Business Registrations: Albania added 11,567 new business entities in H1 2026, up 7.5% year-on-year, with foreign-owned firms rising 35.7%—Tirana led with 52.2% of registrations. Telecom Infrastructure: Vodafone is trialing an AI-controlled mobile mast in Tirana that physically rotates/tilts its antenna via a robotic arm, aiming to shift 4G/5G coverage in 20–30 minutes without engineers climbing the site. Tourism Rules: Albania will suspend construction in tourist areas during the summer season from July 23, including limits on fences and barriers that restrict public coastline access. Public Procurement: A €2.4m tender has opened for a new police biometric identification center (AMAIS) with fixed and portable systems for fingerprints, facial images, voice samples and more. Coastal Environment & Real Estate: NGOs and scientists say early works for a Trump-linked luxury hotel project have already caused “irreparable” biodiversity damage on Albania’s coast, including impacts to turtle nesting and wetlands. Food Demand Pressure: With tourist numbers projected to reach 14 million, Albania’s Agriculture Ministry estimates an extra €1.9bn in food needs this year, likely pushing up imports. Security/Justice: An Albanian man wanted for murder was arrested in the UK and faces extradition to serve a 24-year sentence. Regional Trade (Kosovo): Kosovo’s trade deficit widened 16.1% to €578.3m in June as imports grew faster than exports, with EU still the main trade partner.