One dead and three injured in a car accident in Elbasan
A 70-year-old man died and three others were injured, including two minors, in an accident in Elbasan. The police proceeded to release a 39-year-old man who, while driving the vehicle, lost control and as a result the vehicle collided with the side barrier of the road. The authorities have started …
Analysis: Continued detention of elected mayor strains Albanian-Greek relations
TIRANA, Aug. 16, 2023 — The arrest and three-month-long pretrial detention of Fredi Beleri, the elected mayor of Himara, a coastal town in southwestern Albania, has ignited a diplomatic row between Albania and Greece and has prompted scrutiny on political influence on Albania’s justice system. Beleri is a key figure …
Multiple arrests made in high-profile corruption case linked to hospital sterilization concession
TIRANA, Aug. 17, 2023 – In a significant move that follows years of public accusations on ruling party officials, Albania’s Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has made several arrests connected to a contentious hospital sterilization concession granted eight years ago. Among those arrested were former Deputy Minister …
Op/Ed: The Beleri case as bellwether for democracy in Albania
By GENC POLLO The standard definition of a political prisoner is “someone imprisoned for their political activity. The political offense is not always the official reason for the prisoner’s detention”. If it still holds Albania might have gotten one. Fredi Beleri, who ran on an opposition ticket in the local …
Father and son arrested for cannabis cultivation
Father and son were arrested this Wednesday morning for cannabis cultivation in Lazarat village. The 51-year-old and the 28-year-old were caught by drones used in the operation, tending to the 50 cannabis plants they had planted in the yard of their apartment. The drug was seized as material evidence while …
SPAK-Guardia di Finanza Operation, six arrested on drug trafficking
New details have been revealed from the international anti-drug operation developed by the Albanian police in cooperation with the Italian Guardia Di Financa and the American DEA. Journalist Xhensila Kodra reports that the 4 rafts left on Tuesday afternoon from Patoku, while the sailboat left from Montenegro. More than 20 …
Teen died as two Jet Skis collide in Himara
A 16-year-old man who was driving one of the two Jet Skis that collide on Tuesday afternoon on the beach of Llamani in Himare has died. The 16-year-old was transported to Tirana but could not survive. Initially, it was reported that they jumped from the cliff into the sea, but …
“We will punish anyone who violates the law”, Balla visits injured policeman in Himara
The Minister of the Interior Taulant Balla and the Director DVP Vlora Ermal Muçaj were present at the Vlora Regional Hospital, to visit the Police officer, who is receiving treatment at this hospital, after he was stabbed yesterday evening during the out-of-hours intervention to prevent the escalation of a conflict. …
A policeman was stabbed by a 60 year old
A police officer was stabbed after he intervened to stop a conflict between several people in Himare. The incident took place around 11:00 pm on Tuesday near Pilur village turn. The 28-year-old, on duty as a police inspector in the Lukovo area, was crossing the street outside of working hours …
SPAK sends the file for trial for former mayor Fran Tuci
The Special Anti-Corruption Structure has completed the investigations and sent the file for trial of the former mayor of Fushe-Arrezi Fran Tuci, who is accused of abuse of office and destruction of property. According to SPAK, the former mayor, in violation of the law, has allowed the opening of a …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the flamingos of Zvërnec represent a unique natural asset for Albania’s tourism development. He argued that nature can support investment instead of blocking it. Furthermore, he referred to recent protests against the planned Zvërnec investment. He said such debates often misunderstand how nature and tourism …
Gonxhja in Pogradec: Seaplane as a New Opportunity for Tourism Development and Regional Connectivity
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja participated in the opening of the tourist season in Pogradec. He presented a symbolic seaplane flight as a new initiative to promote innovative tourism and strengthen regional connections between lakes, cities, and neighboring areas. Gonxhja held a meeting with local tourism operators …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Albania’s main challenge remains integration into the European Union. He stressed that the country must move to a new level of economic and social development. Speaking at the 35th anniversary celebration of the Socialist Party in Elbasan, Rama said Albania is closer than ever …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said the government is driving Vlora toward a new era of tourism development. He stated that by 2030, Vlora will become one of the Mediterranean’s top tourist destinations. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Elbasan, Rama highlighted the impact of government investments in …
Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to the public debate over the planned investment in Zvërnec. He called for respectful discussion and defended the right of environmentalists and citizens to express their concerns. In a social media post, Rama criticized the offensive language used by some participants in the debate. He …
Prime Minister Edi Rama described the planned Zvërnec project in Vlora as one of the largest tourism investments in Europe. He said the project will play a key role in Albania’s economic development. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Elbasan, Rama highlighted the importance of high-end tourism …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania must not let major tourism opportunities slip away again. He stressed that the country has already lost important chances in the past and should not repeat the same mistakes. Speaking at the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary event in Elbasan, Rama referred to the tourism …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania is moving steadily closer to European Union membership. He stated that European partners strongly support the country and recognize its progress in the integration process. Furthermore, he spoke on the podcast “Flasim” and referred to the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat. He said the …
In his post, Rama criticized the language used by some commenters, describing it as offensive and lacking substance. He argued that such rhetoric harms public debate on important issues and stressed that “street language” should not dominate public discussions. “A few words first for the revolutionaries who come here and …
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–header-height)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”857c6676-97fd-49c0-963e-85cfdd8a5fe9″ data-turn-id-container=”857c6676-97fd-49c0-963e-85cfdd8a5fe9″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”user”> Dozens of residents of Lushnja held a protest on Sunday morning, voicing their opposition to what they described as substandard conditions at Lushnja Hospital. The demonstration was initiated by Democratic Party MP Saimir Korreshi. *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:8d03c183-ccb9-43e0-ad59-f450389fa326-2″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:8d03c183-ccb9-43e0-ad59-f450389fa326-2″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-6″ data-scroll-anchor=”false” data-turn=”assistant”> “The …