Renewables Finance: Alcazar Energy Partners has reached financial close on the 131.25MW Štip wind farm in North Macedonia, securing over €115m in senior debt from the EBRD, IFC and Erste Group, with Sparkasse Bank AD Skopje providing a local VAT facility; the project is set to be fully operational by 2028 and is part of a wider cluster up to 396MW across Karbinci, Radoviš and Štip. Energy Storage Buildout: North Macedonia’s BESS market is moving from plans to construction, with Solar Macedonia saying 2026 approvals include both standalone battery systems and batteries integrated into existing PV plants, aiming to improve project economics via energy arbitrage. Gas Infrastructure: NOMAGAS and Serbia’s Transportgas Serbia have joined the Vertical Gas Corridor via a Thessaloniki MoU, strengthening cross-border gas connectivity and access to LNG supply routes through Greece. EU Accession Diplomacy: Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski says Skopje is ready to share its EU reform experience with Ukraine, while warning against intimidation and unilateral concessions during accession talks. Transport & Logistics Pressure: Regional hauliers plan EU border blockades from 14 September over the 90-days-in-180-day Schengen stay limit for professional drivers, citing detentions and supply-chain disruption. Industry & Trade: BA Glass reports weaker 2025 sales for bottles and jars amid a soft European market, while still exporting across the region including North Macedonia. Hospitality Expansion: TGI Fridays signs a development deal with Devolli Group for 10 restaurants across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, marking the brand’s first expansion into the three markets.