Energy Diplomacy: A Levica politician says North Macedonia wants cooperation with Russia across energy, agriculture, trade, investment, tourism and education, arguing Russia is a “huge market” for Macedonian business. Regional Gas Moves: Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia signed an MoU to extend the Vertical Gas Corridor, with operators set to sign in Thessaloniki and the Alexandroupolis LNG terminal highlighted as a key entry point. Gas Market Setup: The government asks MEMO to prepare a plan to create a natural gas market operator, covering organisational, technical, IT, legal and financial steps, aiming for a gradual combined electricity-and-gas market. Film & Culture: Manaki Brothers 2026 unveiled its competition lineup (51 films across Camera 300, documentary, shorts and student categories), while North Macedonia’s Oscar bid film “17” was selected as the country’s candidate. Children Online Safety: UNICEF reports nearly 20 million children aged 12–17 in 21 countries face technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse, including cases in North Macedonia. Commemoration: Ohrid marked the 17th anniversary of the Ilinden ship disaster that killed 15 Bulgarian tourists. Diplomatic Appointments: Türkiye named a new ambassador to North Macedonia, Alper Aktaş.