Albanian Times

Local products entry to the market lowers the price of vegetables.

2011-05-17T01:22:00.005+01:00

TIRANA - Entry into the market of domestic production has decreased somewhat vegetable prices in the country. For three months, the price of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, green salad, etc.., were in maximum increasing further the cost of living in the country. It seems that this phenomenon is stopped when trader’s stalls are filled with local products which are normally sold at cheaper prices.

Banks and Albanian citizens circulated around 202 billion Lek in 2010

2011-05-16T23:24:00.004+01:00

TIRANA - Banks and Albanian citizens circulated around 202 billion Lek over the last year. This amount is divided into different denominations of banknotes and coins. According to the Bank of Albania, citizens and banks circulated about 270 million pieces of coins and banknotes, of which about 153.4 million pieces are banknotes and 116 million are coins. There was a 40% increase compared to the

UNDP to Support ‘Digital Albania’

2011-05-16T23:16:00.003+01:00

The Albanian Minister for Information, Communications Technology and Innovation Genc Pollo and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Zineb Touimi-Benjelloun signed on Friday a project that will support Albania’s National Digital Agenda, Tv Scan reports. The project foresees technical assistance to create a complete legal framework, strengthening the public and private partnerships in this regard

Kanye West in relationship with Miss Universe Albania Angela Martini

2011-05-16T22:59:00.004+01:00

Kanye West has a new gal pal: Miss Universe Albania Angela Martini. Sources close to the NEXT Model Management brunette say Martini and West have been seeing each other for a few months, though it's unclear how serious things are. "They are dating," one source tells us. "I just don't know if it's exclusive." Another says, however, that Martini "really likes" West and is "hoping they'll

A policeman caught transporting drugs

2011-05-16T22:54:00.003+01:00

Police in Gjirokastra announced on Sunday (May 15th) that a fellow police officer was stopped and arrested while transporting drugs. Ervin Hysa was allegedly carrying 75kg of cannabis as he tried to leave the city. Officials say the drugs, bought in the nearby village of Lazarat, were bound for Tirana. Meanwhile, a stash of 431 kilos of cannabis believed to be coming from Albania was seized in

"An Albanian-American Dream: From hardship to Nobel Prize"

2010-06-02T14:50:00.004+01:00

Brooklyn, New York In the oak paneled Robert F. Furchgott Library full of manuscripts and scientific devices encased behind glass that only a scientist could appreciate, SUNY Downstate Medical Center welcomed Nobel Laureate Dr. Ferid Murad. For me, and many of my colleagues, this was a dream come true: we were about to meet a Nobel Laureate! However, this meeting held a deeper meaning and

Sigal Holding demonstrates strong growth & performance in 2009

2010-03-26T16:37:00.003Z

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES Although year 2009 was a difficult year for the world economy and therefore also for the Albanian economy, it appears that Sigal Holding, which operates in Albania, Kosovo & Macedonia, has managed to escape the decline in markets and perform higher than expectations. SIGAL Holding which is an insurance company grew by over 21% in 2009 grew by 21 percent. At the AGM,

Albania Dodges Recession & Forecasts Further Economic Growth in 2010

2010-03-26T16:24:00.003Z

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES The Minister for Economy, Trade and Energy, Mr. Dritan Prifti, said yesterday that Albania will be the country with the highest economic growth in Europe in 2010. The minister, who was attending a ceremony in Veneto bank, also attended by other members of government, business representatives, and representatives of the banking group Veneto, spoke of how Albania was

EP: The removal of visas for Albania: A technical, non-political process

2010-03-25T15:15:00.007Z

Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES The European Parliament has categorically expressed that the abolition of visas for Albania is a technical process and should not be confused with the political process. In a phone interview for Albanian Times, the European Deputy of the Green Group, Marije Cornelissen, found that the progress she has seen in Albania has been very impressive and as such, the group

Berisha: Main Square in Tirana in a catastrophic status

2010-03-24T17:04:00.005Z

Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES This is the picture today of Tirana’s main square which has been described by the prime minister as being in a catastrophic status.. Berisha has charged the minister of public works and transportation Sokol Olldashi with the task of getting the main square on its feet. This is the main square of the capital and it is a shame that the 10 million dollars donated for

Is Albania to become an Energy superpower in 5 years

2010-03-24T15:03:00.004Z

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES There has been renewed discussion surrounding the somewhat controversial plans for Italy to build a nuclear power station in Albania. Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berluscone has said that Italy will set up a nuclear power station in Albania. In an interview with Italian newspaper, Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno "Berlusconi has thrown light on the previous uncertainties

Advances in the Telephony Market mean Savings for Customers

2010-03-24T11:57:00.003Z

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES Increased competition in the mobile telephony market in Albania, as a result of regulatory requirement for reduction of tariffs, has brought visible benefits to the customer. These benefits for clients of cellular companies in the country have been estimated in the region of 35 million euro by the Authority of Electronic & Postal Communication (Autoritetit ne

Berisha: Future budget to concentrate on major projects

2010-03-23T17:00:00.005Z

Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES Albanian Premier, Sali Berisha, said that next year budget is going to be concentrated on some important projects and is not going to be divided in pieces, as has been the rule in the past. Albanian Premier considered this practice as a wrong one. “Next year budget will concentrate on major projects and will not be distributed in 1800 projects, as has been the

Keeping drivers moving with digital theory tests

2010-03-12T15:47:00.003Z

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES Albanian authorities have now introduced digital driving test theory in most centres. Until now Albanians have been taking the driving theory test in papers but now this is been introduced in computers in digital format. Road and Safety authority in Fier completed the operating system through which applicants for driving licenses will answer theoretical questions in

First steps to a new Southern Motorway - Tirana to Elbasan

2010-03-12T15:22:00.006Z

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMES A new stretch of highway, running from the capital of Albania, Tirana, to Elbasan, further south, has been presented and is expected to be completed within two years. The first phase of this project will see a new highway stretching approximately 31km, consisting of 4 lanes, with two tunnels extending 2.3 and 2.1 miles being constructed between these two cities,

Another hurdle to EU membership: Investigation into Organ-Trafficking reopened

2010-03-12T13:53:00.003Z

Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMESAlbanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta has confirmed that Albania will cooperate with international institutions on the organ trafficking investigation. The investigation relates to allegations that ethnic Albanian fighters killed and then trafficked the organs of Serbs captured in the 1999 Kosovo conflict. The claims first arose six years ago in the memoirs of former UN

Over aged Albania outclass Northern Irish youngsters

2010-03-03T21:39:00.012Z

March 03, 2010| Altin Zeqiri, ALBANIAN TIMESAlbania beat Northern Ireland 1 - 0 in a friendly match in Qemal Stafa, Tirana.All odds were for northern Irish side to win in Tirana but the classy Albanians were unbreakable.British newspapers predicted 2 - 0 to the Irish side but they were basing the facts of better side in the FIFA world ranking with Northern Ireland ranked at the 39th place whilst

Greek crisis enters Albania

2010-03-03T17:26:00.003Z

March 03, 2010| Elina Demai, ALBANIAN TIMESGreek economy crisis is entering in Albania. Found unemployed in Greece emigration is returning back home increasing the numbers of unemployed in the live registers in Albania. The crashed economy in Greece has now entered Albania and if the Greek tourism which employs 500 000 Albanians, doesn’t pick up quickly the number of unemployment in Albania could

Where everyone is hundred years old!

2010-03-03T14:17:00.010Z

March 03, 2010| Erind Kurti, ALBANIAN TIMES Plyku is a small village in the district of Fier, about three kilometres outside the city of Fier in the south west of Albania. A village first habited just before the 1800 has taken its big name from the long life of its people. The population of the village increased to 10 000 in the last few decades with 2500 houses but most of those now empty

Albania Press Review - February 22

2010-02-22T15:31:00.003Z

February 22, 2010 | Erind Kurti, Albanian TimesHeadlines of today’s newspapers in Albania:Here are the top stories in Albania’s main newspapers.Gazeta Koha Shqiptare:Macedonia removes Kosova from the map in the school texts. In the texts of the primary school books, Macedonian authorities have removed Kosova as a neighbor by only mentioning Serbia as their neighbor country in the north. “Koha

Ethnic tensions rise high in Macedonia

2010-02-22T14:08:00.008Z

February 22, 2010| Altin Zeqiri, ALBANIAN TIMESSKOPJE, Macedonia —Kosova not mentioned as Macedonia’s neighbor in the school book texts which only mentions Serbia as their neighbor in the north. This has raised tensions among ethnic populations in Macedonia with the Albanian leaders demanding the text be changed and Kosova mentioned as their north neighbor whilst Macedonia has recognised Kosova

Unused farm land now to be taxed in Albania

2010-02-19T16:09:00.006Z

February 20, 2010 | Altin Zeqiri - Albanian Times The Government of Albania is introducing a tax for fallow land. The message from the government to the farmers is that If the farm land is not used then it can be rented to someone who can make a use of it and if it is not rented then it will be taxed. The government is pushing for renting the unused farm land in Albania. Some radicals are

Albania Press Review - February 19

2010-02-19T13:53:00.004Z

Erind Kurti - Albanian TimesHeadlines of today’s newspapers in Albania:Here are the top stories in Albania’s main newspapers.Gazeta Koha Shqiptare:Prime minister’s declaration of the privatization of the government assets has been wowed by the parliament. Economy experts criticised the prime minister not to go ahead with the privatization until the world economy picks up again. Assets at this

Albania: 8.9% GDP Increase

2010-02-17T16:34:00.011Z

Erind Kurti – Albanian TimesInternational institutions are optimists with the forecasts of strong growth in 2010 for Albanian economy. Unicredit Banks research team has forecasted an increase of 8.9% GDP for 2010 with an increase in investments in finance and assets. Further in the report shows an increase in the economy overall and Albanian products increasing in exports. Albania has hit the

Jeremic wants talks on status of Kosova

2010-02-17T12:14:00.005Z

Elina Demai - Albanian TimesWhilst Kosova celebrates the second anniversary of independence, Serbian foreign minister is looking for talks on status!Serbia is not feeling well on the second anniversary of independence of Kosova. Serbian foreign minister said that he will request new talks in regard to the status of Kosova! In Serbia the independence of Kosova might have not been yet come to