Weekly Latvian news digest

Celebrating 34 years of freedom since the end of Soviet occupation! | 2025 digest index

Monday, December 22 – Sunday, December 28, 2025

New Year's edition

Latvia's President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Prime Minister Evika Siliņa shared poetic Christmas messages. The President urged people to embrace the "light of hope and kindness," while the Prime Minister reflected on the symbolic light of the Bethlehem star guiding people through difficult times.

A report highlights that Latvian households are among Europe's most overcrowded. Over 40% of the population lives in overcrowded conditions, the fourth-highest rate in the EU, which is linked to lower life satisfaction and problems for children's development.

In other government action, the Cabinet has agreed to expropriate private land for the construction of border infrastructure. This move, part of strengthening the state border with Russia and Belarus, will affect plots in the Ludza and Krāslava regions, with owners to be compensated.

On the defense front, Latvia is part of a six-country coalition, including the Netherlands and Denmark, launching the Vantage drone project. This initiative aims to develop and procure advanced mid-sized reconnaissance drones to enhance the capabilities of the armed forces.

In a direct show of support for Ukraine, the Latvian electricity company Sadales tīkls has dispatched a fleet of over 70 vehicles, including bucket trucks and diggers, to help maintain and repair Ukraine's war-damaged energy network this winter.

Latvia's culinary exports are making waves, with the country exporting over €2 million worth of gingerbread this year. Major markets include Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, and the United States.

For local infrastructure, the government has allocated €29 million for the construction of a new 4-kilometer rail line connecting Riga Airport to the city's central station. The project aims to reduce travel time between the two points to just 10 minutes.

The holiday season featured notable musical events. A special Christmas concert by legendary Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls was broadcast, featuring a mix of popular and sacred music. Additionally, traditional Latvian dainas were reinterpreted in a performance by the Berlin Philharmonic cello section, blending folk roots with classical artistry.

Latvia has been battered by a severe storm with hurricane-force winds exceeding 30 m/s. The extreme weather caused widespread damage, ripping off roofs, uprooting trees, and leaving tens of thousands of households without power. The state of emergency in several regions has been extended due to the extensive cleanup required.

In international sports, Latvia's decision to ban a luge athlete from competition for visiting a Russian military memorial has drawn criticism from Russia. The Latvian federation suspended the athlete for actions deemed incompatible with its values, a move Russian officials labeled as a discriminatory politicization of sport.

Rīgā ir pabeigta jauna Mūkusalas ielas promenāde. Tā veido ietvi gar kanālu no Gaisa tilta līdz Duntes ielai, pilnveidojot pilsētas publisko telpu un satiksmes plūsmu.

Bauskas reģionālajā slimnīcā no darba ir atsuspendēts ārsts, kam aizdomu dēļ par iespējamu nepienācīgu medicīnisko praksi vajag izmeklēt. Lēmums pieņemts, lai nodrošinātu pacientu drošību.

Augstākā tiesa Latvijā ir atstājis spēkā Konkurences padomes lēmumu, kas nosoda sadarbības kartelī starp degvielas mazumtirgotājiem. Tiesas spriedums apstiprina, ka konkurences likums tika pārkāpts, un sankcijas ir pamatotas.

Valdība atkal ir pagarinājusi pastiprinātās robežu uzraudzības noteikumus. Tas nozīmē, ka Valsts robežsardze turpinās veikt pastiprinātu kontrolei iekšējā robežjoslā un pieņemt ārkārtas pasākumus valsts drošības un sabiedriskās kārtības uzturēšanai.

Lai veicinātu drošu svētku svinēšanu, Rīgas sabiedriskais transports būs bezmaksas Jaungada nakts laikā no pulksten 20:00 līdz 6:00 rīta.

Valmierā notiek unikāla mini cimdu izstāde, kas palīdz izpildīt viena veca kunga mūža ilgo sapni – apkopot 1000 adītu cimdu kolekciju. Izstādē tiek rādīti cimdi, ko ziedotāji ir atsūtījuši no visas Latvijas un pat no ārzemēm.

Pēc ziņojumiem par iespējamiem draudiem no Krievijas daži Latvijā esošie Ukrainas bēgļi ir pieņēmuši lēmumu atgriezties Ukrainā vai doties uz citām valstīm. Psihologi norāda, ka šādas ziņas var izraisīt paaugstinātu trauksmi un nepieciešamību justies drošāk, kas ietekmē šo lēmumu pieņemšanu.

1920's post card. 1920. gadu pastkarte
Daudz laimes jaunā gadā!
Happy New Year!