Author: staff

“These are major investments,” Blendi Klosi, the member of parliament who proposed the extension, told Albanian media. “This initiative benefits only a specific segment of the sector—those aiming to raise the industry to higher standards.”  The scheme has worked well. Several international brands, such as Marriott International, Meliá Hotels International and Radisson Hotel Group, have opened up, while U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is set to turn an Albanian island into a luxury retreat. Critics warn, however, that the beaches lack sufficient space to accommodate the visitors that such resorts would bring to the area, and that nature…

Trump immediately claimed credit for engineering the end to fighting, suggesting he used trade to bring both parties to heel. “We stopped a nuclear conflict,” the U.S. leader claimed. “I think it could have been a bad nuclear war, millions of people could have been killed, so I’m very proud of that.” But while Pakistan was quick to give the White House the credit it wanted, India insisted the deal had been reached bilaterally. Those in India who long warned about entangling alignments are now having a field day, and Narendra Modi himself is talking about the critical importance of…

Last week Merz had expressed skepticism that U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing peace push with Russian President Vladimir Putin would yield results. “I would like the United States of America to work with us to solve this problem for as long as possible,” Merz said. “Diplomacy isn’t about flipping a switch overnight and then everything will be fine again. It’s a lengthy process.” Asked about security guarantees — intended to protect Ukraine from another Russian attack in case of a peace agreement — Merz said: “The number one priority is supporting the Ukrainian army so that they can defend this country…

Israel stepped up its assault on Gaza City over the weekend, killing at least 45 people and leveling residential buildings, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet prepared to discuss plans to seize the city. Local health officials told Reuters at least 30 people were killed Sunday, including 13 who were trying to collect food near an aid site in central Gaza and two in a home in Gaza City. A separate strike on Saturday killed 15 people, among them five children. The Israeli military said it was reviewing the reports, adding it takes steps to minimize civilian casualties while…

Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of Revival who has previously spoken of Bulgaria’s withdrawal from NATO, was filmed blocking a civilian car from entering the plant, according to a report by Mediapool. The visit to Bulgaria’s state-owned arms manufacturer comes on the heels of an announcement by Germany’s defense company Rheinmetall that it would build two new factories in the Balkan nation, including expanding facilities at Sopot, to establish Bulgaria as Europe’s largest gunpowder manufacturer. During the Cold War, Bulgaria emerged as one of the Warsaw Pact’s major arms producers, specializing in small arms, ammunition and light armored vehicles. But the…

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has cancelled a planned visit to China, where he was due to attend a “Victory Parade” commemorating the end of World War II and Japan’s formal surrender on September 3. The ceremony in Beijing will be hosted by President Xi Jinping, who has invited several foreign leaders, including the guest of honour, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Subianto’s office has publicly announced his absence. “The president wants to continue monitoring (the situation in Indonesia) directly…and seek the best solutions,” presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said in a video statement on Saturday. “Therefore, the president apologises to the Chinese…

In addition to Poland, von der Leyen is visiting Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia — all of which share a border with Russia or Belarus — as well as Bulgaria and Romania, in what amounts to her biggest diplomatic push on EU security and defense since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Von der Leyen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Ozierany Male near a section of a newly completed electric fence on the Polish-Belarusian border. Tusk said the border was “as important” as the dream of liberation from “Soviet domination” 45 years ago,…

This year the summit will focus largely on U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war. Trump has slapped 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Putin meanwhile is facing fresh Western sanctions tied to his ongoing war in Ukraine. “How in the hell did Trump so alienate Modi that he’s now attending a summit with autocrats, Xi and Putin?” Michael McFaul, a Hoover Senior Fellow at Stanford University and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, wrote on X. “Just last year, China and India were at war with each other!” he added. Both Xi and…

Updated: 31/08/2025 – 12:00 GMT+2 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this August 31st, 2025 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More

Soaring across the Adriatic Ocean by speedboat, my Boomer mum squeals in delight as she accidentally grips onto my recently developed, Millennial motherhood-induced belly rolls for extra anchorage.  My eight-year-old is there with us, with freshly bloodied knees and elbows from an impromptu Parkour move-gone-wrong on Our Lady of the Rocks island, standing in a superman pose as the wind whips his hair. My Gen Z brother, who I’ve not been on holiday with in 20 years, watches on with tears in his eyes, overcome by the beauty of the looming Montenegrin mountains drawing closer as we glide into Boka…