www.tirfaxnews.org

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Convict benefited from criminal amnesty, but a day after the release youngster in Pogradec is arrested for the next theft
• Constitutional Court accepts DP lawsuit for taxation of free possessions
• Minister Balla from Abu Dhabi pledges cooperation between the two countries for extraditions and fight against organised crime
• Peleshi in the ministerial of CEDC: Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo the only solution for peace in the region

ECONOMY

• Rama: Expo Albania, a jewel of contemporary architects in Tirana
• Regional innovation centre opens in Elbasan
• Ibrahimaj meeting with entrepreneur women: More opportunities for start-up management
• Capital expenses 71% less than foreseen in the plan, lowest level since 2009
• BoA: Cyberattacks against banking system failed in 2023

CURRENT EVENTS

• Two packs of forged cheques seized amounting to 1 million dollars, two arrested in Hani i Hotit
• Ardian Isufi arrested for theft immediately after being released with fiscal amnesty
• Molotov bombs still thrown in front of the municipality
• 38 year old arrested in Delvina for setting fire to bus

SOCIETY

•  Number of asylum seekers applying for asylum in the Member States goes down
• Tirana municipality and the French embassy sign agreement in the area of creative industry
• Over 1, 5 mln foreign visitors in the first quarter of 2023
• Changes in tourism law “To increase standards”
• Hani i Hotit railway upgrade starts within 2024

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Minister Balla from Abu Dhabi pledges cooperation between the two countries for extraditions and fight against crime
• Xibraka case, Rama: SPAK has the duty to say who is responsible
• Bardhi urges Albanians to join next opposition protest
• Meta attacks again head of SPAK, Altin Dumani
• Manastirliu in Shkoder: 2700 teachers are being trained from the National Porgram of Porfessional Development
• Minister Gonxhe: EXPO Albania, destination of fairs, Tirana a leader in the region

ECONOMY

• Regional innovation centre opens in Elbasan
• Growth of budget revenues slows down in March
• Ministry of Finances: 13, 1 billion ALL from excise in the budget during first trimester of 2024
• Bank of Albania confirms of cyber attacks against banking system during 2023
• Free professions: Complaints in the Tax Office on revision of tax instalment

CURRENT EVENTS

• 6 extradited persons for various offences
• Minister Balla reacts on extradition of Donald Hoxha on murder of former police officer in 2009
• Former adviser of Ilir Meta, Ralf Gjoni, is questioned by the anti-corruption prosecution
• 22 year old arrested in Diber for stealing vehicles
• Bus and van burnt overnight what happened in Delvina

SOCIETY

• Hani i Hotit railway ugrade starts within 2024
• Culture and history attract foreign tourists to the 800-year-old monastery and church in Zvërnec
• Today National Day of girls in the Technology of Information and Communication

SPORTS

• Egnatia goes towards final, eliminates Vllaznia in extra-time

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Minister Balla from Abu Dhabi pledges cooperation between the two countries for extraditions and fight against crime
• European Parliament approves plan of 6 billion euro for Western Balkans
• Minister of Economy, Innovation and Culture invites youth to apply for vacancies in the new ministry
• Bardhi calls Albanians to join protest against Tirana municipality
• Zhupa: Law of the Academy of Sciences for personal benefits
• Manja: Implementation of Criminal Amnesty starts implementation; EUR 30 million saved from the State Budget
• DP submits two amendments to support SPAK

ECONOMY

• WB finances with 80 million dollars the project in support of tourism, Mete signs agreement with vice president Bassani
• Growth of budget revenues slows down in March

CURRENT EVENTS

• Father and son stabbed after brawl at the social media
• Lezha, chief of road police suspended for favouring Tom Doshi`s son
• SPAK communicates new accuse for Tirana`s municipality directors
• Shkodra prosecution seizes assets of man convicted for exploiting prosecution  
• Landslides in Tepelena after heavy rainfalls

SOCIETY

• Boy from Pogradec creates “Rei” robot who detects emotional state
• Albania had more births in the region, calculations show lower rate of population decline
• Swiss media: Albanian to become the third language in the country

CULTURE

• Culture and history attract foreign tourists to the 800-year-old monastery and church in Zvërnec

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• EU Ambassador condemns the threats and insults of the opposition’s Meta to the justice bodies: They have no place in democracy
• Diaspora vote, Rama to start in May meetings abroad
• Balla in UAE, Joint Task Force against organised crime proposed
• Socialists propose members of Special Parliamentary Committee on Disinformation
• EU underlines support for justice reform and new justice institutions
• Opposition against abort and surrogate mothers, Gjergji: It destroys family concept
• Work Fair: Minister Blendi Gonxhe: We should be together in challenges we are confronting

ECONOMY

WB finances with 80 million dollars the project in support of tourism, Mete signs agreement with vice president Bassani

Annulment of new reference prices requested

• Tourism is enocuraging imports not domestic production
• Bank accounts, depositions of Albanians increased by 6% in 2023

CURRENT EVENTS

• Two arrested in Lac for betting online
• 39 year old declared internationally wanted arrested in Diber, extradition expected in Italy
• Accident in Fier, car ends in canal, driver hospitalized

SOCIETY

• Snow in April, residents in Dardha village welcome tourists
• After snow, Albania faces floods
• New members of Science Academy appointed
• Treatment of polluted waters in coastal areas
• Technology fair in Hanover, Veliaj: We are looking forward that 5-7 thousand vacancies be related with German  companies

CULTURE

• Today in the International Book Day, President Begaj meets bukinist of Elbasan city 

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• EU ambassador condemns the threats and insults of the opposition’s Meta to the justice bodies: They have no place in democracy
• Diplomats condemn violent protest at Tirana municipality
• Acting head of OSCE meets Meta: Judiciary doesn’t take orders from anyone
• US embassy condemns violence at the protest in front of the municipality
• No steps back, opposition announces next protest at Tirana municipality

ECONOMY

• Inflation records further decline in March
• Albania with total energy from renewables
• Electricity installed capacity up by 1% in 2023
• IMF cuts 2024 growth forecast by 3, 1%

CURRENT EVENTS

• Criminal gang dismantled in Italy, 13 arrested, among them Albanians
• Prosecution closes investigations on two Russian citizens and one from Ukraine
• Saranda, two arrested for illegal weapon possession and drug distribution
• 53 year old man arrested for trafficking charges
• Prosecution confiscates villa constructed with falsified money
• Independent qualification Committee discharges judge Agron Zukri   
• Protest in front of Tirana Municipality, 4 protesters released

SOCIETY

• Snow in April, residents of Dardha village welcome tourists  
• Treatment of polluted waters on coastal areas

CULTURE

• Culture and history attracts foreign tourists to the 800 year old monastery and church in Zvërnec

 WEATHER

Monday will be sunny, but rain and storm in the coming days

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Wisner: Albanian`s future not linked with corrupted people
• SP-DP debate over ‘Xibraka” case in parliament
• President Begaj in meeting with the delegation of NATO Assembly: Albania will play its role as a factor of peace
• Belind Kellici sues at SPAK another director of Tirana`s municipality
• IMF cuts 2024 growth forecast to 3, 1%

ECONOMY

• Agreement with USAID, Mete: Financing to be extended, postponed to 2030
• European currency continues dropping
• Employment of over 65 years old up
• EUR 2, 6 M for River Flood management, irrigation

CURRENT EVENTS

• Dozens protest at Tirana municipality asking Veliaj`s resignation
• Tensions in the protest, Molotov thrown in front of the municipality
• Protesters cut police cordon and attempt to enter municipality premises
• State nurse is paid without going to work, instead sells drugs from the pharmaceutical warehouse with the support of the director in Bushat
• Fraud with call centres, 9 years of imprisonment for the Italians who hid 5, 7 million euro
• 28 year old under investigation after being accused of her husband for violating her children
• Shkodra prosecution seizes 97 vehicles, a company and property of the suspected for money laundering
• 50 year old attempts to kill wife, gest arrested from police

SOCIETY

• “Le figaro” dedicates article for the amazing beaches in Albania, from Porto Palermo to Dhermi
• Gashi River, an asset protected by UNESCO
• New conditions for new births and invitro procedures

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Albanian singers arrested in Switzerland for visa irregularities before performing for diaspora
• President Begaj in meeting with the delegation of the NATO Assembly: Albania will play its role as a factor of peace
• Prosecutor General: No rush for New Criminal Code
• Agreement with USAID extended
• Basha sues at SPAK, Speaker of Parliament Lindita Nikolla  
• Albania to open embassies in India, Kenia and Indonesia
• Minister thanks PACE for recognising Albanian`s Fight against Corruption
• Assembly reinstates all the expelled members of the opposition except former Prime Minister Berisha
• Meta makes strong accusations against head of SPAK Dumani

ECONOMY

• Agreement with USAID, Mete: Financing to be extended, postponed to 2030
• EUR 2, 6 for River Flood Management, Irrigation
• IMF lowers expectations on Albanian economic growth for 2024
• Trading deficit reaches 1, 1 billion euro
• Prifti: Oil in Shpirag is with the most expensive price in world
• Trade Gap expands 8, 3 % y/y in March

CURRENT EVENTS

• Police arrests Agron Bejdolli, wanted for kidnapping
• Vlore, 34 year old arrested in possession of weapons

CULTURE

• Today International Day of Monuments and Historical Sites
•  New artistic director of Opera and Ballet introduced
• Mirush Kabashi honoured with “Honour of the city” prize

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Assembly reinstates all the expelled members of the opposition except former Prime Minister Berisha
• New status for Albcontrol okayed amid debate
• Hydrocarbon deal with Shell is in force
• Minister Igli Hasani meets former President of Kosovo in the Hague, Hashim Thaçi
• Vice chairman of the Freedom Party resigns
• Socialists boycott Inquiry Committee on TIMS
• American embassy greats punishment from the High Council of Prosecution for attacks against SPAK
• Associated Press: A prisoner in Albanian prisons, candidate for European MP in Greece
• Tirana Mayor receives two Swedish politicians with Albanian origin, Adnan Dibrani and Arber Gashi

ECONOMY

• Agreement with USAID, Mete: Financing to be extended, postponed to 2030
• Regress in agriculture and industry puts in danger 54% of the employees in the private sector
• Hydrocarbon deal with shell is in force
• National Scheme of Support, around 60 thousand farmers have submitted their files
• New fiscal package, Qiraxhi: Youngsters are being taxed, whereas government is thinking about future elections

CURRENT EVENTS

• Former Minister Ilir Beqaj again appears at SPAK
• Police arrests Agron Bejdolli, wanted for kidnapping
• Two Albanians arrested in Spain with 180 kg of cannabis  
• Vetting and professional ability verifications for firefighting officers begin

SOCIETY

• Youngsters leave for immigration, senior people work
• April 17^th, National Day of Haemophilia

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Assembly reinstates all the expelled members of the opposition except former Prime Minister Berisha
• Vetting and professional ability verifications for firefighting officers begin
• Socialists boycott inquiry Committee on TIMS
• Croatian ambassador to Tirana: Communism, fascism and the Balkans
• EU ambassador meets head of CC: Supporting Albania`s democratic system
• Fredi Beleri named ruling ND candidate in European Elections
• SP-DP debates over request for motion with debate on drug trafficking
• SP abandoned yesterday investigating committee, Gogu gives his explanations
• Vetting and professional ability verifications for firefighting officers begin
• Opposition against the law for “Planning territory”, Bardhi: It favours strategic investors

ECONOMY

• Hydrocarbon deal with shell is in force
• Euro towards abyss, today exchanged in lowest levels
• Seiko: Financial culture, important
• Balluku inspects hotels in Velipoja
• Drop of agriculture and industry puts in risk 54% of the employees in the private sector
• Birn: Durres lacks  touristic guides

CURRENT EVENTS

• Special anti-corruption court seizes the apartment of former mayor of Lushnja, Fatos Tushe

SOCIETY

• Librazhd municipally opens for the first time season of mountainous tourism
• Albania ranked in the sixth place for the highest number of deaths from road accidents in Europe

CULTURE

• Big concert n the Palace of Congress with famous violinist Olen Çezari: It will be a spectacle

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• President Macron welcomes PM Rama in Paris: Albania has advanced on the path to EU integration
• President Macron welcomes Albania`s Prime Minister rama in Paris
• Albanians locked to Izrael arrive home  
• Health Minister: Fire at emergency was technical issue, didn`t affect the hospital
• Inter-parliamentary forum in Tirana promotes regional dialogue and friendly relations
• Israel Tourism Minister: Albania, a good suprize
• Albanian PM reacts after Iran attached Israel
• Xhixho meets American official
• Greek Media: Fredi Bejleri will candidate for MP with Mitsotakis Party
• Vasili: Montenegro very close to EU

ECONOMY

• Porto Romano road exit eases traffic in Durres
• TIA expansion project responds to added flow
• Seiko: Financial Culture important
• Salary increase in education, health starts in July 1^st

CURRENT EVENTS

• Special anti-corruption court seizes the apartment of former mayor of Lushnja, Fatos Tushe

SOCIETY

• Artisans in Elbasan and their tradition passed down through the generations, are now promoting it to youngsters
• Two months after fire, emergency unit still closed
• Jupi: Prison Camp of Spac to be declared National Museum