Slovak President Pellegrini visits Albania, pledges stronger ties and EU support

Why is this important: Shkambi was detained after threatening on television to kill any judge who might sentence his nephew, remarks that prompted immediate police action.

Why is this important: The attack on a BDI election candidate raises serious concerns about rising political tensions and the fragile interethnic stability in North Macedonia. Tensions between the Macedonian and Albanian communities have deepened since the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE government took power, vowing to roll back many of the rights and guarantees secured under the Ohrid Agreement. While the motives and perpetrators of the shooting remain unknown, the incident risks further escalating divisions in a country still marked by the memory of the 2001 armed conflict between ethnic Albanian insurgents and Macedonian security forces.

Why is this important: Adams’s visit reflects growing U.S.-Albania cooperation and recognition of the strong Albanian-American community in New York, home to more than 60,000 ethnic Albanians. The trip is also seen as a step toward expanding tourism and direct economic links between the two countries.