This is the news from Wednesday 22 January.

Albania and Ukraine signed an agreement in the field of security at the Davos summit in Switzerland. Signed by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the two countries will cooperate in the field of intelligence services, and maritime security.

Albania’s electoral commission decided that for the May 11 elections, each party must present 186 candidates for deputies, for the 140 seats that Parliament has. Of these, the first 46 names are appointed by the party chairs and are placed in the first position on the list, while the other candidates can be elected only based on the votes they receive nominally. The appointment of names by the party chairs has often opened debates regarding the lack of competition within the parties.

A Special Prosecution operation has seized a hotel, several villas and dozens of properties belonging to a criminal group based in Elbasan. SPAK says that $10 million in cryptocurrencies was also seized, which were used by the criminal group to launder drug money.

Albanians travel mainly by car and only a few walk or use bicycles. According to a European Commission report, in Tirana 55% of residents use cars, 25 walk and only 22 use public transport.