Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with President Edgars Rinkēvičs in Riga on Tuesday (11 June 2024), praising Latvia for its many contributions as a NATO Ally over 20 years. He pointed to Latvia’s hosting of a Canadian-led battlegroup, its contributions to missions in Kosovo and Iraq, its strong support to Ukraine, and its defence investment – over 2% of GDP – as examples of Latvia’s commitment. Later on Tuesday, Mr Stoltenberg will participate in the B9 Summit, co-hosted by the Presidents of Latvia, Poland and Romania.
Current Pulse
Lithuania
Play Airlines to operate twice-weekly Vilnius-Reykjavik flights from next year
Iceland's low-cost carrier Play Airlines is set to increase its flight frequency between Vilnius and Reykjavik to twice a week starting in mid-May next...
World
Secretary General in Oslo, welcomes Norway’s long-term commitment to Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Friday (6 September 2024), to discuss continued support...
European Union
How digitalised have the EU’s enterprises become?
In 2023, 59% of EU enterprises reached at least basic level of digital intensity. Of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 58% reached at least basic level of digital...
Guardian
Anti-corruption bureau’s probe fails to find evidence of Putin’s alleged payments...
A probe started by the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) in 2022 has failed to find evidence to support public allegations that Russian President Vladimir...
Latvia
Public media watchdog instructs LTV7 to provide all content in Latvian...
The Public Electronic Mass Media Council (SEPLP) on Thursday approved amendments to the Minorities Multimedia Platform Concept, obliging LTV7 public service TV channel to...
Latvia
Riga has lost its leading position among the Baltic capitals in...
Riga, which used to be the leader among the Baltic capitals in the number of overnight stays by foreign guests, has now lost this...
Lithuania
Tesla opens its 1st pop-up store in Lithuania
US electric car giant Tesla has opened its first pop-up store in Lithuania, the company said on Thursday.
The Tesla pop-up has been opened at...
Lithuania
Inspired by Poland, Lithuania aims to boost defense budget to over...
Lithuania, inspired by Poland's example, aims to allocate more than 3 percent of its GDP to defense, President Gitanas Nauseda said in Warsaw on...
Estonia
Tallinn Airport’s route development team among the world’s best
Tallinn Airport has been nominated as one of the top five airports in the world with fewer than five million passengers, and the winner...
Estonia
Russia may have interfered with work of US spy drone in...
The Ministry of Defense confirmed to the Rus.Postimees Russian-language portal of the daily Postimees information about problems with a US Air Force drone in...
Latvia
Transport Minister’s communication on airBaltic has been complete “failure” – president
The communication of Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens (Progressives) on the issue of the Latvian national airline airBaltic has absolutely "failed", Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics...
Guardian
AS Terminal: Unlawful state aid distorting Estonia’s fuel market
Fuel seller AS Terminal turned to the European Commission last month, requesting an investigation into unlawful state aid provided by the Estonian government, which...
Lithuania
Telia to lay off 400 employees in Lithuania
Sweden's Telia Company is set to lay off around 400 employees in Lithuania as part of the streamlining of its operating model, with 200...
Lithuania
Lithuanian parliament approves Kubilius for European commissioner
The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved MEP Andrius Kubilius' nomination for the post of the country's European commissioner.
The motion was passed with 70 votes...
Lithuania
Lithuania legalizes home-distilled vodka production at rural tourism homesteads
The Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday approved legislation allowing farmers providing rural tourism services to produce traditional home-distilled vodka.
The amendments to the Law on Alcohol...
Interviews
Rostovskis: It’s time for politicians to hear the entrepreneurs at last
By journalist Inga Karlinska.
Although entrepreneurs and organisations protecting their interests have been actively trying to draw attention of the government and politicians to the...
Estonia
Statistics Estonia: People getting married at increasingly late ages
While in 1993, the share of under-30s among all people getting married was between 60 percent and 70 percent, then in 2023, only 24...
Lithuania
Lithuania ranked 2nd in global prefabricated wooden house exports in 2023
Despite a challenging year, Lithuania was the world's second-largest exporter of prefabricated wooden houses in 2023, with exports of Lithuanian-made buildings with exterior and...
Latvia
National Guard commander concerned about Putin’s slow reaction to situation in...
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's reluctance to take a resolute action in response to Ukrainian forces' incursion in Russia's Kursk region causes concerns, Kaspars Pudans,...
Latvia
airBaltic aims to raise around EUR 300 million via IPO
Latvia's national carrier airBaltic aims to raise around EUR 300 million via an initial public offering (IPO) of its shares, Klavs Vasks, Chairman of...
Estonia
Estonia 200 general assembly elects Kristina Kallas as party leader
At an extraordinary meeting on Saturday, the general assembly of the Estonia 200 party, a junior partner in the government coalition, elected Kristina Kallas...
Lithuania
Vilnius airport’s central square reopens after renovation
Vilnius Airport's central square reopened to passengers and vehicles at 4 a.m. on Thursday, offering three times as many parking spaces – 350 in...
Latvia
67% of Latvian drivers exceed speed limit on daily basis –...
As many as 67 percent of Latvian drivers exceed speed limit on daily basis, according to the results of a survey conducted by the...
Opinions
New Ambassador to Czech Republic committed to promoting Latvia as travel...
The new Latvian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Vilmars Henins is determined to look for ways to promote Riga and Latvia so that they...
Opinions
Latvia and UK should focus on cooperation in security and defense...
Latvia and the UK should focus on cooperation in security and defense, Latvia's new Ambassador to the UK, Atis Lots, told LETA.
In his opinion,...
Estonia
Putting pressure on whistleblowers to become more difficult in Estonia
On Sept. 1, the law on the protection of whistleblowers, part of the European Union legislation, will enter into force in Estonia.
In simple terms,...
Lithuania
Lithuania’s Siauliu Bankas places EUR 300 mln note issue in intl...
Siauliu Bankas, one of Lithuania's largest banks, has made its debut in the international debt capital markets with a 300-million-euro fixed-rate note issue.
The bank...
Lithuania
Vilnius to launch water transport service on River Neris next year
Vilnius plans to launch a water transport service on the River Neris next year.
According to the local municipality, there are plans to integrate electric...
Latvia
Latvia to have new ambassador in US
Elita Kuzma will become the next Ambassador of Latvia to the US, according to information provided by the Chancery of the President of Latvia.
She...
Latvia
Political parties start drawing up electoral lists for 2025 local elections...
Political parties have started drawing up their electoral lists for next year's municipal elections in Riga, Latvian Television reports.
The Union of Greens and Farmers,...
World
DeMarcus Cousins ready to play 3×3 basketball, also will play against...
DeMarcus Cousins has decided to test himself in 3x3 basketball, playing for team Wuxi WenLv from China. DeMarcus Cousins will be a brand new...
Guardian
Border guards prevent 26 persons from illegally crossing Latvia-Belarus border on...
On Wednesday, border guards prevented attempts by 26 people to illegally enter Latvia from Belarus, LETA was told at the State Border Guard.
So far...
Guardian
Estonian court annuls compensation for military personnel who refused vaccination
On Tuesday, the Tartu Circuit Court ruled in favor of the defense forces in two cases involving military personnel who refused the COVID-19 vaccine,...
Guardian
Lithuania delivers final batch of crowdfunded anti-drones to Ukraine
The final batch of 22 anti-drones purchased with funds raised through the Radarom! crowdfunding campaign in Lithuania was delivered to Ukraine on Wednesday, Blue/Yellow...
Guardian
Court adjourns hearing of BaltCap’s lawsuit against Stepukonis, Interactive Brokers
Vilnius Regional Court has postponed the hearing of a lawsuit by a group of companies owned by BaltCap, a Lithuanian investment company, against its...
Latvia
One in three parents plan to spend between EUR 100 and...
Around one third of parents with children aged seven to 17 years, or 33 percent, plan to spend EUR 100 to EUR 200 on...
Latvia
Karins puts down his lawmaker’s mandate
Parliament lawmakers, former prime minister and foreign minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) has put down his lawmaker's mandate, Edmunds Jurevics, the head of the...
Latvia
Moldova can count on Latvia’s political and practical support – Rinkevics
Moldova can count on Latvia's political and practical support, President Edgars Rinkevics said during his working visit to Moldova on Tuesday.
The president reiterated Latvia's...
Estonia
Residents living next to highways to get relief from noise
The Estonian Transport Administration has approved an action plan to reduce noise levels in ambient environments and control the harmful effects of noise, as...
Estonia
Survey shows Tallinn residents moving towards circular economy by sorting waste
The results of the Tallinn Strategic Management Office’s survey "Green City and Circular Economy" show a significant increase in the sorting of waste at...
Opinions
Higher fuel, energy, food prices to drive Lithuanian inflation up in...
SEB expects Lithuania's average annual inflation rate to rise to 3 percent next year, driven by an increase in fuel excise taxes from January,...
Lithuania
Lithuania’s travel industry has recovered – Creditinfo Lietuva
Lithuania's travel industry has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, with revenue surpassing pre-pandemic levels for the first time last year and risk levels at...
Lithuania
Turkish car parts manufacturer Sampa to operate in Lithuania
Sampa Otomotiv, a Turkish truck and bus parts maker, is setting up its business in Lithuania to sell its products and has established a...
Estonia
Yle: Finnish owner of Estonian beverage producer A. Le Coq still...
Finnish beverage manufacturer Olvi, the owner of the Estonian beverage producer A. Le Coq, earns a significant part of its profits in Belarus and...
Estonia
Swedbank: Wage growth in Estonia to slow significantly this year
Swedbank estimates that wage growth in Estonia will slow down significantly this year, as the demand for labor has decreased and the poorer economic...
Latvia
To stimulate economic activity, people must be brought back to Riga...
To stimulate economic activity in Riga and reduce the number of empty shop windows in the city center, it is necessary to bring back...
Latvia
Russian drone’s violation of Polish airspace is on NATO’s agenda –...
The incident in which a Russian drone reportedly entered Polish airspace is on NATO's agenda, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds (Progressives) said in an...
World
NATO Through Time podcast – NATO’s open door with Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
The NATO Through Time podcast dives deep into NATO’s history, reflecting on how the past influences the present – and future – of the...
Lithuania
US poultry export way opens up for Lithuania, but process will...
Lithuania can now apply for permission to export heat-treated poultry products to the US, Lithuania's State Food and Veterinary Service said on Friday, adding,...
Estonia
Pärnu County-based knitted fabrics maker winding up business
AS Qualitex, a knitted fabrics manufacturer that has been in business in Sindi, Pärnu County, for almost three decades, is shutting down and will...