In Albania, communist-era bunkers built to withstand the nuclear attacks have now become the casualties of global warming and rising sea levels.

Sea rise threatens communist-era bunkers in Albania

In a recent development, Albania has accepted a request by the US to temporarily take in Afghan refugees seeking visas to enter the United States, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday,

As per Rama, US President Joe Biden's administration had recently asked fellow NATO member Albania to assess whether it could serve as a transit country for a number of Afghan refugees whose final destination is the US.

<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-president-ghani-leaves-afghanistan-as-taliban-enter-capital-kabul-405579">LIVE: President Ghani leaves Afghanistan as Taliban enter capital Kabul</a></h2>

On his Facebook account, Rama said, "We will not say 'No', not just because our great allies ask us to, but because we are Albania".

Albania ready to temporarily house Afghan refugees, PM Rama says

Biden's administration, according to Reuters, has been in talks with nations such as Kosovo and Albania about the protection of US-affiliated Afghans until they are approved for US visas.

Luan Dalipi, chief of staff of prime minister Albin Kurti, said his government had been in contact with US authorities since mid-July about housing Afghan refugees.

"There's a lot of logistical, technical, security and social work that we are handling carefully," Dalipi said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-captures-mazar-e-sharif-fourth-largest-city-of-afghanistan-405447" hreflang="en">Taliban captures Mazar-e-Sharif, fourth largest city of Afghanistan</a>

More than two decades after the 1998-1999 war with the then-Yugoslav security forces, hundreds of US troops remain in Kosovo as peacekeepers.

In 2014, Albania accepted some 3,000 members of the People’s Mujahideen Organization of Iran, also known by its Farsi name Mujahideen-e-Khalq, and they have settled in a camp near Durres, the country's main port.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a recent development, Albania has accepted a request by the US to temporarily take in Afghan refugees seeking visas to enter the United States, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday, As per Rama, US President Joe Biden's administration had recently asked fellow NATO member Albania to assess whether it could serve as a transit country for a number of Afghan refugees whose final destination is the US.

In a recent development, Albania has accepted a request by the US to temporarily take in Afghan refugees seeking visas to enter the United States, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Sunday, As per Rama, US President Joe Biden's administration had recently asked fellow NATO member Albania to assess whether it could serve as a transit country for a number of Afghan refugees whose final destination is the US. LIVE: President Ghani leaves Afghanistan as Taliban enter capital Kabul On his Facebook account, Rama said, "We will not say 'No', not just because our great allies ask us to, but because we are Albania". Albania ready to temporarily house Afghan refugees, PM Rama says Biden's administration, according to Reuters, has been in talks with nations such as Kosovo and Albania about the protection of US-affiliated Afghans until they are approved for US visas. Luan Dalipi, chief of staff of prime minister Albin Kurti, said his government had been in contact with US authorities since mid-July about housing Afghan refugees. "There's a lot of logistical, technical, security and social work that we are handling carefully," Dalipi said in a statement. Also read | Taliban captures Mazar-e-Sharif, fourth largest city of Afghanistan More than two decades after the 1998-1999 war with the then-Yugoslav security forces, hundreds of US troops remain in Kosovo as peacekeepers. In 2014, Albania accepted some 3,000 members of the People’s Mujahideen Organization of Iran, also known by its Farsi name Mujahideen-e-Khalq, and they have settled in a camp near Durres, the country's main port. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Rama says Albania ready to temporarily house Afghan refugees

The UN General Assembly elected Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Security Council on Friday for a two-year term starting on Jan. 1, 2022.

All five countries ran unopposed for a spot on the 15-member body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security. They will replace Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-a-first-indian-diplomat-nagaraj-naidu-to-be-unga-presidents-chef-de-cabinet-390683">In a first, Indian diplomat Nagaraj Naidu to be UNGA President's Chef de Cabinet</a>

To ensure geographical representation, seats are allocated to regional groups. But even if candidates are running unopposed in their group, they still need to win the support of more than two-thirds of the UN&nbsp;General Assembly.

Ghana received 185 votes, Gabon 183 votes, UAE 179 votes, Albania 175 votes and Brazil 181 votes.

The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions like imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force. It has five permanent veto-wielding members - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia.

The UN General Assembly elected Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Security Council on Friday for a two-year term starting on Jan.

The UN General Assembly elected Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Security Council on Friday for a two-year term starting on Jan. 1, 2022. All five countries ran unopposed for a spot on the 15-member body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security. They will replace Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam. Also read | In a first, Indian diplomat Nagaraj Naidu to be UNGA President's Chef de Cabinet To ensure geographical representation, seats are allocated to regional groups. But even if candidates are running unopposed in their group, they still need to win the support of more than two-thirds of the UN General Assembly. Ghana received 185 votes, Gabon 183 votes, UAE 179 votes, Albania 175 votes and Brazil 181 votes. The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions like imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force. It has five permanent veto-wielding members - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia.

Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, UAE elected to UN Security Council

A man jumped&nbsp;into a&nbsp;moving car&nbsp;through the&nbsp;open&nbsp;window to stop an erratic and dangerous driver in the main square of Albania’s capital.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the&nbsp;footage captured by dozens of cameras set up to report the country’s general election,&nbsp;the car’s wheels&nbsp;can be seen&nbsp;screeching as it reverses in circles around the&nbsp;Skanderbeg Square.&nbsp;

The various&nbsp;onlookers&nbsp;at&nbsp;the square&nbsp;tried to stop the car by grabbing the driver through the open door.&nbsp;But as&nbsp;the door slammed shut as it spun around, a man jumped with&nbsp;feet first through the driver side window to stop the&nbsp;car.&nbsp;It is also&nbsp;one of the main sites of the city’s coronavirus vaccinations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the&nbsp;police,&nbsp;the&nbsp;32-year-old&nbsp;driver&nbsp;had previously crashed three other cars in other parts of the city, local media&nbsp;said.&nbsp;Citing police,&nbsp;a&nbsp;BBC report said,&nbsp;he was believed to be driving under the influence of drugs.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A man jumped into a moving car through the open window to stop an erratic and dangerous driver in the main square of Albania’s capital. In the footage captured by dozens of cameras set up to report the country’s general election, the car’s wheels can be seen screeching as it reverses in circles around the Skanderbeg Square.

A man jumped into a moving car through the open window to stop an erratic and dangerous driver in the main square of Albania’s capital. In the footage captured by dozens of cameras set up to report the country’s general election, the car’s wheels can be seen screeching as it reverses in circles around the Skanderbeg Square. The various onlookers at the square tried to stop the car by grabbing the driver through the open door. But as the door slammed shut as it spun around, a man jumped with feet first through the driver side window to stop the car. It is also one of the main sites of the city’s coronavirus vaccinations. According to the police, the 32-year-old driver had previously crashed three other cars in other parts of the city, local media said. Citing police, a BBC report said, he was believed to be driving under the influence of drugs. (With inputs from agencies)

Man jumps onto moving car to stop dangerous driver in Albania 

Albanians are voting in parliamentary elections on Sunday amid the virus pandemic and a bitter rivalry between the two largest political parties.&nbsp;

Some 3.6 million eligible voters, including Albanians overseas, will elect 140 lawmakers among some 1,800 candidates from 12 political parties or coalitions and those running independently. &nbsp;

No early or postal voting is allowed and people infected with COVID-19 cannot vote.&nbsp;

Following approval of electoral reforms last year, a new voters' electronic identification, a partial depoliticising of the electoral commission and a pilot project on full digitalisation of the voting and counting process are being applied. &nbsp;

The hope is that post-communist Albania's 10th parliamentary election will be free and fair. To date, voting always has been marred by irregularities.&nbsp;

Preliminary turnout at 11 am was 16.67 per cent.&nbsp;

Albania, which has a population of 2.8 million and has been a NATO member since 2009, is looking forward to launching full membership negotiations with the European Union later this year. Sunday's vote is considered as a key milestone on that path.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Edi Rama of the governing Socialists, who are seeking their third consecutive mandate, wants to turn Albania into a 'champion' in tourism, energy, agriculture and digital projects.&nbsp;

Pre-election survey polls showed Rama's left-wing Socialist Party likely to place first.&nbsp;

Lulzim Basha of the Democratic Party accuses the government of corruption and links to organised crime, and pledges lower taxes, higher salaries and more social financial support.&nbsp;

Confrontations between supporters of the two main parties culminated on Wednesday in central Elbasan city, where a leading activist of the Socialist Party died. &nbsp;

Police said the victim was shot, allegedly by a member of the opposition Democratic Party, during an argument.&nbsp;

Though officially impartial, President Ilir Meta has turned into a firebrand government opponent, accusing Rama of concentrating all legislative, administrative and judicial powers in his hands and running a 'kleptocratic regime' that has bungled pandemic response and delayed the country's EU integration.&nbsp;

Political leaders cast their ballots on Sunday morning and called on the people to vote. Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, also an Albanian citizen, also voted.&nbsp;

"For the Constitution, for the republic, for democracy, for Albania in Europe,” said President Ilir Meta as he cast his ballot, among the first when the polling station opened.&nbsp;

Scores of foreign observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Western embassies are closely watching Sunday's polls.&nbsp;

"We hope that every Albanian citizen goes and votes, free of fear, free of interference," said US Ambassador Yuri Kim at a polling station in northern Shkodra. "This is your day."&nbsp;

Albania has seen a significant fall in daily coronavirus cases in the past week despite political rallies around the country. More than 400,000 people have received their jabs.&nbsp;

An overnight curfew has been enforced with restrictions on gatherings and mandatory mask-wearing.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Albanians are voting in parliamentary elections on Sunday amid the virus pandemic and a bitter rivalry between the two largest political parties. Some 3.6 million eligible voters, including Albanians overseas, will elect 140 lawmakers among some 1,800 candidates from 12 political parties or coalitions and those running independently.

Albanians are voting in parliamentary elections on Sunday amid the virus pandemic and a bitter rivalry between the two largest political parties. Some 3.6 million eligible voters, including Albanians overseas, will elect 140 lawmakers among some 1,800 candidates from 12 political parties or coalitions and those running independently. No early or postal voting is allowed and people infected with COVID-19 cannot vote. Following approval of electoral reforms last year, a new voters' electronic identification, a partial depoliticising of the electoral commission and a pilot project on full digitalisation of the voting and counting process are being applied. The hope is that post-communist Albania's 10th parliamentary election will be free and fair. To date, voting always has been marred by irregularities. Preliminary turnout at 11 am was 16.67 per cent. Albania, which has a population of 2.8 million and has been a NATO member since 2009, is looking forward to launching full membership negotiations with the European Union later this year. Sunday's vote is considered as a key milestone on that path. Prime Minister Edi Rama of the governing Socialists, who are seeking their third consecutive mandate, wants to turn Albania into a 'champion' in tourism, energy, agriculture and digital projects. Pre-election survey polls showed Rama's left-wing Socialist Party likely to place first. Lulzim Basha of the Democratic Party accuses the government of corruption and links to organised crime, and pledges lower taxes, higher salaries and more social financial support. Confrontations between supporters of the two main parties culminated on Wednesday in central Elbasan city, where a leading activist of the Socialist Party died. Police said the victim was shot, allegedly by a member of the opposition Democratic Party, during an argument. Though officially impartial, President Ilir Meta has turned into a firebrand government opponent, accusing Rama of concentrating all legislative, administrative and judicial powers in his hands and running a 'kleptocratic regime' that has bungled pandemic response and delayed the country's EU integration. Political leaders cast their ballots on Sunday morning and called on the people to vote. Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, also an Albanian citizen, also voted. "For the Constitution, for the republic, for democracy, for Albania in Europe,” said President Ilir Meta as he cast his ballot, among the first when the polling station opened. Scores of foreign observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and Western embassies are closely watching Sunday's polls. "We hope that every Albanian citizen goes and votes, free of fear, free of interference," said US Ambassador Yuri Kim at a polling station in northern Shkodra. "This is your day." Albania has seen a significant fall in daily coronavirus cases in the past week despite political rallies around the country. More than 400,000 people have received their jabs. An overnight curfew has been enforced with restrictions on gatherings and mandatory mask-wearing. (With inputs from agencies)

Albanians vote in election after a bitter political fight 

Russia has expelled yet another diplomat -- this time, from Albania, in a tit-for-tat move.

This expulsion came after one of its own embassy workers was ordered to leave the Balkan state for alleged repeat violations of coronavirus rules.

To this end, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had declared Jonida Drogu, the first secretary of the Albanian embassy in Moscow, persona non grata. She was given 72 hours to leave the country.

The decision was made in response to Albania expelling the first secretary of the Russian embassy in Tirana "under a completely contrived pretext," the statement added.

The Albanian government declared Aleksei Krivosheev “persona non grata” and required him to leave the country within 72 hours, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on January 21, citing "repeated" violations of pandemic restrictions by the diplomat since April, 2020.

The government, however, wished for friendly relations with the Russian Federation to be strengthened.

Moscow, in response, said Albania's decision was a "provocation with the aim of gaining political points" and accused Tirana of "playing along with anti-Russian forces in the West".&nbsp;

Last week, Moscow announced the expulsion of three diplomats from EU members Germany, Sweden and Poland for allegedly taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration in support of Kremlin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny.

Russia has expelled a number of diplomats -- mostly in response to the removal of its own officials -- as its relations with the West have soured following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-uk-and-us-to-speak-with-navalny-after-expulsion-of-diplomats-in-russia-362178">Also read |&nbsp;EU, UK and US to speak with Navalny after expulsion of diplomats in Russia</a>

Russia has expelled yet another diplomat -- this time, from Albania, in a tit-for-tat move. This expulsion came after one of its own embassy workers was ordered to leave the Balkan state for alleged repeat violations of coronavirus rules.

Russia has expelled yet another diplomat -- this time, from Albania, in a tit-for-tat move. This expulsion came after one of its own embassy workers was ordered to leave the Balkan state for alleged repeat violations of coronavirus rules. To this end, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it had declared Jonida Drogu, the first secretary of the Albanian embassy in Moscow, persona non grata. She was given 72 hours to leave the country. The decision was made in response to Albania expelling the first secretary of the Russian embassy in Tirana "under a completely contrived pretext," the statement added. The Albanian government declared Aleksei Krivosheev “persona non grata” and required him to leave the country within 72 hours, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on January 21, citing "repeated" violations of pandemic restrictions by the diplomat since April, 2020. The government, however, wished for friendly relations with the Russian Federation to be strengthened. Moscow, in response, said Albania's decision was a "provocation with the aim of gaining political points" and accused Tirana of "playing along with anti-Russian forces in the West". Last week, Moscow announced the expulsion of three diplomats from EU members Germany, Sweden and Poland for allegedly taking part in an unsanctioned demonstration in support of Kremlin's fiercest critic Alexei Navalny. Russia has expelled a number of diplomats -- mostly in response to the removal of its own officials -- as its relations with the West have soured following the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Also read | EU, UK and US to speak with Navalny after expulsion of diplomats in Russia

Russia gives it back to Albania, expels its diplomat

On a small farm south of Tirana, donkeys happily munch on hay while customers flock to scoop up bottles of their milk, a niche product winning fans who believe in its health benefits.

Touted as rich in vitamins and a boost for the immune system, the high-priced milk has been flying off the shelf during the coronavirus pandemic -- a time when many in Albania are looking for an extra health kick.

"The demand for donkey milk is rising sharply" alongside virus infections, says 37-year-old Elton Kikia, the manager of the small farm in the village of Paper, where around a dozen of the small, knobbly-kneed animals romp around a green pasture.

The high demand is good news for the donkeys themselves, whose comfortable lifestyle on the farm is a welcome respite from their traditional roles as beasts of burden.

Typically enlisted to carry heavy loads and pull carts through Albania's mountainous terrain, donkeys are frequently subject to mistreatment, in the form of beatings, overwork or saddle sores.

"Yet it is a very delicate animal, which to produce its milk needs tenderness and love," says Kikia.

Two years ago he left his job as a journalist to take over the family farm, which is only one of two in the country to raise donkeys for their milk.

At 50 euros a litre, the price of their milk is exorbitant in a country where the average wage barely reaches 400 euros a month.

But fears around Covid-19 have set off a flurry of interest.

While no one is branding the milk as a cure for the virus, aficionados are convinced its nutritional profile -- which is close to human milk -- helps strengthen the body's natural defences.

Klea Ymeri, a student in agro-environmental engineering, recently travelled to Paper to buy two 250 millilitre bottles to help her parents recover from Covid-19.

"On top of the medicines they are taking, donkey's milk could be a good natural remedy for the respiratory system", she told AFP.

The family also uses some of the milk to make soaps, masks and other beauty products.

Regina Beqiri, a relative and pharmacist who concocts the mixtures, says sales are up at at time when virus restrictions mean "people are spending more time at home and can take better care of their skin".

- Two-way therapy -

The farm currently has four pregnant donkeys and four milk-producing mothers, each with a calf.

With a maximum production of three litres a day, "we can't meet the demand", Kikia told AFP, saying he plans to expand his herd to 100 donkeys.

But that is no easy task in Albania, where the donkey population is on the decline.

Waves of emigration from villages to cities, plus with the use of machines in agriculture, has shrunk the number of donkeys and breeders across the Balkan state.

Milk production is thus also a way of "protecting" the species, according to the farmers, whose animals still bear the scars of their difficult past lives.

"They are cared for and rehabilitated, including psychologically," says Riza Kikia, 71, Elton's father.

Geni, for example, is a white female donkey who arrived with a wounded ear and a scar-streaked back.

"She was weak, sad, she didn't want to stay with the others. Now she plays, she eats well and she makes good milk", said Kikia.

The donkeys are also a draw for local children from the village who come to take rides, feed and pet the animals.

"This bond between the donkeys and the children is a therapy in itself," Kikia explained.

"It is a psychological remedy that has magical effects, both on the behaviour of the children and on that of the animals."

On a small farm south of Tirana, donkeys happily munch on hay while customers flock to scoop up bottles of their milk, a niche product winning fans who believe in its health benefits.

On a small farm south of Tirana, donkeys happily munch on hay while customers flock to scoop up bottles of their milk, a niche product winning fans who believe in its health benefits. Touted as rich in vitamins and a boost for the immune system, the high-priced milk has been flying off the shelf during the coronavirus pandemic -- a time when many in Albania are looking for an extra health kick. "The demand for donkey milk is rising sharply" alongside virus infections, says 37-year-old Elton Kikia, the manager of the small farm in the village of Paper, where around a dozen of the small, knobbly-kneed animals romp around a green pasture. The high demand is good news for the donkeys themselves, whose comfortable lifestyle on the farm is a welcome respite from their traditional roles as beasts of burden. Typically enlisted to carry heavy loads and pull carts through Albania's mountainous terrain, donkeys are frequently subject to mistreatment, in the form of beatings, overwork or saddle sores. "Yet it is a very delicate animal, which to produce its milk needs tenderness and love," says Kikia. Two years ago he left his job as a journalist to take over the family farm, which is only one of two in the country to raise donkeys for their milk. At 50 euros a litre, the price of their milk is exorbitant in a country where the average wage barely reaches 400 euros a month. But fears around Covid-19 have set off a flurry of interest. While no one is branding the milk as a cure for the virus, aficionados are convinced its nutritional profile -- which is close to human milk -- helps strengthen the body's natural defences. Klea Ymeri, a student in agro-environmental engineering, recently travelled to Paper to buy two 250 millilitre bottles to help her parents recover from Covid-19. "On top of the medicines they are taking, donkey's milk could be a good natural remedy for the respiratory system", she told AFP. The family also uses some of the milk to make soaps, masks and other beauty products. Regina Beqiri, a relative and pharmacist who concocts the mixtures, says sales are up at at time when virus restrictions mean "people are spending more time at home and can take better care of their skin". - Two-way therapy - The farm currently has four pregnant donkeys and four milk-producing mothers, each with a calf. With a maximum production of three litres a day, "we can't meet the demand", Kikia told AFP, saying he plans to expand his herd to 100 donkeys. But that is no easy task in Albania, where the donkey population is on the decline. Waves of emigration from villages to cities, plus with the use of machines in agriculture, has shrunk the number of donkeys and breeders across the Balkan state. Milk production is thus also a way of "protecting" the species, according to the farmers, whose animals still bear the scars of their difficult past lives. "They are cared for and rehabilitated, including psychologically," says Riza Kikia, 71, Elton's father. Geni, for example, is a white female donkey who arrived with a wounded ear and a scar-streaked back. "She was weak, sad, she didn't want to stay with the others. Now she plays, she eats well and she makes good milk", said Kikia. The donkeys are also a draw for local children from the village who come to take rides, feed and pet the animals. "This bond between the donkeys and the children is a therapy in itself," Kikia explained. "It is a psychological remedy that has magical effects, both on the behaviour of the children and on that of the animals."

Udderly healthy: Donkey milk a hit in Albania

Albania's chromium sector is entirely dependent on exports which took a hit because of the economic fall out of COVID-19. Also, China which happens to be a leading consumer of the Albania's chromium has halted its purchase. Minors in Albania now have no where to sell their goods.

Your Story: Albania faces a chromium crisis, unemployed miners struggle to stay afloat

Albania may be under lockdown but its bees are thriving like never before. The absense of heavy industrial activity has assured in a golden year for honey harvesting.

COVID-19 lockdown a golden year for honey farms in Albania

The pause in industrial activities due to coronavirus pandemic and lockdown is expected to usher in a golden year for honey harvesting in Albania.

Lockdown gives Albanian beekeepers a 'Golden Year'

Emergency workers on Wednesday pulled dust-covered corpses from the ruins of an earthquake that has claimed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rescuers-work-through-the-night-as-albanian-quake-toll-hits-25-264912">30 lives in Albania</a>, as aftershocks hampered the second day of search efforts for survivors.

The<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/albania-earthquake-kills-20-hunt-for-survivors-still-ongoing-264758"> 6.4 magnitude earthquake</a> that rattled the Balkan state early Tuesday morning was the most powerful and damaging in decades.

In the hard-hit coastal city of Durres and the town of Thumane, apartments and hotels collapsed into mountains of rubble, trapping residents beneath.&nbsp;

With the help of dogs and 200 experts flown in from across Europe, rescuers raced against time to clear away the wreckage after 45 people were pulled out alive the previous day.

But a series of strong aftershocks put temporary pauses on search efforts and sent fresh bolts of panic in the streets.

Devastated relatives wept in the morning as search teams in Thumane unearthed the bodies of a married couple, Pellumb and Celike Greku, from a building torn down by the force of the earthquake.&nbsp;

"Terrible, terrible," an elderly woman dressed in black shouted, pulling at her hair as the bodies in pyjamas were wrapped in blankets and carried away.

Their son Saimir, who was visiting from abroad, was rescued alive from the rubble Tuesday night but later died in hospital, according to relatives and neighbours.&nbsp;

"They went to heaven together, they were very honest and poor people," said Valbona Cupi, 60, another local, in tears.&nbsp;

By Wednesday evening the official death toll was 30 dead, the defence ministry said, with some 650 people treated for mostly minor injuries.

In Durres, a beach destination on the Adriatic coast, 27 buildings had crumbled and at least a dozen people were killed. &nbsp;

As darkness fell, thousands of residents prepared to spend a second night sleeping in tents or on the grass of the city's football stadium.

Many were afraid to return home due to the tremors that followed Tuesday's quake, including a 5.3 magnitude earthquake that shook buildings in Durres on Wednesday afternoon.

During a visit to the city, Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government would arrange for homeless families to be moved into hotels.&nbsp;

"We cannot spend the winter under open skies or in tents," he said, pledging to put each family in a new home by 2020.

In the district of Keneta, emergency workers and relatives kept searching for a family of six -- two parents and four children -- whose home was flattened by the earthquake.&nbsp;

"Hope is the last thing that dies," said Asije, 40, a close relative of the Lala family who had moved to the port city from Albania's poor north in search of a better life.&nbsp;

Another relative, Hasan Lala, was working with rescuers who used pickaxes, shovels and their hands to clear debris and move slabs of concrete.&nbsp;

"The rescue operation is very difficult because you can't use heavy machinery, you have to work with your hands," he said.

Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, but rescue specialists and emergency aid have poured in from around the continent.&nbsp;

The government declared Wednesday a national day of mourning and cancelled festivities planned for Independence Day celebrations on November 28 and 29.

Durres and Thumane were also put under a 30-day state of emergency.&nbsp;

In an act of solidarity, neighbouring Kosovo, whose population is mostly ethnic Albanian, also went into official mourning.

Two Kosovar brothers, Shemsedin and Isa Abazi, were among those killed in Durres when their hotel collapsed, according to Pristina.

Earthquakes are relatively common in the Balkans due to the movements two large tectonic plates -- the African and Eurasian -- and the smaller Adriatic micro-plate.

Emergency workers on Wednesday pulled dust-covered corpses from the ruins of an earthquake that has claimed 30 lives in Albania, as aftershocks hampered the second day of search efforts for survivors.

Emergency workers on Wednesday pulled dust-covered corpses from the ruins of an earthquake that has claimed 30 lives in Albania, as aftershocks hampered the second day of search efforts for survivors. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rattled the Balkan state early Tuesday morning was the most powerful and damaging in decades. In the hard-hit coastal city of Durres and the town of Thumane, apartments and hotels collapsed into mountains of rubble, trapping residents beneath. With the help of dogs and 200 experts flown in from across Europe, rescuers raced against time to clear away the wreckage after 45 people were pulled out alive the previous day. But a series of strong aftershocks put temporary pauses on search efforts and sent fresh bolts of panic in the streets. Devastated relatives wept in the morning as search teams in Thumane unearthed the bodies of a married couple, Pellumb and Celike Greku, from a building torn down by the force of the earthquake. "Terrible, terrible," an elderly woman dressed in black shouted, pulling at her hair as the bodies in pyjamas were wrapped in blankets and carried away. Their son Saimir, who was visiting from abroad, was rescued alive from the rubble Tuesday night but later died in hospital, according to relatives and neighbours. "They went to heaven together, they were very honest and poor people," said Valbona Cupi, 60, another local, in tears. By Wednesday evening the official death toll was 30 dead, the defence ministry said, with some 650 people treated for mostly minor injuries. In Durres, a beach destination on the Adriatic coast, 27 buildings had crumbled and at least a dozen people were killed. As darkness fell, thousands of residents prepared to spend a second night sleeping in tents or on the grass of the city's football stadium. Many were afraid to return home due to the tremors that followed Tuesday's quake, including a 5.3 magnitude earthquake that shook buildings in Durres on Wednesday afternoon. During a visit to the city, Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government would arrange for homeless families to be moved into hotels. "We cannot spend the winter under open skies or in tents," he said, pledging to put each family in a new home by 2020. In the district of Keneta, emergency workers and relatives kept searching for a family of six -- two parents and four children -- whose home was flattened by the earthquake. "Hope is the last thing that dies," said Asije, 40, a close relative of the Lala family who had moved to the port city from Albania's poor north in search of a better life. Another relative, Hasan Lala, was working with rescuers who used pickaxes, shovels and their hands to clear debris and move slabs of concrete. "The rescue operation is very difficult because you can't use heavy machinery, you have to work with your hands," he said. Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe, but rescue specialists and emergency aid have poured in from around the continent. The government declared Wednesday a national day of mourning and cancelled festivities planned for Independence Day celebrations on November 28 and 29. Durres and Thumane were also put under a 30-day state of emergency. In an act of solidarity, neighbouring Kosovo, whose population is mostly ethnic Albanian, also went into official mourning. Two Kosovar brothers, Shemsedin and Isa Abazi, were among those killed in Durres when their hotel collapsed, according to Pristina. Earthquakes are relatively common in the Balkans due to the movements two large tectonic plates -- the African and Eurasian -- and the smaller Adriatic micro-plate.

Death toll in Albania earthquake climbs to 30; rescuers race to save lives

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/one-dead-buildings-down-after-strongest-tremor-in-decades-hits-albania-264576">Albanian rescuers</a> searched rubble through the night looking for&nbsp;survivors&nbsp;trapped in buildings that toppled Tuesday in the strongest&nbsp;earthquake&nbsp;to hit the country in decades, with&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;20&nbsp;dead&nbsp;and hundreds injured.

Teams of soldiers, police and emergency workers sifted through the debris of shredded apartment blocks and hotels in towns near&nbsp;Albania's northwest Adriatic coast, close to the epicentre of the 6.4 magnitude&nbsp;earthquake&nbsp;that rattled the country before dawn.&nbsp;

By evening the toll was 22&nbsp;dead, according to the defence ministry.

Most were pulled from the wreckage in the coastal city of Durres and Thumane, a town north of the capital Tirana.

In neighbouring Kurbin a man in his fifties died in the morning after jumping from his building in panic. Another perished in a car accident after the&nbsp;earthquake&nbsp;tore open parts of the road, the ministry said.

More&nbsp;than&nbsp;40 people have also been retrieved alive in marathon rescue efforts that continued with headlamps and spotlights after the sun went down.

"The rescue teams will continue all night," defence ministry spokeswoman Albana Qehajaj told AFP.

"We must be careful because the night makes any operation&nbsp;more&nbsp;difficult," she added.

Earlier in Thumane, locals watching emergency workers comb over a collapsed building shouted the names of their loved ones still inside: "Mira!", "Ariela!", "Selvije!".

Dulejman Kolaveri, a man in his 50s in Thumane, told AFP he feared his 70-year-old mother and six-year-old niece were trapped inside the five-storey apartment because they lived on the top floor.&nbsp;

"I don't know if they are&nbsp;dead&nbsp;or alive. I'm afraid of their fate... only God knows," he said with trembling hands.

There were also brief bursts of joy during the day as rescuers delicately extracted&nbsp;survivors.

One thin, middle-aged man covered in a film of grey dust was seen being carried out of the rubble&nbsp;on a stretcher in Thumane.

In Durres, onlookers cheered "Bravo!" as a team used ropes to rescue a young man from the wreckage of a toppled seaside hotel in a two-hour operation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/second-powerful-tremor-to-hit-the-albania-in-two-months-264671">In pictures:&nbsp;How Albania's most powerful earthquake wrecked the capital city 
​​​​​​​</a> 
Night in the stadium

Afraid to return home after a series of powerful aftershocks, hundreds of people in Durres took shelter for the night in tents set up in the city's football stadium.

The health ministry said that&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;600 people have received first aid for injuries, mostly minor.&nbsp;

During a visit to victims in a hospital in Tirana, Prime Minister Edi Rama told local media that Wednesday would be a national "day of mourning".&nbsp;

"We have lost human lives, we have also saved a lot of lives," he said.

Some 300 local soldiers and 1,900 police were sent to Durres and Thumane to assist with the rescue efforts, according to authorities.&nbsp;

Aid also poured in from around Europe, with teams from Italy, Greece and Romania among those deployed to help.

Albania's cities and coastline have undergone rapid development in recent decades, and illegal construction ignoring building codes is rife.&nbsp;

Felt across the Balkans

Tuesday's quake was the strongest to hit the Durres region since 1926, seismologist Rrapo Ormeni told local television.

Albanian authorities described it as the most powerful in the last&nbsp;20-30 years.

It struck at 3:54 am local time, with an epicentre 34 kilometres northwest of Tirana, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

In Tirana, panicked residents ran out onto the streets and huddled together after the quake struck.

Several powerful aftershocks followed, including one of 5.3 magnitude.&nbsp;

The tremors were felt across the Balkans, from Sarajevo to Belgrade and the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad almost 700 kilometres away, according to reports in local media and on social networks.

The Balkan peninsula lies near the fault line of two large tectonic plates, the African and Eurasian, and earthquakes are frequent.&nbsp;

The movements of the small Adriatic micro-plate also produces earthquakes, according to Kresimir Kuk from the Croatian seismological institute.

The most devastating quake in recent times hit North Macedonia's capital Skopje in July 1963, killing around a thousand people and destroying some 80 per cent of the city.

Albanian rescuers searched rubble through the night looking for survivors trapped in buildings that toppled Tuesday in the strongest earthquake to hit the country in decades, with more than 20 dead and hundreds injured.

Albanian rescuers searched rubble through the night looking for survivors trapped in buildings that toppled Tuesday in the strongest earthquake to hit the country in decades, with more than 20 dead and hundreds injured. Teams of soldiers, police and emergency workers sifted through the debris of shredded apartment blocks and hotels in towns near Albania's northwest Adriatic coast, close to the epicentre of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that rattled the country before dawn. By evening the toll was 22 dead, according to the defence ministry. Most were pulled from the wreckage in the coastal city of Durres and Thumane, a town north of the capital Tirana. In neighbouring Kurbin a man in his fifties died in the morning after jumping from his building in panic. Another perished in a car accident after the earthquake tore open parts of the road, the ministry said. More than 40 people have also been retrieved alive in marathon rescue efforts that continued with headlamps and spotlights after the sun went down. "The rescue teams will continue all night," defence ministry spokeswoman Albana Qehajaj told AFP. "We must be careful because the night makes any operation more difficult," she added. Earlier in Thumane, locals watching emergency workers comb over a collapsed building shouted the names of their loved ones still inside: "Mira!", "Ariela!", "Selvije!". Dulejman Kolaveri, a man in his 50s in Thumane, told AFP he feared his 70-year-old mother and six-year-old niece were trapped inside the five-storey apartment because they lived on the top floor. "I don't know if they are dead or alive. I'm afraid of their fate... only God knows," he said with trembling hands. There were also brief bursts of joy during the day as rescuers delicately extracted survivors. One thin, middle-aged man covered in a film of grey dust was seen being carried out of the rubble on a stretcher in Thumane. In Durres, onlookers cheered "Bravo!" as a team used ropes to rescue a young man from the wreckage of a toppled seaside hotel in a two-hour operation. In pictures: How Albania's most powerful earthquake wrecked the capital city Night in the stadium Afraid to return home after a series of powerful aftershocks, hundreds of people in Durres took shelter for the night in tents set up in the city's football stadium. The health ministry said that more than 600 people have received first aid for injuries, mostly minor. During a visit to victims in a hospital in Tirana, Prime Minister Edi Rama told local media that Wednesday would be a national "day of mourning". "We have lost human lives, we have also saved a lot of lives," he said. Some 300 local soldiers and 1,900 police were sent to Durres and Thumane to assist with the rescue efforts, according to authorities. Aid also poured in from around Europe, with teams from Italy, Greece and Romania among those deployed to help. Albania's cities and coastline have undergone rapid development in recent decades, and illegal construction ignoring building codes is rife. Felt across the Balkans Tuesday's quake was the strongest to hit the Durres region since 1926, seismologist Rrapo Ormeni told local television. Albanian authorities described it as the most powerful in the last 20-30 years. It struck at 3:54 am local time, with an epicentre 34 kilometres northwest of Tirana, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre. In Tirana, panicked residents ran out onto the streets and huddled together after the quake struck. Several powerful aftershocks followed, including one of 5.3 magnitude. The tremors were felt across the Balkans, from Sarajevo to Belgrade and the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad almost 700 kilometres away, according to reports in local media and on social networks. The Balkan peninsula lies near the fault line of two large tectonic plates, the African and Eurasian, and earthquakes are frequent. The movements of the small Adriatic micro-plate also produces earthquakes, according to Kresimir Kuk from the Croatian seismological institute. The most devastating quake in recent times hit North Macedonia's capital Skopje in July 1963, killing around a thousand people and destroying some 80 per cent of the city.

Albania: Earthquake kills 20, hunt for survivors still ongoing

How Albania's most powerful earthquake wrecked the capital city

Emergency crews found three more bodies on Wednesday morning as they used drones, dogs and heavy machinery to search through the wreckage left by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../one-dead-buildings-down-after-strongest- tremor-in-decades-hits-albania-264576">Albania</a>'s worst earthquake in decades, bringing the death toll to at least 25.

In the town of Thumane, close to the centre of Tuesday's quake, a woman stood in front of a collapsed building calling our for rescuers to find her niece.

Soon after crews brought out two bodies. Police said they had found another victim earlier, before dawn.

Other residents slept out in the streets in tents, fearing aftershocks.

Adrian Muci said six of his relatives had died in two separate buildings, and his own house was on the point of collapse.

"I have other cousins and relatives but I don't know where they are and if they are dead or not," he told Reuters. "I will never be able to live in my house any more."

The 6.4 magnitude quake, centred 30 km (19 miles) west of Tirana, was felt across the Balkans and in the southern Italian region of Puglia, across the Adriatic Sea from Albania.

At least 250 aftershocks - two of them magnitude 5 - then shook the Balkan country, testing strained nerves.

Albania is the poorest country in Europe, with per capita income a quarter of the European Union average, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Emergency crews found three more bodies on Wednesday morning as they used drones, dogs and heavy machinery to search through the wreckage left by Albania's worst earthquake in decades, bringing the death toll to at least 25.

Emergency crews found three more bodies on Wednesday morning as they used drones, dogs and heavy machinery to search through the wreckage left by Albania's worst earthquake in decades, bringing the death toll to at least 25. In the town of Thumane, close to the centre of Tuesday's quake, a woman stood in front of a collapsed building calling our for rescuers to find her niece. Soon after crews brought out two bodies. Police said they had found another victim earlier, before dawn. Other residents slept out in the streets in tents, fearing aftershocks. Adrian Muci said six of his relatives had died in two separate buildings, and his own house was on the point of collapse. "I have other cousins and relatives but I don't know where they are and if they are dead or not," he told Reuters. "I will never be able to live in my house any more." The 6.4 magnitude quake, centred 30 km (19 miles) west of Tirana, was felt across the Balkans and in the southern Italian region of Puglia, across the Adriatic Sea from Albania. At least 250 aftershocks - two of them magnitude 5 - then shook the Balkan country, testing strained nerves. Albania is the poorest country in Europe, with per capita income a quarter of the European Union average, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Rescuers work through the night as Albanian quake toll hits 25

At least six people have died after the most powerful earthquake to hit Albania in decades rocked the capital of Tirana and the surrounding region early on Tuesday, causing several buildings to collapse and burying residents in the rubble.

The 6.4 magnitude quake struck shortly before 4 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), the US&nbsp;Geological Survey (USGS) said, the second powerful tremor to hit the region in two months.

It was centered 30 km (19 miles) west of Tirana, at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles), the USGS said.

Two women were found in the rubble of an apartment building in the northern village of Thumane, and a man died in the town of Kurbin after panicking and jumping out of a building, a Defence Ministry spokeswoman said.

The bodies of three other victims were pulled from the wreckage of two collapsed buildings in Durres, the defense ministry said.

Emergency workers told local media one of those killed was an elderly woman who had managed to save her grandson by cradling him with her body.

Unverified video footage posted on social media showed what appeared to be a collapsed building in Durres, 40 km west of Tirana, on the Adriatic coast. Other footage showed buildings with large cracks and fallen masonry, including one apartment with most of a bedroom wall missing.

"Firefighters and army staff are helping residents (caught) under the rubble", in Durres and the nearby village of Thumane, the Defence Ministry spokeswoman told reporters.

An unidentified man, with a wound dressing on his right cheek, told News24 TV his daughter and niece were among those trapped in a collapsed apartment building in Durres.

"I talked with my daughter and niece on the phone. They said they are well and are waiting for the rescue. Could not talk to my wife. There are other families, but I could not talk to them," the man said.

National police said people in Durres and the surrounding areas to avoid driving so emergency services could reach those affected by the earthquake.

Two government spokesmen told Reuters the biggest damage to buildings was in Durres and a few people had been taken to hospital in Tirana.

A Reuters witness described residents fleeing apartment buildings in Tirana, some carrying babies. Power was down in several neighbourhoods.

Three hours after the main tremor, a strong aftershock rocked the city, which is known for its colorful mix of architecture from its Ottoman, Fascist and Soviet past.

Several smaller tremors were recorded in the hour before the main quake, which was also felt across the Balkans and in the southern Italian region of Puglia.

"We were awake because of the previous quakes, but the last one shook us around. Everything at home kept falling down," Refik, a Tirana resident, told Reuters of what happened in his sixth-floor apartment.

Located along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, between Greece and Macedonia, Albania experiences regular seismic activity.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 shook the country on September&nbsp;21, damaging around 500 houses and destroying some. The Defence Ministry had said it was the most powerful quake in Albania in the last 30 years.&nbsp;

The images of collapsed or semi-collapsed buildings in urban areas suggested Tuesday's quake was more powerful than one in 1979 which razed a neighborhood of the northern town of Shkoder, bordering Montenegro. Neither of those two earlier earthquakes caused any fatalities.

The Balkan nation is the poorest country in Europe, with an average income of less than a third of the European Union average, according to Eurostat data.

At least six people have died after the most powerful earthquake to hit Albania in decades rocked the capital of Tirana and the surrounding region early on Tuesday, causing several buildings to collapse and burying residents in the rubble.

At least six people have died after the most powerful earthquake to hit Albania in decades rocked the capital of Tirana and the surrounding region early on Tuesday, causing several buildings to collapse and burying residents in the rubble. The 6.4 magnitude quake struck shortly before 4 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, the second powerful tremor to hit the region in two months. It was centered 30 km (19 miles) west of Tirana, at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles), the USGS said. Two women were found in the rubble of an apartment building in the northern village of Thumane, and a man died in the town of Kurbin after panicking and jumping out of a building, a Defence Ministry spokeswoman said. The bodies of three other victims were pulled from the wreckage of two collapsed buildings in Durres, the defense ministry said. Emergency workers told local media one of those killed was an elderly woman who had managed to save her grandson by cradling him with her body. Unverified video footage posted on social media showed what appeared to be a collapsed building in Durres, 40 km west of Tirana, on the Adriatic coast. Other footage showed buildings with large cracks and fallen masonry, including one apartment with most of a bedroom wall missing. "Firefighters and army staff are helping residents (caught) under the rubble", in Durres and the nearby village of Thumane, the Defence Ministry spokeswoman told reporters. An unidentified man, with a wound dressing on his right cheek, told News24 TV his daughter and niece were among those trapped in a collapsed apartment building in Durres. "I talked with my daughter and niece on the phone. They said they are well and are waiting for the rescue. Could not talk to my wife. There are other families, but I could not talk to them," the man said. National police said people in Durres and the surrounding areas to avoid driving so emergency services could reach those affected by the earthquake. Two government spokesmen told Reuters the biggest damage to buildings was in Durres and a few people had been taken to hospital in Tirana. A Reuters witness described residents fleeing apartment buildings in Tirana, some carrying babies. Power was down in several neighbourhoods. Three hours after the main tremor, a strong aftershock rocked the city, which is known for its colorful mix of architecture from its Ottoman, Fascist and Soviet past. Several smaller tremors were recorded in the hour before the main quake, which was also felt across the Balkans and in the southern Italian region of Puglia. "We were awake because of the previous quakes, but the last one shook us around. Everything at home kept falling down," Refik, a Tirana resident, told Reuters of what happened in his sixth-floor apartment. Located along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, between Greece and Macedonia, Albania experiences regular seismic activity. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 shook the country on September 21, damaging around 500 houses and destroying some. The Defence Ministry had said it was the most powerful quake in Albania in the last 30 years. The images of collapsed or semi-collapsed buildings in urban areas suggested Tuesday's quake was more powerful than one in 1979 which razed a neighborhood of the northern town of Shkoder, bordering Montenegro. Neither of those two earlier earthquakes caused any fatalities. The Balkan nation is the poorest country in Europe, with an average income of less than a third of the European Union average, according to Eurostat data.

Six dead, buildings down as strongest tremor in decades rocks Albania

World champions France produced a fitting inaugural match in Albania's newly-built Arena Kombetare stadium after goals from Corentin Tolisso and Antoine Griezmann gave them a 2-0 win in a Euro 2020 Group H qualifier on Sunday.

Having already booked their berth in next year's 24-nation tournament, France finished top of the group on 25 points from 10 games, two ahead of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/turkey-qualify-for-euro-2020-with-draw-against-iceland-france-also-secure-spot-262254">second-placed Turkey</a> who cruised to a 2-0 win at Andorra.

Albania, who had no chance of breaking into the top two, looked subdued in front of a passionate home crowd and UEFA dignitaries including the soccer governing body's chief Aleksander Ceferin.

Tolisso fired the French into an eighth-minute lead when he headed home superbly inside the near post after Griezmann swung in an inviting free kick from the left.

Griezmann netted the second in the 31st minute when he turned in a sharp low cross by Leo Dubois, as the gulf in class between the two sides was everywhere to be seen in front of a capacity 22,000 crowd.

France continued to press after the break and Olivier Giroud missed three chances to extend their lead, having twice been denied by goalkeeper Etrit Berisha before hitting the post with a fierce shot from inside the penalty area.

Turkey, who also sealed qualification with a match to spare, breezed past Andorra thanks to a first-half brace from striker Enes Unal.

In the group's other fixture, Iceland eked out a 2-1 win in Moldova and although the Nordic nation failed to progress from the group, they will have another chance through the playoffs in March.

World champions France produced a fitting inaugural match in Albania's newly-built Arena Kombetare stadium after goals from Corentin Tolisso and Antoine Griezmann gave them a 2-0 win in a Euro 2020 Group H qualifier on Sunday.

World champions France produced a fitting inaugural match in Albania's newly-built Arena Kombetare stadium after goals from Corentin Tolisso and Antoine Griezmann gave them a 2-0 win in a Euro 2020 Group H qualifier on Sunday. Having already booked their berth in next year's 24-nation tournament, France finished top of the group on 25 points from 10 games, two ahead of second-placed Turkey who cruised to a 2-0 win at Andorra. Albania, who had no chance of breaking into the top two, looked subdued in front of a passionate home crowd and UEFA dignitaries including the soccer governing body's chief Aleksander Ceferin. Tolisso fired the French into an eighth-minute lead when he headed home superbly inside the near post after Griezmann swung in an inviting free kick from the left. Griezmann netted the second in the 31st minute when he turned in a sharp low cross by Leo Dubois, as the gulf in class between the two sides was everywhere to be seen in front of a capacity 22,000 crowd. France continued to press after the break and Olivier Giroud missed three chances to extend their lead, having twice been denied by goalkeeper Etrit Berisha before hitting the post with a fierce shot from inside the penalty area. Turkey, who also sealed qualification with a match to spare, breezed past Andorra thanks to a first-half brace from striker Enes Unal. In the group's other fixture, Iceland eked out a 2-1 win in Moldova and although the Nordic nation failed to progress from the group, they will have another chance through the playoffs in March.

Euro 2020 qualifiers: France celebrate 2-0 win in Albania's new stadium

With an ex-minister on trial for drug trafficking, an opposition leader suspected of money laundering and hundreds of judges probed over graft, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/albanian-protesters-attack-pms-office-to-demand-he-quits-197881">Albania is wrestling against a corruption plague</a> threatening its EU membership hopes.

The government insists that no other EU hopeful has undertaken such sweeping efforts to tackle graft and organised crime in order to join the bloc and the European Union has noted significant progress.

But the decision is down to the EU's member states and there are fears they may hesitate as political infighting clouds the anti-corruption campaign.

The NATO member nation on the fringes of Europe has been under strong pressure from Brussels, particularly over organised crime.

The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini applauded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/albanian-protesters-hurl-petrol-bombs-seek-snap-polls-217906">Albania's</a> "impressive results" in fighting drug crime when she recommended opening accession talks for the Balkan state in May.&nbsp;

But the European Commission also noted that while Albania's once flourishing cannabis farms appear nearly rooted out, "corruption is prevalent in many areas".&nbsp;

"Efforts need to continue, in particular by tackling money laundering and confiscating assets stemming from crimes and other unjustified wealth," it added.

The Balkan state's efforts will be under the spotlight again on Wednesday when a high profile trial opens for Saimir Tahiri, a former Interior Minister and political ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

In late 2017, he became a suspect in a cannabis smuggling case after his name appeared in wiretaps of a drug trafficker and distant cousin in Italy.

A mountain of mud

The issue has become a political flashpoint.

Rama has defended his former minister, saying in November that "a mountain of mud was thrown at him based solely on the slander of a few criminals". Tahiri's lawyer has also accused prosecutors of lacking evidence and only pursuing the case for "political" reasons.&nbsp;

But the opposition has portrayed Tahiri as evidence of an administration it alleges is enmeshed in criminal links.

Rama, who has been in power since 2013, has strongly denied the opposition's accusations that he and his Socialist party have used "crime money" to buy elections.&nbsp;

For months opposition supporters have been holding weekly protests against Rama, hurling firecrackers at government buildings and clashing with Tirana police.

But on Monday the opposition leader Lulzim Basha was himself summoned by courts on suspicion of money laundering and illegal spending during a 2017 political campaign.

Now he is accusing the authorities of a "political trial" and "intimidation".

Vicious cycle

The stream of allegations is trapping Albania "in a vicious cycle by creating the impression that every party has its own criminals", said analyst Afrim Krasniqi, who leads the Institute of Political Studies in Tirana.

Yet some reforms are producing real results, he added.

In 2015 Albania adopted a law requiring government officials to declare any criminal records.

In the following three years, a mayor and six deputies were forced to resign for concealing criminal pasts.

A dozen other MPs are also under investigation, while some 30 local elected officials and some 265 civil servants have been forced to step down for corruption suspicions or other reasons.&nbsp;

Krasniqi said Albania needs to go further, calling for legislation to impel financial transparency from political parties, to ensure they do not receive "hidden or criminal funds".

Shortage of judges&nbsp;

Albania's justice system is further complicating matters as it buckles under a separate graft review.&nbsp;

A judicial reform process backed by the EU and the US has been examining the assets, income, corruption and organised crime links of judges for several years.&nbsp;

Out of 800 judges, more than 140 have been reviewed and around 90 have either been dismissed or resigned to avoid the probe.&nbsp;

That has left important bodies, like the Constitutional Court, effectively defunct with only one out of nine judges remaining.

Meanwhile, Albania's chief prosecutor, former Attorney General Adriatik Lalla, is under investigation for money laundering.&nbsp;

Speaking in May, the EU's Mogherini said that "what has been achieved with the justice reform (in Albania) remains unprecedented not only in the region."

But it is European member states who will have the final say.

With an ex-minister on trial for drug trafficking, an opposition leader suspected of money laundering and hundreds of judges probed over graft, Albania is wrestling against a corruption plague threatening its EU membership hopes.

With an ex-minister on trial for drug trafficking, an opposition leader suspected of money laundering and hundreds of judges probed over graft, Albania is wrestling against a corruption plague threatening its EU membership hopes. The government insists that no other EU hopeful has undertaken such sweeping efforts to tackle graft and organised crime in order to join the bloc and the European Union has noted significant progress. But the decision is down to the EU's member states and there are fears they may hesitate as political infighting clouds the anti-corruption campaign. The NATO member nation on the fringes of Europe has been under strong pressure from Brussels, particularly over organised crime. The EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini applauded Albania's "impressive results" in fighting drug crime when she recommended opening accession talks for the Balkan state in May. But the European Commission also noted that while Albania's once flourishing cannabis farms appear nearly rooted out, "corruption is prevalent in many areas". "Efforts need to continue, in particular by tackling money laundering and confiscating assets stemming from crimes and other unjustified wealth," it added. The Balkan state's efforts will be under the spotlight again on Wednesday when a high profile trial opens for Saimir Tahiri, a former Interior Minister and political ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama. In late 2017, he became a suspect in a cannabis smuggling case after his name appeared in wiretaps of a drug trafficker and distant cousin in Italy. A mountain of mud The issue has become a political flashpoint. Rama has defended his former minister, saying in November that "a mountain of mud was thrown at him based solely on the slander of a few criminals". Tahiri's lawyer has also accused prosecutors of lacking evidence and only pursuing the case for "political" reasons. But the opposition has portrayed Tahiri as evidence of an administration it alleges is enmeshed in criminal links. Rama, who has been in power since 2013, has strongly denied the opposition's accusations that he and his Socialist party have used "crime money" to buy elections. For months opposition supporters have been holding weekly protests against Rama, hurling firecrackers at government buildings and clashing with Tirana police. But on Monday the opposition leader Lulzim Basha was himself summoned by courts on suspicion of money laundering and illegal spending during a 2017 political campaign. Now he is accusing the authorities of a "political trial" and "intimidation". Vicious cycle The stream of allegations is trapping Albania "in a vicious cycle by creating the impression that every party has its own criminals", said analyst Afrim Krasniqi, who leads the Institute of Political Studies in Tirana. Yet some reforms are producing real results, he added. In 2015 Albania adopted a law requiring government officials to declare any criminal records. In the following three years, a mayor and six deputies were forced to resign for concealing criminal pasts. A dozen other MPs are also under investigation, while some 30 local elected officials and some 265 civil servants have been forced to step down for corruption suspicions or other reasons. Krasniqi said Albania needs to go further, calling for legislation to impel financial transparency from political parties, to ensure they do not receive "hidden or criminal funds". Shortage of judges Albania's justice system is further complicating matters as it buckles under a separate graft review. A judicial reform process backed by the EU and the US has been examining the assets, income, corruption and organised crime links of judges for several years. Out of 800 judges, more than 140 have been reviewed and around 90 have either been dismissed or resigned to avoid the probe. That has left important bodies, like the Constitutional Court, effectively defunct with only one out of nine judges remaining. Meanwhile, Albania's chief prosecutor, former Attorney General Adriatik Lalla, is under investigation for money laundering. Speaking in May, the EU's Mogherini said that "what has been achieved with the justice reform (in Albania) remains unprecedented not only in the region." But it is European member states who will have the final say.

Courts, cannabis, corruption: Albania struggles against old demons

A 5.3-magnitude quake in southeast Albania Saturday injured four people and damaged houses, local officials said.

Media reports said four people were hurt in Floq, 15 kilometres (10 miles) southeast of the city of Korca, which lies 180 kilometres southeast of the capital Tirana.

Officials in Korca said the quake had damaged around 60 houses.

According to Albania's Institute of Geosciences, it struck at 6:26 am (0426 GMT) and was followed by seven weaker aftershocks.

A 5.3-magnitude quake in southeast Albania Saturday injured four people and damaged houses, local officials said. Media reports said four people were hurt in Floq, 15 kilometres (10 miles) southeast of the city of Korca, which lies 180 kilometres southeast of the capital Tirana.

A 5.3-magnitude quake in southeast Albania Saturday injured four people and damaged houses, local officials said. Media reports said four people were hurt in Floq, 15 kilometres (10 miles) southeast of the city of Korca, which lies 180 kilometres southeast of the capital Tirana. Officials in Korca said the quake had damaged around 60 houses. According to Albania's Institute of Geosciences, it struck at 6:26 am (0426 GMT) and was followed by seven weaker aftershocks.

5.3 magnitude quake in Albania causes injuries, damages houses: Officials

Residents of the northern Albanian region of Puka, which is characterized by the pristine beauty of its natural landscape, are attempting to make a living from tourism in a move that goes against local traditions that say travelers should be treated as guests and not clients.

Tourism at odds with ancient Albanian traditions

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Accused in Sterling Biotech case Hitesh Patel detained

The devil got his due on Monday as a week-long course on exorcism - including by cellphone - got under way at a Catholic university amid signs that the number of demonic possessions is on the rise.

About 200 aspiring exorcists or others just curious about the snare of the devil gathered with experts for lectures and lessons on topics such as discerning between possession and mental illness, witchcraft in Africa, and the ABC's of casting out the demon.

Cardinal Ernest Simoni, 89, of Albania, quickly piqued the interest of participants in first session at when he said that he had performed exorcisms via cellphone.

"They call me and we speak and like this," Simoni said after his mentioning the cellphone technique in his formal address.

Speaking in a calm, grandfatherly, what's-the-big-deal tone of voice, he said he read the prayers of exorcism in Latin over the phone, just as he would if he were performing the detailed rite in person.

Although no official figures are available, Church officials say the number of demonic possessions is on the rise.

Professor Giuseppe Ferrari, one of the organisers of the "Course on Exorcism and the Prayer of Liberation", held at the Vatican-approved Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University said the number of exorcisms was definitely increasing over the years.

Apart from sessions with practising exorcists, the some 35 lessons and lectures include sessions with theologians, psychologists, criminologists, and Church historians.

Most of the participants in the course were priests. Only priests can perform exorcisms and only after their bishops give them permission.

Those who take the course are given a certificate but Ferrari stressed that does not entitle them to perform exorcism.

Lay Catholics, including women, can be what a course entry called "auxiliary exorcists," meaning they can be present at the rite, pray and give moral support to the priest casting out the demon.

Most of the participants in the course were priests.

The devil got his due on Monday as a week-long course on exorcism - including by cellphone - got under way at a Catholic university amid signs that the number of demonic possessions is on the rise. About 200 aspiring exorcists or others just curious about the snare of the devil gathered with experts for lectures and lessons on topics such as discerning between possession and mental illness, witchcraft in Africa, and the ABC's of casting out the demon. Cardinal Ernest Simoni, 89, of Albania, quickly piqued the interest of participants in first session at when he said that he had performed exorcisms via cellphone. "They call me and we speak and like this," Simoni said after his mentioning the cellphone technique in his formal address. Speaking in a calm, grandfatherly, what's-the-big-deal tone of voice, he said he read the prayers of exorcism in Latin over the phone, just as he would if he were performing the detailed rite in person. Although no official figures are available, Church officials say the number of demonic possessions is on the rise. Professor Giuseppe Ferrari, one of the organisers of the "Course on Exorcism and the Prayer of Liberation", held at the Vatican-approved Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University said the number of exorcisms was definitely increasing over the years. Apart from sessions with practising exorcists, the some 35 lessons and lectures include sessions with theologians, psychologists, criminologists, and Church historians. Most of the participants in the course were priests. Only priests can perform exorcisms and only after their bishops give them permission. Those who take the course are given a certificate but Ferrari stressed that does not entitle them to perform exorcism. Lay Catholics, including women, can be what a course entry called "auxiliary exorcists," meaning they can be present at the rite, pray and give moral support to the priest casting out the demon.

Exorcism by cellphone: Beating the devil in 21st century

As Mother Teresa receives sainthood tomorrow, two Balkan countries will be celebrating the canonisation of a woman&nbsp;they both claim as their own 
 
Albania and Macedonia, both have statues, memorials, hospitals and other monuments in her name. 
 
Albania observes Mother Teresa Day on October 19, a public holiday on the anniversary of&nbsp;Mother Teresa&#39;s&nbsp;beatification. Teresa&#39;s birth-town, Skopje, is home to the&nbsp;Mother Teresa Memorial House, built on the location of the once Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, where she was baptized. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/teresa-memorial-20160903123622.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Mother Teresa Memorial House in Skopje.
</div>
 
&quot;Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, but she never declared herself a Macedonian,&quot; said Albanian historian Moikom Zeqo, author of a study on the nun&#39;s links to Albania. 
 
She &quot;always spoke about her Albanian origins and her universal mission,&quot; Zeqo told AFP. Macedonians, however, suggest her birthplace is all important. 
 
&quot;We call her &#39;Skopjanka&#39; (citizen of Skopje) because we know she is ours,&quot; said Valentina Bozinovska, director of the national commission for relations with religious communities. 
 
Macedonian government officials are expected&nbsp;to attend Sunday&#39;s canonisation service led by Pope Francis in front of St Peter&#39;s Basilica.&nbsp;In Skopje, celebratory events will be held in honour of her canonisation. 
 
Youngest of the three children, Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Macedonia&#39;s current capital Skopje. She had an Albanian mother who&#39;s family was from Kosovo. Teresa was baptised Roman Catholic, a minority religion in Skopje, decided early on she would take up a religious life. 
 
She left her home aged 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. She travelled to Darjeeling in India a year later in 1929 and took her vows as a Sister of Loretto in 1931. 
 
She obtained permission from the Vatican to leave the Sisters of Loretto in 1948 and devoted herself to working among the poor under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Calcutta (now Kolkatta). 
 
Teresa received a Nobel Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Both countries have statues, memorials, roads, hospitals and other monuments in her name

As Mother Teresa receives sainthood tomorrow, two Balkan countries will be celebrating the canonisation of a woman they both claim as their own Albania and Macedonia, both have statues, memorials, hospitals and other monuments in her name. Albania observes Mother Teresa Day on October 19, a public holiday on the anniversary of Mother Teresa's beatification. Teresa's birth-town, Skopje, is home to the Mother Teresa Memorial House, built on the location of the once Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, where she was baptized. Mother Teresa Memorial House in Skopje. "Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, but she never declared herself a Macedonian," said Albanian historian Moikom Zeqo, author of a study on the nun's links to Albania. She "always spoke about her Albanian origins and her universal mission," Zeqo told AFP. Macedonians, however, suggest her birthplace is all important. "We call her 'Skopjanka' (citizen of Skopje) because we know she is ours," said Valentina Bozinovska, director of the national commission for relations with religious communities. Macedonian government officials are expected to attend Sunday's canonisation service led by Pope Francis in front of St Peter's Basilica. In Skopje, celebratory events will be held in honour of her canonisation. Youngest of the three children, Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Macedonia's current capital Skopje. She had an Albanian mother who's family was from Kosovo. Teresa was baptised Roman Catholic, a minority religion in Skopje, decided early on she would take up a religious life. She left her home aged 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. She travelled to Darjeeling in India a year later in 1929 and took her vows as a Sister of Loretto in 1931. She obtained permission from the Vatican to leave the Sisters of Loretto in 1948 and devoted herself to working among the poor under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Calcutta (now Kolkatta). Teresa received a Nobel Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Mother Teresa's canonisation: Albania, Macedonia both claim her as their own

A 90th-minute header by substitute striker Antoine Griezmann and a stoppage-time special by Dimitri Payet secured France a heartstopping 2-0 win over Albania on Wednesday that sent the hosts through as the first team into the last 16 of Euro 2016. 
 
France had struggled to make any impression on a determined Albanian defence and as the clock ticked into the last minute neither team had managed a single shot on target, though both had hit a post. 
 
France had needed an 89th-minute Payet goal to beat Romania in their first game. Against Albania, it came even later when centre back Adil Rami swung in a hopeful cross that Griezmann guided home expertly. 
 
The 67,000 Stade Velodrome crowd, minus 20,000 stunned Albanians, erupted in jubilation, which was repeated five minutes later when Payet cut inside to smash in the second. 
 
With six points France are guaranteed to finish in the top two of Group A, with Switzerland, who are on four points after drawing with Romania earlier, favourites to join them in the knockout phase. 
 
Once the euphoria of the moment had elapsed, Payet was able to take a broad view. &quot;It would be good if we could avoid that type of crazy scenario,&quot; he said after picking up his second successive man of the match award. &quot;What we have to do is start matches the way we started the second half. With Paul (Pogba) and Griezou (Griezmann) coming on and a different system, it worked a lot better.&quot; 
 
It needed to. 
 
France were hesitant and risk-averse in a forgettable first half as the ploy of using the speed of Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial out wide failed to pay dividends. 
 
Albania, desperate to make their mark in their first major tournament defended with gusto and almost went ahead early in the second half when French full back Bacary Sagna bundled the ball against his own post. 
 
With the halftime introduction of Pogba, and then Griezmann, France eventually got moving as Olivier Giroud sent a header wide then thumped another against the post. 
 
However, with Albania taking every opportunity to slow the game, half the team taking it in turns to go down with cramp, it was looking as if France were going to have to settle for a point. 
 
Griezmann, however, who had a fantastic season for Atletico Madrid, showed Giroud how to connect with a header. Payet seemed only too happy to cap off another enterprising display by adding the icing after a quickfire break. 
 
Relieved France coach Didier Deschamps accepted his original approach had not worked but was pleased that the tactical switches paid off. 
 
&quot;We didn&#39;t do enough in the first half but the second half was a lot better,&quot; he said. &quot;The players who came on made a difference. We are not stuck with one format we can switch things, we had a much better balance in the second half. The big teams here are having problems. There are no easy opponents, as you could see again tonight.&quot; 
 
That was certainly true of Albania, who grew in confidence as the night went on. 
 
&quot;We didn&#39;t just defend, we had clear-cut chances,&quot; said their coach Gianni De Biasi. &quot;But if you don&#39;t score, you don&#39;t win.&quot;

A last-gasp finish over Albania sealed the deal for the hosts

A 90th-minute header by substitute striker Antoine Griezmann and a stoppage-time special by Dimitri Payet secured France a heartstopping 2-0 win over Albania on Wednesday that sent the hosts through as the first team into the last 16 of Euro 2016. France had struggled to make any impression on a determined Albanian defence and as the clock ticked into the last minute neither team had managed a single shot on target, though both had hit a post. France had needed an 89th-minute Payet goal to beat Romania in their first game. Against Albania, it came even later when centre back Adil Rami swung in a hopeful cross that Griezmann guided home expertly. The 67,000 Stade Velodrome crowd, minus 20,000 stunned Albanians, erupted in jubilation, which was repeated five minutes later when Payet cut inside to smash in the second. With six points France are guaranteed to finish in the top two of Group A, with Switzerland, who are on four points after drawing with Romania earlier, favourites to join them in the knockout phase. Once the euphoria of the moment had elapsed, Payet was able to take a broad view. "It would be good if we could avoid that type of crazy scenario," he said after picking up his second successive man of the match award. "What we have to do is start matches the way we started the second half. With Paul (Pogba) and Griezou (Griezmann) coming on and a different system, it worked a lot better." It needed to. France were hesitant and risk-averse in a forgettable first half as the ploy of using the speed of Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial out wide failed to pay dividends. Albania, desperate to make their mark in their first major tournament defended with gusto and almost went ahead early in the second half when French full back Bacary Sagna bundled the ball against his own post. With the halftime introduction of Pogba, and then Griezmann, France eventually got moving as Olivier Giroud sent a header wide then thumped another against the post. However, with Albania taking every opportunity to slow the game, half the team taking it in turns to go down with cramp, it was looking as if France were going to have to settle for a point. Griezmann, however, who had a fantastic season for Atletico Madrid, showed Giroud how to connect with a header. Payet seemed only too happy to cap off another enterprising display by adding the icing after a quickfire break. Relieved France coach Didier Deschamps accepted his original approach had not worked but was pleased that the tactical switches paid off. "We didn't do enough in the first half but the second half was a lot better," he said. "The players who came on made a difference. We are not stuck with one format we can switch things, we had a much better balance in the second half. The big teams here are having problems. There are no easy opponents, as you could see again tonight." That was certainly true of Albania, who grew in confidence as the night went on. "We didn't just defend, we had clear-cut chances," said their coach Gianni De Biasi. "But if you don't score, you don't win."

France first to seal last 16 spot at Euro 2016

Albania&#39;s first win at Euro 2016 against Romania on Sunday was the ultimate display of coach Gianni De Biasi&#39;s one-for-all and all-for-one mentality. 
 
The small Balkan nation&#39;s 1-0 victory, which gave them their first three points, meant they still have a chance to reach the knockout phase as the third-placed team behind France and Switzerland. 
 
The encounter was never going to be a goal fest, both teams having qualified thanks to their tight defences. 
 
In his four years as coach, Italian De Biasi has tried various players to find the perfect combination and it seems he found it on Sunday. 
 
He left captain Lorik Cana on the bench despite his comeback from suspension following a red card in their opener. The Italian also brought in Migjen Basha for a packed five-man midfield. 
 
A hard-working 4-5-1 formation soaked up early Romanian pressure before gradually wrenching control as their opponents quickly ran out of ideas. 
 
The outstanding Ledian Memushaj was crucial in keeping the Romanian defence occupied while Armando Sadiku&#39;s header just before halftime was all the motivation the Albanians needed as the door for a last-16 spot cracked open. 
 
Desperately fighting off a late Romanian charge, De Biasi&#39;s players showed the determination that helped them qualify for their first tournament with man-of-the-match centre back Arlind Ajeti leading their defence. 
 
They were left with cramps but aware it was their team work that carried them to their first victory. Albania finally finds itself out of football obscurity with this first win against Romania in 68 years. 
 
It could not be more different for Romania coach Angel Iordanescu, whose 100th game on their bench as coach or assistant coach marked a quick end to their Euro hopes with yet another performance lacking guile and creativity. 
 
They may have scored less than Romania during the tournament, but their focus on defence proved decisive on Sunday as Iordanescu&#39;s men could not find the equaliser that would have given a slim chance to progress. 
 
(Reuters)

This was the side's first win at Euro 2016

Albania's first win at Euro 2016 against Romania on Sunday was the ultimate display of coach Gianni De Biasi's one-for-all and all-for-one mentality. The small Balkan nation's 1-0 victory, which gave them their first three points, meant they still have a chance to reach the knockout phase as the third-placed team behind France and Switzerland. The encounter was never going to be a goal fest, both teams having qualified thanks to their tight defences. In his four years as coach, Italian De Biasi has tried various players to find the perfect combination and it seems he found it on Sunday. He left captain Lorik Cana on the bench despite his comeback from suspension following a red card in their opener. The Italian also brought in Migjen Basha for a packed five-man midfield. A hard-working 4-5-1 formation soaked up early Romanian pressure before gradually wrenching control as their opponents quickly ran out of ideas. The outstanding Ledian Memushaj was crucial in keeping the Romanian defence occupied while Armando Sadiku's header just before halftime was all the motivation the Albanians needed as the door for a last-16 spot cracked open. Desperately fighting off a late Romanian charge, De Biasi's players showed the determination that helped them qualify for their first tournament with man-of-the-match centre back Arlind Ajeti leading their defence. They were left with cramps but aware it was their team work that carried them to their first victory. Albania finally finds itself out of football obscurity with this first win against Romania in 68 years. It could not be more different for Romania coach Angel Iordanescu, whose 100th game on their bench as coach or assistant coach marked a quick end to their Euro hopes with yet another performance lacking guile and creativity. They may have scored less than Romania during the tournament, but their focus on defence proved decisive on Sunday as Iordanescu's men could not find the equaliser that would have given a slim chance to progress. (Reuters)

De Biasi's Albania earn victory for the collective

At the age of 16, living in a remote village in northern Albania, Shkurta Hasanpapaj faced being forced into marriage.&nbsp;There was just one way out, and the young woman grasped it: She took the ancient, gender-bending oath to become a &quot;sworn virgin&quot;. 
 
At a stroke, her life changed. She renounced sex, married life and parenthood. But in return, she won the right to live as a man and lead her family in a fiercely patriarchal society.&nbsp;Nearly seven decades later, Hasanpapaj prefers to go by the male form of her name, Shkurtan. 
 
&quot;I chose to be with the men,&quot; she said, as short white hair poked from beneath a cap. &quot;Those who like me call me Shkurtan, those who want to offend me use Shkurta.&quot; 
 
Seeing out the end of her life in a hospice in the northwestern city of Shkodra, Hasanpapaj is among the last of the sworn virgins, a social status once common in Albania and its neighbours in the Balkans.&nbsp;Today experts estimate that fewer than 10 remain. 
 
The exceptional life of the sworn virgin is rooted in the Kanun of Leke Dukagjini, a medieval code of conduct that was passed down orally among the clans of the craggy peaks and verdant valleys of northern Albania. 
 
The Kanun, which also lays out the rules for the nation&#39;s notorious blood feuds, allows two ways to become a &quot;virgjinesha&quot;, as sworn virgins are called in Albanian.&nbsp;One possibility is when all males in the family are dead or gone, and a girl takes the oath in order to take over male duties and rights. 
 
The other is to invoke it to peacefully avoid an arranged marriage. Without the oath, blood can be shed. 
 
Refusing a proposal is seen as a major affront that can ignite a feud between the families of the would-be bride and suitor that can span generations. 
 
Sworn virgins win the right to hold a job, smoke, knock back shots of fiery raki liquor at the bar, wear trousers and even make family decisions. 
 
You don&#39;t have to &quot;serve food with your head bowed&quot; and &quot;disappear without looking at the guests&quot;, said 62-year-old Djana Rakipi, who also goes by Lali. 
 
She was born in the remote Tropoja region in northern Albania, but now lives on the coast in Durres.&nbsp;Dressed in a tie and military beret, Rakipi chain-smokes, has a crushing handshake and takes clear pleasure when the guard at the local port calls her &quot;boss&quot;.&nbsp;Rakipi said that, for her, the oath was a form of liberty. The alternative path laid out for women in the Kanun is one of subservience, hard domestic labour and total lack of control. 
 
&quot;It was difficult for women to be part of life,&quot; said Rakipi. &quot;Being free was taboo.&quot; 
 
&#39;They mixed with men&#39; 
 
For Hasanpapaj the pressure to change came early. She and her twin sister, born in 1932, were seen as a catastrophe by their parents who had already had three sons die. Her sister was named &quot;Sose&quot;, which means &quot;that&#39;s enough&quot; in Albanian. 
 
During the post-World War II communist regime of Enver Hoxha, Hasanpapaj was a leader of the local branch of the communist party and headed up &quot;a brigade of about 50 farmers&quot;. 
 
&quot;I was tough,&quot; she said. 
 
Rakipi also feels nostalgia for the communist regime &quot;that always recognised me as a man&quot;, worked as a soldier training students to assemble a Kalashnikov rifle. She later became a police officer. 
 
Much like Hasanpapaj, Rakipi says &quot;she doesn&#39;t give a damn&quot; about not having kids and brushed off the matters of sex and relationships. 
 
&quot;I am in love with nature, the sun. I paint,&quot; Rakipi said. &quot;What better love is there than that?&quot; 
 
Both these sworn virgins firmly reject homosexuality. With Rakipi saying it is &quot;not moral&quot;. 
 
&quot;Two men and two women getting married, that is the end of the world,&quot; she added. 
 
For British anthropologist Antonia Young, author of a book on sworn virgins, sexuality had nothing to do with the custom. The &quot;virgjinesha&quot; gained the privilege of being admitted into a male-only world, although their gender was never changed on their birth certificates. 
 
&quot;They were definitely within the masculine world. They mixed with men, they socialised with men, they drank with them, particularly in cafes,&quot; she said. 
 
For any women today who may be tempted into taking the oath of becoming a sworn virgin, much of the significance of the act will be lost as so much has changed in Albanian society, said Young. 
 
&quot;It won&#39;t be the same - it won&#39;t be for the benefit of the family or the community,&quot; she said. &quot;It would just be for individual choice.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The ancient gender-bending oath gives women traditional male freedom: They can hold jobs, smoke, drink and make family decisions

At the age of 16, living in a remote village in northern Albania, Shkurta Hasanpapaj faced being forced into marriage. There was just one way out, and the young woman grasped it: She took the ancient, gender-bending oath to become a "sworn virgin". At a stroke, her life changed. She renounced sex, married life and parenthood. But in return, she won the right to live as a man and lead her family in a fiercely patriarchal society. Nearly seven decades later, Hasanpapaj prefers to go by the male form of her name, Shkurtan. "I chose to be with the men," she said, as short white hair poked from beneath a cap. "Those who like me call me Shkurtan, those who want to offend me use Shkurta." Seeing out the end of her life in a hospice in the northwestern city of Shkodra, Hasanpapaj is among the last of the sworn virgins, a social status once common in Albania and its neighbours in the Balkans. Today experts estimate that fewer than 10 remain. The exceptional life of the sworn virgin is rooted in the Kanun of Leke Dukagjini, a medieval code of conduct that was passed down orally among the clans of the craggy peaks and verdant valleys of northern Albania. The Kanun, which also lays out the rules for the nation's notorious blood feuds, allows two ways to become a "virgjinesha", as sworn virgins are called in Albanian. One possibility is when all males in the family are dead or gone, and a girl takes the oath in order to take over male duties and rights. The other is to invoke it to peacefully avoid an arranged marriage. Without the oath, blood can be shed. Refusing a proposal is seen as a major affront that can ignite a feud between the families of the would-be bride and suitor that can span generations. Sworn virgins win the right to hold a job, smoke, knock back shots of fiery raki liquor at the bar, wear trousers and even make family decisions. You don't have to "serve food with your head bowed" and "disappear without looking at the guests", said 62-year-old Djana Rakipi, who also goes by Lali. She was born in the remote Tropoja region in northern Albania, but now lives on the coast in Durres. Dressed in a tie and military beret, Rakipi chain-smokes, has a crushing handshake and takes clear pleasure when the guard at the local port calls her "boss". Rakipi said that, for her, the oath was a form of liberty. The alternative path laid out for women in the Kanun is one of subservience, hard domestic labour and total lack of control. "It was difficult for women to be part of life," said Rakipi. "Being free was taboo." 'They mixed with men' For Hasanpapaj the pressure to change came early. She and her twin sister, born in 1932, were seen as a catastrophe by their parents who had already had three sons die. Her sister was named "Sose", which means "that's enough" in Albanian. During the post-World War II communist regime of Enver Hoxha, Hasanpapaj was a leader of the local branch of the communist party and headed up "a brigade of about 50 farmers". "I was tough," she said. Rakipi also feels nostalgia for the communist regime "that always recognised me as a man", worked as a soldier training students to assemble a Kalashnikov rifle. She later became a police officer. Much like Hasanpapaj, Rakipi says "she doesn't give a damn" about not having kids and brushed off the matters of sex and relationships. "I am in love with nature, the sun. I paint," Rakipi said. "What better love is there than that?" Both these sworn virgins firmly reject homosexuality. With Rakipi saying it is "not moral". "Two men and two women getting married, that is the end of the world," she added. For British anthropologist Antonia Young, author of a book on sworn virgins, sexuality had nothing to do with the custom. The "virgjinesha" gained the privilege of being admitted into a male-only world, although their gender was never changed on their birth certificates. "They were definitely within the masculine world. They mixed with men, they socialised with men, they drank with them, particularly in cafes," she said. For any women today who may be tempted into taking the oath of becoming a sworn virgin, much of the significance of the act will be lost as so much has changed in Albanian society, said Young. "It won't be the same - it won't be for the benefit of the family or the community," she said. "It would just be for individual choice." (AFP)

Albania's last 'sworn virgins'

They lead a life clouded by misery, often robbed of the opportunity of going to school and the fear of being killed is a daily reality.&nbsp;These are the children living under the shadow of the so-called Gjakmarrja vendetta. 
 
AFP met several youngsters living in dread of falling victim to Albania&#39;s blood tradition feuds between families in the mountainous north dating back to the 15th century that spare no male in a family capable of holding a weapon. 
 
The boys spoke out about their plight close to Shkod?r&nbsp;,a town 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of the capital Tirana on the border with Montenegro.&nbsp;Klevis, 13, said he wants to be a doctor while his brother Albert, 11, aspires to be Albania&#39;s justice minister.&nbsp;Marcel, 13, wants to be a singer and Taulant (not his real name), 13, dreams of being a footballer. But despite their lofty ambitions, none of them is able to go to school, join football clubs or learn music. 
 
Their families are &quot;bloodied&quot;, explained Klevis, trapped in the cycle of death and vengeance which is their heritage.&nbsp;Klevis, Albert and Marcel are part of the same extended family forced to hide in their spartan homes, awaiting attack by so-called &quot;Gjakes&quot; - an unknown assassin.&nbsp;They could be attacked tomorrow, or never, simply because they are all related to a man who killed another person in a dispute about a stream in 2010. 
 
&quot;(They) could be the killers of tomorrow,&quot; said Gjin Marku, who promotes reconciliation between families for local organisations. 
 
The Gjakmarrja, or blood feud, has its origins in the 15th century &quot;Kanun&quot;, or social code, set up to regulate everyday life in medieval Albania.&nbsp;It has detailed rules for blood feuds which state that when someone is killed, the victim&#39;s family can take revenge not only against the killer himself but all males of the extended clan. 
 
The families of those involved in a blood feud live &quot;in the knowledge that they will be killed or they must kill&quot;, said the mayor of Shkodra, Voltana Ademi.&nbsp;But Marku doesn&#39;t hold the Kanun code responsible for their plight, instead laying the blame at the door of the country&#39;s authorities. 
 
&quot;When the institutions don&#39;t work, when the judicial system is failing, these people aren&#39;t finding solutions to their problems,&quot; he said. Albania is particularly susceptible to traditional vendetta culture after its authoritarian, one-party state gave way to near anarchy in the 1990s. 
 
That sowed the seeds for the spread of &quot;Gjakmarrja&quot; feuds as a means of settling disputes. 
 
The government ombudsman responsible for tackling blood feuds, Igli Totozani, agrees that crimes stemming from them are not just &quot;a question of tradition&quot;.&nbsp;The authorities are reluctant to publicise numbers of those affected by blood feuds for fear of tarnishing Albania&#39;s reputation as it continues in its bid to join the EU. 
 
&quot;Where the state is absent, vendetta replaces it,&quot; said Totozani, adding: &quot;We damage Albania&#39;s image by acting as if the problem doesn`t exist.&quot; 
 
An estimated 66 families with 157 people including 44 children remain in hiding, according to an official report on the issue published in April.&nbsp;Some 57 of the families live in or around Shkodra and complaints to police or officials are rare, said the report. 
 
Marku, the expert involved in defusing blood feud violence, says there has been a steady decline in the phenomenon but estimated that some 190 children are still affected with as many as 80 deprived adequate schooling because of it.&nbsp;Others put the toll far higher, but accurate statistics are hard to come by because of fraudulent claims for asylum by those using the threat of blood feud violence as a ploy to secure refugee status abroad. 
 
Whatever the true scale of the problem, the threat is very real in a country where, according to recent estimates, more than half a million firearms are in circulation. Liliana Luani is a teacher who volunteers to help homeschooled students trapped by Gjakmarrja. 
 
The father of &quot;Taulant&quot;, one of the students she visits, became a convicted murderer in 1995 following a &quot;quarrel&quot;, according to Luani.&nbsp;He has been hiding in a mountainous area with his two oldest children, aged 16 and 17.&nbsp;Two or three times a month, &quot;Taulant&quot; ventures out to go to school.&nbsp;He blushed when asked about the signet ring on his finger, saying that he had made &quot;a female friend&quot; there.&nbsp;But he too will one day have to join his father and older siblings in hiding in the mountains. 
 
&quot;The Gjakmarrja weighs heavily on us,&quot; said Taulant&#39;s mother. 
 
Marcel&#39;s sister Maria Quku, 16, was fatally shot in front of her younger brother in June 2012 by a gunman who may have been targeting her grandfather, who they were visiting at the time.&nbsp;Maria&#39;s only crime was that she was the cousin of the man who killed another person in the dispute over a stream, in 2010.&nbsp; 
 
Her mother, Manushaqe Quku, 40, only learnt of her death when her husband asked her to pick out clothes to dress their daughter&#39;s body ahead of the funeral.&nbsp;She lives at the end of a rocky track in a desolate house where photos of Maria cover the walls.&nbsp; 
 
Her husband was an obvious target and no longer lives in the house. Their first son Marian is in hiding elsewhere but Marcel remains, eking out a meagre existence from the small strip of land around their house. 
 
Marcel refuses to go to school and his mother has forbidden him from swimming in the lake that lies 200 metres (yards) from their home. 
&quot;I know that it will make the boy introverted, but I&#39;m really scared,&quot; said Manushaqe. 
 
&quot;Our family is completely lost,&quot; she cried, demanding to know who killed Maria, adding: &quot;It is very difficult to forgive.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Albania still has 15th century blood feud rules, which permit a victim to exact revenge on not just the killer, but all that family's males

They lead a life clouded by misery, often robbed of the opportunity of going to school and the fear of being killed is a daily reality. These are the children living under the shadow of the so-called Gjakmarrja vendetta. AFP met several youngsters living in dread of falling victim to Albania's blood tradition feuds between families in the mountainous north dating back to the 15th century that spare no male in a family capable of holding a weapon. The boys spoke out about their plight close to Shkod?r ,a town 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of the capital Tirana on the border with Montenegro. Klevis, 13, said he wants to be a doctor while his brother Albert, 11, aspires to be Albania's justice minister. Marcel, 13, wants to be a singer and Taulant (not his real name), 13, dreams of being a footballer. But despite their lofty ambitions, none of them is able to go to school, join football clubs or learn music. Their families are "bloodied", explained Klevis, trapped in the cycle of death and vengeance which is their heritage. Klevis, Albert and Marcel are part of the same extended family forced to hide in their spartan homes, awaiting attack by so-called "Gjakes" - an unknown assassin. They could be attacked tomorrow, or never, simply because they are all related to a man who killed another person in a dispute about a stream in 2010. "(They) could be the killers of tomorrow," said Gjin Marku, who promotes reconciliation between families for local organisations. The Gjakmarrja, or blood feud, has its origins in the 15th century "Kanun", or social code, set up to regulate everyday life in medieval Albania. It has detailed rules for blood feuds which state that when someone is killed, the victim's family can take revenge not only against the killer himself but all males of the extended clan. The families of those involved in a blood feud live "in the knowledge that they will be killed or they must kill", said the mayor of Shkodra, Voltana Ademi. But Marku doesn't hold the Kanun code responsible for their plight, instead laying the blame at the door of the country's authorities. "When the institutions don't work, when the judicial system is failing, these people aren't finding solutions to their problems," he said. Albania is particularly susceptible to traditional vendetta culture after its authoritarian, one-party state gave way to near anarchy in the 1990s. That sowed the seeds for the spread of "Gjakmarrja" feuds as a means of settling disputes. The government ombudsman responsible for tackling blood feuds, Igli Totozani, agrees that crimes stemming from them are not just "a question of tradition". The authorities are reluctant to publicise numbers of those affected by blood feuds for fear of tarnishing Albania's reputation as it continues in its bid to join the EU. "Where the state is absent, vendetta replaces it," said Totozani, adding: "We damage Albania's image by acting as if the problem doesn`t exist." An estimated 66 families with 157 people including 44 children remain in hiding, according to an official report on the issue published in April. Some 57 of the families live in or around Shkodra and complaints to police or officials are rare, said the report. Marku, the expert involved in defusing blood feud violence, says there has been a steady decline in the phenomenon but estimated that some 190 children are still affected with as many as 80 deprived adequate schooling because of it. Others put the toll far higher, but accurate statistics are hard to come by because of fraudulent claims for asylum by those using the threat of blood feud violence as a ploy to secure refugee status abroad. Whatever the true scale of the problem, the threat is very real in a country where, according to recent estimates, more than half a million firearms are in circulation. Liliana Luani is a teacher who volunteers to help homeschooled students trapped by Gjakmarrja. The father of "Taulant", one of the students she visits, became a convicted murderer in 1995 following a "quarrel", according to Luani. He has been hiding in a mountainous area with his two oldest children, aged 16 and 17. Two or three times a month, "Taulant" ventures out to go to school. He blushed when asked about the signet ring on his finger, saying that he had made "a female friend" there. But he too will one day have to join his father and older siblings in hiding in the mountains. "The Gjakmarrja weighs heavily on us," said Taulant's mother. Marcel's sister Maria Quku, 16, was fatally shot in front of her younger brother in June 2012 by a gunman who may have been targeting her grandfather, who they were visiting at the time. Maria's only crime was that she was the cousin of the man who killed another person in the dispute over a stream, in 2010. Her mother, Manushaqe Quku, 40, only learnt of her death when her husband asked her to pick out clothes to dress their daughter's body ahead of the funeral. She lives at the end of a rocky track in a desolate house where photos of Maria cover the walls. Her husband was an obvious target and no longer lives in the house. Their first son Marian is in hiding elsewhere but Marcel remains, eking out a meagre existence from the small strip of land around their house. Marcel refuses to go to school and his mother has forbidden him from swimming in the lake that lies 200 metres (yards) from their home. "I know that it will make the boy introverted, but I'm really scared," said Manushaqe. "Our family is completely lost," she cried, demanding to know who killed Maria, adding: "It is very difficult to forgive." (AFP)

Living in fear: children trapped by Gjakmarrja's vendetta

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