Latvia’s state-owned railway company, Latvijas Dzelzcels (LDz), carried 7.746mn tonnes of rail cargo in the first half of 2023, which was 36.7% less than in the same period of 2022, LETA reports. The volume of international freight amounted to 7.041mn tonnes (down 39.2%), while domestic freight doubled to 705,000 tonnes. LDz board chairman Rinalds Plavnieks…
Latvia’s government has appointed Major General Andis Dilans as the new Chief of the Joint Staff of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) as of 1 November 2023, Baltic News Network reports. He will replace Major General Imants Ziedins, who will continue his military career in the Ministry of Defence. Dilans has been serving in…
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…
The Lithuanian parcel locker operator, Omniva LT, has started the construction of a parcel sorting terminal in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone, Baltic News Network reports. The company plans to invest over EUR 40mn in the facility and sorting technology. Omniva LT expects construction to be completed in the second quarter of 2024. The terminal will…
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…
Belarusian security services continue their malign activities on the border with Latvia, Guntis Pujats, head of the Latvian State Border Guard (VRS), announced, LETA reports. Speaking in an interview with LTV, Pujats said that Belarusian security services were actively involved in damaging Latvia’s border infrastructure to enable the illegal entry of migrants into the country….
The director general of Latvia’s State Revenue Service (VID), Ieva Jaunzeme, has informed the Ministry of Finance that she will not seek another term in office, LETA reports. Jaunzeme will continue to serve as head of VID until the end of her term on 12 February 2024, provided that VID manages to complete tasks set…
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…