Latvia 'in hybrid warfare' with Russia, defense minister says

VILNIUS, September 30. /TASS/. Latvia is currently in a hybrid confrontation with Russia, according to the defense chief of the Baltic state, Andris Spruds. "We are not formally at war [with Russia], but we are not at peace, we are in hybrid war....

Latvia Bets on Fintech to Redraw Europe’s Financial Map

The Fintech Forum in Riga opened today with a strong call for collaboration between regulators, innovators, and investors as Latvia positions itself as a hub for financial technology in Europe. The event began with speeches from Mārtiņš Kazāks,...

Sunday will be rainiest day of week in Latvia

No significant precipitation is expected in Latvia in the next few days, but rain is forecast across the country on Sunday. On Thursday and Friday, the sun will shine between the clouds at times, and there will be a slow to moderate...

Electronic queues on Latvia's eastern border as of mid-October

As of 15 October, it will be possible to cross the Latvian-Russian and Latvian-Belarusian borders at Grebneva, Terehova and Pāternieki only by registering in advance in the Electronic Queue Booking System, said the Road Transport Directorate. With...

Breast cancer screening uptake in Latvia remains low – doctors warn of consequences

Despite improvements in diagnostics and treatment options, breast cancer in Latvia continues to be marked by unacceptably low screening participation and, consequently, late diagnosis, Riga East University Hospital (RAKUS) has reported. In such...

Merger of environmental authorities in Latvia

The Energy and Environment Agency (EVA) has been added to the State Environmental Service (VVD) as of 1 October 2025, according to the VVD's statement. The VVD will now be responsible for the initial and full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)...

Latvia Warns Russia ‘Testing’ NATO Defenses with Drone and Aircraft Incursions

Latvia’s Foreign Minister Baiba Braže has warned that Russia is deliberately testing NATO defenses with a series of drone and aircraft incursions along the alliance’s eastern flank. Speaking to TVP World at the Warsaw Security Forum, she said both...

Latvia raises road user fees for freight transport

Starting with the 1st of January next year, Latvia will increase most road user charges (vignettes) for freight vehicles over three tons, the government decided on Tuesday. The Ministry of Transport explained that the aim of the amendments is to...

Why does Latvia have fewer start-ups than Lithuania or Estonia?

15,000 start-ups in Estonia, 11,000 in Lithuania, and almost 7,000 in Latvia - these are the statistics on start-ups in the Baltic States for the first eight months of this year (January-August, data compiled by Lursoft IT). Of the nearly 34,000...

Most banks in Latvia will get rebate on solidarity payments this year

Most banks will qualify for more or less discounts on solidarity contributions this year, the Latvian Central Bank (Bank of Latvia) told LETA. According to the Bank of Latvia, due to various factors, the growth rate of lending this year has been...

Latvia Fintech Forum taking place

On September 30th Rīga hosts the fourth Latvia Fintech Forum that will bring together fintech policy makers and fintech ecosystem stakeholders from the Baltic States and other European countries. "Fintech is no longer just reshaping the way we...

Suspected bribery: KNAB conducts search at Riga Central Market administration building

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) is conducting a search at the Riga Central Market administration building on suspicion of bribery, LETA has learned. As confirmed to LETA by the company Rīgas nami, KNAB carried out criminal...

Police, border guards will be able to jam signals of illegal drones in Latvia

Police and border guards will be allowed to use signal jammers to fight illegal drones, according to amendments to the Law on Electronic Communications approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday, 30 September. The draft law still needs to be...

Latvia's educational outcomes good, despite limited funding

At the same time, Latvian university graduates show very good results in the labour market: at ages 25–34 their employment rate is above the OECD average, and they earn 54% more than people with only secondary education. The report notes that...

Latvia-Lithuania EXPO effort receives an award

The Baltic Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan has been recognized as the most successful Latvian–Lithuanian cooperation project of the year, receiving the 'Namejs Award 2025'. Now in its fifteenth year, the award honors the most successful...

Latvia's coalition agrees to continue working for the time being

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) will not demand the resignation of Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks (Greens and Farmers Union) after all; instead, he has been reprimanded and given a work task. The coalition will continue to work for the...

Synthetic drugs put several people in hospital in Kuldīga, Latvia

Last week, several persons were admitted to Kuldīga hospital after taking synthetic drugs, the State Police told LETA. On 24 September, a 21-year-old woman in an unconscious state was admitted to Kuldīga Hospital after allegedly using narcotic...

Duos from Empowerment funded Czechia, Latvia, Finland and Ukraine make Balikesir Futures podiums

FIVB Volleyball Empowerment supported teams collected two silver and two bronze medals at last week’s Balikesir Futures in Turkiye on the Beach Pro Tour. Czechia’s Anna Pospisilova & Michaela Brinkova finished runners-up and Finland’s Sara...

Latvia has a high rate of heart disease

Diseases of the circulatory system – including heart attacks, heart diseases, hypertensive diseases and diseases of pulmonary circulation – accounted for 32.4% of all deaths in the EU in 2022. However in Latvia, the rate was far higher at 52.5%....

Bribery suspicions at Rīga Central Market

The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) says that on Tuesday, 30 September, it is conducting criminal proceedings in the Rīga Central Market. KNAB suspects that an official and an employee of the Central Market were involved in...