Baltic Sea Waste: Latvia’s Vidzeme coast is seeing overflowing rubbish bins at A1 highway free parking lots near the sea, with locals saying visitors use nearby forests because there aren’t enough toilets. Packaging Rules: New Latvian packaging and packaging-waste regulation kicks in Aug 12, expanding what counts as packaging (including tea bags and mascara brushes) and tightening requirements for recycling and reuse. Forest Land Deal: Latvijas valsts meži (LVM) bought nearly 5,000 hectares of productive forest in Latgale from Swedish owners for just over €26m, including spruce, birch and pine, with parts inside protected nature areas. Storm Impacts: Severe thunderstorms hit eastern/southeastern Latvia, knocking out power for thousands and causing fallen trees and road disruptions. Energy Storage in Latvia: Futureal Energy Partners acquired two Riga battery storage sites (45 MW/120 MWh) from Aretis Group, aiming for operations in November. Smart Grid & Meters: A new report highlights how smart meters help manage variable renewables and reduce waste—key for grid stability as wind and solar grow. Weather Outlook: Forecasters expect a mostly sunny, warm and largely dry week, with only isolated showers early on. South China Sea (Latvia in focus): Latvia joined 13 countries reaffirming the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award as final and legally binding, urging peaceful dispute resolution under UNCLOS.