North Macedonia–Israel Push: Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski visited Jerusalem and signed new cooperation agreements, aiming to expand ties beyond politics into defense industry cooperation, agriculture, water management, security, innovation, tourism, health, and education, with direct flights also on the agenda. Energy Connectivity: Skopje and Belgrade signed a gas pipeline deal that could link North Macedonia’s network with Serbia as early as 2028, with a 67-kilometre line targeted for completion by 2027, alongside the Greece interconnector expected in 2027. Healthcare Cooperation: Bulgaria’s government approved a 2026–2028 healthcare plan with North Macedonia covering primary and hospital care, disease prevention, surveillance, emergency management, eHealth, and medical research exchanges. Demographics & Schools: Education Minister Vesna Janevska said first-grade enrolment for 2026–27 is already far below last year’s level, with shrinking cohorts forcing fewer classes and potential closures of rural schools. Press Freedom: Bojana Davitkovska highlighted how journalists in North Macedonia increasingly face SLAPP-style legal pressure and coordinated online attacks, not just classic defamation cases. Regional Context: A week of coverage also included the death of Bosnian Serb war criminal Ratko Mladić in The Hague and ongoing regional debates on EU-related mobility and public health risks like West Nile virus.