Why is this important: This project, launched 14 years ago under the Berisha government, faced repeated delays due to planning and technical issues. Prime Minister Edi Rama called its completion a major victory for residents of the area and for Albania’s road network as a whole.

Why is this important: The match offered coach Sylvinho a chance to test new players ahead of Albania’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Latvia on September 9. With several key absences, the game served both as a risk and an opportunity to build squad depth, though the lack of convincing play has fueled doubts.

Why is this important: Ksamil, often called the “Maldives of Europe,” is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and white sand. Yet uncontrolled expansion of umbrellas and sunbeds has left little public space, while prices have risen sharply in recent years. Bringing Ksamil and Dhërmi under municipal administration aims to free public areas and protect the image of Albanian tourism.

Why is this important: The index is a key economic indicator, used in GDP calculations and for planning new construction projects. Rising labor and equipment costs highlight structural pressures in the sector, which continues to struggle with a shortage of skilled workers.

Why is this important: Despite being the second-richest country in Europe for water resources after Norway, Albania has long struggled with mismanagement, leaving consumers facing shortages of drinking water. Until now, supply and distribution have been handled by public companies under municipal control. As part of a reform launched two years ago, the government has opted to centralize management under a national authority.

Why is this important: The construction techniques and epigraphic evidence point to a unique monument from the late Roman period. Measuring 9 by 6 meters, with a funerary chamber 2.40 meters high, the discovery offers new insights into the Roman presence in northern Albania.

Why is this important: The case adds to growing concerns over food safety standards in Albanian agricultural exports. Just days earlier, Croatia and Bosnia blocked shipments of Albanian peaches and tomatoes for the same reason.

Why is this important: The declaration follows a heated exchange between Rama and Farage earlier this summer over the number of Albanians imprisoned in the UK. Farage has made deportations and stopping migrant boat crossings central to his party’s political agenda.

Why is this important: The Çopja clan’s trajectory illustrates how Albanian organized crime grew from local gangs in Albania or among the Albanian diaspora communities to a European-level powerhouse in cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and contract killings. Its dismantling required years of cooperation between Albanian police and law enforcement agencies in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. The clan’s rise and fall, as detailed by Le Soir, underscores both the global reach of Albanian mafia structures and the risks posed if such networks are left unchecked.

Why is this important: Albania, along with Kosovo and Montenegro, remains one of the few countries in Europe not connected to cross-border gas transmission systems. These investments aim to modernize Albania’s outdated gas infrastructure, reduce dependence on imports, and boost energy security.