Albanian banks tighten home loans amid new rules

TIRANA, Oct. 21 — Commercial banks in Albania have become more cautious with new loans, tightening conditions and rejecting more applications in the third quarter, the central bank said. New rules introduced in July limit the amount people can...

EU Disburses 100 Million Euro to Albania under the EU Growth Plan

Albania has made significant progress in implementing its Reform and Growth Agenda under the EU’s Growth Plan, by fulfilling 21 out of the planned 41 reform measures (51%) between December 2024 and June 2025. This has led the European Commission...

Iran's school for cyberspies could've used a few more lessons in preventing breaches

Iran's school for state-sponsored cyberattackers admits it suffered a breach exposing the names and other personal information of its associates and students. The Ravin Academy was established in 2019, ostensibly to train individuals in all facets...

Reform needed to reinforce the legitimacy of ISDS in resolving societal challenges

Introduction In recent years, international trade and investment have continued to flourish despite global economic uncertainties. Global trade hit a record US$33 trillion in 2024, increasing by 3.7 per cent from 2023.[1] The Association of...

EU rewards Albania’s reform progress with €99 million

TIRANA, Oct. 23 — The European Union has released €99.3 million to Albania after confirming it met more than half of its reform goals under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, making it the top performer in the region’s latest reporting...

Energy Community’s CBAM Readiness Tracker: Western Balkans still far from exemption as full implementation nears

These efforts signal a growing readiness across the Energy Community to turn CBAM into a catalyst for deeper regional energy market integration and decarbonization, according to the annual report. “The progress reflected in this year’s tracker...

Ryanair’s controversial boarding pass change is coming on November 12 — how it will affect you

Ryanair is making a change to its boarding passes in the next few weeks (Picture: Getty Images) Ryanair is no stranger to a controversy, from axing millions of seats to the UK’s most popular holiday destination (Spain), to chartering a new route...

Bjarke Ingels’ Albanian project aims to create “interfaith harmony”

Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has won a competition to design Faith Park, a 200,000-square-metre park on a hillside near Tirana, Albania. The project features nine pavilions, each dedicated to a distinct spiritual tradition....

ALPEX to Set Up Energy Trading, Clearing Platforms

The energy trading and clearing platforms will cost the Albanian Energy Exchange around Euro 3 million. A procurement procedure opened this Tuesday by ALPEX for the contract “Albania-Kosovo Electronic Trading and Clearing Platforms, for the...

Eduardo Souto de Moura and OODA Reveal Design for a New High-Rise Tower in Tirana, Albania

Oricon Tower project by Eduardo Souto de Moura and OODA. Exterior render. Image Courtesy of Plomp Share Share Facebook Twitter Mail Pinterest Whatsapp Or...

How Albania Became a Hub of the Global Fraud Industry

Scam call centres often masquerade as legitimate businesses, with operators adopting the language and mannerisms of investment advisers to manipulate their victims. Located on the second and third floors of the Condor Centre on Kavaja Street in...

Albania clears path for new development zones

TIRANA, Oct. 19 — Albania has introduced new rules for declaring mountain development zones, aiming to boost rural economies and resolve land disputes. The directive sets detailed procedures for municipalities to identify and propose priority...

Albania–Kosovo Rift Weakens the Albanian Voice 

Change font size: - + Reset The Rama–Kurti clash over the war crimes tribunal highlights deeper structural tensions, from unimplemented agreements to competing regional agendas. The latest clash between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and...

Ukraine opens 17 new markets for agricultural exports – food safety agency

Since the beginning of 2025, Ukraine has opened 17 new markets for agricultural exports, surpassing its initial target of 15. That is according to Serhii Tkachuk, Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, an...

Center in Albania Costs Over One Million Euros Per Migrant

According to an article published by the Italian daily La Repubblica, the migrant centers in Albania, established under the agreement between Italy and Albania, are operating far below initial expectations. Reported data show that the number of...

Circumstances Behind the Killing of 23-Year-Old Albanian in Italy Revealed – Mother: “He Was the Best”

The objects and emotions that once made up the family world of Hekuran Cumani, a 23-year-old Albanian who was killed by a knife wound to the throat in the courtyard of a university in Perugia, remain untouched — silent — waiting for a return that...

How three Albanian 'asylum seeker' brothers launched their £335m cocaine empire from a car wash in Bournemouth. Neighbours reveal hell they put them through - and the leaked messages that spelled their end

As he stepped out of a Rolls-Royce in Monaco this summer, the smartly dressed man appeared only too happy to be filmed strolling through the playground of the super-rich. In footage, later posted on TikTok, he could be seen alongside his glamorous...

Albania–Turkey Forum / Rama: We are an island of opportunities; a partnership growing stronger every day

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video message this Friday to mark the opening of the Albania–Turkey Investment Forum 2025. The head of government stated that Albania today is Turkey’s closest gateway to the European Union, while emphasizing that...

Türkiye and Albania: From Shared Past to Strategic Future

Change font size: - + Reset By Marjana Doda, This feature draws on exclusive insights from an interview with Ambassador Tayyar Kagan Atay, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana. On the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of diplomatic...

Albania gets first €99 million under growth plan

BRUSSELS, Oct. 17 — The European Commission has approved the first funding for Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, recognising progress on key reforms. Albania will receive €99.3 million in...