kos_data

Happiness in Central & E.Europe- (Global rank out of 147 countries): Happiest: 🇽🇰 Kosovo: 16 🇸🇮 Slovenia: 18 🇨🇿 Czechia: 20 🇵🇱 Poland: 24 🇱🇹 Lithuania: 28 Saddest: 🇺🇦 Ukraine: 111 🇹🇷 Turkey: 94 🇦🇱 Albania: 86 🇬🇷 Greece: 85 🇧🇬 Bulgaria: 84 Via: World Happiness Report

Context: During communism Albania was the world's first and only official atheist state. All religions were banned.

🇦🇱 Islam was banned in Albania until about 35 years ago under communism. Albania today:

NATO/KFOR said Serbian army drills "do not pose a threat to security or stability in the region." The drills were conducted near Albanian-inhabited villages in Serbia.

🇽🇰🇷🇸 Kosovo PM Albin Kurti accused Serbia of an "open provocation against Kosovo" following Serbian army drills near the border. He urged Albanians living in the Preshevo Valley in Serbia not to "fall prey to destabilizing, autocratic and oppressive policies" of the Serbian government.

🇦🇱 Thousands of Muslim believers gathered in Albania’s capital Tirana for Eid prayers in Skanderbeg Square.

Video: Duli Kasmi (Instagram)

🇦🇱 The start of Eid was celebrated with a drone show in Albania's capital, Tirana.

🇺🇸🇷🇺 According to US Intelligence Community report, Russia: - 🇽🇰🇷🇸 Fuels instability between Serbia (which it favors) and Kosovo over Kosovo's statehood - 🇧🇦 Backs the separation of Serb entity Republika Srpska from Bosnia - Russia also uses state-sponsored nongovernmental entities to direct campaigns with the goal of obstructing NATO and the EU, highlighting Serb victimhood and promoting ties to Russia, particularly in 🇧🇦🇷🇸🇲🇪 which have large ethnic Serb populations.

Western Balkan countries have aligned with EU to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.

🇲🇰 The Iran war is expected to cause an economic crisis in North Macedonia experts warn.

🇷🇸🇮🇷 Serbia has aligned with EU to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization. This was confirmed by the EU High Representative.

🇷🇸🇮🇱 Serbia’s exports to Israel (2023 to 2025). Serbia has been named as one of Israel’s top allies during the war. Via: Haaretz

Democracy in the Balkans - regime types: Electoral Democracy (ED+) 🇲🇪 Montenegro Electoral Democracy (ED) 🇽🇰 Kosovo 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇬🇷 Greece 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇷🇴 Romania Electoral Democracy (ED-) 🇲🇰 N. Macedonia Electoral Autocracy (EA+) 🇦🇱 Albania 🇧🇦 BiH Electoral Autocracy (EA) 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇹🇷 Turkey Source: V-Dem

🇷🇸🇮🇱 UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said Serbia is "without shame" one of Israel’s strongest and most committed allies. She said Serbia supplies weapons to Israel and that those weapons have been used in Gaza, accusing Belgrade of violating international humanitarian law. Serbian President Vucic confirmed close relations between Serbia and Israel: "They sell weapons to us, we sell weapons to them, and that will continue."

🇪🇺🇽🇰 EU has lifted all financial sanctions/measures against Kosovo, unblocking €205 million in assistance. The decision follows the peaceful transfer of local governance to Serbian mayors in northern Kosovo.

Albania has officially designated: - 🇮🇷 Iran a state sponsor of terrorism - 🇮🇷 The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization - 🇱🇧 Hezbollah a terrorist organization Israel praised Albania’s decision.

🇷🇺🇷🇸 Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov said the EU has set conditions for Serbia to join the bloc: - "Join the war against Russia" - Recognize Kosovo - Impose sanctions on Russia

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