Jeton Pestisha is a Kosovar residing in Norway with a passion for little football. Jeton appeared on Norwegian National TV as the state’s representative at the little football tournament in Prague, Czech Republic. Due to his height and looks, Jeton is often jokingly compared to Messi.
After his successful debut at the Brazil World Cup, Blerim Xhemajli (Dzemaili), an ethnic Albanian, decided to come back to his birthplace, Tetova, Macedonia. Xhemajli and his fellow Swiss players are still considered heroes from the crowds in Switzerland, Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia. His last minute attempt to bring back Switzerland into the game against Argentina caught everyone in awe, however, luck was not on his side and the Argentinians went through.
Blerim Xhemajli took the time to answer a couple of questions for “Lajm” magazine based in Skopje, Macedonia. He shared some thoughts on World Cup predictions and his affection for the Swiss supporters.
Blerim Xhemalji spoke of being extremely grateful to his fans and the Swiss national team supporters. He does, however, regret not scoring in the last minutes against Argentina and claims that it was pure luck that his leg hit the ball accidentally the second time around. His initial predictions and best bets were on Belgium as the World Cup winner. Taking into consideration that Xhemajli and his team took on Argentina until the last minute, his observation says it all: “We played against them, and honestly, they do not seem to be of a world champion material.
As tough as that US loss was, let's not forget that Blerim Džemaili is the saddest man in the world today. pic.twitter.com/UrRDQrWL9E
— Luke Bailey (@imbadatlife) July 2, 2014
"@SomosInvictos: Una jugada que difícilmente olvidará la afición suiza. Blerim Džemaili la tuvo. http://t.co/lr9AU0VPoa"@pineda15_
— Cristian Martine'Z (@gobabonito) July 2, 2014
Xhemajli scored one of the two Swiss goals in their 2:5 loss against France in the group stage. Xhemajli played alongside four other Swiss players of Albanian origin including Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami (all born in Kosovo) and Admir Mehmedi (bron in Macedonia).
Agim Sopi’s “Agnus Dei”, a production of AS Productions and Kosovar Center for Cinematography, has added to its shelf another first place award. This is the eleventh award in a row that the movie has received in its international journey. This time, the award was given by the jury of “Salento International Film Fest” held between 21-28 June at the town of Lecce, Italy.
“Agnus Dei” is a movie that narrates the story of Petrit, who lives together with his mother in Serbia. The story takes an interesting turn when the audience learns that Petrir is a child of an Albanian father whom Petrit (enlisted as a Serbian solider) kills during the Kosovo war.
https://twitter.com/EMegafon/status/483709465271615490
"@Data24News: Si chiude il @SALENTOFILMFEST: vincono #AgnusDei e Enzo #Tortora, #unaferitaitaliana di @ambrogiocrespi http://t.co/YghPnuDw6e
— Ambrogio Crespi (@AmbrogioCrespi) June 29, 2014
This and other events take Petrit, the character played by Astrit Alihajdaraj into a downward spiritual spiral. Other famous names appearing on the film are Dafina Berisha, Zaklina Ostir, Enver Petrovci, Çun Lajçi, Bajrush Mjaku.
Other international events “Agnus Dei” was a part of are “The Prestige Film Festival” in California, “The international Film Award Berlin”, ”European Film Festival”,“Ionian International Film Festival” “ London Crystal Palace International Film Festival”, “London Film Awards 2013”, “California Film Awards 2013”.
https://twitter.com/ArberGjoni/status/477175024374513664
The original article was posted at Kosovalive360 – Click here to read the original article
NGO “Rilindja” and Albanian language school “Naim Frashëri” form Oslo, Norway have organized a picnic with the students and community in Oslo. Mr. Xhevat Isufi has been the coordinator fin charge of bringing maps, textbooks and children magazines as well as registration forms for the Diaspora.
Mr. Isufi held a short speech where he encouraged and thanked the hard working teachers. The Albanian teachers in Norway do their work voluntarily and do not receive a financial remuneration for it. Thus, it goes without saying that their work is vital to preserving the Albanian culture in Norway.
The original article was posted at Kosovalbaner.com – Click here to read the original article
Last Sunday, the successful banker, public policy advocate and philanthropist Richard Lukaj, welcomed in his house high-profile figures in US politics and successful Albanians in America.
Congressman Himes completed a political heavyweight quartet in this fundraising event which included the Governor Dan Mallo, and US Senators Chris Murphy and Blumenthal, who took opportunity to learn more about the Albanian-American community in their state and beyond.
Mr. Lukaj has been a dedicated activist and an established leader in the Albanian-American community for more than two decades. He has organized many charitable events, including one to raise awareness for “Sentebale”, a foundation initiated by Prince Harry which helps the vulnerable children of Lesotho affected by the HIV/AIDS.
During the crisis in the Balkans, he was a tireless fundraiser for humanitarian aid for Kosovo, and for the children who were orphaned and displaced by the war.
Mr. Lukaj made the opening speech, in which he drew back from the journey of his own life, from birth in a refugee camp in Italy to parents escaping dictatorships and discrimination in Albania hoping to find a better life. “No one likes to raise funds for politicians, neither the candidates nor the donors, but we are here because each of us realizes that it matters who governs” continued Lukaj, stressing the importance of the event.
He then introduced Congressman Himes, who represents Connecticut’s 4th District in the United States House of Representatives where he is serving his third term. He is a member of both the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
US Senator Christopher S. Murphy was an early supporter of Kosova’s independence and of the efforts to establish peace, stability and democracy in the Balkans. “The Senator and his staff have been of great assistance to me during efforts to support our American University in Kosova”, said Lukaj as he introduced him.
Richard Blumenthal is well known for his “unprecedented five terms as Connecticut’s Attorney General, fighting for people against large and powerful special interests” host described him. He is a great advocate of immigration issues and reform in the Senate.
Governor Daniel Malloy is known in the community from the days when he was Mayor of Stamford, a city that has become home to a growing number of Albanian-Americans. “I dare call him a friend and welcomed guest at our home on many occasions”, Lukaj said of the governor.
Mr. Lukaj thanked the activists, donors, entrepreneurs, attorneys, the media and all the associates who helped him organize and run the event.
After the ceremony, there was a cocktail followed by a well-rehearsed performance by Ergin Brahimi and his musical ensemble.
The original article was posted at Illyriapress.com – Click here to read the original article
Kosovo-born Granit Xhaka is the 21 year old that got everyone talking throughout the Swiss games at the World Cup in Brazil. His volley against France told of his dedication and love for the game; while the Swiss lost against France, Xhaka proved that that things were not over yet.
Xhaka is known for being the Swiss/Albanian version of Cristiano Ronaldo. He has publicly supported Kosovo’s campaign to be allowed to play internationally and was awarded the Honorary Ambassador Medal by president Atifete Jahjaga on February 17th 2014.
Xhaka has played alongside four other players with Albanian origin Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern Munich), Valon Behrami (Napoli), Blerim Xhemaili (Napoli), and Admir Mehmedi (Freiburg). The success of the Swiss team at this world cup with the five ethnic Albanian players (originating from Kosovo and Macedonia) made this event even more exciting for all Albanians.
https://twitter.com/Fc_Kosova/status/478462902492745728
COMPOSITION #SUI :
Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Inler (c), Xhaka, Behrami, Rodriguez, Mehmedi, Drmic, Djourou, Schar, Shaqiri.#ARGSUI #CM2014— Coupe du Monde 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_fr) July 1, 2014
Xhaka’s younger brother Taulant Xhaka has commited himself to play for Albania witih seven other Kosovars, since Kosovo is not accepted by FIFA yet.
BBC has consired Granit Xhaka as a player to watch:
Xhaka’s volley against France:
Xhaka chooses Kosovo as his holiday destination:
Xhaka: "Më mirë në Prishtinë se në Ibiza"
Lexoni deklaratën e tij të plotë: http://t.co/CDMAxU7a0v
— lajmi.net (@lajminet) July 4, 2014
Black and white photographs of Adil Razali will be exhibited at the Kosovo Embassy in Berlin.
Today at the Embassy of Kosovo in Berlin a photo exhibit of Adil Razali will be opened. The exhibition will be opened by the ambassador, Skender Xhakaliu, while the presentation of the works exhibited – black and white photographs – will be made by the journalist Isabel Herzfeld.
In the exhibition which will be opened until July 31st the author has shown the project of the music school “Lorenc Antoni” in Prizren with the title “Kosovo seeks friends” of which ‘Spectrum Concerts Berlin’ is also a part.
The above mentioned project was developed in 2012 by Frank Dodge, founder and artistic leader of “Spectrum Concerts Berlin”. Since then he and his fellow music have traveled to Prizren to lecture and to have joint concerts with students of “Lorenc Antoni” school.
Kosovo trip made in 2013 was followed by “Turquis Film & TV Production” and in cooperation with “rbb”, this event brought the movie “Sehnsucht Musik”. In October 2013 this film was broadcasted on television across the whole country.
The original article was posted at Albinfo.ch – Click here to read the original article.
Hamit Gurguri is a member of the League of Writers of Sweden. He lives and works in this Scandinavian country. He is also a Swedish-Albanian (and vice versa) translator. So far, he has translated ten books from Swedish to Albanian language.
The novel, “In the clutches of security” is about a refugee from Kosovo who after experiencing torture, escapes and succeeds to cross the border in Subotica (Vojvodina, Serbia), dressed in a railway man’s uniform. He arrives in Sweden, but he is not able to find peace. The novel is a dynamic description of events over a period of five years.
Hamit Gurguri has a wide opus of literary works. He has published 20 books in Albanian and Slavic languages. This is the fourth novel written and published in Swedish language.
In all of Guruguri’s works, most of the characters and events are based on the true stories.
Gurguri participated in many artistic and historical commemoration events, such as: the 70th anniversary of the death of Migjeni, the 100th anniversary of the Congress of Manastir, the 100th anniversary of the Albanian independence, etc.
The original article was posted at illyriapress.com – Click here to read the original article
Born in 1979 in the Philippines, Virginia Sanchez also known as “La Ghie” is a popular Filipina singer in Dubai, UAE. Gigi became famous in the music industry after winning different prestigious local singing competitions.
The famous song of the Albanian music diva Vaçe Zela, “Valsi i Lumturisë” is sung by Filipina singer La Ghia, who lives in Dubai. She is fascinated with the voice of the Albanian singer. She has performed some of Zela’s song and has expressed a desire to visit Albania.
She has sang other Albanian songs and posted them on You Tube and attracting viewers from Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia. She sang the famous Albanian song “Moj E Bukura” and was praised for her performance despite the language barrier.
Currently, she is the vocalist of the band “Aegis of Dubai”, a group of foreign musicians living in the Arab country. Check out her webpage for more infromation HERE
This documentary on the impact of Diaspora investments in Kosovo includes interviews with the Minister of Diaspora of Kosovo, the Minister of MTI, the executive director of The American Chamber of Commerce, the Chief Executive Officer of IPAK, as well as five businesses that are flourishing in Kosovo’s market as a result of direct investments by the diaspora.
The 21 minute documentary highlights the role that the diaspora plays in Kosovo’s economy, and the potential that it has to facilitate its growth and development, furthermore, it shares insight into the challenges and opportunities that actual investing companies have faced throughout the years. Without a doubt, such investments bring about a lot more than money; they bring experience, knowledge and hope. Each business gives a glimpse into the unique story of the founder, how the idea started, and the personalized path to success and how other people could follow