Law enforcement authorities in southern Albania were put on alert this evening following reports of an unusual incident. At around 9:00 p.m., police were notified that shots were suspected of having been fired into the air from a yacht at sea off Palasa.

According to preliminary information, a person fired a gun during a party held aboard the yacht. There is still no confirmed information about any injuries or the motive behind the incident.

Following the report, Border Police and Maritime Police Unit officers responded immediately, beginning a pursuit of the vessel at sea.

Meanwhile, officers from the Himara Police Station and the Dhërmi Police Post were also deployed to secure and search the entire perimeter. Their patrols have begun conducting searches from land along the entire coastline.

The maritime operation to stop the yacht is continuing. Authorities aim to fully verify the reported information, identify those on board, and document the incident.

The post Shots Fired at Luxury Yacht Party Near Palasa, Police Pursue Vessel appeared first on Albeu.com.

President of the Republic Bajram Begaj has promulgated the $302 million loan agreement between Albania and the United States of America, concluded under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program for the defense sector.

The agreement aims to finance the strengthening of Albania’s defense capabilities and deepen the strategic partnership with the United States in the field of security. The document was ratified by Parliament through Law No. 91/2026.

The decree, signed on July 30, 2026, promulgates the law “On the ratification of the direct loan agreement between the Republic of Albania, represented by the Ministry of Finance, and the United States of America, represented by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.”

At the same time, the head of state approved the law’s immediate entry into force.

The loans granted through the FMF program will be used to modernize Albania’s defense capabilities and improve interoperability with the security structures of the Euro-Atlantic alliance.

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State Police have released new details about the incident in which an Italian citizen was injured in Tirana. The incident occurred on July 29 at around 22:00 behind the Palace of Culture, and the case was immediately investigated as the criminal offense of “Intentional Minor Injury.”

After being alerted by the Operations Room, officers from Police Station No. 1 immediately went to the scene. There, they found the Italian citizen, identified by the initials G. M., who had sustained minor superficial injuries and was accompanied by two friends. First aid was provided by Municipal Police officers who were near the area.

After reviewing video footage, the investigative team concluded that the Italian citizen had been involved in an altercation with a group of minors behind the Palace of Culture.

The injured man was taken for medical treatment. According to medical staff, he was conscious, his life was not in danger, and he had only minor injuries to his limbs. After receiving first aid, the Italian citizen decided to leave the hospital without completing the examinations or notifying staff.

Police also said that G. M. declined to file a complaint about the altercation or against those who injured him. The two people accompanying him also provided no information about how the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, several Italian media outlets have reported that the Italian citizen is suspected of having been attacked following an altercation with several Albanian teenagers.

The investigation is continuing to fully clarify the circumstances, identify those involved, and complete the legal documentation of the case.

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Former minister Ilir Beqaj will no longer remain in prison after he was placed under house arrest.

The decision was issued by the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO), which eased the security measure for the former minister, who is accused in connection with the SASPAC case.

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A serious motorcycle accident on the Greek island of Crete claimed the lives of two young Albanians. They have been identified as Edison Xhaka, 28, originally from Elbasan, and Aleksandër Toçila, 34, from Gramsh.

The tragic incident occurred on Thursday at around 03:00 on the Kissamos–Chania road, near the Kolymbari area. Greek authorities said that, under circumstances that remain unclear, the motorcycle carrying the two young men veered off the road and crashed into the metal barrier along its edge.

The impact proved fatal for both Albanians, who died at the scene. Although emergency crews arrived at the crash site, they were unable to save them.

Edison Xhaka had lived and worked in the Kissamos area for years, while Aleksandër Toçila had moved there some time ago for work.

The loss of the two compatriots has shocked and saddened the Albanian community living in Crete. The “Kastel” Albanian Association in Kissamos responded after the incident, remembering the victims as respected and hardworking young men and extending condolences to their families, relatives and friends.

The association’s announcement said that condolences for Edison Xhaka would be received at the home of his brother, Festim Xhaka. For Aleksandër Toçila, mourners will be received at the association’s premises, which will remain open to fellow Albanians.

Greek authorities are continuing their investigation to fully establish the circumstances and causes of the tragic accident in which the two young Albanians lost their lives.

The post Two Albanians Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Crete Identified as 28-Year-Old from Elbasan and 34-Year-Old from Gramsh appeared first on Albeu.com.

This Thursday, Prime Minister Edi Rama convened a meeting at the Palace of Brigades with the Socialist Party’s political leaders and the chairs of Parliament’s committees. During the meeting, he will present the new annex to the “Besa” document, which concerns reflections on the movement along the “Flamingos” boulevard.

At the start of his remarks, Rama said that in recent days he had walked through the graveyards of parties that, despite having remained in power for a long time, ultimately lost it because they did not know how to listen.

Rama said that, alongside reflecting on the image presented by the Flamingos boulevard, he had also spent time among the buried histories of parties and movements that had won everything but, sooner or later, failed to sustain a steady succession of victories. According to him, every gravestone in those cemeteries bears the same message: no one lost power because they listened, but all of them lost the ability to listen because of power.

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Edi Rama has made it clear that he does not intend to step down as prime minister, as his political mission will continue until Albania becomes part of the European Union. He made the remarks at the Palace of Brigades during a meeting with the Socialist Party’s political leaders and the chairs of Parliament’s committees.

Referring to calls for his resignation, Rama said that abandoning the mandate granted by the majority because of demands from a minority could be considered neither leadership nor institutional responsibility.

“I like that song, and it gives me so much energy that I think I could even make another song with it. However, beyond the song, walking away from the duty entrusted to us by the majority simply because a minority is shouting in chorus is neither a quality of a leader, nor institutional responsibility, nor intellectual modesty. It would simply be an abandonment of responsibility,” he said.

According to the prime minister, stepping down at this moment would also constitute an unforgivable disregard for an important national mandate. He stressed that anyone could keep singing, while the mission would be completed only when the Albanian flag and Skanderbeg are taken to the European Union.

Rama said he does not want Albania to miss the decisive moment in its journey toward the EU. He added that, were it not for this European agenda, he would have retired to his village and would also have relinquished the leadership of the Socialist Party.

During the meeting, the prime minister also presented the new annex to the “Besa” document, concerning reflections on the movement along the Boulevard of the “Flamingos.”

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Brunlida Haxhiu is the 32-year-old teacher who abused a 2-year-old child at the private “Lala” kindergarten in Tirana.

The child’s father filed a police report after noticing signs of abuse on the toddler’s face.

He initially took the child to the hospital, where the toddler underwent examinations. The child had a bruise on his cheek and redness around his ears.

Meanwhile, during questioning, 32-year-old Brunilda Haxhiu said she had slapped the child because he would not fall asleep and she could no longer tolerate it.

According to sources, video footage also showed the 32-year-old teacher physically abusing the 2-year-old child.

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In a statement posted on social media, the European Democratic Party responded to remarks by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who described the “Flamingo Revolution” as an example of disinformation and foreign interference.

The European Democrats stressed that disinformation and foreign interference pose serious threats, but should not be used as an excuse to downplay a civic movement.

The European Democrats called on the prime minister to listen to the public, while emphasizing that Albania’s path toward the European Union must take priority.

“Prime Minister Edi Rama says the ‘Flamingo Revolution’ is an example of disinformation and foreign interference, warning that hostile actors are exploiting protests, viral content and public anger to destabilize Albania as it moves closer to the EU.

Disinformation and foreign interference are serious threats, Prime Minister Rama. They must never become an excuse to downplay a powerful civic movement. The Flamingo Revolution was sparked by a real agreement, with real environmental consequences and real questions about Albania’s democratic future. Listen to your people. Albania’s path toward the EU must come before deals that benefit the Trump family,” the statement said.

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During Wednesday’s edition of “Now with Erla Mëhilli,” Erion Braçe commented on the disputes within the Socialist Party. He said that an internal battle is taking place within the party and that some people are trying to eliminate him politically.

Braçe said his messages are made public with the aim of humiliating him, which he described as very serious. According to him, a discussion leaked from a meeting of the Parliamentary Group had also been altered before being presented to the public as: “He told him to fuck off.” He insisted that the incident had not happened that way and that it had been published to target him politically.

The MP said the person who leaked the information wants to remove him from the Parliamentary Group’s internal arena, where that person has seen him for years and regards him as a rival and a problem. Braçe added that he himself has no issue with anyone’s presence and views these people as colleagues.

When Erla Mëhilli asked whether Edi Rama could be behind this, Braçe replied that it was not him, stressing that they were there to speak openly.

He then cited an incident that occurred nearly 46 days earlier, when female MPs were pelted with eggs. Braçe said he had written in the group that the police should be notified and had also spoken up in support of the women, but his message was relayed to the media with the interpretation that he had called for police intervention.

According to Braçe, such conduct has not been directed only against him, as others like him have experienced the same thing. He said he considers these actions attempts to eliminate him, and that this is precisely why he has concluded that there is an internal battle within the Socialist Party.

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