Analysis: Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj’s arrest on corruption charges likely to have major political implications for ruling party

Analysis: Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj’s arrest on corruption charges likely to have major political implications for ruling party

TIRANA, Feb. 10, 2025 – The arrest on Monday of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj on corruption charges has sent shockwaves through Albania’s political landscape, with major potential implications for the ruling Socialist Party just three months ahead of parliamentary elections.

Read Full Article
Anastasios, the Archbishop Who Rebuilt the Orthodox Church of Albania

Anastasios, the Archbishop Who Rebuilt the Orthodox Church of Albania

He revived the Orthodox Church, which had been destroyed under the communist regime. Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Primate of Albania, passed away at the age of 95. He was a tireless advocate for ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue. By Ilda Mara

Read Full Article
A wasted chance for internal party democracy

A wasted chance for internal party democracy

This week the Central Elections Commission (CEC) consolidated what was previously agreed between the two major political parties in Albania, SP and DP, when it comes to the composition of the MP candidate lists in the upcoming general elections on

Read Full Article
Tirana’s ‘Heat Island’ Moment

Tirana’s ‘Heat Island’ Moment

It’s late July 2024 in Albania. An ever-present heat weighs down the air around you. Summers always get hot, but this time, it feels more draining than before. You’ve cranked the AC in your house, so the inside is safe.

Read Full Article
The Re-election of Donald Trump and its Implications

The Re-election of Donald Trump and its Implications

By Bernd J. Fischer Professor Emeritus ,Indiana University On November 6th the world woke to what was, for many, an unexpected event, the re-election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. Since then, there has been considerable speculation

Read Full Article
Kosovo is not fashionable!

Kosovo is not fashionable!

By Sylë Ukshini The greatest ambassador of the Albanian nation in the world, of all time, has been and will remain, without any doubt, our world-renowned writer, Ismail Kadare. In an article written exclusively for the well-known French newspaper “Le

Read Full Article
The UNED Campus in Gjirokaster a gateway to global academic excellence and a bridge to Europe

The UNED Campus in Gjirokaster a gateway to global academic excellence and a bridge to Europe

By Ricardo Mairal Uson It is an immense honor and privilege for me to stand before you today, on this momentous occasion—the inauguration of the UNED Center in the historic and culturally significant city of Gjirokaster. This event marks the

Read Full Article
UNED Campus in Gjirokastra: A European Hub in the Western Balkans

UNED Campus in Gjirokastra: A European Hub in the Western Balkans

By Jerina Zaloshnja   It is a beautiful, joyous day in Gjirokastra. October 30, 2024. The sun shines brightly in the warm, clear blue air. From the loudspeakers at the campus of UNED, Spain’s new university in the country, Spanish

Read Full Article
From Ant to Colony

From Ant to Colony

The late 1870s and early 1890s ushered in the Gilded Age of the U.S., where rapid industrialization and free-flowing innovations were sweeping the nation. As I see it, successful ventures from the private sector played an interesting role in the

Read Full Article
The State Agency for Innovation and Excellence – A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

The State Agency for Innovation and Excellence – A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

You may have not heard of this, but there is a new State Agency for Innovation and Excellence in Albania. This was a collaborative effort from multiple international and domestic actors. Of note is the EU4Innovation program, which may have

Read Full Article