About Global Good News

	Top Stories Smart hand pumps promise cleaner water in Africa Albania leads the Western Balkans in economic growth The Balkans: Going green

	Top Stories Consciousness-Based Education inspires keen interest among educators in Balkan countries Cyprus and Albania receptive to Consciousness-Based Education on Dr Ashley Deans' tour New potential for peace and invincibility in Albania, Kosovo

	Top Stories New anti-government protests in Albania Crisis escalates in Albania after protest deaths Trash, sewage mar Albania tourism, investment lure
Positive Trends Short Summaries of Top Stories Smart hand pumps promise cleaner water in Africa 8 June 2012 - Rural communities across Africa may soon benefit from improved water supplies thanks to mobile phone technology. Hundreds of millions of people across rural Africa depend on hand pumps for their water supplies. But it is estimated that around one third are broken at any given moment. Often located in remote areas, repairs can sometimes take up to a month. But one of the big changes in Africa in recent years has been the expansion of mobile phone networks. It is now estimated that more people in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to these networks than have access to improved water supplies. (more) Albania leads the Western Balkans in economic growth 10 April 2011 - The European Commission's Department of Economic and Financial Affairs ranks Albania's economy as among the highest in the Western Balkans. The report explained that Albania is at the forefront of European countries with high economic growth during and after the period of crisis and [weathered the crisis without a recession]. (more) The Balkans: Going green 16 March 2011 - At look at how southeastern Europe is going green by finding and using renewable energy sources. (more) Albania: Education and children's rights restore hope post flooding 28 February 2011 - Around 600 children came together recently in Shkodra's Sport's Centre to enjoy the biggest educational activity after the flooding that hit Albania last December. Organized by World Vision in partnership with the Education Directorate and The Door, a non-profit organization for children, the event sought to highlight the importance of education and children's rights. (more) Albania: US foundation pledges $140 million for eco-tourism and education 7 October 2010 - A US-backed investment corporation says it has raised $140 million to fund projects in tourism and education. The Albanian-American Enterprise Fund says it will use the money for nonprofit ventures in Albania, including entrepreneurship and eco-tourism. The AAEF was started in 1995, with a $30 million grant from the US government. (more) Remote Albania mountains now drawing the tourists 15 August 2009 - A century ago, a famed British travel writer fell in love with the rugged villages of traditional stone houses in northern Albania. Following a century of wars, Stalinist rule, and economic turmoil, the villagers see its remoteness as a lure for foreigners seeking the thrill of escape. Three years ago locals were in disbelief when an expert from Germany's GTZ agency, which encourages international development, talked of tourism. Seven families accepted GTZ's offer of 2,000 euros ($2,855) worth of beds and showers. Three years on, everyone now wishes they had done the same. GTZ official Ismail Beka calculates the initial 14,000 euro cash investment has already translated into 100,000 euros in tourism spending in Theth, sums beyond the dreams of most locals. (more) Albania: Europe bank aids waste paper recycling efforts 26 November 2008 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will invest in Albania's only paper firm to help it produce recycled paper and set up waste paper recycling networks, the EBRD said on Wednesday. Dan Berg, the EBRD's Albania head, said the investment would create a precedent with environmentally friendly production backed by an organized collection and recycling network. (more) Albania attracts investors on robust growth 25 September 2008 - In times of economic turmoil in many countries, Albania, once the most isolated and desperately poor nation in Europe, is showing robust growth and attracting attention from foreign investors. A modern airport opened in 2007 and in the capital Tirana, Bang and Olufsen sells expensive audio and video products to prosperous Albanians. Economists expect GDP growth of at least six per cent this year, which would be among the highest in eastern Europe. (more) Serbs, Albanians discuss Kosovo's future and rights of minorities 20 February 2006 - UN-mediated talks on the future status of Kosovo opened today in Vienna between Serbs and ethnic albanians. The first round of talks will deal with local government reform aimed at enhancing the rights of Serbs and other minorities. The process is being mediated by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who was appointed by the UN to steer the talks towards an agreement. (more) Kosovo: Newly-elected President Sejdiu promises peace 12 February 2006 - Kosovo lawmakers have elected a moderate new president, paving the way for the start of talks on the province's future status. President Fatmir Sejdiu pledged to make Kosovo a country that is at peace with itself and its neighbours, as well as a state that will guarantee the highest international standards for civic freedoms, including those of minorities. (more)
Success of Maharishi's Programmes Short Summaries of Top Stories Consciousness-Based Education inspires keen interest among educators in Balkan countries 17 April 2010 - During a recent tour of countries in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe, Dr Felix Kaegi, administrator of the Transcendental Meditation Programme, and Dr Ashley Deans had two to four meetings every day about Consciousness-Based Education, all with top level educators, including officials, deans of universities, principals of schools, and those responsible for higher education. (more) Cyprus and Albania receptive to Consciousness-Based Education on Dr Ashley Deans' tour 17 April 2010 - Educators, government officials, and the public in Cyprus and Albania have shown great receptivity towards Consciousness-Based Education over the last few months, during which Dr Ashley Deans, Global Ambassador for Consciousness-Based Education, toured universities and schools in these countries. (more) New potential for peace and invincibility in Albania, Kosovo 30 December 2009 - New possibilities for peace and progress are dawning for Albania and Kosovo through programmes of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Significant interest in Consciousness-Based Education is being shown in both countries; in Kosovo, people are welcoming effective programmes to help establish their new country. (more) Albania rises towards invincibility with new Consciousness-Based Education initiatives 24 July 2009 - In the last year, Albania has seen significant developments in the field of Consciousness-Based Education, including the introduction of Maharishi's programmes in universities and schools, and progress in the establishment of Maharishi Central University of Europe. (more) Global Country of World Peace leaders visit Albania: Plans advance for Maharishi Central University for Europe 3 October 2008 - Speaking from Albania, a delegation of leaders of the Global Country of World Peace discuss plans for rapid construction of Maharishi Central University of Europe, soon to be built on beautiful Lake Prespa, a high mountain lake bordering Albania, Greece, and Macedonia. (more) Albania: Progress towards Maharishi Central University of Europe 4 September 2008 - On a recent visit to Albania, Raja Felix Kaegi, Raja of Albania for the Global Country of World Peace, journeyed to the east of the country where the campus of the new university is planned. He was inspired by reports from officials about the high level of support for the university on the national and regional levels. (more) Maharishi Central University of Europe to be established in Albania 22 April 2008 - Speaking recently on Maharishi Global Family Chat, Raja Felix Kaegi and Dr Chris Crowell presented plans for the building of Maharishi Central University of Europe in Albania, which will host 2,500 European students as well as an assembly of Yogic Flyers. (more) Plans evolving for Maharishi Central University in Albania 23 September 2007 - Dr Felix Kägi, Raja (Administrator) of Switzerland for the Global Country of World Peace, recently reported on progress toward establishing Maharishi Central University in Europe with a campus of 2,500 students in Albania. (more)
Flops Short Summaries of Top Stories New anti-government protests in Albania 4 February 2011 - Thousands of Albanians converged on central Tirana on Friday to demand the government step down over corruption allegations, two weeks after a similar anti-government demonstration turned violent and left three people dead. Protest marches were also being held in another three cities, including the town of Lezha northwest of Tirana, Vlora to the southwest, and Korca to the southeast. Tensions rose sharply last month when the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Ilir Meta, resigned amid allegations he tried to influence a state tender for a hydropower station. The opposition Socialists are now demanding that conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha hold early elections over allegations of corruption and vote rigging in the previous 2009 general election. The opposition has vowed to hold weekly rallies across the country every Friday. (more) Crisis escalates in Albania after protest deaths 22 January 2011 - A political crisis escalated in Albania on Saturday as the government and the opposition traded blame for the deaths of three protests during a violent demonstration against an administration accused of deeply rooted corruption. Tensions have been mounting for months between Albania's conservative government and the main opposition Socialist Party. They rose sharply last week when Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta resigned after a private TV station aired a video that it said showed him asking a colleague to influence the awarding of a contract to build a power station. On Friday night, protesters overturned and burned police vehicles, and clashed with officers who fought them off with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon. Two men were fatally shot in the chest and another died of a wound to the head. (more) Trash, sewage mar Albania tourism, investment lure 17 June 2009 - By closing Albania to the outside world, its Communist leaders preserved vast swaths of virgin Mediterranean coastline from unbridled development. Yet trash and sewage from the consumer and construction explosion after communism endanger the pristine beauty that could fuel future economic growth through tourism. Albania was Europe's poorest and most isolated country under Communism and people consumed little. Its opening to the outside world in the 1990s brought packaged consumer goods that led to a mass of trash across the country. A traveller in Albania frequently encounters small random piles of trash by the roadside, with larger quantities sometimes dumped over cliffs, or into rivers. In some spots, plastic bottles accumulate in rivers or along shores. (more) Serbs, ethnic Albanians don't reach agreement over Kosovo 22 February 2006 - UN-mediated talks over Kosovo's disputed political status will resume in a month, after a Serb and ethnic Albanian meeting on the issue Tuesday produced no agreement. Albert Rohan, the UN's deputy envoy at the talks, conceded that it might take a generation for the two sides to live together in harmony after the bloodshed of the 1990s. (more) UN recommends that Kosovo talks go ahead despite corruption and ethnic tension 7 October 2005 - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended Friday that talks on Kosovo's future go ahead despite corruption and pervasive ethnic tension. The issue of Kosovo's fate is highly contentious because the majority ethnic Albanians want full independence, but the Serb minority insists that Kosovo remain part of Serbia-Montenegro, the union that replaced Yugoslavia. (more) Albanian polls are test of ties to West 3 July 2005 - Political leaders are touting Sunday's general elections as a showcase of Albania's progress toward democracy since the fall of communism a decade ago and a near collapse into anarchy in the late 1990s. But apathy is evident among voters and the country remains one of Europe's most destitute. Meanwhile, the World Bank estimates revenue lost from corruption at some $1.4 billion per year. (more)