Banking Deal: OTP Bank signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Luminor Holding, the parent of Luminor Bank, strengthening its Baltic footprint (assets €15.9bn; completion pending regulators). EU Digital Regulation: The European Commission hit AliExpress with a record ~$629m fine under the Digital Services Act for weak risk assessment of illegal and unsafe products. Lithuania Security Watch: Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas warned Russia may seek “new escalation” targeting the Baltic states and Poland, while Lithuania also flagged risks of Russian sabotage against critical infrastructure. Germany-Lithuania Defence Buildout: Rūdninkai military campus works are set to finish early, with the first German troops expected this autumn; a dedicated railway line is planned for 2028 (est. €30m). Innovation Policy: Lithuania’s Economy and Innovation Ministry says audit recommendations are being addressed via the “3i” economic transformation plan to build a full innovation-to-market system. Energy & Housing Signals: Eurostat data shows Lithuania’s annual inflation at 5.4% in June; separate reporting points to a housing market rebound in 2025, with Lithuania home sales up 22.8%. Cross-Border Gambling Rules: Baltic states are moving toward a unified self-exclusion register for online gambling, reshaping compliance for operators and payments. Manufacturing Finance: Luminor granted €1.3m to Hoppekids to buy Danish children’s furniture assets and shift production to Latvia, boosting exports.