Drug Trafficking Crackdown: Greek police dismantled a cannabis smuggling network using recycling-paper shipments from Albania to Turkey via Greece; arrests were made near Thessaloniki, with North Macedonia and Kosovo authorities helping map the operation. Diplomacy & EU Alignment: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed eight non-EU countries—including North Macedonia—aligning with new EU sanctions against Belarus over support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Foreign Service Update: North Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski said career diplomat Krum Efremov will become ambassador to Bulgaria, stressing ongoing Skopje-Sofia dialogue on EU integration issues. Regional Security Watch: Health authorities across Europe remain on alert for West Nile virus; reported cases include North Macedonia, as Greece’s Attica region accounts for most Greek infections. Environment & Energy: In Sar Mountain National Park, installed infrastructure for two small hydropower plants (Pena 84/85) is being dismantled, signaling a shift toward restoring disturbed mountain ecosystems. International Sports Diplomacy: Heads of state and sports ministers are set to gather in Taranto for the Mediterranean Games opening, with North Macedonia among participating delegations.