Rail & Energy Infrastructure: Albania moved to electrify the Tirana–Durrës railway, with the Infrastructure and Energy minister presenting an EBRD-backed ratification draft that unlocks full electrification and EU-standard certification, targeting a modern service by end-2027. Food Safety & Agriculture: The Agriculture minister introduced a draft law to ratify Germany technical cooperation for the EU4Food Safety project, aiming to modernize inspection procedures, labs, and official controls ahead of Chapter 12 closing criteria. Trade & Exports: June exports jumped 13.6% year-on-year to 35.4bn leks, led by energy, minerals, and building materials, while imports rose 9% to 83.5bn leks, keeping the trade gap high. Tourism Pressure: The tourism minister says political protests slowed June arrivals to just +1% and triggered cancellations, with key source markets down sharply. Public Finance: Albania posted a near-53bn leks budget surplus in H1, with stronger tax collections and controlled spending boosting funds for infrastructure. Governance Watch: Reporting highlights how the Zvërnec luxury resort plan near Vlorë exposed land-governance and transparency problems, including disputed property records and unresolved rights. Banking Recognition: Raiffeisen Bank Albania won three Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 for corporates, digital banking, and ESG. Regional Operations: Albania hosted a European Partnership Flight conference in Tirana to strengthen air base logistics, defense, and interoperability with regional partners and the US. Energy Demand & Cooling: A new heat-driven analysis notes household cooling is surging across Europe, with Albania among the higher shares of energy devoted to cooling.