Latvia’s population totalled 1,882,600 people at the end of the first half of 2023, which was 8,400 fewer than in the beginning of 2023, according to the Central Statistical Bureau’s provisional data, LSM reports. The number of deaths amounted to 14,291 (down 9.1%) and live births to 7,051 (down 12.1%). Latvia’s natural population growth was…
One person was killed during a severe storm in Lithuania on 7 August 2023, LRT reports. Lithuania’s Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD) announced that a woman was crushed to death by a falling tree in the town of Zagare in Joniskis district. The storm caused widespread damage in northern Lithuania, as hail broke windows and…
One person died and eight were injured during a severe thunderstorm in Latvia on 7 August 2023, LETA reports. Wind speeds reached up to 33 m/s in areas. The Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) had to provide assistance to people who were injured by falling trees and heavy hail. The storm and lightning caused major damage…
Members of the Lithuanian World Community (LWC) held a congress in Lithuania’s seaside resort of Palanga on 4-6 August 2023, Baltic News Network reports. The event marked the 65th anniversary of the organisation. The congress brought together representatives of Lithuanian communities in 30 countries and Lithuanian officials.
Family doctors in Latvia are considering going on strike in autumn 2023, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Ainis Dzalbs, board member of the Latvian Association of Rural Family Physicians (LLGAA), insisted that the lack of budget funding made it impossible to provide proper patient care. He noted that patient queues currently exceeded…
The number of foreign citizens living in Lithuania totalled 195,500 at the end of the first half of 2023, which was an increase of more than 6,000 from 189,411 in the beginning of 2023, according to the Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD), BNS reports. Foreigners accounted for 6.83% of the total population, which was up from…
Latvian municipalities will be able to organise their school networks in accordance with the financing available, Education Minister Anda Caksa stated, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with TV3, Caksa said that any school closures were for the municipalities to decide. Under the Education Ministry’s proposal, schools in cities will have to have at least…
An increasing number of Lithuanian emigrants are considering going back, according to a poll carried out by the Employment Service (UzT) in May 2023, LRT reports. The survey showed that 55.1% of respondents would like to return to Lithuania, which is 14.6 percentage points higher than in 2020. The majority of those who wish to…
Police in Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, briefly detained Ukrainian journalist Arkady Babchenko after he threw eggs at the Russian embassy in Tallinn’s Old Town, ERR reports. Babchenko told Postimees that he threw four eggs at the embassy building, and that the motive “should be obvious.” Such a reaction to Russian aggression in Ukraine was natural, he…