Tirana, according to seismic authorities. The tremor, centered close to Fushë-Krujë, occurred at a shallow depth of around 10 km and was felt in nearby towns....

Nigel Farage skewers Albania’s Brexit-hating PM and demands ‘take all your criminals back’ after dig at Britain
Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama, demanding he "take all your criminals back" after the socialist leader criticised post-Brexit Britain. Nigel responded to Rama's comments on GB News by highlighting...

Albania aims to close EU talks by 2027, says minister
Albania is ready to accelerate its EU accession process, aiming to close negotiations by 2027 and achieve full membership by the end of the decade, a senior minister said. Speaking at the 19th Stabilization and Association Committee in Strasbourg,...

Albania ranks first in energy sustainability: WEF
Albania has been ranked first globally in energy sustainability by the World Economic Forum, ahead of long-established energy leaders like Sweden, France, and Switzerland. The ranking evaluates countries based on three key pillars of energy...

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania
Meloni called her deal with Albanian counterpart Edi Rama “an agreement with a European scope”. Under the scheme, adult males from so-called “safe countries” intercepted by the Italian coastguard while attempting to cross the Mediterranean would...

Albania vows zero tolerance on illegal beach activity
Albania’s tourism minister has pledged “zero tolerance” for illegal watercraft, pollution, and beach violations ahead of peak travel season. Tourism and Environment Minister Mirela Kumbaro said authorities have stepped up coastal monitoring from...