SPAK operation with the French authorities, three Albanians arrested and assets seized
SPAK has developed a joint operation with the French authorities, which led to the crackdown on a drug trafficking group. The criminal group operated in the Lyon region and supplied sales groups in the Rhone, Ain, Savoie, and Haute-Savoie regions from an Albanian citizen in France. The gang was led …
Albanian’s Leap to Freedom Was Only the Start of His Journey
An Albanian who 34 years ago jumped over an embassy wall in Tirana to escape the country’s repressive communist regime recalls his struggle to find freedom and a new home in Western Europe. Original post Here
Obituary: Ismail Kadare, the global writer who helped ‘making Albania’
TIRANA, June 1, 2024 – Albania’s greatest writer and perennial Nobel Prize candidate, Ismail Kadare, has died at the age of 88. Kadare had permanently moved back to his homeland of Albania from France in recent years and died of a heart attack Monday morning, doctors at Tirana’s largest public …
Drug trafficking and organized criminal group/ SPAK sends for trial Gezim Çela and 13 others
The Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) has closed the investigations and sent Gëzim Çela and 13 other people to trial for drug trafficking and organized criminal group. Gëzim Çela and Arlind Ismailukaj are considered to be the leaders of the criminal group that were hit during the “Flame at Sea” operation. …
Ismail Kadare, Greatest Albanian Writer, Dies at 88
The author of dozens of books translated into dozens of languages was feted abroad, in France especially – but some at home were less forgiving of his role during the communist era. Original post Here
Albanian renown writer Ismail Kadare, dies age 88
The Albanian renown writer, poet and novelist, Ismail Kadare died this Monday in Tirana, age 88. Were his familiars that found him lifeless in his home. He is the only Albanian national who was many time a candidate to win the Nobel price in Literature. In 1992, Kadare was awarded …
Oncology scandal, Rama: A crime against humanity
Prime Minister Edi Rama qualifies as a crime against humanity, the use of a doctor’s uniform, to extract money with blood for medicines of the sick, referring to the Oncology scandal. During his speech at the meeting of heads of services at QSUT, Rama said that nothing is missing in …
Albania’s population shrank by 429,000, census results show
TIRANA, June 28, 2024 – Albania’s population shrank by almost 14 percent in 12 years, losing about 429,000 residents, according to the country’s official 2023 census, the results of which were just released. The census conductor, the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), said the number of residents of Albania is now …
Rama: We will forgive fines for illegal construction
Prime Minister Edi Rama has handed over the ownership titles of the houses in Theth and in some other areas of the North, where the inherited problems have been solved. During his speech, he said that fines for constructions without permission will be waived, as they were done out of …
A 25 year old arrested for smuggling emigrants
A 25-year-old man was arrested as part of the police operation codenamed “Axis” The 25-year-old man was caught red-handed on the “Korçë-Pogradec” road axis, near the village of Vërdovë, Pogradec, transporting 17 immigrants from third countries, in the direction of Tirana, with an “Opel” van, against profit, with purpose of …
Albania hosts MONEYVAL mission, Deputy PM Koçiu highlights progress in anti-money laundering efforts
TIRANA, April 28 – Albania has welcomed the MONEYVAL assessment mission, which focuses on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing efforts. The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) removed Albania from its grey list in 2023. Authorities present this decision, along with improving financial indicators, as evidence of progress, saying it strengthens …
TIRANA, April 28 – Egnatia has become the third team to mathematically secure a place in the Final 4 of the “Abissnet Superiore” championship. Three rounds remain in the regular season. Despite losing its last match against Vora, Egnatia remains nine points ahead of Dinamo City and Partizani. The team …
Prime Minister Edi Rama promotes the agrotourism site “Huqi” in Radë, Durrës. He presents it as a successful example of a fast-growing sector in Albania. He says agrotourism investments attract more interest every year. He notes that people with strong rural ties join the sector. He also points out that …
TIRANA, April 28 – The Adriatic coast has welcomed a new health initiative, “La Nave della Salute” [The Health Ship], launched by the One Health Foundation. The programme aims to bring prevention and healthcare services closer to citizens. Minister of Health and Social Welfare Evis Sala highlighted the importance of …
TIRANA, April 28 – A nationwide environmental campaign has started in coastal municipalities as part of preparations for the tourist season. In Lezha, municipal structures are carrying out works at Tale Beach. The sandy coastline stretches around 7 kilometres. Its width ranges from 100 to 150 metres. Prime Minister Edi …
TIRANA, April 28 – On 28 April 1912, in Boston, Albanian diaspora leaders founded the Pan-Albanian Federation of America “Vatra” (the Hearth). Fan Noli, Faik Konica and other patriots led the initiative. They united several Albanian associations into one federation. The first meeting took place on 24 December 1911. The …
The Bank of Albania opened the traveling exhibition “Money Tells the Story: 100 Years of Life and Events, Bank of Albania” in Gjirokastër. The exhibition presents the history of the central bank and the Albanian currency. It showcases numismatic and museum objects, archival documents, photographs, film materials, and explanatory content. …
TIRANA, April 28 – With the arrival of summer, the 1 May long weekend marks one of the first opportunities to travel for a few days away from home. eDreams analysed bookings made during the past month and tracked travel trends among Italian travellers and foreign visitors to Italy. This …
TIRANA, April 28 – The expanded section of the Tirana–Durrës motorway up to the Rinas (TIA) overpass has fully opened to vehicle traffic. Prime Minister Edi Rama, together with Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi, inspected the road section, which has now been upgraded to a Category A motorway. …
Albanian Special Forces conduct intensive training with U.S. Special Forces instructors at the Zall-Herr Special Forces Regiment. The exercise focuses on movement and reconnaissance in complex environments. The U.S. Embassy in Tirana announces the training. It says the program improves field operations and stealth movement. It also strengthens the unit’s …