Sarandë Shooting Probe: Albanian police are hunting masked suspects after a businessman, Thimjo Rubati, was shot multiple times outside his Sarandë business; investigators suspect a speedboat escape and are also checking whether the attack links to an earlier assault on officer Mihal Velço. Local Budgets Under Strain: A 2025 report says small Albanian towns now spend over 60% of funds on wages and daily costs, leaving limited money for infrastructure—experts warn this slows local economic growth. Trade Boost in June: Exports rose 13.6% year-on-year to 35.4bn lek, led by energy, minerals and building materials, while imports climbed 9% to 83.5bn lek, keeping the trade gap high. Tourism Hit by Protests: The tourism minister says political protests nearly stalled June arrivals, with foreign arrivals up just 1% and large drops from key markets. EU Rule-of-Law Watch: The European Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report says Albania is making progress but flags uneven reforms, continued threats and smear campaigns against journalists, and stresses media safety tied to institutional independence. SME Push: The government launched a €1bn scheme to help small businesses grow, offering low-interest loans up to €2m and banning big corporations from applying. Banking Oversight Clash: Albania’s central bank is seeking legal immunity for top officials via a draft law requiring Constitutional Court approval before arrests, drawing criticism over accountability risks. Rail Electrification Plan: Parliament is set to ratify an EBRD loan to electrify the Tirana–Durrës line and extend service to Rinas station, targeting modern electric trains by end-2027. Media Funding Pressure: BIRN says a governing party official improperly pressured its funders over a journalist’s social media activity, raising fresh concerns about press freedom.