On World Nature Conservation Day, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro highlighted the significance of scientific research and innovation in function of environmental protection and sustainable development.

“This is a concrete commitment to place scientific research and innovation at the service of the environment and sustainable development,” said Kumbaro.

The financing of laboratories and research projects aims to support the development of scientific and innovative capacities in areas related to nature protection, sustainable use of resources and addressing environmental challenges. /m.m/a.f/p.s./

The guests in the 23rd episode of the sixth season were Xhoana Sita, Marin Shera and Armand Shera, who discussed their experience of working abroad and their decision to return to Albania.

Sita, who operates in the labour recruitment sector, said she returned after several years in Germany to invest in Albania, adding that the tourism and hospitality sectors are now offering competitive wages.

She said her company recruits between 80 and 100 foreign workers per month on average, with higher demand during the summer tourist season.

“I am back from Germany to invest in Albania,” Sita said. “After several years there, I realised it was not as easy as I thought, and I missed many things about Albania. Now I spend around eight months a year here. All businesses need labour, and I support them in this area.”

She added that salaries in hospitality had increased, citing monthly pay of 2,000 to 2,200 euros for chefs in southern Albania and around 1,000 euros for waiters.

Marin Shera, a civil engineer based in Germany since 2012, said he had built his professional foundation there before deciding to invest in Albania as well.

He said their company works not only on high-performance car projects but also on yachts and other industrial products, adding that transferring German expertise to Albania could help develop local capacity.

“We see the whole of Europe as a small country,” he said, adding that their work could act as a catalyst for cooperation and skills development between the two countries.

His brother, architect Armand Shera, said the group’s most ambitious project is the development of a new car, with construction taking place in Munich and the official presentation planned in Tirana.

“We are building a real car,” he said. “The construction phase is taking place in Munich, but we plan to present it in Tirana. The prototype should be completed within a year.”

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Speaking at an event marking the 35th anniversary of the ruling Socialist Party (SP) in Berat, Rama thanked local residents for their support and said the city reflected broader changes achieved since his party first came to power.

“Berat is one of the most meaningful examples of the transformation we have delivered since receiving our first term in office,” Rama said.

The government head pointed to road infrastructure projects as a key driver of the city’s development, recalling that access to Berat had once been hampered by poor transport links.

Rama said tourism had played a significant role in boosting the local economy and argued that Berat had become an example of a municipality where more people were returning than leaving, reversing a long-standing trend of emigration.

Berat, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for its Ottoman-era architecture, has become one of Albania’s leading tourism destinations in recent years.

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Parliament is expected to approve a loan today for the ‘Gateway to the Alps’ project, a major strategic initiative aimed at transforming Shkodra and northern Albania. Mayor Benet Beci announced the financing, which is backed by the Albanian Government and the European Investment Bank.

A 100-million-euro regional development program will elevate Shkodra into a year-round tourist destination meeting European standards. Key projects include transforming the city’s central boulevard into a green multimodal corridor. This will link the historic city center to the lake and recreational areas, creating an accessible, eco-friendly route for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit.

Other key projects outlined by Beci include completing the Shkodra-Velipoja road corridor. This upgraded, modern route will bypass residential areas to provide safer, faster coastal access while strengthening regional connections to Shëngjin and, eventually, Ulcinj. Additionally, the city will modernize its transit system with 17 electric buses. This expansion will extend city lines and introduce dedicated routes to Shiroka, Zogaj, and Rozafa Castle, offering a sustainable alternative to private vehicles.

Building an 80km cycle route connecting Lake Shkodra, the Buna River, and Velipoja to mountain and regional pathways, creating a major new ecotourism product. This is paired with public parking investments to improve city-wide traffic management and accessibility. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

Minister Lamallari said that the special fund transforms the mere seizure of illegal assets into a powerful tool for social good, signaling a shift from punitive action to constructive reinvestment.

“The confiscated criminal assets are being repurposed into vital social investments, transforming illicit gains into community benefits. This initiative, featuring 21 projects, acts as both a deterrent and a restorative tool by focusing on youth crime prevention, victim support, and rehabilitation”, said the minister.

“This marks a pivotal moment where we ensure justice is served, converting unlawful gains into tangible opportunities for our community,” said Lamallari.

On her part, AAPSK Director Risena Xhaja said that a new call for applications will be launched next year, inviting organizations to submit projects for the social reuse of confiscated assets. /p.s./

The meeting, held at Palazzo Chigi during Rama’s official visit to Italy, focused on bilateral cooperation, deepening relations and issues of shared regional and European interest.

In a post on social media, PM Rama noted successive Italian governments over the past 35 years had shown strong support for Albania, but added that none had launched as intensive a programme of strategic cooperation as Meloni’s administration.

He said further alignment with Italy through major, tangible projects would bring greater development and security for Albania.

The meeting followed the first Italy-Albania intergovernmental summit held in Rome in November 2025, where 16 cooperation agreements were signed.

Later during his visit, Rama is expected to meet Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto.

He will then travel to Barcelona as part of his international engagements and efforts to strengthen cooperation with European partners.

At the invitation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Rama will take part in the 4th High-Level meeting of the “In Defence of Democracy” initiative in Barcelona.

The summit will focus on key themes including institutions and multilateralism, as well as disinformation and digital technology, with particular emphasis on regulating the digital environment to counter disinformation, strengthening democratic institutions and addressing inequalities as a foundation for resilient democracies.

On the sidelines of the summit, the government head is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Sanchez and European Council President Antonio Costa.

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Speaking at a meeting with mayors as part of a nationwide “Projects of Albania” tour, Rama said a number of municipalities had met the initial target of preparing 10 projects for signing and submission for permits.

“This is a positive development,” he said, adding that in one municipality alone, the first 10 projects under the scheme were expected to generate around 5 million euros in investment, including from members of the Albanian diaspora.

Rama said interest in the “Mountains Package” remained high.

The initiative aims to create favourable conditions for attracting investment and boosting economic and tourism development in mountainous areas, while also strengthening social cohesion, supporting economic recovery, increasing municipal revenues, encouraging investment and helping curb emigration.

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Speaking at a meeting with the parliamentary group of the ruling Socialist Party, Rama said that over the past six years, projects covering 500 kilometres of railways have been developed, including the country’s first electrified line. The Durrës-Tirana line, currently under construction, will feature 12 stations and is expected to begin operations early next year.

The Vorë-Hani i Hotit project, linking Albania to Montenegro, is in the procurement phase and aims to start next year, with completion planned by 2030. Part of Corridor VIII, the Durrës-Rrogozhinë line, is scheduled to start construction at the end of this year and finish in 2028, while the Rrogozhinë-Pogradec line is in the design stage.

In cooperation with the Kosovo government, feasibility studies and preliminary designs have been completed for the 105 km “Railway of the Nation,” which includes 14 tunnels and 43 bridges.

Plans are also under review for two new lines: Vlorë-Vlorë Airport and Sukth-Porto Romano, as well as the Durrës-Vlorë line.

Rama said that for the first time in six years, the government has a detailed, feasible plan to restore Albanian railways to a path of modernization and integration with European networks, ensuring high technical and functional standards.

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Speaking at the plenary session of the Parliament, Demo stated that there are four agreements under discussion, the Interreg and three IPA agreements.

According to him, both large and small municipalities will benefit from the respective projects, while they represent new financial capacity.

“The municipalities will have the opportunity, based on competitive projects, to be financed with over thirty million euros, which are very important for local economic development and the development of the region as a whole,” Demo underlined.

According to him, the municipalities have gained experience over these years.

Demo expressed confidence that the opposition MPs will support them because at the end of the day these opportunities, managed by our local municipalities, make life better for hundreds of thousands of people every day. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Speaking at a meeting with lawmakers and cabinet members in Tirana, Rama warned that key services such as childcare and public transport are under strain, while procurement and reconstruction projects have stalled amid a leadership vacuum at city hall.

“The need to legitimize the municipality through a popular vote is becoming increasingly urgent,” he said, pointing to historically low procurement levels and falling capital investment.

Rama also called for deeper reforms, including criminal penalties for public officials who abuse their positions, saying, “Tirana needs a structural reset, just like other municipalities undergoing reform.”

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