Energy & Infrastructure: North Macedonia and Serbia signed a pipeline agreement in Skopje for a 67-kilometre gas link, aiming for operation as early as 2028, with a 2027 finish target and a wider plan to connect regional gas networks beyond Russian supply routes. Healthcare Cooperation: The government approved a 2026–2028 draft plan for health cooperation with North Macedonia, covering primary and hospital care, disease prevention, surveillance, emergency management, and eHealth, to be negotiated between the two ministries. Foreign Policy & Israel: Skopje is pushing to broaden ties with Israel beyond politics, with talks focused on defense, investment, tourism, agriculture and water management, plus restoring direct flights. Demographics & Schools: Education Minister Vesna Janevska warned that first-grade enrolment for 2026–27 is already far below last year’s level, with rural school closures expected as cohorts shrink. US Visa Developments: A US court struck down a Department of State immigrant visa suspension affecting 75 countries, a move that also impacts countries in the Western Balkans. Regional Context: West Nile virus is actively circulating across the Balkans, with Greece highlighted for a sharp rise in cases. Justice & Politics: The Court of Appeal in Skopje confirmed Nikola Gruevski’s acquittal in the “Talir 2” case, ending a years-long legal fight over the “White Palace.”