Latvia’s average level of consumer prices increased by 6.4% in July 2023, compared to the corresponding period in 2022, according to data from the Central Statistical Bureau, LSM reports. Consumer prices were mainly influenced by the rise in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices and of goods and services related to housing, as well as by…
The UK flag carrier, British Airways, will resume flights from Latvia’s Riga International Airport to London Heathrow Airport as of 29 October 2023, LSM reports. The company will have three flights per week on the route. Fredis Bikovs, director of the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency (Live Riga), said that the flights would be important…
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 volume of beer produced in the Baltic States declined in 2022, according to data published by Eurostat, LSM reports. Lithuanian breweries produced a total of 329 million litres of beer in 2022, which was down from 334 million litres in 2021. Beer production in Estonia amounted to 134 (145) million litres and in Latvia…
Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has carried out probes at the state-owned postal company, Latvijas Pasts, LETA reports. KNAB refused to provide further information about the ongoing investigation. The agency stressed that there were no criminal proceedings involving employees of Latvijas Pasts currently. Marcis Vilcans, board chairman of Latvijas Pasts, said that the…
The prime ministers of the three Baltic States have signed a joint declaration to speed up the synchronisation of the Baltic power grids with the continental European network, ERR reports. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the Baltic States would disconnect from the Russian-controlled BRELL system as soon as it was technically possible. She…
A man serving a sentence for attempted murder escaped from Latvia’s Riga Central Prison on 23 July 2023 but was caught within a few hours, LSM reports. Police launched an extensive search for the convict across the country, limiting the movement of persons and searching vehicles leaving Riga. Interior Minister Maris Kucinskis said that road…
Latvia’s National Alliance, Latvian Association of Regions (LRA), Movement For, and Progressives have failed to reach agreement on reducing the number of deputy mayors in the Riga City Council, LSM reports. The combined political group of Movement For and Progressives wants to cut the number of deputy mayors from the current three to just one,…
US-based credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Latvia’s sovereign credit rating at A-, which is unchanged from the previous rating in February 2023, LSM reports. At the same time, the agency revised its rating outlook from stable to positive. Fitch noted that Latvia had eliminated its dependence on Russian energy imports and reduced non-energy…
