North Macedonia Energy & Renewables: Alcazar Energy Partners reached financial close on the Štip wind farm, securing over €115m in senior debt (EBRD/IFC/Erste) plus a local VAT facility, with €180m total investment and 131.25MW capacity—aimed to start construction on further phases. North Macedonia Governance & Public Spending: North Macedonia’s Independence Day celebrations reportedly cost €5.5m, with about €4.9m from the State Lottery and the rest from “socially responsible” companies, after questions over how the events were funded and organized. Regional Infrastructure & Industry: Serbia’s growth story is shifting from investment-led expansion toward knowledge, productivity and higher value-added, with IT exports and transport corridors (including routes touching North Macedonia) framed as the next competitiveness test. Western Balkans Finance: Albania’s branchless Jet Bank is positioning for deeper integration with EU payment rules (SEPA and digital identity wallets), signaling how fintech regulation could reshape regional banking. Media & Entertainment (Skopje): Macedonian director Teona Strugar Mitevska and Slovenian filmmaker Sonja Prosenc are developing “Little Yugoslavia,” a six-part punk-rock vampire horror comedy focused on women-led storytelling. Tech & Consumer Services: Apple is bundling iCloud+ with Apple TV, Apple Arcade and “Apple Music Select” in 100+ countries, changing value propositions for subscription users. US Policy Spillover: The Kennedy Center board voted to close for renovations after a judge blocked restoring Trump’s name—an example of how legal disputes can disrupt major institutions.