Albania struggles with hazardous waste scandal as ship awaits clearance off Durres coast

Albania struggles with hazardous waste scandal as ship awaits clearance off Durres coast

DURRES, Oct. 31, 2024 – A cargo ship laden with over 100 containers of suspected hazardous waste, which arrived in Albania from Singapore, remains anchored off the coast of Durres for the fourth consecutive day.  The ship’s entry into port

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Arrest of former President Ilir Meta on corruption allegations sends second key opposition leader into detention

Arrest of former President Ilir Meta on corruption allegations sends second key opposition leader into detention

TIRANA, Oct. 21, 2024 – The arrest on Monday of former President Ilir Meta, who now heads the opposition Freedom Party, on orders of the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has sent shockwaves through Albania’s political landscape.

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Italian ship brings first migrants to Albania-based camp under controversial asylum-processing deal

Italian ship brings first migrants to Albania-based camp under controversial asylum-processing deal

TIRANA, Oct. 16, 2024 – An Italian military ship carrying the first group of migrants arrived in the Albanian port of Shëngjin early Wednesday, marking the launch of a controversial project to process Italian asylum applications on Albanian soil, drawing

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Turkish president visit opens doors to Tirana Grand Mosque, reaffirms strong ties

Turkish president visit opens doors to Tirana Grand Mosque, reaffirms strong ties

TIRANA, Oct. 11, 2024 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made an official visit to Tirana on Thursday, reiterating the strong ties between the two countries — opening the doors to the region’s largest mosque, providing drones for the Albanian

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Albanian opposition demands caretaker government, calls for civil disobedience in disruptive mass protest

Albanian opposition demands caretaker government, calls for civil disobedience in disruptive mass protest

TIRANA, Oct. 8, 2024 – In one of the most hard-line demonstrations in recent years, Albania’s opposition Democratic Party led a protest in Tirana on Monday night, calling for a caretaker transitional government and civil disobedience against the government. The

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Analysis: Imprisonment of opposition MP for making public accusations sets stage for new political reality in Albania

Analysis: Imprisonment of opposition MP for making public accusations sets stage for new political reality in Albania

TIRANA, Oct. 1, 2024 – The recent conviction and imprisonment of Ervin Salianji, a prominent opposition MP in Albania, has ignited intense debates about the independence of the country’s judiciary and its implications for democracy as well as radicalized opposition

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Rama’s ‘Bektashi State’ proposal raises major concerns, faces negative backlash

Rama’s ‘Bektashi State’ proposal raises major concerns, faces negative backlash

TIRANA, Sept 24, 2024 – Prime Minister Edi Rama has ignited a major debate in Albania over his proposal to transform the global Bektashi Order’s headquarters in Tirana into a Vatican-style sovereign state. The Albanian public debate has been almost

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Mo, for short

Mo, for short

(The image used in this article is from The Economist and is property of Dan Williams. It is used for illustrative purposes only; all rights belong to Dan Williams) The following is a story of immense personal achievement; it’s a

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Parliament’s disregard for Constitutional Court on Xhacka sparks local condemnations, EU, U.S. concerns

Parliament’s disregard for Constitutional Court on Xhacka sparks local condemnations, EU, U.S. concerns

TIRANA, Sept. 14, 2024 – In a move that has raised major concerns among locals and the international community, the ruling Socialist Party in Albania’s parliament has again blocked the Constitutional Court from reviewing the mandate of former foreign minister

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“Give me a Laboratory and I Will Move the World”

“Give me a Laboratory and I Will Move the World”

It was French philosopher, anthropologist, and sociologist Bruno Latour who came up with the gripping title you read above. I came across Latour’s work some months ago, and I was fascinated. Today’s piece stands on the shoulders of that work.

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