Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Albania sees strong deposit and lending growth
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
Deposits in both the lek and euro have surged in Albania, according to Bank of Albania data as of the end of May. Lek-denominated savings reached 645 billion leks, rising by 5 billion from April, largely driven by businesses but significantly...
School curriculum updated as Albania aims for EU standards
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
Albania’s Education and Sports Ministry is accelerating a comprehensive curriculum update designed to align with EU norms and prepare students for future challenges. Minister Ogerta Manastirliu announced a strong emphasis on STEM education,...
Farage defends ‘1 in 50’ claim, challenges Albania’s Rama to debate
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
Britain’s Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said he’s willing to travel to Tirana for a public debate after Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama dismissed Farage’s “1‑in‑50” statistic about Albanians in UK prisons as “absurd.” In an interview with Top...
Turkey urges Albania to halt Bektashi state plan
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
Turkey has formally requested that Albania abandon plans to establish a “Bektashi state” and stop the initiative proposed by Prime Minister Edi Rama to create a religious republic within Albanian territory. The demand was delivered by Turkish...
Albanian PM delivers perfect response to Nigel Farage’s ‘post-Brexit delusion’
The London Economic
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June 30, 2025
Albanian prime minister Edi Rama delivered the perfect response to Nigel Farage as their social media spat continued. Rama and Farage have clashed on X following a set of contentious claims the Reform UK leader made during a GB News segment....
"Albanian watermelons gain popularity in Dutch and German markets"
Fresh Plaza
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June 30, 2025
Furkan Karaca, Enjoy Trade Holland: At Enjoy Trade Holland in Venlo, the Albanian watermelon season has begun. "We've been in contact with these growers in Albania for some time, visited them a few times, and that led to this cooperation," says...
Albanian burglar’s crimes not ‘extreme’ enough for deportation
The Times
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A serial burglar with nearly 50 convictions cannot be deported back to Albania after a judge ruled that his offending was not sufficiently “extreme” to provoke public “revulsion”. An immigration appeal hearing was told that Zenel Beshi had been...
Designer Nicole Miller and Model Carol Alt Help Judge Albanian Fashion Show
WWD - New York
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June 30, 2025
Nicole Miller returned to Albania last week to help judge the Muza 2025 Finale, which spotlighted the work of 10 designers. Having participated in last year’s event as a judge, the New York-based designer was reunited with one of her former runway...
Albania’s anti-corruption office probes DP’s $6M US lobbying deal
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
Albania’s anti-corruption office has opened a criminal investigation into the Democratic Party’s (DP) $6 million lobbying contract with a Washington-based consulting firm. Signed on April 4, 2025, the contract was brokered through the “Make...
Joint Albania–Kosovo police patrols start amid summer tourism surge
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
As summer tourism ramps up, the State Police of Albania and Kosovo have signed a cooperation memorandum to launch joint road policing across Albanian territory starting July 1. The agreement, signed by Albanian State Police Director Ilir Proda and...
Sovereign risk falls sharply as Albania’s bond spread narrows
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
Albania has seen a significant improvement in its sovereign risk profile, with its bond spread over US Treasuries falling to around 200 basis points in the first half of 2025. The narrowing spread signals growing investor confidence in the...
Albanian burglar with almost 50 convictions wins the right to stay in the UK as 'his crimes weren't extreme enough to "revolt" the public'
Daily Mail
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June 30, 2025
By SOPHIE CARLIN Published: 21:31 EDT, 29 June 2025 | Updated: 21:40 EDT, 29 June 2025 An Albanian burglar with nearly 50 convictions has won the right to stay in the UK as his crimes were reportedly not extreme enough to 'revolt' the public....
Fury as Albanian burglar with 50 convictions allowed to stay in the UK
Daily Express
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June 30, 2025
An Albanian burglar with nearly 50 offences on record has reportedly been allowed to remain in the UK after a judge in courtsaid his crimes did not meet the criteria of being “sufficiently extreme”. The shocking ruling has led to an uproar, with...
Gold surge pushes Albania’s FX reserves to record €6.7B
Gazeta Tema
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June 30, 2025
Albania’s foreign exchange reserves have reached a historic high, driven in part by the soaring value of its gold holdings. The Central Bank reported that as of April 2025, gold reserves were valued at €313 million, up 34% compared to the same...
Albanian PM mocks Reform leader Farage in row over prisoner numbers
BNE Intellinews
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Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has pledged to take back all Albanian prisoners from the United Kingdom if claims by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage about the number of Albanians in British jails prove accurate — but insists it’s an exaggeration....
Leaving Albania, the Country’s Youth Seek a More Stable Future
Balkan Insight
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June 30, 2025
“I studied a lot to pass the exams, but when I started working, I noticed that I didn’t know anything,” she said. “It’s not just the quality, but after you finish there are not many vacant jobs, and a lot of positions are paid so low.” Last year,...
Albanian PM challenges Nigel Farage to share proof of his ‘bonkers’ migrant claims
The London Economic
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June 29, 2025
Ah, good to Nigel Farage is already making friends on the diplomatic front while his party rides high in the polls. Edi Rama, the Albanian Prime Minister, has taken a swipe at the Reform leader following a set of contentious claims he made during...
Albanian ex-PM Berisha to face court in corruption trial
Gazeta Tema
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June 29, 2025
Former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha will appear in court Monday as the trial begins in a high-profile corruption case linked to the privatization of a former military sports complex known as “Partizani.” Berisha, his son-in-law Jamarbër...
Albania expands free public beach access nationwide
Gazeta Tema
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June 29, 2025
For the first time, Albania has guaranteed free public access to all of its beaches during the 2025 summer season, under a national regulation mandating that 30% of every stretch of coastline remain open and free of charge. The policy, passed by...
Two illegal immigrants from Albania found in £400,000 drug farm
Wales Online
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June 29, 2025
An organised crime group turned a disused restaurant into a commercial-scale cannabis farm, a court has heard. When police raided the building they found 900 cannabis plants and sophisticated growing equipment - along with two Albanian so-called...