Latvia’s National Cyber Security Centre (NKDC) began operations on 1 September 2024, Labs of Latvia reports. NKDC is an agency under the Ministry of Defence and will serve as a single contact point for cyber security issues, oversee the implementation of national cyber security requirements, and develop national cyber security policy initiatives. NKDC will collaborate…
The Estonian government will not raise wages for teachers in 2025, ERR reports. The Estonian Educational Personnel Union (EHL) has demanded that basic teacher salaries start at the level of the national average wage. However, Education Minister Kristina Kallas noted that the state did not have the money to meet EHL’s demand, which would require…
Lithuanian news agency ELTA has signed a cooperation agreement with Taiwan’s national news agency, Central News Agency (CNA), Focus Taiwan reports. The news agencies agreed to share content free of charge. ELTA is CNA’s first official partner in the Baltic region. CNA’s editor-in-chief, Chris Wang, said that the cooperation between the two news agencies reflected…
Latvia’s Financial Sector Development Board (FSAP), chaired by Prime Minister Evika Silina, reviewed the country’s anti-money laundering (AML) measures during a meeting on 5 September 2024, LSM reports. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FID) reported on Latvia’s progress in relation to the Council of Europe’s evaluation of the country’s AML efforts. The meeting also addressed concerns…
The Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) warned that war would ravage Estonia if the government failed to purchase additional ammunition as requested, ERR reports. EDF has requested EUR 1.6bn worth of ammunition. EDF commander General Andrus Merilo said that if only half of the ammunition was purchased, all combat operations during war would take place on…
Lithuanian authorities have developed a plan to protect the country’s cultural heritage in the event of war, BNS reports. The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) presented the plan to the culture committee of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, in a closed meeting. NKVC director Vilmantas Vitkauskas said that the plan would be tested during a…
The Estonian Reform Party’s general assembly has elected Prime Minister Kristen Michal as the party’s new chairman, replacing former prime minister Kaja Kallas, ERR reports. Michal received 664 out of 818 votes. In his acceptance speech, Michal said that Reform’s mission was “a self-reliant people, the growth of prosperity and a strong middle class, security…
A Russian military drone crashed in Latvia’s Rezekne municipality on 7 September 2024, the Ministry of Defence announced, LETA reports. The unmanned aerial vehicle flew from neighbouring Belarus. The Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) detected the arrival of the drone into Latvian airspace, monitored its movement, and determined the location of its fall. Initial information…
The number of foreign students in Lithuania has increased ten times over ten years, LRT reports. Foreign students account for just over 10% of all students at Lithuanian universities, and the number is rising every year. Most of them are from India, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Israel. The number of foreigners is highest in medical…