QTU Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary as Albania’s First Shopping Center

QTU, the first shopping center in Albania, celebrates its 20th anniversary—marking two decades as a benchmark destination for shopping and family entertainment. Opened in 2005 as the first shopping center in the country, QTU quickly became a...

Albania, Difficult Place to Do Business

The U.S. Department of State has released its annual 2025 Investment Climate Statements for Albania, highlighting both the potential and the serious challenges the country faces in attracting foreign investment. According to the report, Albania...

Explore the Timeless Trails of Corfu and Albania on a New Seven Day Tour With Island Hopping

Discover the ancient history, stunning landscapes and vibrant culture of the Eastern Mediterranean on a new seven day hiking adventure in Greece and Albania with Island Hopping. Beginning in the ancient city of Corfu, uncovering its rich history...

Socialist candidate pledges to return Tirana’s public spaces to residents

TIRANA, Oct. 8 (TemA) — Albania’s ruling Socialist Party opened its campaign for Tirana’s mayoral by-election on Wednesday, pledging to “give the city back to its people” . The race is one of six local by-elections scheduled nationwide. In Tirana,...

Thesaloniki's Agora Crossroads Co-production Forum presents a vibrant slate of new projects

09/10/2025 - The dynamic works in development are helmed by both emerging and established filmmakers from across Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond Director Erenik Beqiri, who is taking part with The Dictator’s Dreams (© Fabrizio de Gennaro for...

Stories and drinks all the way from Albania

QUICK — how many Albanians do you know? Thanks to its unstable politics and its history of isolation, probably not many. During a bar takeover at The Peninsula Manila’s The Bar on Oct. 3, we met an Albanian bartender who taught us not only the...

Tirana to host EU–Balkans investment forum

TIRANA, Sept 29 (TemA) — Tirana will host the first EU–Western Balkans Investment Forum on Oct. 13–14, backed by the European Commission. The meeting will bring EU officials, investors and delegations from the six Western Balkans economies to...

The Albanian fugitives roaming Britain's streets: 'Gun trafficker' tried to smuggle arms into UK is granted bail - and a killer who walked free for FIVE YEARS as he tried to claim asylum

An Albanian 'gun trafficker' is walking the streets after being let out on bail as he fights extradition - while a fugitive killer was able to roam free for five years posing as a refugee. Alban Gjidiaj, 28, is wanted by prosecutors in his home...

Four jailed over 1,500 plant cannabis farm worth £360,000 on South Tyneside industrial estate

Emanuel Pjedri and Kladi Nikolle (top), Dioson Docaj and Aurel Bajrakdari (bottom) A huge cannabis farm containing nearly 1,500 plants worth up to £360,000 was found during a police bust on an industrial unit. It was on the afternoon of September...

As Albania's economy grows, so do its struggles with waste

Every morning, garbage trucks crisscross the Albanian capital, Tirana, before heading out to the Sharra landfill site, a growing mountain of waste on the outskirts of the city. Seven years after the government promised to construct a modern...

San Jose Mayor talks economic potential of AI energy demands in California

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Now Playing San Jose Mayor talks economic potential of AI energy demands in California 04:58 UP NEXT OpenAI launches Sora 2 wth AI social media app 05:48 U.N....

What’s driving investor interest in Albania’s tourism industry?

Albania’s tourism sector is experiencing a significant transformation, attracting increasing attention from private investors globally. This surge in interest is driven by a combination of strategic government initiatives, favourable economic...

EU opens defense program to Albania

TIRANA, Oct 6 (TemA) — The European Commission confirmed that Albania can take part in the EU’s new SAFE defense program, allowing companies based in the country to supply up to 35% of joint European defense projects. The move gives Albania its...

Troubled Waters: Albania’s Wild River ‘Protected Only on Paper’

The Vjosa River is a vital habitat for over 1,100 species, including 13 globally endangered species. But this summer, it was significantly impacted by oil being spilled into the river, damaging its biodiversity. BIRN witnessed this pollution, with...

A Week of Art and Creativity: One Albania Supports the Hungarian Cultural Week

With a diverse program offering entertainment through classical music, traditional folk performances, exhibitions, sports, and various other activities, the Hungarian Cultural Week took place in Albania. For the fourth consecutive year, the event...

EXCLUSIVE: Lachezar Avramov’s documentary Angel’s Torah in post-production

06/10/2025 - The movie explores the extraordinary life of Angel Wagenstein, a Holocaust survivor, partisan, dissident, intellectual and visionary artist Angel’s Torah by Lachezar Avramov (© Cinelibri) Sofia-based production company Cinelibri is...

Extracting Useful Minerals From Industrial Waste With Plants And Fungi

Hemp and sunflowers can clear away radioactive particles and were used for this purpose after the Fukushima disaster. Bacteria can clean mines of residual metals at higher rates than conventional mining. A French company is genetically engineering...

13% of Albanian Employees Migrated in Three Years

The number of Albanian individuals leaving the country for employment has increased significantly in recent years, with Eurostat reporting that in 2022-2024 alone, an average of 20,000 work permits was issued per year, mainly in Greece, Germany,...

New music this week (part 2): Songs from Baby Lasagna, Zoë Më, Dons and more

Although we’re officially into the Eurovision 2026 season, it will still be some time before we hear any national final and Eurovision songs. Thankfully, the music will always continue and a number of Eurovision artists are still producing new...

World AFP 'I found hell': the women ensnared in Albania's global sex trade

From Venezuela, Maria travelled halfway around the world in search of a better life. Instead, the mother of two was trapped in Albanian detention for months after being lured into illegal sex work. Maria, 38, is among a growing number of women...