Diplomatic Push: Serbian PM Djuro Macut met North Macedonia’s PM Hristijan Mickoski in Ohrid, focusing on transport, energy connectivity, agriculture and tourism, with both sides highlighting rail upgrades linking Serbia to Greece and plans for a gas interconnector. Regional Influence Watch: Macedonian civic activist Xhabir Deralla says Russian propaganda in North Macedonia increasingly borrows Serbian narratives, while also arguing the Macedonian Orthodox Church’s non-recognition of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church reflects Russian influence. Domestic Governance Debate: A new Law on Fair and Adequate Representation is criticized by opposition parties as lacking fixed quotas and sanctions, leaving implementation to “political measures” via secondary rules—while universities warn students remain stuck under the current ranking system. International Court & Media: In the US, Paramount and state AGs/WGA are fighting over trial timing in the Warner Bros. Discovery antitrust case, with dates proposed for November 2026 vs April 2027. Culture & Memory: Sarajevo Film Festival announced Open Air selections, while a separate report marks Europe’s Roma Holocaust memorial day on Aug. 2, underscoring ongoing anti-Roma discrimination.