In the last 12 hours, 25 fire hotspots have been identified across the country. Of these, 10 are still active, while civil emergency structures continue working to isolate and extinguish them.

The Ministry of Defense announces that 454 operational forces and 47 firefighting vehicles have been engaged in operations. The action is being carried out under the coordination of the National Civil Protection Agency, prefectures, local units, and the Armed Forces.

Also deployed on the ground are 110 Armed Forces personnel and army firefighting vehicles, while aerial interventions are being carried out with three helicopters and the “Air Tractor” aircraft.

In Dajt, work to bring the flames under control continues both from the ground and from the air. Authorities state that residential areas are not currently at risk. Also in the village of Priskë in Tirana, intervention is underway against a fire that has engulfed forested areas, without posing a danger to residents.

In Mallakastër, ground teams and aerial assets are operating in Riban and Ngraçan, where the hotspot is heading towards isolation.

In Elbasan County, operations are ongoing in Shqiponjë, on Mount Dardha, in Mjekës, and within the protected area of Mount Valamara. The fires in Shqiponjë and Mjekës have been brought under control and do not threaten residential areas.

A hotspot has been reactivated in Kostren 2, in the municipality of Berat, where firefighting services are working to extinguish the flames. Meanwhile, the fires reported in Floq of Korça and in Shpërdhet–Drojë of Kurbin have been extinguished.

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Besfort Lamallari, Minister of Internal Affairs, reacted to the incident at Shëngjin beach, where a watercraft entered beyond the safety perimeter and endangered the lives and health of vacationers.

In a public statement on social media, Lamallari announced that immediate administrative measures were taken against the responsible person. He was fined 500,000 new lekë, while the watercraft was impounded.

The minister stated that beaches are spaces for families and vacationers, not for adventurers who play with other people’s lives. According to him, anyone who disregards the law and endangers the health or lives of tourists will face consequences without delay and without tolerance.

Lamallari assured that institutions will keep intensive controls throughout the tourist season, aiming to guarantee safety and law enforcement in every coastal area.

He also thanked citizens who report such incidents and the media that help highlight violations. The minister emphasized that the protection of vacationers remains a priority and no compromise will be made on it.

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Durrës police have cracked down on a case of circulating suspected counterfeit banknotes, putting a 24-year-old man behind bars.

The arrest of the person with initials M. Rr. was carried out during the police operation codenamed “Usage”. He is accused of buying goods and settling debts using euro banknotes that are suspected to be counterfeit.

The investigation was launched after a report that an individual had defrauded a gas station, paying for the car fuel with suspected counterfeit euros.

As a result of the investigation, it was possible to identify, locate and catch the young man in the act. According to the blue uniforms, the incident allegedly happened at a gas station in the village of Sinaballaj in Rrogozhina, where the 24-year-old paid for fuel with three 20-euro banknotes, which are thought to be fake.

During the body search, 10 other banknotes of the same denomination, 20 euros, also suspected of being counterfeit were found in the arrested person’s wallet. They were taken as material evidence.

In total, law enforcement seized 13 20-euro banknotes, while investigations continue under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office to fully document the unlawful activity and uncover other possible accomplices.

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A serious incident shook Sunday morning on the Vlorë–Llogara road, near the village of Fushë Dukat, where a road accident caused the death of one person and the injury of five others.

Around 06:15, a van with license plate AC 701 AJ, which is suspected to have been transporting workers from Tirana towards coastal areas for work reasons, lost control and ended up in a roadside ditch.

As a result of the vehicle leaving the road, the driver and four passengers sustained injuries, while another person is believed to have died at the scene. The victim is I.H., 52 years old.

The violent impact severely deformed the van, causing some of the people inside to remain trapped among the destroyed metal parts. To extract the injured, firefighter teams had to cut through the vehicle’s structure.

The injured are S.H., 22 years old; Q.H., 44 years old; S.R., around 22 years old, and another individual whose name has not yet been released by authorities.

Ambulances rushed the injured to the Vlorë Regional Hospital for medical treatment, while the victim’s body was transported to the same hospital’s morgue.

Early investigation hypotheses suggest the tragedy may have been caused by a moment of drowsiness on the part of the driver or a sudden health issue, but the investigative team continues to work to fully clarify the circumstances.

Traffic Police forces arrived at the accident scene, launched investigative procedures, and are taking all necessary actions to uncover the exact cause of this fatal crash.

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During a recent television interview, crime reporter Ervin Leka has shared additional information about the serious crime in Vidhisht, Roskovec, where the couple Kosta and Belere Plaku lost their lives at the hands of their former son‑in‑law.

According to him, investigators are probing the theory that the episode erupted after a phone call from 35‑year‑old Refit Buzi. The journalist added that the couple’s daughter was present at the moment her parents were shot dead and was immediately seized by her ex‑partner.

“The young woman saw with her own eyes how her two parents were killed by the man she was engaged to,” the journalist stated.

Referring to conversations with Fier police forces and the RENEA negotiating team, Leka said the girl went through traumatic moments. It is suspected that she suffered violence both inside her parents’ home and on the way to the mountainous area, where she was held captive for nearly seven hours.

“She had injuries on her face and legs, but is expected to undergo further medical checks. During transport, she displayed extremely violent and aggressive behavior, although he kept insisting on taking her back,” Ervin Leka said.

Continuing his testimony, the journalist clarified that the suspected perpetrator, during negotiations with RENEA, also raised claims about a monetary debt, stating that he had sent money to the girl’s family when he worked in England.

“The money story remains merely a pretext and in no way justifies the stalking, the violence, the kidnapping, and even worse, the murder of the parents. At the heart of the problem was the father’s objection from the very beginning of the relationship, due to the signs of aggression that Buzi had shown. The clashes with the family continued because they were categorically against this relationship,” he added.

Leka also underlined that Refit Buzi appears to be an individual reported for violent behavior and there had been previous complaints against him at the police station. The investigative structure is carefully examining his background, especially the years he spent in the United Kingdom, where it is suspected he may have been involved in illegal activities.

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This Saturday, Kosta and Belere Plaku were laid to eternal rest, a day after the severe tragedy in Vidhisht, Roskovec. They were shot dead by Refit Buzi, the former husband of their niece.

In an interview for the Review show on Euronews Albania, Kosta’s brother recounted the first moments of the crime and blamed the authorities, stressing that alarm signals had long been raised about the perpetrator’s threats.

He recalled waking up to the gunshots: “I was sleeping. Around 05:20-05:30 I heard the shots. I immediately got up, felt something terrible had happened. I alerted the Police and drove there. When I arrived, he had already shot, kidnapped the niece, and fled. Then the ambulance and law enforcement came.”

According to him, the clash had been going on for more than a year, and family members had filed complaints against the aggressor several times.

“The story is long, at least over a year. The niece had reported him in Tirana, as he was waiting for her on her way. She obtained a protection order, valid until December. We tried to settle things peacefully, hoping things would calm down. But, as soon as he got out, for about 40 days he sent threatening messages daily in various ways,” he recounted.

He added that despite the complaints, the perpetrator remained free by the judicial system.

“The niece and my brother filed a report. The Police detained him, the Prosecution requested arrest, but the Court sent him to house arrest. That very day he got out, within a few hours, the threats resumed. I told the inspector he was moving around freely. He replied: ‘Record the threats and take a photo.’ I told him I’m not a photojournalist, but come because I’ll catch him and you can take him. He said he wasn’t allowed,” the interviewee recounted.

Regarding Rozalida’s condition, he acknowledged he had not yet spoken to her. “I haven’t talked to Rozalida yet. I will sit and listen to her, but she is deeply shocked.”

In the end, the deceased’s brother expressed his indignation toward the institutions, underlining that the fatal event could have been avoided.

“What I want cannot be brought back, but the state organs are soft, just a facade. For more than 40 days there were threats and again they let him go free. When someone is a repeat offender, measures must be toughened, not to let him go. This catastrophe came not only from one man, but also from the inability to enforce the law. If citizens remain silent and rules are not applied, such tragedies will happen again,” he stated.

He also criticized some online media for their handling of the case. “I am dissatisfied with some portals. I haven’t read them myself, but relatives have informed me. They are writing fabrications that did not happen. News must be carefully checked before publication.”

Kosta Plaku died immediately at the scene, while his wife, Belere Plaku, passed away in hospital due to injuries. After the criminal act, the perpetrator took his ex-wife hostage, whom he released after negotiations with the Police, and finally committed suicide.

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Saturday afternoon has revealed another fire hotspot on Çipini Mountain. According to information, the flames appeared at a high altitude, precisely on the peak above the village of Bolenë.

The fire is spreading relentlessly, engulfing the vegetation and trees of the area. At the moment, firefighting forces have been unable to intervene, as the rugged mountainous terrain makes any approach near the fire source impossible.

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The Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets reports a significant increase in revenues from the rental of these assets for the current year. In the first six months of 2026, the total collected reached 132 million lek, a figure significantly higher than the 100 million lek collected during the same period last year.

According to Agency data, this 32% expansion in revenues is attributed to more efficient management of the property portfolio, an increase in the number of assets made available to tenants, and a well-defined strategy to extract maximum economic value from them.

Compared to a year earlier, monthly cash flows from rentals have consistently been at higher levels. For example, during June of this year, nearly 23 million lek were collected, while in June 2025 this amount was around 18 million lek.

The Agency reaffirms its commitment to transparent and professional governance of seized and confiscated properties, aiming to transform these assets into sources of income for the benefit of the state and the public.

On the other hand, this growing revenue performance demonstrates that careful administration of these assets not only serves to preserve their value, but also constitutes an essential tool for generating funds that support law enforcement agencies and public-interest initiatives.

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He had shown health concerns inside his cell and was therefore rushed to the Regional Hospital of Vlorë, but despite intervention, he could not be saved.

So far, the causes and circumstances of the incident remain unclear, while authorities are expected to issue an official statement to clarify further details.

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The trial panel, composed of judges Marinela Osmani, Elteva Deda, and Bib Ndreca, found Ndoc Gurin, Arben Kolaj, Ndrekë Lera, and Ilir Sokoli guilty on charges related to electoral corruption.

Ndoc Gurin was sentenced to 2 years in prison for active and passive corruption in elections. As a result of the abbreviated trial, the sentence was reduced to 1 year and 4 months in prison, but its execution was suspended and the defendant was placed under supervision for a probationary period of 2 years and 8 months.

Arben Kolaj received the same penal treatment. Initially sentenced for active and passive corruption in elections, after benefiting from the abbreviated trial, the final sentence amounted to 1 year and 4 months in prison, while its execution was suspended and he was placed on probation for 2 years and 8 months.

Ndrekë Lera was declared guilty of active corruption in elections, committed in cooperation. The court initially handed down 3 years of imprisonment, but after the sentence reduction due to the abbreviated procedure, the final measure became 2 years of imprisonment. For him as well, the execution was suspended and he was put on probation for a 4-year term.

The case of Ilir Sokoli resulted in a different resolution. He was found guilty of active corruption in elections, also committed in cooperation, and was ultimately sentenced to 1 year in prison. However, the court decided to suspend the prison execution and replace it with 120 hours of community service, to be completed within six months from the moment the decision becomes final.

In conclusion, the court ordered the seized items to be returned to their lawful owners and charged all four defendants with bearing the court costs jointly.

This decision can be appealed to the Special Court of Appeal against Corruption and Organized Crime within 15 days of being notified.

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