Drone & security diplomacy: Ukraine and Latvia signed a new drone deal in Tallinn, with Zelenskyy framing it as part of wider defense tech sharing as airspace incidents keep pressure on the region. NATO readiness: Lithuania’s PM called for a stronger NATO presence after drone-related violations, pointing to Baltic Air Policing interceptions and urging credible deterrence on the eastern flank. Iran pressure campaign: 22 countries including Latvia, Estonia, and the US jointly condemned Iran’s “lethal plotting” and demanded it stop attacks on “our soil,” citing IRGC-linked actions and a campaign attributed to HAYI. Local infrastructure & safety: Riga Central Market’s meat pavilion was ordered to close after an inspection by the State Construction Control Bureau, with the city expected to fund roof reinforcement. Agriculture & regulation: Latvia’s Plant Protection Service found unauthorised GMO “Norfolk Purple” tomato seedlings and ordered destruction. Weather alert: Latvia issued yellow warnings for severe thunderstorms nationwide, with orange for central and eastern regions. Human story: Donations are sought for Latvian climber Mārtiņš Bilzēns after a Denali fall left him in critical condition. Business: Balticovo opened a €120m egg production complex in Iecava, investing in cage-free capacity. Culture: Latvian rock musician Johnny Salamander (Jānis Gūža) died at 60.