Weekly Latvian news digest

Celebrating 35 years of freedom since the end of Soviet occupation! | 2026 digest index

Monday, December 29 – Sunday, January 4, 2026

Happy New Year 2026. Laimīgu 2026. gadu! We begin with messages from Latvia's leadership, setting the tone for the year ahead.

In their New Year's addresses, both President Edgars Rinkēvičs and Prime Minister Evika Siliņa focused on themes of resilience. President Rinkēvičs stated that the greatest challenges often unite the nation and highlighted Latvia's political stability. Prime Minister Siliņa emphasized that security requires resilience in the face of aggression, a strong economy, and societal unity. She specifically noted the planned transition to education only in the Latvian language as an important goal. On the global stage, Latvia has been formally installed as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2026-2027 term. In a separate interview, President Rinkēvičs told the Kyiv Post that Ukraine's full NATO membership is inevitable and that the alliance's key task is to make Russia understand that war is not profitable.

Authorities reported significant action against cybercrime. An international operation dubbed “Get Rich Quick” led to the detention of over 200 individuals in Latvia suspected of acting as money mules for a large-scale online fraud network. In a separate incident, Prime Minister Siliņa confirmed that a Baltic Sea optical cable belonging to Latvia has been damaged. She stated there is no information to suggest this was an intentional act and an investigation is ongoing.

Eurostat data shows that in 2024, one-fifth (specifically 20.1%) of Latvia's population was at risk of poverty or social exclusion. In transportation, a review of 2025 noted the launch of electric trains on the Riga-Skulte line and the ongoing renovation of the Riga Central Station, set for completion in 2026. The terminal expansion at Riga International Airport is also slated to open in early 2026. Furthermore, Latvia will be included in a new international train connection this summer, linking Lithuania, Poland, Armenia, and Moldova. In energy infrastructure, the Tārgale wind farm remains on schedule, with 11 of 13 turbines installed and the entire facility expected to be operational by the end of 2026.

Latvia's Bird of the Year for 2026 is the Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum). For stargazers, the year will feature a total solar eclipse on August 12, visible from Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, and a partial lunar eclipse on August 28, which will be observable from Latvia.

The week saw the passing of several notable figures. Imants Freibergs, husband of former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga and a pioneer of Latvian computer science, died at 85. He was the first dean of the Faculty of Computer Science at the University of Latvia. Saeima member and former prosecutor Edgars Zelderis also passed away at the age of 54.

The cultural community is mourning the loss of renowned writer Nora Ikstena, author of the celebrated novel “Soviet Milk” (Mātes piens), who has died at the age of 56. The nation also lost esteemed composer Boriss Rezniķš, who passed away at the age of 85.

Nedēļas sākumu aptumšoja traģiska eksplozija dzīvojamā namā Torņakalnā, Rīgā, kuras rezultātā gāja bojā divas personas. Iemesls vēl tiek noskaidrots. Laikapstākļi ir izraisījuši problēmas visā valstī. Spēcīgi vēji nogāza sakaru torni Lapmežciemā, kā arī visā Latvijā bija novērojami sarežģīti braukšanas apstākļi snigšanas un apledojuma dēļ uz ceļiem.

Izmeklētāji ir noskaidrojuši un apcietinājuši četrus aizdomās turamos saistībā ar šaušanas gadījumu, kurā tika ievainots suņa īpašnieks un nogalināts viņa suns. Lieta notika pagājušajā nedēļā.

Kultūras jomā notikušas vairākas pārmaiņas. Latgales koncertzāles “Gors” direktore Inese Mūrniece ir atbrīvota no amata. Mākslas akadēmijā tiek konstatēts, ka tās vēsturiskajai ēkai ir nepieciešams dārgs un steidzams jumta remonts, kas varētu izmaksāt vairākus miljonus eiro.

Jaunieši hokejā ir sagādājuši Latvijai lielus panākumus. Latvijas U20 izlase iekļuvusi čempionāta izslēgšanas kārtā Pasaules čempionātā junioriem pēc uzvaras, un lielu uzmanību starptautiskajos medijos saņēmis izlases vārtsargs Alberts Šmits, kurš tiek dēvēts par iespējami labāko Latvijas hokejistu NHL drafta vēsturē.

Sākusies Latvijas nacionālā atlase “Supernova 2026” Eirovīzijas dziesmu konkursam. Pirmie uzklausīšanas koncerti ir gājuši ciešā, un par favorītiem starp sekotājiem jau tiek minētas vairākas dažāda žanra dziesmas.

Ne gada putns — purva pūce Rīgas Zooloģiskajā dārzā; not the bird of the year, a short-eared owl at the Rīga zoo