Wildfire & Water Worries: North Macedonia is battling wildfires as Europe’s drought deepens, with 14 open-air fires registered by Aug. 4 evening and the Kavadarci blaze among the hardest to tackle, while heatwave conditions are expected to last. Cross-Border Environment: Greece launched a €3.07m Interreg project with North Macedonia to protect and sustainably manage Lake Doirani, building joint governance and monitoring. EU Accession Politics: Opposition SDSM accuses Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski of “secret talks” over the Bulgaria dispute blocking EU accession talks, after he said negotiations are confidential to avoid jeopardizing outcomes. Albania Security Move: Albania declared two North Macedonian citizens persona non grata over alleged activities harmful to national security, following a similar earlier case. Health Alert: West Nile fever’s peak is expected in August into early September, with Bulgaria warning it may already be circulating; cases have been reported across several European countries including North Macedonia. Culture Spotlight: Director Milcho Manchevski’s documentary “Good People” (Dobri lugje) gets a world premiere in the Sarajevo Film Festival competition. Sports (EU): Hibs host Shkendija in the Conference League third qualifying round first leg, with Hibs aiming to take a lead before the trip to Skopje/Tetovo.