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Op-Ed: The connection between justice reform and prosperity

By Ambassador YURI KIM* U.S.-Albanian relations are at an all-time high. We are Allies in NATO and partners on the UN Security Council. Albania has emerged as a thriving – even if imperfect – democracy in the Western Balkans.  As we know from our own experience, democracy can never be taken …

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New lead on Kenyan young woman’s murder in Albania

State Police and the Prosecution have recently opened a new investigative lead regarding the death of the Kenyan young girl, Joy Ayoko. According to the local media, the investigators have doubts that the 22-year-old woman, who worked as a croupier in a casino in Tirana, gave information to a player …

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SP’s candidate for May 14th polls introduced in Belsh

Prime minister and Head of the Socialist Party (SP), Edi Rama has introduced this Monday his political force’s candidate of Belsh Municipality, Arif Tafani. In his speech, the Head of Government underlined that Belsh has an extraordinary tourist potential, promising that they will work with concrete projects, in order for …

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The murder of Nikolaj, Harry Simpson was discovered first by police

In a video obtained by ABC News, the Portuguese citizen who killed Nikulaj, Ruben Saraiva, can be seen taking a selfie video with the residents of the area in the city of Shkodra, where he stayed for several days on rent before the murder. He seems to be in the …

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Vanishing Foreign Workers Leave Albania’s Short-Staffed Businesses Frustrated

Importing foreign workers from poor countries sounds like a quick fix for Albania’s labour shortage – but many of them soon disappear to the West. Original post Here

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The new judicial map, 9 courts and the prosecutor’s office “dissolve”

Nine courts and the prosecutor’s office will no longer function starting from today due to the implementation of the second phase of the new judicial map. The Courts of First Instance that are closed are those of Tropoja, Mati, Kurbin, Puka, Kruja, Kavaja, Lushnja, Permet and Pogradec. The first phase …

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A 36-year arrested for trying to smuggle Sri Lanka woman into Montenegro

A 36-year-old man from Sri Lanka has been arrested his Monday by the Police of Shkodra after trying to illegally cross a citizen to Montenegro. According to the police, citizen with the initials J.J., 36 years old, resident in Paris, France, was arrested for the criminal offense of “Assisting in …

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Murder of Albanian businessman, 4 arrested, among them a woman

The number of those arrested for the murder of Ardian Nikulaj in Shengjin has reached 4. The police also announced the arrest of the British citizen, Harriet Bridgeman. “Following the research work on the location and capture of the persons wanted for the murder of the citizen Ardian Nikulaj, thanks …

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Vlora: Ex-husband beats woman and family members, then burns house

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the village of Llakatund in Vlora was shocked as a man got into a fight with his former wife and her family members, then burned their house, leading to the hospitalization of several people. Sources say that the cause had been the divorce …

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Vlora: Ex-husband beats woman and family members, then burns house

In the early hours of Saturday morning, the village of Llakatund in Vlora was shocked as a man got into a fight with his former wife and her family members, then burned their house, leading to the hospitalization of several people. Sources say that the cause had been the divorce …

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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 …

News
Egnatia becomes third team to secure Final 4 spot in “Abissnet Superiore”

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 …

News
Rama Highlights “Huqi” Agrotourism as Growing Rural Success Story

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 …

News
Adriatic coast hosts “La Nave della Salute” health services for citizens during tourist season

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 …

News
Preparatory environmental campaign launched at Tale Beach in Lezha ahead of tourist season

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 …

News
“Vatra”, symbol of Albanian nationalism and patriotism

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 …

News
Gjirokastër Hosts “Money Tells the Story” Exhibition Marking 100 Years of Bank of Albania

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. …

News
eDreams: Tirana among top choices for Italian tourists during 1 May long weekend

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 …

News
Expanded Tirana–Durrës motorway section opens to traffic up to Rinas (TIA) overpass

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. …

News
U.S. Special Forces Train Jointly with Albanian Special Forces in Zall-Herr

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 …

News

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 …

News

Egnatia becomes third team to secure Final 4 spot in “Abissnet Superiore”

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 …

News

Rama Highlights “Huqi” Agrotourism as Growing Rural Success Story

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 …

News

Adriatic coast hosts “La Nave della Salute” health services for citizens during tourist season

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 …

News

Preparatory environmental campaign launched at Tale Beach in Lezha ahead of tourist season

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 …

News

“Vatra”, symbol of Albanian nationalism and patriotism

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 …

News

Gjirokastër Hosts “Money Tells the Story” Exhibition Marking 100 Years of Bank of Albania

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. …

News

eDreams: Tirana among top choices for Italian tourists during 1 May long weekend

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 …

News

Expanded Tirana–Durrës motorway section opens to traffic up to Rinas (TIA) overpass

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. …

News

U.S. Special Forces Train Jointly with Albanian Special Forces in Zall-Herr

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 …