Latest News from Albania

Democracy Digest: Frustration Looms Over Western Balkans

Live: Coronavirus Updates

Pandemic Boosts Support for Europe's Autocrats

Linda Van Gelder, the World Bank's director for the Western Balkans, was unequivocal in stating that the coronavirus "is wreaking havoc on lives around the region — taxing health care systems, paralysing economic activity and undermining the wellbeing of people".

The Cabinet Allocates nearly BGN 1.5 Million in Aid to 12 Countries and UNICEF for the Fight against COVID-19

The Council of Ministers has allocated BGN 860 568 to international organizations with a leading role in the fight against COVID-19. These include the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Iohannis: EU, going through time of crisis, will not abandon strategic objectives, closest partners

Although the European Union is going through a time of crisis, it will not abandon its strategic objectives and closest partners, President Kalus Iohannis said on Wednesday at the summit of leaders of EU member states with representatives of the Western Balkans, which took place in video conferencing system, informs a press release of the Presidential Administration.

Heads of EU and Western Balkans Countries will Meet Virtually

Heads of State or Government of the EU and the Western Balkans will hold a video meeting to discuss the spread of Covid-19 and misinformation. The meeting is not set to set a date for the start of accession talks with Northern Macedonia and Albania, as it was originally intended, if the meeting had taken place in Zagreb.

EU Western Balkans Video Summit begins: Vucic talks with Michel, Hahn, McAllister

The virtual summit, organized by the EU Presidency of Croatia and chaired by European Council President Charles Michel, will be held from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm.

Six Balkan hopefuls aspire to join the EU

European Union leaders host a summit with six Balkan counterparts on Wednesday. Here are some facts about the six Balkan aspirants:

Albania

The European Union agreed in March that Albania, already a member of NATO, can formally start membership negotiations. Once underway, possibly later in 2020, they could still take many years.

Bosnia

Violence and Hunger Stalk Refugees and Migrants in Albania

Some spoke of dire conditions in the centre and the growth of gangs stealing from and assaulting other residents.

Others, migrants trying to reach Western Europe, said they had been left out in the cold despite seeking refuge at the centre, its doors closed under a lockdown across the country to confront the coronavirus pandemic.

Kosovo and Albania Ponder Unified Basketball League

Elvira Dushku, the secretary-general of the Kosovo Basketball Federation, said on Tuesday that the basketball governing bodies in Pristina and Tirana are discussing ideas for a potential league merger.

"For many years, we have discussed the creation of a common league at our meetings, but intensive discussions have started since last year," Dushku said.

Greek police arrest wild herb raiders on Albanian border

Greek police on the rugged mountainous border with Albania on Monday arrested three Albanian men accused of illegally picking large quantities of medicinal wild herbs — and of violating Greece's Covid-19 quarantine laws.

BIRN Wins Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Award

The Vienna office of the Reporters Without Borders announced that the BIRN Network has been awarded for its courageous investigative journalism in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, and for its dedication to the fight for human rights, democracy and justice for the victims of war crimes.

Kosovo Orders Retrial of Wartime Guerrilla Unit Commander

Remzi Shala's lawyer, Natal Bullakaj, told BIRN on Thursday that the Supreme Court has upheld the former guerrilla commander's appeal against his war crime conviction and sent the case for a retrial.

The retrial will be held at Prizren Basic Court, where Shala was originally sentenced in July last year to 14 years in prison.

COVID-Related Boom Reveals Video Conferencing’s Dark Side

"Disclosure of personal data, recording sensitive information, or storing people's profiles on unauthorized servers are some of the risks that go hand in hand with the use of video-conferencing tools," says Skopje-based cybersecurity practitioner Daniel Trenchov.