Albania Economists Slate PM’s ‘New Salaries’ Pledge as ‘Unrealistic’
PM Rama’s promise to hike wages, starting in the public sector, has been deemed totally unrealistic by a range of economic experts. Original post Here
Confidence Tricks: Tirana’s Place in an International ‘Investment’ Scam
Fake ‘call centres’ across Albania were part of a lucrative stock market investment scam operating across Europe; the suspects include an Albanian man with significant political connections. Original post Here
Svetlana Timofeeva: ‘My Passion for Ruins Landed me in Albanian Prison’
Through a written interview from her cell in the Ali Demi prison in Tirana, the Russian blogger accused of espionage tells about her ill-fated adventure in Gramsh, her months spent in isolation – and her fear of possible extradition to Putin’s Russia. Original post Here
How Fear of Albanians Went Mainstream in 1990s Italy
The anti-Albanian campaigns in the British media today are all too reminiscent of the targeting of Albanians in Italy and Greece 30 years ago – and need to be fought, not indulged. Original post Here
Society for Albanian Studies calls for nominations for the annual Stavro Skendi Book Prize
TIRANA, April 12, 2023 – Nominations are being sought for the Stavro Skendi Book Prize for Achievement in Albanian Studies, the organization that governs the award said in a statement. Awarded by the Society for Albanian Studies – an affiliate organization of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian …
Isolation is not a joke: Leaving the ICSID would be a bitter mistake
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL Albania’s troubles with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) seem to be expanding well beyond the infamous case of settling over the closure of Agon Channel and the hefty fine of 120 million euros that the country has to pay up to Italian investor …
Albania to Honour Heroes Who Saved Jews from Holocaust
New museum will celebrate the Albanians who risked their lives to shield Jews from Nazi persecution – and whose story has remained largely untold. Original post Here
Faced with corruption and unpredictable tax system, top business associations demand comprehensive reforms
TIRANA, April 12, 2023 – Doing business in Albania is hard as the economic “environment is inefficient and requires significant improvement,” five chambers of commerce in Albania, including those representing American, German, French and Italian investors said in a joint statement issued on Tuesday. To attract more foreign investment, they …
Albania’s massive ICSID court loss has Tirana pondering exiting jurisdiction
TIRANA, April 11, 2023 – With Albania’s government losing its final appeal to reverse a €120-million penalty in the Francesco Becchetti affair case earlier this month, Tirana is mulling exiting the jurisdiction of the international arbitration court that issued the ruling, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama. The tribunal organized …
Politicians and Public Targeted in Online Intimidation Cases
BIRN’s latest three-month monitoring review of digital violations, covering the period from January to March, highlights how online targeting of politicians and government critics, as well as other forms of digital intimidation, have become significant issues of concern in the Balkans and Central and Eastern Europe. Original post Here
Enkileda Carja delivered a dominant performance at the European Youth Weightlifting Championships in Batumi, setting two European records. She first broke the record in the snatch with a lift of 103 kilograms. Then she continued her strong performance in the clean and jerk, lifting 123 kilograms. As a result, she …
Emiriana Sako met farmers in Katundi i Ri to discuss agricultural development. She said farmers should form Agricultural Cooperation Societies to strengthen the sector. She explained that these groups help farmers access financing, subsidies, and rural development programs more easily. Moreover, she stressed the role of the local government. She …
TIRANA, April 23 – Customs administrations from the region and international partners met in Moldova at a CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) working group session. The meeting focused on authorised economic operators and customs risk management as part of regional efforts to facilitate trade. Participants discussed the development of …
TIRANA, April 23 – Rexhep Qosja, a leading Kosovan literary scholar, public intellectual and political thinker, has passed away aged 89. Born in 1936 in Vuthaj (Montenegro), Qosja became one of the most influential voices in Albanian-language intellectual life. He worked across literature, academia and public debate, with influence in …
TIRANA, April 23 – The Port of Durrës received two cruise ships carrying foreign tourists as Albania continued to attract growing interest in Mediterranean cruise tourism. Around 150 passengers arrived aboard the vessels “Monet” and “La Belle de l’Adriatique”. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images of the arrivals, describing the …
TIRANA, April 23 – Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said Albania places women and girls at the centre of its technological transformation strategy. She spoke at a cybersecurity event marking International Girls in ICT Day, organised by the National Authority for Cyber Security. Koçiu said Albania has developed around 1,300 …
TIRANA, April 23 – President Bajram Begaj of Albania is visiting the United States, where he took part as guest of honour in a forum titled “The American Dream at 250: Still Within Reach?” The event was organised by Texas A&M University and the George H. W. Bush School of …
TIRANA, April 23 – Authorities in Albania have advanced a pilot project to digitalise agricultural land management in Berat, covering more than 100 farms. The initiative forms part of efforts to develop the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) and prepare for the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS). The EU4PropertyRights …
TIRANA, April 23 – Albania is hosting the International Girls in ICT Day 2026 event, a global initiative of the International Telecommunication Union aimed at encouraging more women to enter the technology and communications sectors. The event in Tirana brings together institutional representatives, international partners and the academic community under …
TIRANA, April 23 – Albanian weightlifter Briken Calja won the European title in the clean and jerk at the European Championships in Batumi, Georgia. He competed in the 79-kilogram category and lifted 187 kilograms in the discipline. Calja also secured the silver medal in the combined total, lifting 340 kilograms …