UNESCO Deadline for Lake Ohrid: UNESCO has given Albania and North Macedonia five years to tighten protection of Lake Ohrid after concerns over illegal construction, pollution and wastewater pressures—otherwise the site’s World Heritage status could be at risk. Energy & Power Supply: Kosovo and North Macedonia’s state energy companies signed a three-year coal deal for about 3 million tonnes from Obiliq mine at €24.40 per tonne, aimed at supporting roughly 800 GWh of extra electricity annually. Labour Market Pressure: A new regional snapshot shows North Macedonia among the lowest in Europe for employment rates (64.4%), while workforce shortages are pushing Balkan countries to rely more on foreign workers. EU Sanctions Alignment: North Macedonia is among countries aligning with EU restrictive measures against Belarus, as Brussels expands sanctions and expects full policy alignment. Agriculture Trade Signals: EU greenhouse-vegetable imports are shifting, with Morocco and Turkey gaining share while imports from North Macedonia fall—an early warning for local exporters. Hydropower vs Nature: In Sar Mountain National Park, dismantling of infrastructure tied to planned small hydropower plants (Pena 84/85) is underway to restore disturbed river ecosystems. Media Licensing Deal: Small World IFT and Catalyst secured an exclusive sales agency agreement covering North Macedonia, opening a more formal route for international TV rights into a market still catching up on licensing.