NATO Air Policing: Turkey will deploy five F-16s and 76 personnel to Estonia’s Ämari Air Base for round-the-clock Baltic air patrols from August to November, reinforcing airspace security for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Ukraine War Impact: UN officials warned the Security Council that intensified Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure and Black Sea ports are killing people and threatening global food security, with wheat prices up sharply since early July. Latvia-Russia Legal Battle: A joint investigation says Russia is building a “lawfare” case against the Baltic states at the ICJ, using a Moscow law firm and links to Russian-linked propagandists, while Latvia’s State Security Service calls it hybrid warfare. Border Security: Latvia’s border agency reported 190 illegal migrants turned back at the Belarus border (24–26 July) and noted no crossing attempts from Belarus for a seventh straight day; police also arrested a smuggler using a replica Latvian Postal Service car with forged plates. Digital Governance: Latvia extended a moratorium on large public-sector ICT procurements until a central oversight authority is set up, citing about €5m saved so far. Business & Logistics: DHL eCommerce agreed to acquire Baltic parcel operator Venipak, folding operations in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia into DHL eCommerce. Cyber Threats: Bite Latvia said its Antivirus Plus blocked 62.5m cyber threats in June and 242.4m in the first half of 2026. Local Life: Latvia is considering removing road signs pointing toward Belarus and Russia.