Grocery Watch: Albania’s Competition Authority has launched retail monitoring for essential grocery products after public complaints, using sales and price data from Jan 1, 2025 to June 2026 and focusing on the 30 best-selling items across major supermarket chains. Banking Stability: Albania’s central bank says banks ended 2025 stronger, with non-performing loans down to 3.8%, lending up 13.5%, and regulators stepping up inspections and penalties. Urban Mobility Push: Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled “Urban Renaissance 2.0” with €1.5bn for city upgrades, including a new joint company to roll out electric buses and plans for underground and multi-level parking. Renewables Growth: About 3,500 households and businesses now generate solar power, while the energy regulator prepares a 2026 online complaints platform and tighter market monitoring. Infrastructure for Tourism: The reconstructed 31-km Qafë Qelë–Koman road is set to improve access to northern Albania’s key tourist area and boost the local economy. Agriculture Budget Shift: Farm support was cut by about €1.5m while the Albanian Development Fund’s budget rose, with more money redirected to development and tourism-linked projects. Energy & Industry Context: TAP reported delivering over 60 bcm of natural gas to Europe since operations began, with 50 bcm to Italy, underlining Albania’s role in the Southern Gas Corridor. Security Planning Abroad: Reports on a US-backed post-war Gaza stabilization force note Albania among the countries engaged, but deployment and reconstruction timelines remain uncertain.