Mandates council to discuss SPAK’s request for former PM’s arrest
Council of Mandates will convene this Monday at 12:00 in the Presidency of the Assembly to consider the request of Special Prosecution against Corruption (SPAK), which requires the granting of authorization for the arrest of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. For weeks, Berisha refused to appear before the special court, …
Shkodra youth busted hauling illegal migrants
A 22-year-old from Shkodra was arrested this Sunday in the framework of police operation coded “Station”. Police revealed that the young man was caught red-handed transporting immigrants from third countries, who intended to cross illegally from Albania to the EU countries, against the amount of 500 Euros per person. Vehicle …
Turkish man accused of ‘participation in murder’ arrested in Tirana
A 48-year-old Turkish man was arrested in Tirana as part of the police operation codenamed “Istanbul”, as reported this Sunday. Hasan Ozcan was declared internationally wanted, after the Court of Serious Crimes in Istanbul, Anatolia, Turkey, sentenced him to 3 years and 28 days in prison. Ozcan is accused of …
New details on Peqin prison handgun killing
ABC News has provided footage of the police inspection of the apartment where Sokol Mjacaj used to live in Prekal, Shkodra. The conditions in this apartment, as it seems from the images provided by journalist Ervin Leka, are in a bad state, while it is said that his father lived …
Duty abuse, SPAK seeks 3.6 years in prison for former Mayor of Bulqiza
Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has announced this Friday the claim against the former mayor of Bulqiza, Lefter Alla, seeking 3.6 years in prison. SPAK demands 4 years of imprisonment for Erion Isak and Rasim Daci (2.8 years with a shortened trial), 3 years in prison for …
Two Albanians busted with 54 Kg of drugs in Greece
54 kilos of marijuana that were being transported from Albania to Greece, have been caught in Thessaloniki. For the quantity of drugsz the 49-year-old driver of the vehicle and the 58-year-old van driver, both Albanians, were arrested. During checks inside the vehicle, the officers found 4 plastic canisters containing 20 …
Socialist Party seeks exclusion of three opposition MPs from Parliament’s proceedings
Socialist Party (SP) has requested to exclude three opposition MPs from the work of the Assembly for ten days, as revealed this Friday. This request is related to yesterday’s episodes in the Parliament, where some MPs became protagonists in the hall by throwing lighters and cigarette lighters. It is about …
Peqin prison inmate dies after altercation with another person
A fight between convicts was reported today in the prison of Peqin, were involved are Sokol Mjacaj, Arben Lleshi and Lir Xhakja. ABC learns that the convict Arben Lleshi has lost his life, after being shot with a firearm. In the meantime, the authorities have immediately started the investigative work …
Reflecting higher emigration, remittances to Albania hit decade high
TIRANA, Dec. 14, 2023 – Reflecting renewed emigration, remittances to Albania during 2022 saw a significant increase, reaching the highest levels of the past decade, data released by Eurostat this week reveals. According to Eurostat, remittances exceeded €1.2 billion in 2022, a 5.8% increase compared to 2021. This high value …
Albanian Constitutional Court suspends approval of Rama-Meloni agreement
TIRANA, Dec. 14, 2023 – Albania’s Constitutional Court has suspended the approval process for the contentious deal with Italy to establish a third-country migrant processing camp in Albania under Italian jurisdiction. The court has instructed parliament not to proceed with the vote on ratifying the deal until the court makes …
Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari met today with the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Lamallari briefed the delegation on Albania’s progress in implementing recommendations and strengthening democratic standards. “Albania has also made steady progress toward the EU. We have concrete reforms and results recognized by international …
President Vjosa Osmani hosted a farewell reception as she left office. Among the guests was Eva Palatova, acting head of the EU office in Kosovo. The EU office in Kosovo said Palatova attended the reception and thanked Osmani for her years of cooperation. “As Kosovo’s most trusted partner, the EU …
On World Autism Day, celebrated every year on April 2, the Parliament building lit up blue. Blue is the international color for autism awareness. Each year, state institutions join this global initiative. It shows their commitment to raising awareness for this social cause. World Autism Day aims to increase public …
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said institutions and society must stand with children with autism and their families. She stressed the need for understanding, support, and love for this group. “Every child deserves to be heard and supported,” she said. Osmani called for greater inclusion and ongoing care for children with …
The Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) held an awareness event today for World Autism Day. The event was organized with the National Club of Parents of Children with ASD & P.A.K. and the “Asim Vokshi” Linguistic High School. The goal was to raise public awareness and promote inclusion of …
Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha joined a virtual meeting called by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Over 40 countries attended. They discussed the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran closed it amid ongoing conflict. Hoxha said countries coordinate through diplomacy and politics to …
EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato said fighting disinformation requires promoting independent and professional media. It also requires strengthening freedom of expression. Gonzato said independent media forms a key pillar of EU rule-of-law principles. It also shows a country’s readiness to join the European Union. He said, “Disinformation affects public …
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama said Albania faces a historic opportunity to join the European family. He told the Socialist Assembly in Unit 14 that major powers now support Albanians concretely. He said Albania has never had such a clear chance to become a full EU member. …
Albania remembers actress Margarita Xhepa on her birthday. She remains an undisputed icon of the stage and screen. Her legacy continues to inspire generations. She was born on April 2, 1932. She became one of the brightest figures in Albanian theater and cinema. She performed dozens of roles that shaped …
The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Ali Ahmeti, reacted through an open letter on social media regarding recent developments in North Macedonia, emphasizing that the issue of the Albanian language cannot be put into question. In his message, Ahmeti underlined that a stable state is built on …