www.tirfaxnews.org

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• President Begaj is received in the Vatican by the Pope: Albania alongside western allies for solutions through dialogue
• Opposition warns protest escalation at Tirana municipality
• Rama unveils topics on meeting with Socialists and Ministers tomorrow
• Rama determined: On May 12 in Greece to meet Albanian immigrants
• Rama calls extraordinary meeting with ministers and MPs on Tuesday Rama to present e new Anticorruption Strategy
• Thrilled with Albania`s euro enthusiasm
• Rama unveils topics of meetings with socialists and ministers
• DIASPORA vote, Rama meeting with SP leaders nationwide
• Minister Gonxhe welcomes DIASPORA to return to Albania

ECONOMY

• Informal employment in construction
• Customs report EUR690 M revenue for January-April
• Exchange rate for foreign currency in lower level
• Banks restructured three billion ALL problematic loans
• Local budgets: Figures show how municipalities in the north are discriminated
• EUROSTAT: North of Albania, even though poorer has more cars in comparison to its population than the central and southern areas of Albania

CURRENT EVENTS

• Death of elderly cople in Dropull, police accompanies 3 suspected people

SOCIETY

• Orthodox believers celebrate Easter

CULTURE

• Eurovision 2024, Vesa Kokedhima to sing on May 9

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Dumani towards reconfirmation at the head of SPAK
• Premier meeting with political functionaries of Socialist Party
• Minister says Albania will welcome 14 million tourists with the opening of Llogara tunnel and the new Thumana-Kashar highway
• Opposition protesters break metal barriers in front of Tirana municipality, physically clash with officers who throw tear gas
• Minister Manja harsh debates with democrat Shehaj
• Italy, irreplaceable strategic partner, Begaj meets Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Tajani, Albania towards EU path
• Basha against the pact SP-Re-foundation for the justice reform: We will complain in EPDAT and EURALIUS
• New ambassador of EU in Albania Silvio Gonzato cites that management of public funds is the core of the integration process

ECONOMY

• Balluku: Flights from Vlora airports start in spring 2025
• Albanian government allocates 113 million ALL for religious communities, this is how 2024 budget fund is distributed
• Real Estate expert: Apartment prices are unaffordable: Request for buying apartments has dropped
• Bank of Albania ready loan of 80 million dollars for Albania

CURRENT EVENTS

• Death of elderly couple in Dropull, police accompanies 3 suspected people
• Two injured due to accident with van in Farke
• 11 tourists rescued at sea in Vlora
• Italian tourist involved in accident in Saranda

SOCIETY

• Albania the second in Europe for asylum seekers under 18 years of age
• Albania, the country with the highest increase in air visitors, twice the number of visitors than in 2019
• Ali Ahmeti honoured with title “Honorary Citizen” in Albania
• Youth employment rate below average
• Immigrants come to Albania on Easter occasion

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Minister says Albania will welcome 14 million tourists with the opening of Llogara tunnel and the new Thumana-Kashar highway
• Democrats call Rakipi to clarify the results of the Magistrates`exam
• Veliaj message to opposition: Noone can remove me from Tirana municipality
• Bardhi accuses socialists for intervining in magisrates exam

ECONOMY

• DP: Ministry of Finance does not publish treasure payments since March 19
• EUROSTAT says that Albanians are overloaded with work and exploited
• ALBchrome invests EUR 2M to cut CO2 emissions
• SEPA to reduce Int`l transfer costs
• 24% of Albanians with loans

CURRENT EVENTS

• Gerdeci case, Court rejects Mediu request on, FBI will carry out interrogation
• 10 thousand lawsuits by Albanian workers for unfair dismissals or discriminations
• Operation PANDORA shuts down 12 call centres in Albania, Kosovo and Lebanon
• 12 tourists saved as boat breaks down at sea
• Three arrested, three declared wanted after opposition protest
• Three arrested for drug trafficking by SPAK
• Veliaj at SPAK to be interrogated by SPAK
• Drug operations in Spain, Germany and France, Albanians among the arrested

SOCIETY

• Fair of carrier in Western Balkans
• WHO: Albania among the countries with lowest number of doctors per capita

CULTURE

• International Festival of Aquarelle, Tirana gathers painters from all over the world

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Meta calls the Convention to remove wife from the party but Kryemadhi still votes him as President of PL
• PM trustful: 30 mln of tourists will visit Albania by 2030
• EU condemns attacks against judge in Albania
• Bardhi accuses socialists for intervnining in magistrates exams
• Japan, a great ally and partner
• Constitutional Court accepts DP lawsuit for taxation of free professions
• Assets of Polish citizen seized by Tirana prosecution
• Elbasan Court gives security measure for 4 minors that killed peer
• Liberation party holds National Convent
• Berisha publishes protest footage of SPAK against Veliaj

ECONOMY

• Veliaj appears at SPAK among protests
• EUR 100M investments for transoceanic flights
• Changes mulled in new pensions scheme
• Banks approved over 110, 000 new loans in 2023

CURRENT EVENTS

• Lawyer gives details about the arrest of four lecturers in Shkodra university: They took bribes from students for exams
• Accident at the entrance of Fier, two cars crash, driver hospitalized  

SOCIETY

• Floating PV plant in Vau i Dejes ready in 2026
• Online violence against women, Koçiu: Legislation enforcement, access increase in at least 70 social services

HEADLINES

POLITICS

• Meta calls the Convention to remove wife from the party but Kryemadhi still votes him as President of PL
• Minister Manja reacts after explosion at judge`s house
• Berisha urges citizens to come up at the protest on Tuesday in front of the municipality
• Braimllari: Opposition has real opposers and fake ones
• Ilir Meta congratulates vice president of PL, Erisa Xhixho

ECONOMY

• Banks approved over 110, 000 new loans in 2023
• Floating PV plant in Vau i Dejes ready by 2026
• New pensions` scheme, low contributions discussed and working years

CURRENT EVENTS

• Explosion at judge`s house in Shkodra
• Lawyer gives details about the arrest of four lecturers in Shkodra university: They took bribes from students for exams
• Convict benefited from criminal amnesty, but a day after the release youngster in Pogradec is arrested for the next theft
• Accident in Qafe Thane, two cars crash, passenger from Devoll remains dead
• Shkodra, three injured due to gas tank explosion
• Citizen hit with strong means in the head and hospitalized in Korca
• Underage boy bitten in Elbasan, investigation launched on three youngsters

SOCIETY

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

CULTURE

• National Competition of Albanian Language organised

WEATHER

• Sunny weather and high temperatures forecast till Tuesday

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