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Bosnian Serb Leaders Hold Cocktail Party to Toast Trump Victory

The US-sanctioned president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, threw a cocktail party in honour of Trump’s victory in the American presidential elections, saying his win “symbolises a return to values we hold dear”. Original post Here

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‘Like Prison’: How African Migrant Workers Suffer Exploitation in Albania

Migrant workers from Africa have told BIRN about having to surrender their passports on arrival in Albania, working unpaid overtime and facing deportation once they are no longer required. Many are left with debts to the agencies that act as middlemen. Original post Here

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How Allocation of EU Rapporteur Jobs Might Impact Western Balkan Accession Hopes

The names of the new EU rapporteurs for each of the six Western Balkan countries will emerge over the coming weeks. The relative strength of the various party groupings in the European parliament indicates how some countries might fare better than others. Original post Here

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Baku hosting Global Summit of Religious Leaders within the framework of COP29

Baku, Azerbaijan – On November 5-6, 2024, the city of Baku is hosting the Global Summit of Religious Leaders within the framework of COP29, a highly significant event that brings together religious leaders and prominent figures from around the world to discuss the challenges of the climate crisis and the …

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Albanian Premier Edi Rama’s Diaspora Tour: Outreach or Electioneering?

From New York to Thessaloniki, Prime Minister Edi Rama has been travelling the world to hold meetings with Albanian diaspora communities ahead of next year’s elections. Opponents say he’s trying to avoid discontent at home. Original post Here

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UNED Campus in Gjirokastra: A European Hub in the Western Balkans

By Jerina Zaloshnja   It is a beautiful, joyous day in Gjirokastra. October 30, 2024. The sun shines brightly in the warm, clear blue air. From the loudspeakers at the campus of UNED, Spain’s new university in the country, Spanish music reverberates slowly. Young students dressed in traditional Gjirokastra costumes …

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The UNED Campus in Gjirokaster a gateway to global academic excellence and a bridge to Europe

By Ricardo Mairal Uson It is an immense honor and privilege for me to stand before you today, on this momentous occasion—the inauguration of the UNED Center in the historic and culturally significant city of Gjirokaster. This event marks the beginning of a new chapter in the strong relationship between …

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

DURRES, Oct. 31, 2024 – A cargo ship laden with over 100 containers of suspected hazardous waste, which arrived in Albania from Singapore, remains anchored off the coast of Durres for the fourth consecutive day.  The ship’s entry into port has been delayed by authorities awaiting necessary safety preparations, intensifying …

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Is Albania Slipping into a one part-system ?

  Albania is now an efficient laboratory to prove how easy it is to rebuild a totalitarian society in the conditions when the country is open to the world. The head of Albania’s opposition, Sali Berisha Albania’s former President and a former two-term Prime Minister was arrested on Saturday, Dec. …

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From Ant to Colony

The late 1870s and early 1890s ushered in the Gilded Age of the U.S., where rapid industrialization and free-flowing innovations were sweeping the nation. As I see it, successful ventures from the private sector played an interesting role in the development of the state during this period. The steel conglomerate …

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Country’s division into 46 municipalities to be voted on in Parliament on October 8

Discussions in the parliamentary committees on the Socialists’ draft for territorial reform will last two weeks. According to the calendar expected to be approved tomorrow at the Conference of Chairpersons, the vote in the plenary session is scheduled to take place on October 8. The Socialists’ draft to divide the …

News
1,200 new businesses in August, NBC processed 9,200 applications

The number of newly registered businesses reached 1,200 in August, while the National Business Center (NBC) processed 9,200 applications. The data show a considerable volume of services provided electronically to businesses, both in the area of registration and in that of licenses, permits and authorizations. Of the 9,200 applications submitted …

News
Demo and Hita inspect Tirana Airport, minister: 9.2 million tourists in 8 months

Interior Minister Ervin Demo and State Police Director General Skënder Hita inspected the management of passenger flows and the work of Border Police units at Tirana International Airport. During the inspection, Demo stated that 9.2 million tourists entered Albania during the first eight months of the year, while around 1.7 …

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PM Rama: Local associations to protect the territory, fund to support them

The creation of local associations for the protection of the territory and the establishment of a fund to support them are among the initiatives presented by Prime Minister Edi Rama during the “Flasim” podcast, where he spoke about tourism development and environmental protection. According to Rama, local communities will be …

News
Minister Ervin Demo meets Tirana Fire Service: Fire prevention a priority for next season

Interior Minister Ervin Demo held a meeting with the leadership and personnel of the Tirana Fire Service, thanking them for their commitment during the fire season and for their response to various emergency situations. During the meeting, Demo said that preparations for the next season should begin now, stressing that …

News
Kurti: Kosovo Government Committed to Helping Overturn Specialist Chambers Verdict

Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who is visiting the United States, said the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to providing support in every possible way and with all the means at its disposal to help overturn the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ verdict against former KLA leaders, which he described …

News
Rama: Completing Negotiations and EU Integration Are Albania’s Goals

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a video message delivered as part of the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Moment, reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and integration into the European Union as part of a single transformation process. According to Rama, since 2018, poverty has fallen from 23.7% to 19%, …

News
Albania commits 6 million dollars to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals

Prime Minister Edi Rama reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and European Union integration. He described both as part of a single transformation process. In a video message for the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Moment, Rama said poverty had fallen from 23.7% in 2018 to 19%. He also said …

News
Albania records more than 9.4 million foreign visitors in eight months

More than 9.4 million foreign visitors entered Albania in the first eight months of 2026, up 5.3% from the same period last year. Tourism Minister Blendi Gonxhja said more than 2.4 million foreign tourists visited Albania in August alone, marking a 2% annual increase. Meanwhile, Gonxhja said Albania must turn …

News
Buna River: One of Northern Albania’s Most Distinctive Natural Treasures

Surrounded by the green landscapes of northern Albania and waters flowing toward the Adriatic Sea, the Buna River remains one of the country’s most distinctive natural treasures. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video of the Buna River on social media today, highlighting the natural beauty of one of northern …

News

Country’s division into 46 municipalities to be voted on in Parliament on October 8

Discussions in the parliamentary committees on the Socialists’ draft for territorial reform will last two weeks. According to the calendar expected to be approved tomorrow at the Conference of Chairpersons, the vote in the plenary session is scheduled to take place on October 8. The Socialists’ draft to divide the …

News

1,200 new businesses in August, NBC processed 9,200 applications

The number of newly registered businesses reached 1,200 in August, while the National Business Center (NBC) processed 9,200 applications. The data show a considerable volume of services provided electronically to businesses, both in the area of registration and in that of licenses, permits and authorizations. Of the 9,200 applications submitted …

News

Demo and Hita inspect Tirana Airport, minister: 9.2 million tourists in 8 months

Interior Minister Ervin Demo and State Police Director General Skënder Hita inspected the management of passenger flows and the work of Border Police units at Tirana International Airport. During the inspection, Demo stated that 9.2 million tourists entered Albania during the first eight months of the year, while around 1.7 …

News

PM Rama: Local associations to protect the territory, fund to support them

The creation of local associations for the protection of the territory and the establishment of a fund to support them are among the initiatives presented by Prime Minister Edi Rama during the “Flasim” podcast, where he spoke about tourism development and environmental protection. According to Rama, local communities will be …

News

Minister Ervin Demo meets Tirana Fire Service: Fire prevention a priority for next season

Interior Minister Ervin Demo held a meeting with the leadership and personnel of the Tirana Fire Service, thanking them for their commitment during the fire season and for their response to various emergency situations. During the meeting, Demo said that preparations for the next season should begin now, stressing that …

News

Kurti: Kosovo Government Committed to Helping Overturn Specialist Chambers Verdict

Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who is visiting the United States, said the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is committed to providing support in every possible way and with all the means at its disposal to help overturn the Kosovo Specialist Chambers’ verdict against former KLA leaders, which he described …

News

Rama: Completing Negotiations and EU Integration Are Albania’s Goals

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a video message delivered as part of the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Moment, reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and integration into the European Union as part of a single transformation process. According to Rama, since 2018, poverty has fallen from 23.7% to 19%, …

News

Albania commits 6 million dollars to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals

Prime Minister Edi Rama reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and European Union integration. He described both as part of a single transformation process. In a video message for the 2026 Sustainable Development Goals Moment, Rama said poverty had fallen from 23.7% in 2018 to 19%. He also said …

News

Albania records more than 9.4 million foreign visitors in eight months

More than 9.4 million foreign visitors entered Albania in the first eight months of 2026, up 5.3% from the same period last year. Tourism Minister Blendi Gonxhja said more than 2.4 million foreign tourists visited Albania in August alone, marking a 2% annual increase. Meanwhile, Gonxhja said Albania must turn …

News

Buna River: One of Northern Albania’s Most Distinctive Natural Treasures

Surrounded by the green landscapes of northern Albania and waters flowing toward the Adriatic Sea, the Buna River remains one of the country’s most distinctive natural treasures. Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video of the Buna River on social media today, highlighting the natural beauty of one of northern …