Albania & Italy

Albania: Albania's assertion of meeting the old NATO target of 2% of GDP has been queried by NATO officials, who asked for a review and re-submission of figures.

Italy: Italy, despite a large debt burden, plans to lift core and non-core defense spending to 2.8% of GDP by 2026, but much of the increase will come from domestic security spending due to unpopularity of military spending with voters.

Albania: Albania contained a wildfire that consumed bushes and olive trees near Klos.

Italy: Italy's Meteorological Society president warned of soaring temperatures again. The flow of the Po river dwindled, and rescuers searched for a missing person in Lake Vico.

Albania: A luxury development linked to Donald Trump's family business in Albania has become a political issue, drawing protests.

Italy: Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has seen her ties with other European leaders strengthen due to Donald Trump's criticism, despite previous frosty relations over her party's political roots. Italy's steadfast support for Ukraine has also reinforced its position among European allies.