20. 500 Litres of Raki from Albania Seized at Bari Port
Albanians are well known for their love of raki; some say it even fuels the country. With a big Albanian community in Italy, it is understandable that some smuggle the original good stuff, from Albania, into the country.
19. How can Albania Finally Part With the Brain Drain Phenomenon
Written by a student contributor, Stivi Canka, this article dived into the ‘brain drain’ phenomenon and what steps could be taken to prevent it.
Comment: How Can Albania Finally Part Ways with the Brain Drain Phenomenon
18. Kosovo Prosecution Charges 3 Officials for the Deportation of 6 ‘Gulenists’
The issue of the illegal deportation of Turkish citizens to Turkey is not something that just happens in Albania. But in Kosovo, three officials were charged for their involvement in what the UN describes as “extraterritorial abductions”. This article explains the charges and some of the history.
Kosovo Prosecution Charges 3 Officials for the Deportation of 6 Turkish ‘Gulenists’
17. Academy of Sciences Finds Half of Tirana Population Immune to COVID-19
A study conducted by the Academy of Sciences found that over half the population could be immune to COVID-19 due to widespread community transmission.
Academy of Sciences Finds Half of Tirana Population Immune to Covid-19
16. Acromax Media- Albanian Government’s Tool for Online Political Censorship
This article from 2019 made the list, mainly due to the investigation published by Exit over three years, making international headlines, including in Germany and Austria. This article talks about how the company censors content critical of the Socialist Party, including pages and videos on social media.
Acromax Media — Albanian Government’s Tool for Online Political Censorship
15. Biden will Help Move Kosovo and Serbia Forward, Says Secretary of State Nominee
Antony Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to head the State Department, has stated that the new US administration will help Kosovo and Serbia to move forward. Almost a year later, and if anything, relations have gone backwards.
Biden Will Help Move Kosovo and Serbia Forward, Says Secretary of State Nominee
14. Albania is 104th Least Corrupt Country in the World
Albania ranks as the 104th cleanest country for corruption in the world. This is according to the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2020, seen by Exit prior to its publication. Albania has dropped a total of 23 places in the previous three years, only recovering two places this year.
13. Serbia Response to NATO Military Excercise in Region with its Own
Serbia’s “Response 2021” exercise came one week ahead of major exercises to be held in Albania in the context of “Defender – Europe 21”, the Western allies’ military exercise planned to last from March until June.
Serbia Responds to NATO Military Exercise in the Region with Its Own
12. EU Condemns Serbian President’s Provocative Instagram Post on Kosovo
The European Union reacted following an Instagram post by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic comprising of a map of Kosovo, filled with the Serbian flag.
EU Condemns Serbian President’s Provocative Instagram Post on Kosovo
11. Albanian to Begin COVID-19 Vaccination on 11 January
Despite starting way ahead of many of its neighbours, to date, Albania has only managed to vaccinate 34% of the population. This is due mainly to significant disinformation campaigns and little counteraction by the government.
12. New Airport to Start Operations One Week Ahead of Albanian Elections
The government rushed to open the airport just before the election, but according to the Kukes Airport website, there haven’t been any flights since October.
New Airport to Start Operations One Week Ahead of Albanian Elections
9. Exit Explains: The Leak of Over 910,000 Albanians Personal Data to Politicians and the Public
In April, the personal data of 910,000 people was published in the media and shared on social networks. This data was allegedly taken from the Civil Registry and provided to the Socialist Party for use in the electoral campaign. To date, no one has been charged with the leak. It also spawned outrage over patronages- low-level PS party members who spy on and observe citizens and report back on their political beliefs and other matters.
Exit Explains: The Leak of Over 910,000 Albanians Personal Data to Politicians and the Public
8: Kukes Airport Will Operate with Low-Cost Flights
Kukes Airport will is an airport for low-cost flights, and the first destinations will be Germany, Switzerland and Italy, according to the government back in April. Flights have ceased as of October, with none scheduled for the foreseeable future.
7. Albania’s First Supercar, the “Illyrian Pure Sport” Unveiled
The very first Albanian supercar design has been unveiled by Qendrim Thaci, the CEO of Arrera Automobili.
The “Illyrian Pure Sport” will have a 6.2 litres twin-turbo V8 engine, capable of delivering 850 horsepower to all four wheels. It will also have an 8-speed Tremec dual-clutch automatic transmission. With a top speed of 375 km/h and a 0-100 of 2.7 seconds, the Illyrian Pure Sport will become the first Albanian supercar that meets international standards.
6. Comment: The Mayor of Tirana, a ‘Hero of Mobility’? Excuse my Cynicsm
While the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj presents himself as a hero of mobility, Exit took the time to counter this PR exercise with a list of his environmental failures.
Comment: The Mayor of Tirana an ‘Hero of Mobility’? Excuse my Cynicsm
5. Italian Prosecution Investigation Shows Mafia Attempts to Launder Money in Albania
Following the arrest of dozens of members of the ‘Ndrangheta mafia group in Italy, attempts to connect with officials of the Municipality of Tirana and the Rama government have come to light. Read more here:
Italian Prosecution Investigation Shows Mafia Attempts to Launder Money in Albania
4. Albanian Election Live Blog
On 25 April, Albania went to the polls. Exit brought you round-the-clock coverage of the voting and counting, as it happened while being fuelled by an awful lot of coffee.
3. Albanian Prime Minister Posts Video of Doha Metro as Tirana-Durres Railway Project
In March 2021, Prime Minister Edi Rama proudly posted images of what the upcoming Tirana-Rinas-Durres railway will look like. The only problem is that the image is of the Doha Metro in Qatar, some 4680 km away.
Albanian Prime Minister Posts Video of Doha Metro as Tirana-Durres Railway Project
2. Leonardo DiCaprio Calls for Public Pressure on the Albanian Government to Protect the Vjosa River
In March, Hollywood actor Leonardo di Caprio tweeted in support of making the Vjosa River a national park. While this still has not happened, hopes are high that the superstar might visit Albania and grant Exit an interview.
Leonardo DiCaprio Calls for Public Pressure on the Albanian Government to Protect the Vjosa River
1. Albania’s Top Dog Is a Rotweiller, Cane Corso Preferred in Western Balkans
After a year of blood, sweat, tears, all-nighters, death threats, and intensive journalistic work, the number one most-read article on Exit.al was….an article about which is the preferred dog in Albania.
Albania’s Top Dog Is a Rotweiller, Cane Corso Preferred in Western Balkans
