Latvia’s state-owned postal services provider, Latvijas Pasts, has reversed its decision to close down more than half of its post offices, LETA reports. The company will only close down 12 post offices in places where the number of post offices exceeds the requirements on universal postal services. Latvijas Pasts plans to relocate post offices in…
Defence spending as a percentage of GDP in the Baltic States is among the highest in NATO, according to the Tallinn-based International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS), LSM reports. The study shows that Estonia’s overall defence expenditure amounts to 3.43% of GDP, which is third-highest in NATO after Poland (4.12%) and the US (3.72%)….
A major loophole in EU sanctions against Russia is being exploited via Belarus, evidenced by a luxury car traffic jam at the Latvia-Belarus border, LSM reports. Although luxury car exports to Russia are banned, they are allowed to Belarus, resulting in a 50-fold increase in car exports to Belarus via Latvia. This suggests that many…
Latvia’s State Border Guard (VRS) prevented a total of 2,770 people from illegally entering Latvia from Belarus in the first half of 2024, LSM reports. Only 12 people were admitted to Latvia on humanitarian grounds. VRS chief Guntis Pujats said that “very massive attempts” had been made to cross the border from Belarus to Poland…
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina has met with a visiting delegation from the Appropriations Committee of the US House of Representatives, LSM reports. The delegation was led by Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma and included congressmen Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee, Chuck Edwards of North Carolina, and Jake Ellzey of Texas. The…
The Latvian language expert commission of the State Language Centre (VVC) has rejected a proposal to allow the lowercase spelling of “Russia,” LETA reports. The experts noted that the lowercase spelling was acceptable in informal individual correspondence but not in official communication. Meanwhile, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) continues to spell “russia” in lowercase….
Medical experts in Latvia have warned that drug use among adolescents is rising, LSM reports. The number of young drug users admitted to hospital is also rising, and some of them overdose repeatedly, the experts said. Statistics show that the number of young people who have tried and regularly use narcotics is increasing. The data…
Latvia will triple the number of average speed cameras on roads, Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens announced, LSM reports. Currently, there are average speed cameras on 16 road sections. Briskens said that the situation on Latvian roads was critical. He said that the ministry would increase focus on improving road infrastructure and enforcement of speed limits….
Forestry costs in Latvia increased significantly in 2023 compared to previous years, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. Forest regeneration costs rose by 6.5-19.3%, forest tending costs by 14.7-50.8%, and timber harvesting costs by 4.4% in final felling and 12.2% in intermediate felling. The overall increase in forestry costs is attributed to higher…