Film Production: Macedonian director Arben Thaçi has started shooting his second feature, Ajal, a contemporary drama about mortality, family ties and faith in the Šar Mountain region, with principal photography running through August and September across Tetovo and nearby villages. Energy Connectivity: North Macedonia and Serbia signed a pipeline agreement in Skopje for a 67-kilometre gas link, targeting completion by 2027 and possible operation by 2028, alongside the Greece interconnector expected in 2027. Healthcare Cooperation: The Bulgarian government approved a 2026–2028 healthcare cooperation plan with North Macedonia covering care, disease prevention, surveillance, emergency management and medical research exchanges. Courts & Politics: North Macedonia’s appeals court confirmed Nikola Gruevski’s acquittal in the “Talir 2” case tied to the VMRO-DPMNE “White Palace,” blocking confiscation efforts. Infrastructure: Construction has begun on a complex 10.5-kilometre motorway section from Skopje to the Kosovo border, with tunnels, bridges and galleries and a four-year deadline. Public Health: West Nile virus remains active across the Balkans; North Macedonia reported its fifth death of the year. International Mobility: The US published updated H-2A/H-2B work-visa eligibility lists, while a US court struck down a prior immigrant visa suspension affecting 75 countries.