Territorial Reform Talks: Prime Minister Edi Rama met Socialist mayors in Kuç, Vlora, to discuss the draft administrative-territorial reform that would merge 15 municipalities and cut the total from 61 to 46, after opposition warned services could be pushed farther from communities; Rama urged broad consultations as local meetings gather feedback. Public Services Under Strain: A government review says Albanian municipalities are failing to properly deliver six legally required functions, with the weakest areas tied to local economic development, support for small businesses and farmers, and environmental protection. Transport Costs Hit Bus Routes: Albania’s bus operators warn they may cut services if the state delays fuel compensation approved for March-May, with companies still waiting for 50 lek per litre and asking for the subsidy to continue. Banking Profit Slips: Albanian banks’ profitability fell for the second year in a row, with return on equity down to 14.03% in the first half of 2026. Cyber Security Spotlight: Albania tops a global cyber security index, scoring highest among 155 countries and territories. Health & Testing Push: New NHS figures highlight progress against hepatitis C, with over 100,000 treated since 2015 and calls for at-risk people—including adults born in Albania—to order free home tests. Economy Snapshot: Customs revenue rose to 23.5 billion lek in July, driven largely by higher fuel imports. Weather Watch: Europe braces for another extreme heatwave, with Albania in the wider Balkans risk zone.