The article discusses the environmental issue of waste washing up on the shores of Albania and affecting neighboring countries like Croatia. Due to inadequate waste management policies in Albania, garbage from rivers and streams has been found on the beaches, including the tourist destination of Dubrovnik. Environmental activists, such as Xhemal Mato of Ekolevizje and Ermelinda Mahmutaj of Eden, express their concerns about the situation. The European Commission's progress report highlights Albania's shortcomings in waste management, which is a significant issue as the country is an EU candidate. The lack of proper waste disposal services and the informal nature of waste collection are contributing to the pollution of the Adriatic coast, which could also negatively impact the tourism industry.

The article discusses a report by the House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee detailing how foreign officials, including Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama and his advisors, spent significant amounts of money at the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC to potentially influence then-President Donald Trump. The report, titled 'White House for sale, How Princes, Prime Ministers, and Premiers Paid Off President Trump,' reveals that Rama and his associates spent around $6,000 between 2017 and 2020. It also mentions the involvement of former FBI agent Charles McGonigal and the political rivalry in Albania, with both the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party engaging in lobbying efforts in the US. The article raises concerns about the sources of the funds used for these expenditures.

The article discusses the conclusion of the TV reality show Big Brother VIP Albania 2, highlighting the surprise wedding of the show's winner, Luiz Ejlli. After a 133-day run, the host Arbana Osmani announced a surprise for Ejlli as he left the Big Brother house. Dressed formally, Ejlli was escorted by police to the Tirana Municipality House, where he married Kiara Tito, a TV host and his co-participant on the show. The event marked a grand finale for the reality series.

The Social Democratic Party in Albania, headed by Tom Doshi, achieved a surprising result in the May 14 local elections by securing 86,000 votes and electing 116 councillors nationwide. Despite this success, the party's campaign received minimal media coverage. During the election campaign, the party leader and candidates were allotted only 19 minutes and 52 seconds of airtime on the country's major audio-visual operators, which constituted a mere 0.1 percent of the total election campaign coverage in news hours.

The article discusses proposed legislation in Albania that poses a threat to media freedom, with Prime Minister Edi Rama threatening to punish online media outlets he deems as 'trash-bin'. The legislation has been reviewed by the OSCE's Office for Media Freedom and the European Commission, but it is unclear if their recommendations have been incorporated. The government is accused of producing disinformation campaigns, and the proposed bills do not aim to curb this issue. The article suggests that if Albania wants to progress with EU accession negotiations, it should avoid passing laws that restrict media freedom. Similarly, the EU should not ignore such legislation that undermines media freedom in the Western Balkans.

The article discusses the World Bank's strategy to improve public services in the world's poorest countries by hiring former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to advise on governance reforms. Blair, who has a consultancy called Government Advisory Practice (GAP), is involved in setting up 'delivery units' in countries like Albania, with the aim of achieving specific targets in service delivery. The approach, known as 'deliverology', was developed by Sir Michael Barber during Blair's tenure as Prime Minister. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is a proponent of this method and plans to implement it globally. The article also touches on the potential conflicts of interest due to Blair's various roles and the controversy surrounding his consultancy work, including protests and criticism from watchdog groups and journalists.

Lulzim Basha, the leader of the Albanian Democratic Party, was questioned by Tirana prosecutors regarding discrepancies in the party's declared expenditures for US lobbying activities. The investigation, which began in November 2017 after a BIRN report, focuses on undeclared payments totaling $650,000 to US-based companies for lobbying. The Democratic Party had officially declared only $25,000 in payments to Muzin Capitol Partners. The prosecutors' inquiry revealed that the party had not disclosed payments made to Muzin Capitol Partners or Biniatta Trade LP. Basha maintains that no laws were broken. The case highlights the broader issue of Albanian political parties spending large sums on US lobbying efforts, with a previous instance involving Prime Minister Edi Rama and an illegal donation to the Obama Victory Fund.

Stefan Schumacher and Joachim Matzinger, two Austrian academics at Vienna University, are studying ancient Albanian texts to compile a lexicon of verbs and challenge the long-held belief that the Albanian language originates from the Ancient Illyrians. Their work has sparked debate among Albanian linguists, as the Illyrian origin theory is deeply rooted in Albanian nationalism and education. Linguist Pandeli Pani, who teaches at Jena University in Germany, discusses the political pressures that have historically influenced Albanian scientific thought. Mimoza Kore, a linguistics professor at the University of Tirana, defends the Illyrian-Albanian link, citing archaeological evidence. The article also explores the broader linguistic phenomena in the Balkans, including the 'bastardization' of languages and the role of language in national identity formation. The study of Albanian is noted as a neglected field in European academia, offering a chance for groundbreaking research.

The article discusses the historical significance of Villa 30 in Tirana's Blloku neighborhood, which is known for being the place where Albania's former communist Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu committed suicide. The villa, now a government property, displays statues of Lenin and Stalin and a Zis 69 jeep, symbolizing Albania's communist past. The article also mentions a meeting that took place between former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at the villa. Following the meeting, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) advertised a tech advisory position in Tirana to assist the Albanian government with service delivery improvements through technology and innovation.

Albania, once Europe's last Stalinist outpost, has been on a turbulent path to democracy since 1991, hindered by corruption. Despite a commitment at the 2003 EU-Western Balkans Summit, progress towards EU accession has been slow. With over 90% of Albanians supporting EU membership and trust in EU institutions, Albania aligns its foreign policy with the EU, including its stance on the Ukraine war. Albania has implemented controversial reforms, including a judicial reform to dismiss corrupt officials. The EU's support is crucial for Albania to offer its youth economic prospects and prevent emigration. The EU Council's decision to start accession negotiations is seen as historic, and while full membership may take over a decade, there is hope that negotiations will accelerate reforms and improve the future for Albanians.

The article discusses the event held on February 27, 2013, at the Sheraton hotel in Tirana, Albania, which celebrated the designation of Ylli Ndroqi as Mexico's honorary consul in Albania. The event featured cultural elements from both Mexico and Albania and was attended by senior state officials, including Albania's then deputy foreign minister, Selim Belortaja, and the then Mexican ambassador to Roma and Tirana, Miguel Ruiz Cabanas. Ndroqi served as honorary consul until April 2018 and was also the chairman of the association of honorary consults. His wife, Mimoza, succeeded him by becoming Kosovo's honorary consul in Vlora, Albania.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Albania violated anti-discrimination measures by segregating Roma and Egyptian children at the Naim Frasheri primary school in Korca. The court ordered Albania to pay compensation to five families who, with the help of the European Centre for Roma Rights, filed a lawsuit in 2017. The ruling highlighted that Roma and Egyptian pupils were over-represented at the school, comprising 89 to 100 percent of the students in an average year, despite being a minority in the city. The Albanian authorities had previously been directed to address the issue but failed to take adequate steps. The problem of segregation is not limited to Naim Frasheri School but is also present in other Albanian cities according to activists and a 2020 Council of Europe report.

The article discusses discrepancies in the declared advertising spending by political parties in Albania during election campaigns. It highlights that while broadcasters like Top Channel, TV Klan, and Vision Plus are required to provide free advertising airtime to parties, BIRN's analysis of AMA data shows a significant gap between the cost of aired political advertising (estimated at 6.5 million euros) and the amount declared by the parties (685,000 euros). The Socialist Party and Democratic Party are specifically mentioned for declaring much less than the estimated value of their aired advertisements. The article raises concerns about the lack of transparency and the potential influence of organized crime on political processes.

The article discusses the challenges and controversies surrounding a new 241-kilometre power line connecting Albania and Kosovo. The power line, which is crucial for Kosovo's energy independence from Serbia, faced disruptions due to extreme weather conditions in January, with repairs delayed until May. The project, financed by a loan from the German bank KfW, was marred by corruption allegations involving the Bosnian company EnergoInvest, which was contracted to build the Albanian section. The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) uncovered that EnergoInvest paid over 3.6 million euros to a consultancy firm, AL Energy Transmission, led by Albanian businessman Vasil Kallupi, raising questions about the integrity of the tendering process.

The article discusses the spread of conspiracy theories about COVID-19 vaccines in Albania, particularly focusing on a former auditor and small publishing house owner named Cako, who claims that vaccines are a project of the Illuminati and contain microchips. His views were aired on a popular talk show '360 gradë' on Ora News, which has received significant attention on social media. The article highlights concerns from academics and professionals about the irresponsibility of broadcasters providing a platform for such theories, potentially undermining public health efforts. The Albanian Media Authority (AMA) has been criticized for not intervening, although the issue of regulating talk shows versus news bulletins is debated.

In Albania, the issue of high expenditure on television ads during election campaigns has been highlighted, with the 2017 parliamentary elections seeing the two main parties, the Socialists and Democrats, spending over half a million euros. Despite proposals to ban TV ads to level the playing field, the electoral code reform commission did not take this up. Instead, BIRN's analysis of media monitoring data shows that spending by these parties has increased significantly. The Socialist Party was the largest spender on TV ads, followed by the Democratic Party. Together, they accounted for the majority of TV ad expenditures. The report also discusses the impact of such spending on media freedom and the disproportionate media presence of larger parties compared to smaller ones. The largest recipients of this ad spending were broadcasters owned by three private media companies. The article suggests that the heavy spending on political ads by major parties creates an imbalance in media representation and could influence voter perception.

The article discusses the disparity in media coverage between male and female candidates in Albania's parliamentary elections. It cites a report by the Albanian Media Authority (AMA) which found that men received 80.8% of airtime on national and local TV, despite women making up 39.8% of the candidates. The Albanian Women Empowerment Network (AWEN) criticized the media for superficial coverage of issues important to female voters and noted that while women journalists' talk shows provided more access to women candidates, the coverage was limited to well-known figures. AWEN's executive director, Ines Leskaj, highlighted the neglect of significant issues like gender-based violence and the biased airtime towards more outspoken female candidates. AMA board member Neza suggested that the compensation mechanism for airtime balance should be reviewed and called for stronger legal measures to ensure fair media treatment of political actors.

The article discusses the use of social media by politicians in Albania during the election campaign, highlighting the shift towards politicians becoming influencers to garner attention. Blendi Salaj, a media analyst and host at A2 TV, comments on this trend. The focus is on the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's use of social media, particularly a live broadcast on Facebook from the under-construction Kukes airport, which received significant viewership. The article also presents data analysis by BIRN, using Crowdtangle, showing that Rama's Socialist Party had the highest social media engagement compared to other parties during the election period.

In Albania, despite the Electoral Code's requirement for equal airtime for the two major parties, the Socialists and the Democrats, during election campaigns, the ruling Socialists have dominated the media coverage. In the first two weeks of the campaign for the April 25 election, the Socialists were the focus of 50% of political coverage on television, while the Democrats received 38%. The smaller SMI party got 7%, and 14 other parties shared 5% of the coverage. This was revealed by an analysis of data from the Audiovisual Media Authority and published by the Central Electoral Commission. Out of 22 monitored broadcasters, 17 favored the Socialists in their news bulletins.

The article discusses the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 in Albania, focusing on an interview given by Stefano Montanari, an Italian who claims to be a 'doctor of nanopathology'. Montanari downplayed the severity of the coronavirus, comparing it to the common flu and suggesting that the body can cure it without the need for government-imposed measures. Despite not being a doctor or representing any scientific body, his interview gained significant traction in Albanian-language media. The article highlights the role of media sensationalism and government communication strategies in propagating conspiracy theories. It also mentions the work of Facta, an Italian fact-checking project, and its editor-in-chief, Camilla Vagnozzi, who commented on the influence of Montanari's statements.

An earthquake struck central Albania on Tuesday, resulting in at least 40 deaths and over 650 injuries as reported by the Albanian Ministry of Defence on Thursday. The port city of Durres and the village of Thumane, near the quake's epicenter, were the most affected areas with several buildings collapsing and people trapped inside. Rescue operations have been underway with international assistance from countries including Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Serbia, Romania, North Macedonia, Switzerland, and Israel. Kosovo has shown notable solidarity, providing aid and support to the victims, reminiscent of the help Albanians offered to Kosovars during the 1990s conflict.

Albania has declared a day of national mourning and a state of emergency in the Durres and Tirana regions following a devastating earthquake. The quake resulted in at least 26 deaths and hundreds of injuries, with several buildings in Durres and the village of Thumane collapsing and trapping residents. Rescue efforts have been ongoing for over 24 hours, with teams from Greece and Italy assisting. The Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has praised the emergency services for their heroic efforts. International support has been provided by neighboring and EU countries through rescue teams and financial aid.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has sparked controversy with his nationalist rhetoric, suggesting the unification of ethnic Albanians into one state, which includes areas beyond Albania's borders. His comments followed Serbia's removal of a memorial to ethnic Albanian fighters. Berisha's statements have divided the Albanian public and raised concerns among experts about inciting unrest. The Albanian government has historically advocated for the unification of Albanians through EU integration, rejecting border changes post-Kosovo war. The rise of nationalist parties in Albania and Berisha's increasing appeals to pan-Albanian sentiment are seen as tactics to garner support ahead of the June 2013 parliamentary elections. Critics argue that Berisha's nationalist rhetoric is insincere and opportunistic, potentially damaging Albania's moderate political capital with the US and EU.

Miroslav Miškovic, Serbia's wealthiest man and owner of Delta Holding, was arrested on charges of corruption, marking a significant victory for the new Serbian government led by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Miškovic's arrest is seen as a major step in combating corruption and could bolster Serbia's efforts to join the European Union. However, the trial's fairness will be crucial to avoid perceptions of a political vendetta. The case draws parallels with the prosecution of Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, highlighting the challenges of balancing justice and political influence.

Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index reveals significant corruption issues in the Balkans, with Albania ranking as the most corrupt in Europe. Croatia stands out for its effective anti-corruption measures, exemplified by the conviction of former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader. Despite some progress, the European Union faces challenges in combating corruption, particularly in Kosovo, where the EULEX mission has been criticized for ineffectiveness. High-profile cases in Albania, involving figures like Ilir Meta and Dritan Prifti, highlight the ongoing struggle against corruption in the region.

The article discusses the diplomatic efforts of the Palestinians to secure support from Albania for their statehood proposal at the United Nations. Hani Hussein, the deputy head of the Palestinian embassy in Tirana, expressed confidence in Albania's support, citing the country's favor for a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Israel is also lobbying Albania, highlighted by Avigdor Liberman's visit, the first by an Israeli foreign minister in 17 years. The United States, an ally of Israel, has promised to veto the Palestinian bid for statehood at the Security Council, which will likely push the matter to the General Assembly where the Palestinians will need over 120 votes from the 193 member states.