NATO is preparing for a possible Russian attack on the alliance’s eastern flank, with the Baltic States being the main target, according to German tabloid Bild, LETA reports. Bild referenced a “secret document” of the German Defence Ministry, describing a possible scenario of a war between Russia and NATO in summer 2025. According to the…
The municipal administration of Latvia’s capital, Riga, banned a protest in support of Palestine planned for 6 January 2023, LETA reported. Janis Lange, executive director of Riga’s municipal administration, prohibited the protest after security services concluded that the event could pose a threat to public safety. The “For Free Palestine” movement said that the rally…
Latvia’s national airline, airBaltic, carried around 4.5mn passengers in 2023, which was 36% more than in 2022, according to preliminary data, LETA reports. The carrier operated over 44,000 flights, which was 18% more than a year earlier. The company offered direct flights on over 100 routes from bases in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Tampere, and Gran…
Latvia’s Foreign Minister, former prime minister Krisjanis Karins, would like to become a European Commissioner if he fails to win the race for the post of Secretary General of NATO, LETA reports. Latvia’s ruling New Unity party has yet to decide whether to name Karins or Latvia’s current EU commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, to top the…
Defects in new electric trains of Latvia’s state-owned carrier, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), disrupted the daily commute of hundreds of passengers in the first week of 2024, LSM reported. The technical problems resulted in running cancellations and delays of many departures. Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens assured that most of the defects were “relatively trivial.” However, some…
Latvia’s registered unemployment level stood at 5.7% of the economically active population at the end of 2023, which was down from 6.1% at the end of 2022, according to data from the State Employment Agency (NVA), LETA reported. The number of registered unemployed totalled 50,344 at the end of 2023, which was down from 53,536…
Latvia will gradually assume responsibility for NATO’s Baltic air policing mission due to ongoing repairs at the Estonian Air Force base in Ämari, LETA reports. The Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) air base in Lielvarde will host the mission for nine months from 1 March 2024. This is the first time that the mission rotation…
The number of new businesses registered in Latvia totalled 8,772 in 2023, according to data from enterprise database Lursoft, LETA reports. Meanwhile, the number of businesses liquidated amounted 7,844 in 2023, which was the lowest number since 2015. In the previous seven years, the number of liquidated enterprises exceeded the number of new businesses. Over…
Passenger rail service from Estonia’s second-largest city, Tartu, to the Latvian capital, Riga, could begin in the second half of 2025, according to Estonian passenger rail operator Elron, LETA reports. Latvia’s passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), has proposed opening a rail link from Riga to Tartu in spring 2025. Latvia’s Transport Minister, Kaspars Briskens,…