Why this is important: This marks a shift in how the Italy-Albania agreement is applied. Originally intended for processing asylum seekers rescued at sea, the Gjadër center will now also serve as a holding facility for individuals who have exhausted legal avenues in Italy and are awaiting deportation. Migrants can now be held there for up to 18 months while return arrangements are made.

Why this is important: With this decision, the clubs are barred from registering new players for the next three transfer windows — a serious blow to their sporting ambitions, especially as Tirana battles on the pitch and Dinamo looks to stabilize in the Superliga.

Why this is important: The interview highlights how Trump-era political and business networks are playing a visible role in Albania’s political scene ahead of the May 11 parliamentary elections — with figures like Kushner, Chris LaCivita, and Ric Grenell all mentioned in connection with local developments.

Why this is important: The steady decline in non-performing loans signals greater financial stability in the banking system and stronger credit discipline among borrowers. It also reflects the positive impact of monetary easing and currency depreciation, which have helped reduce the burden of foreign-currency debt.

Why this is important: The event sent a clear message: tackling vote buying, voter intimidation, and misuse of state resources requires independent, accountable institutions and swift, thorough investigation of all allegations. It comes amid lingering concerns over electoral integrity, especially following critical OSCE/ODIHR reports on past Albanian elections.

Why this is important: This is an important step in Albania’s preparations for diaspora participation in national elections. The process is tightly timed: stamping the ballots will take 48 hours, while inserting election materials into the two designated envelopes for each voter is expected to take another two days.

Why this is important: The prosecutor’s statement exposes what many have long suspected: SPAK has established an informal and unlawful practice of filtering media publications, acting as an editorial gatekeeper over leaks. More than a breach of prosecutorial neutrality, this confirms the existence of a covert system of media control where leaks are managed and approved based on whether or not they “serve SPAK’s interests.”

Why this is important: The complaint accuses a former high-level prosecutor — already dismissed for alleged criminal links — of trying to influence the vote through intimidation and criminal association, a serious claim in a tense pre-election climate. The appointment of the former prosecutor as a candidate by Berisha was already controversial. Basha’s complaint draws attention again to Berisha’s decision to involve discredited former justice system employees in his party’s candidate lists.

Why this is important: This marks the first time that environmental concerns — focusing on the protection of the endangered Dalmatian pelican — have succeeded in pushing a major European player out of the project. While civil society protests and legal appeals had failed, the move followed a petition signed by nearly 600 citizens, and growing political pressure within Germany, particularly from the Green Party.

Why this is important: The project aims to turn the abandoned prison complex into a museum and education center, preserving one of the most symbolic sites of political repression under Albania’s former dictatorship. Its transformation is central to Albania’s broader effort to acknowledge past atrocities, educate younger generations, and align with international standards on historical memory.