Arms Trafficking Crackdown: Two middlemen linked to illegal weapons deals—British businessman David Greenhalgh and Greek national Christos Farmakis—were sentenced to 16 years each in the UK for brokering unlicensed sales of fighter jets, missiles and assault rifles to embargoed war zones including Sudan, South Sudan and Libya. Energy Transition in North Macedonia: Envision Energy is supplying 21 large onshore wind turbines for the Štip Wind Farm (131.25MW first phase), with financial close reached and construction underway—aimed at boosting North Macedonia’s wind capacity and shifting away from coal. Renewables Investment Pipeline: A separate report says Envision also advanced a 131MW turbine deal for Štip, highlighting bankability with major European and international finance institutions. Public Health Alert: West Nile virus cases and deaths in North Macedonia have surged this year, with at least 60 confirmed locally acquired cases and eight deaths so far, mainly around Skopje, prompting calls for stronger monitoring and control. Education Pressure in Rural Areas: The Ministry of Education is optimizing school classes due to declining student numbers, closing 26 schools—sparking protests from parents worried about unsafe commutes and the risk of further rural depopulation. Weather Watch: A cold spell brought the first snow of the season to parts of the Balkans, including reports of early snowfall in the region’s higher areas. EU Accession Politics: Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said North Macedonia is ready to find a way out of the EU accession deadlock, stressing alignment with EU foreign and security policy while arguing for fairer treatment. Church Governance: The Ohrid Archbishopric rejected the Constantinople Patriarchate’s claims to unilaterally grant autocephaly, citing canonical procedure and the role of the “Mother Church.” Business & Regional Trade: Azelis expanded its distribution partnership with Imerys, extending coverage to North Macedonia and several neighboring countries for plastics, adhesives, sealants and coatings.