#Latvia

Latvian police consider decriminalisation of medical marijuana

The Latvian State Police would accept the decriminalisation of medical marijuana if experts were to declare that this would be a benefit, LETA learned from the agency. The police are [..]

Estonian and Latvian motorcycle clubs start spring with joint ride in southeast Estonia

Estonian and Latvian friends from the UNIC-MOTO motorcycle club began the spring season with a joint ride along the winding roads of southeast Estonia. The ride was not just about [..]

Riga public transportation company to buy new buses

The Riga public transport company Rigas Satiksme is planning to purchase 120 new buses, the company told the LETA news agency. The company has launched market analysis in preparation of [..]

Estonia to cover cost of planned, temporary cross-border bus link to Latvia

Public transport providers at the Estonia-Latvia border want to open two cross-border bus routes on a test basis, “Aktuaalne kaamera” reported. Estonia is footing the bill for the routes, at [..]

Gauss sees no career opportunities in Latvia

The former CEO if Latvia’s flag carrier airBaltic, Martin Gauss, was sacked on April 7, and he told the LETA news agency that he sees no job or business opportunities [..]

Latvia discloses forestry imports, exports

Latvia imported EUR 82.832 million worth of forestry products in January 2025, which was an increase of 16.3% over the same period in 2024, the country’s Agriculture Ministry has announced. [..]

Nearly ½ of Latvians expect no change in their standard of living over next five years: Eurobarometer

The winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey shows that nearly one-half of respondents in Latvia expect no change in their personal standard of living over the next five years. 31% responded that [..]

Specialist: Latvia making mistakes in preparing for future health crises

Uga Dumpis, Latvia’s chief infectious disease specialist, appeared on TV3 to say that nothing much has been done since the Covid-19 pandemic to prepare the country’s medical system for other [..]

Latvia registers substantial drop in newborn numbers

The number of childbirths in Latvia in January of this year was 881, which was 16.1% or 169 babies fewer than in January 2024. This was reported by the Central [..]

Finnish company plans to sell of wood supply business in Latvia

Metsaliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Finland’s Metsa Group, and it has announced plans to sell the timber supply business that is handled by Metsa Forest Latvia. The business [..]

Historic win: Latvia’s Flow takes home first-ever Oscar

On the night of March 3, the 97th Academy Awards took place in Hollywood, marking a historic moment for Latvia. This year, Latvian audiences eagerly followed the ceremony, as Flow, [..]

Latvian insurance market set to expand

The insurance market in Latvia can expect growth of 6-8% this year, which would be a bit less than last year, the president of the Latvian Association of Insurers, Janis [..]

Agreement reached on closer co-operation between Latvia Israel

Latvian Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze met with the Israeli ambassadress to Latvia, Sandra Simovich, on Wednesday, and the two officials agreed that there is potential for further co-operation between their [..]

Jānis Bergs: We’ve put our foot into the door of the United States, and now we must open it more widely

Article authored by Viesturs Deksnis. One of Latvia’s largest business delegations visited the United States last autumn, led by Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs. A wide range of businesspeople participated, seeking [..]

Lithuania to propose a joint Baltic power plant to Estonia and Latvia

Lithuanian Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas stated on Thursday that Lithuania will propose the construction of a new power plant to Latvia and Estonia to ensure flexible electricity production and [..]

Minimum monthly wage in Latvia raised to EUR 740

Latvia is raising the minimum monthly wage from EUR 700 to EUR 740 as of January 1, 2025. The Ministry for Welfare says that the rules apply to all employers [..]

Latvia’s retirement age rises to 65

The general retirement age in Latvia has been raised to 65 years this year, while the minimum length of work required to receive a pension has been raised to 20 [..]

Latvian monthly newborn numbers sink below 1,000

The number of newborn babies registered in Latvia in October of this year was below 1,000 for the first time, according to preliminary data from the Central Statistical Bureau. 994 [..]

Small petrol companies losing market share in Latvia

The market share of small fuel traders in Latvia has been declining in recent years, says Jānis Viba, board chairman of the Virsi-A energy trading company which runs the Virsi [..]

Completion of Rail Baltica by the set deadline depends on the ability of the three Baltic States to cooperate efficiently and co-ordinately

Authored by journalist Ain Alvela. The construction of the Rail Baltica high-speed railway, designed to connect Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with Europe, has entered the construction phase across all three [..]

Eight more Russian propaganda sites blocked in Latvia

Latvia’s National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) has blocked access to eight more Websites which were found guilty of spreading Russian propaganda. This was announced in a statement in the [..]

Sigulda, Latvia to host bobsleigh, skeleton World Cup stage

The Latvian town of Sigulda will be hosting the second stage of the 2024 Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup in mid-December, according to the Latvian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (LBSF). [..]

Multifunctional film production facility to be built in Latvia

Plans are being drawn up to construct Riga Stages, a multifunctional film production facility, in the Spilve neighbourhood of Riga. This was reported to LETA by Ilze Sāmīte, a representative [..]

Latvian foreign minister calls for international review of election in Georgia

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze appeared before a meeting of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday and said that international organisations should assess all violations that were committed during [..]

56% of Latvians expect hikes in heating costs

The Citadele Bank has told the LETA News Agency about a new survey that has been conducted – one which found that 56% of respondents in Latvia expect the cost [..]

Latvia discloses benefits for Ukrainian refugees

1,707 people from Ukraine have received a one-off employment benefit in Latvia, the Latvian Ministry of Welfare has announced. EUR 1,194,900, or 85.3% of the allocated funding was devoted to [..]

VAT on fresh fruit and vegetables native to Latvia will remain at 12% – Krauze

The value added tax (VAT) rate for fresh fruit, berries and vegetables native to Latvia will remain at 12 percent in the next years as well, Minister of Agriculture Armands [..]

Lithuanian president: drone incident in Latvia shows need to beef up Baltic air defense

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda condemned violations of NATO airspace by the aggressor and called for strengthening air defense in the Baltic countries following the crash of a Russian military drone [..]

Tickets go on sale next week for the 2025 Eurobasket tournament in Riga

Tickets for the 2025 European Basketball Championships (Eurobasket 2025) matches in Riga will go on sale next Tuesday, the Latvian Basketball Association (LBS) informs. On August 27, tickets will go [..]

436 foreign students from 43 countries to start studies at Riga Stradins University this year

This year, 436 young people from 43 countries will start studies at Riga Stradins University (RSU), which is 72 foreign students fewer than last year, the university informed LETA. The [..]

Lithuania’s Civinity buys 10 pct stake in Latvia’s Mobilly

Civinity, a Lithuanian building maintenance and engineering solutions groups, has acquired a 9.99 percent stake in Mobilly, a Latvian mobile payments company, from its existing shareholders for an undisclosed value. [..]

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People in Latvia think the quality of work of public authorities needs to be improved

Latvian residents believe that the quality of work of the state authorities should be improved for the development of the country, according to a public opinion poll conducted by Rait [..]

Spain is interested in Latvia’s work on resilience building – ambassador

Spain is interested in Latvia’s knowledge of the Eastern European region and the country’s work in building resilience, the new Latvian ambassador to Spain, Janis Zlamets, told LETA. He believes [..]

NATO membership gives a sense of security to a third of Latvian residents – survey

One third or 36 percent of the Latvian population feel safe in Latvia because the country is protected by NATO membership, according to an opinion poll conducted by Rait Custom [..]

Canadian Griffon helicopters arrive in Latvia

Canada has delivered CH-146 Griffon helicopters to Latvia as part of the continued development of the NATO Multinational Brigade, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) informs. The Canadian side indicates [..]

Latvia and Monaco to exchange experience on development of specialized medical services

Health Minister Hossam Abu Meri (New Unity) and Monaco’s Minister of Health and Social Affairs Christophe Robino today signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation in the field of health and [..]

Power supply disrupted for around 30,000 customers in Latvia on Monday morning

On Monday morning at around 6 a.m., due to storm damage, the power supply to around 30,000 customers was disrupted, Sadales Tikls power distribution network operator informed LETA. The power [..]

Latvenergo invests nearly EUR 6 million in solar power plant in Birzi

Latvian energy group Latvenergo has invested nearly EUR 6 million to develop a new solar power plant in Birzi, Jekabpils municipality, LETA was told at the company. The 11.7 MW [..]

“Silava” participates in the international boreal forest soil health experiment in Latvia

Forest soil improvement is relevant in many countries of the world. One of the projects created to achieve this measure is InBestSoil. This is an innovative project funded by the [..]

Mezviets reappointed for third term as head of State Security Service

The government on Tuesday approved the reappointment of Normunds Mezviets for a third term as head of the State Security Service. Commenting on the decision, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New [..]

Most drivers in Latvia systematically break the speed limit – Briskens

Most drivers in Latvia systematically break the speed limit, said Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens (Progressives) in an interview with TV3 this morning. “There is a speed pandemic in Latvia,” Briskens [..]

Tax debts in Latvia at EUR 833.058 million in early June

At the beginning of June 2024, tax debts in Latvia totaled EUR 833.058 million, which is 1.1 percent less from May and 3.4 percent less than the beginning of the [..]

Pope Francis appoints new papal nuncio to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Pope Francis has appointed a longtime secretary of the late Pope Benedict XVI as the Vatican’s diplomatic representative to the Baltic States. The Vatican announced in its daily bulletin on [..]

Riga public transport will be free of charge on Midsummer

During Midsummer holidays on June 23-24, Riga public transport will be free of charge, and there will be additional public transport provided, Rigas Satiksme municipal public transport company informed LETA. [..]

Omniva parcel machines in Baltics can now be used to send parcels all over the world

It is now possible to send parcels from parcel machines of Estonian state-owned postal service and logistics company Omniva to 237 countries and territories around the world. The service is [..]

Porzings becomes first Latvian player to win NBA championship

Kristaps Porzingis and the Boston Celtics won the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship on Monday, making Porzingis the first Latvian player to win an NBA championship. In the fifth game [..]

Births in Latvia down 10.6% in January-April

Latvia recorded 4,215 births in the first four months of 2024, which is a decrease of 10.6 percent, or 502 births, compared to the same period a year ago, according [..]

Silina also sees responsibility of RB Rail and Eiropas Dzelzcela Linijas in poor management of Rail Baltica project

Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) is surprised by the lack of information of previous governments on the development of the Rail Baltica project, but also sees the responsibility of [..]

Latvia ups its renewable energy target for 2030 to 60%

Latvia plans to increase the share of renewable energy in final consumption to 60 percent by 2030, according to the updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) for 2021-2023. In [..]

NATO Secretary General in Riga: Latvia leads by example

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with President Edgars Rinkēvičs in Riga on Tuesday (11 June 2024), praising Latvia for its many contributions as a NATO Ally over 20 years. He [..]