Pension increase and bonus/ Balluku: Increase in September
Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku during her stay in Diber held a meeting with the pensioners of this city. She emphasized that in the month of September, pensioners will receive the second bonus, before these, which were provided by the extraordinary tax from the energy producers. The Minister of Infrastructure …
Deserted Albanian Village Tries to Keep Ancient Carnival Alive
The spring carnival is the pride and joy of the village of Narta in southern Albania, held at the end of the Orthodox Easter Fast – but as emigration shrinks the local community, some fear for its future. Original post Here
Freedom of Information in Balkans Still ‘On Paper Only’, Panel Hears
Planned legal changes to FOI laws seem to be designed to make it even harder for journalists to hold the authorities accountable, a BIRN panel discussion in Skopje heard. Original post Here
Former candidate for deputy was shot dead
A serious incident happened a few minutes ago in the city of Shengjin, where citizen Ardian Nikulaj was shot dead. The police are at the scene and have surrounded the entire area, while the causes are still unknown. Ardian Nikulaj, 50, was a businessman and former candidate for MP in …
What do Albania’s upcoming municipal elections mean for foreign investors?
NEWS ANALYSIS TIRANA, April 19, 2023 – Albania’s political parties have started campaigning across the country for the upcoming May 14 municipal elections, which will determine the mayors and municipal council members of Albania’s 61 municipalities. By their very nature, municipal elections are supposed to focus on local issues, but …
US Highlights Concerns about Election of Albania’s Chief Anti-Corruption Prosecutor
The US ambassador has urged members of the High Council of Prosecutors to freely elect the next anti-corruption chief after days of media speculation about interference in the process. PM Rama denied he is trying to influence the decision. Original post Here
Albanian Court Sentences Iranian Citizen on Terrorism Charges
Albania’s special anti-corruption court announced a 10-year jail sentence for Bijan Pooladrag, who was first arrested in 2020 on suspicion of being an Iranian agent monitoring the MEK organisation in Albania. Original post Here
Albania and UK Announce Joint Task Force Against Crime and Illegal Migration
As the number of illegal emigrants from Albania soar, London and Tirana announced they will tackle the issue through a joint task force. Original post Here
Albania’s New Anti-Corruption Chief Prosecutor Seen as US Favoured Candidate
The High Council of Prosecutors chose a new head of the Special Prosecution against Organised Crime and Corruption on Friday, in an election which was being closely followed by the US to ensure there was no political interference. Original post Here
Socialist Party Candidate’s Son Accused of Vote Buying in Albania Election
Opposition activists in a mayoral election in remote northern Albania have accused the ruling Socialists of using state aid packages for vote-buying purposes. Original post Here
Roland Sejko’s documentary “Film di Stato” (“State Film”) has been selected as Albania’s entry for the 2027 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The film draws on an extensive collection of archival material. Through historical footage and images, it tells the story of Albania during the communist …
Prime Minister Edi Rama discussed Albania’s economic growth and tourism targets during a meeting with members of the Albanian community in Staten Island, New York. Rama said Albania has undergone significant economic transformation over the past decades. He also linked this progress to the contribution of the Albanian diaspora. “The …
Three young Albanians have returned from abroad and chosen to build their professional futures in their home country. Their stories, ranging from tourism to medicinal and aromatic plants, featured in the “Flasim” podcast with Prime Minister Edi Rama. The three entrepreneurs all share a similar journey. They left Albania, gained …
Wizz Air brought a group of travellers, content creators and media representatives from Warsaw to Albania with its mystery “Let’s Get Lost” flight. The participants discovered their destination only after they landed at Tirana International Airport. Tirana International Airport “Nënë Tereza” announced the initiative on social media. The airport said …
The Albanian Parliament will host the Inter-Parliamentary Conference “A Strategic Agenda for EU Enlargement and Albania’s Accession” tomorrow, Sept. 28, in Tirana. The conference will bring together representatives of Albanian institutions, the European Parliament and parliaments from other European countries. Participants will discuss the EU enlargement process and Albania’s path …
Albania secured their first UEFA Nations League win with a 2-0 victory over Belarus in Group I. A crowd of 18,150 watched the national team claim the win in Italian coach Maran’s first official match in charge. Belarus started strongly and controlled possession early in the game. The visitors held …
Farka Lake, 9.6 kilometers from central Tirana, turned into a sports arena on Sunday as the sixth edition of “Tiranathlon” brought together cycling, running and swimming. The international triathlon attracted sports fans and participants of different ages. They competed across the three disciplines in one of Tirana’s natural settings. This …
Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a video message from Mother Teresa International Airport shortly after returning from the United States, described the measure imposed on the former head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service (SHISH) as extreme. “I have just returned from New York, where, as you know, I represented Albania …
Interest among public administration employees in 0% interest housing loans has significantly exceeded the number of available quotas. By the application deadline, 2,164 applications had been submitted for 300 new home-purchase loans, around seven times the number of expected beneficiaries. The Ministry of Health recorded the highest number of applications, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to opposition demands for explanations regarding the appointment of Vlora Hyseni as head of Albania’s State Intelligence Service (SHISH). In a message from Mother Teresa International Airport, Rama said that Hyseni’s appointment to lead the State Intelligence Service was also based on assessments and references …