-On January 8, 1880, the battles for the defense of Plava and Gucia started. About 7 thousand Albanian volunteers of the Albanian League of Prizren, were engaged in the fighting that lasted for three days, in which they defeated the Montenegrin army.

-On January 8, 1918, in a letter consisting of 14 points, the US government gave Ismail Qemali the opportunity to understand that it would consider the demands of the Albanians favorably.

-On January 8, 1920, the Congress of Lushnja elected the High Council of 4, which would perform the functions of the Head of the State.

-On January 8, 1939, Benito Mussolini approved the plan for the military occupation of Albania by the fascist Italy.

-The well-known Albanian singer Anita Bitri was born in Saranda, on January 8, 1968. She first performed as a professional singer in the Vlora Theater. Then she performed her recital concert “Anita”, which was on a national scale. In 1996 Anita went to the US where she continued her artistic activity. During this time she produced several albums. The year 2004 also marked her beginning of working as a singer and songwriter, which materialized with the album “Everything is possible”. Anita Bitri was found dead on October 19, 2004 in her home with her daughter and mother as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

-On January 8, 1980, Monsignor Ernest Çoba, Archbishop of the diocese of Shkodër, passed away in the prison hospital of Tirana. The respected clergyman, martyr of the Albanian Catholic Church was imprisoned as early as 1964 and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was imprisoned  together with father Mikel Koliqi, who despite the suffering, got out of prison alive and passed away in 1997 as a cardinal.

/a.p./