From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Russian-speaking MPs refuse official language tests
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Russian-speaking MPs representing the Latvian opposition party, For Stability, have been fined repeatedly for failure to speak the official state language sufficiently, LSM reports.
on Sep 5
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Agreement on German brigade deployment set to be signed
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Lithuania will sign an agreement with Germany on the stationing of a German brigade in the country on 13 September 2024, Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas announced, dpa reports…
#troops #Germany #brigade #lithuania
on Sep 5
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Government to cut funding for political parties in 2025
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The Estonian government plans to cut public funding for political parties by 10% in the 2025 state budget, Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced, ERR reports. Both Michal and Regional Affairs…
on Sep 5
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: LSDP wins big in parliamentary elections
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Lithuania’s main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), scored a big victory after the second round of parliamentary elections on 27 October 2024, LRT reports.
on Oct 28
From viabaltica.fi
Baltic: Nordic, Baltic foreign ministers to visit Moldova
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The foreign ministers of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) will pay a visit to Moldova on 15 October 2024, BNS reports. The delegation will meet with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean and…
on Oct 17
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Russian citizens still allowed to vote in local elections
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Estonian parties disagree on proposed amendments to suspend the voting rights of third-country nationals, including Russian citizens, ERR reports. The Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu…
on Oct 17
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: LSDP hopes to form three-party centre-left coalition
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Lithuania’s main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), hopes to form a new coalition government with two other opposition parties, the Union of Democrats for Lithuania…
on Oct 17
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Public petition calls for ban on Elon Musk’s X platform
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A public petition in Latvia is collecting signatures to restrict or ban US entrepreneur Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (former Twitter), in Latvia, BNS reports. The author of the legislative…
on Oct 17
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Parliament designates Iran’s IRGC as terrorist organisation
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The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has passed a resolution designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, BNS reports. The Seimas is the first national…
on Oct 7
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Municipalities gradually commence heating season
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Latvian municipalities have begun switching on central heating for households amid the onset of colder weather, LETA reports. Riga’s municipal housing company, Rigas Namu Parvaldnieks (RNP)…
on Oct 7
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Government may triple immigration quota: minister
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The Estonian government may triple the country’s immigration quota, Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo announced, ERR reports. The current quota amounts to 1,303 people or 0.1%
on Oct 7
From viabaltica.fi
Baltic: Unemployment lowest in Latvia in August 2024: Eurostat
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The unemployment rate in the Baltic States was lowest in Latvia in August 2024, according to Eurostat data, LETA reports. Latvia’s unemployment rate stood at 7.0%, compared to 7.9% in both Estonia and…
on Oct 7
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Government asks ICC to investigate crimes in Belarus
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The Lithuanian government has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate crimes against humanity committed by the Belarusian regime, LRT reports. The alleged crimes include forced…
on Sep 30
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Retail sales up 0.8% on year in August 2024: statistics
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Latvia’s total retail trade turnover rose by 0.8% on year in August 2024, according to the Central Statistical Bureau’s (CSP) calendar-adjusted data at constant prices, LSM reports.
on Sep 30
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Retail sales down 4% on year in August 2024: statistics
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Estonia’s retail trade turnover totalled EUR 889mn in August 2024, which was down 4% from the same period of 2023, according to data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. Retail sales of manufactured…
on Sep 30
From viabaltica.fi
BALTIC WEEK: Defence plans, budget drafts, pension reforms
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This week, the Baltic presidents called for reforming the UN Security Council, and defence officials discussed strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. As new GDP forecasts were published…
on Sep 29
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Authorities investigating allegations on attack against Russian opposition leader
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Lithuanian authorities are investigating allegations that Russian opposition leader, businessman Leonid Nevzlin, was behind an attack against another exiled Russian opposition leader, Leonid Volkov…
on Sep 29
From viabaltica.fi
Baltic: Estonia ranks highest on Global Innovation Index in 2024
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Estonia ranks highest in the Baltic States on the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index, LSM reports. Estonia ranked 16th globally in 2024, which was unchanged from…
on Sep 29
From viabaltica.fi
Baltic: Defence ministers to seek NATO, EU support for regional defence infrastructure
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The defence ministers of the three Baltic States met with a high official of Poland’s Defence Ministry in Latvia’s Daugavpils to discuss the strengthening of regional defence infrastructure…
on Sep 29
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Largest ever trade mission to US concludes visit
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The largest ever Latvian trade mission to the US concluded its visit on 26 September 2024, LSM reported. Economy Minister Viktors Valainis said that three major cooperation agreements were signed…
on Sep 29
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Estonia, Finland to strengthen protection of undersea energy infrastructure
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Estonian Climate Minister Yoko Alender and Finland’s Minister of Environment and Climate, Kai Mykkänen, have signed a memorandum of understanding on increased cooperation in protecting critical…
on Sep 29
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Beer, wine adverts to be banned on radio, TV
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The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has passed in final reading amendments to ban advertising of beer and wine on radio and TV, Baltic News Network reports. The ban will apply to advertisements that…
on Sep 27
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: 8,000 foreigners with residence permits for studies
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Lithuania has almost 8,000 foreign students with temporary residence permits, according to the Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD), BNS reports. Nearly 1,400 Indian citizens, 959 Belarusians…
on Sep 27
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Government drops plans for sugar tax
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The Estonian government has dropped plans to impose a tax on sugary beverages, Prime Minister Kristen Michal announced, ERR reports. Health Minister Riina Sikkut said that she proposed withdrawing the…
on Sep 27
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Jonava mayor loses appeal, forced to resign
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Lithuania’s Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal of Jonava district mayor Mindaugas Sinkevicius against a lower court ruling that found him guilty of abuse of office, forgery of documents…
on Sep 26
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: US removes ABLV Bank from money-laundering list
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The US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has removed Latvia’s ABLV Bank from its list of financial institutions posing a risk of money laundering, LSM reports.
on Sep 26
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: PM submits draft state budget for 2025 to parliament
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Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal has submitted his government’s draft state budget for 2025 and budget strategy for 2025-2028 to the country’s parliament, the Riigikogu, ERR reports.
on Sep 26
From viabaltica.fi
Baltic: EBRD’s GDP forecast down for Estonia, Latvia, up for Lithuania
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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects the Latvian and Lithuanian economies to grow and the Estonian economy to contract in 2024, LSM reports. The bank lowered its GDP…
on Sep 26
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: President, parties urged to stand against antisemitism
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Over 150 public figures in Lithuania have signed an appeal to President Gitanas Nauseda and political parties, urging them to reject antisemitic politicians, LRT reports. Earlier…
on Sep 26
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Parliament freezes state support to political parties
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The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has passed in final reading amendments freezing state funding for political parties for one year, LETA reports. Altogether 88 MPs voted in favour of the amendments.
on Sep 26
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: SAS to end cooperation with Nordica
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Sweden-based Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will end its cooperation with Estonia’s state-owned Nordic Aviation Group (Nordica), ERR reports. SAS has informed Nordica’s subsidiary, Regional Jet (Xfly)…
on Sep 26
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: airBaltic plans to expand at Vilnius Airport
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Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, plans to expand its operations at Lithuania’s Vilnius International Airport (VIA), CEO Martin Gauss announced, LETA reports. He said that the company would…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Vivi has finally received all new electric trains
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Latvia’s state-owned passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), has now received all 32 new electric trains from the Czech manufacturer, Skoda Vagonka, LETA reports. Initially…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Officials again deny accident in Balticconnector case
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Estonian officials have again refuted suggestions that the rupture of the Balticconnector gas pipeline and two data cables in the Baltic Sea by the Chinese cargo ship, NewNew Polar Bear…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Pilot scheme to combat drug use, smoking in schools
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The Lithuanian government has launched a pilot scheme to combat the use of narcotics and smoking in schools, LRT reports. Seven schools in Vilnius, Klaipeda, and Alytus will take part in the pilot…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Notorious organised crime boss arrested
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A notorious leader of organised crime in Latvia has been arrested in an international operation, LSM reports. Latvia’s State Police, in cooperation with Europol and the Spanish National Police…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Cooperation agreement signed with US on countering disinformation
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Estonia and the US have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in countering information manipulation, ERR reports. The memorandum stresses the importance of media freedom in protecting…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: PM sceptical about state-run second-pillar pension fund
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Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has expressed scepticism about an idea to establish a state-run second-pillar pension fund, Baltic News Network reports. She noted that there was plenty of…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Government may change rules on second-tier pension funds
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The Latvian government is discussing possible changes to second-tier pension funds, LETA reports. The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, will consider a public initiative opposing the government’s plan…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Estonia to chair Freedom Online Coalition in 2025
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Estonia will chair the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) in 2025, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna announced, ERR reports. He said that Estonia’s primary objective would be to share its know-how in…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Diplomatic relations established with Tonga
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Lithuania has established official diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Tonga, BNS reports. The official ceremony took place in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: GDP to rise by nearly 2% in 2025, 3% in 2026: central bank
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Estonia’s GDP will decline by 0.4% in 2024, before rising by 1.9% in 2025 and 3.0% in 2026, according to the Bank of Estonia’s latest forecast, ERR reports. Annual inflation will reach 3.5% in 2024…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Government plans to raise taxes on fuel, vices
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The Latvian government plans to raise taxes on fuel, harmful beverages, tobacco, and gambling, LETA reports. Under the plan, the excise tax on fuel will amount to EUR 10 per tonne of CO2 in 2025 and…
on Sep 25
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: Ship with Russian chemicals not headed for Klaipeda
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The Maltese-flagged ship, Ruby, carrying a cargo of ammonium nitrate from Russia, is no longer headed for Lithuania’s port of Klaipeda, BNS reports. Algis Latakas, CEO of Klaipeda State Seaport…
on Sep 24
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: State Treasury issues eurobonds for EUR 600mn
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Latvia’s State Treasury has issued seven-year eurobonds worth EUR 600mn on international financial markets, LETA reports. The bonds will mature on 25 January 2032. The bond yield is 3.138%
on Sep 24
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Unions demand 12% minimum wage rise in 2025
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The Estonian Trade Union Confederation (EAKL) and the Confederation of Estonian Employers (ETK) have begun negotiations on the minimum wage for 2025, ERR reports. EAKL demands that the minimum wage be…
on Sep 24
From viabaltica.fi
Baltic: Presidents call for UN Security Council reform
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The presidents of the three Baltic States — Estonia’s Alar Karis, Latvia’s Edgars Rinkevics, and Lithuania’s Gitanas Nauseda — have called for reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)…
on Sep 24
From viabaltica.fi
Latvia: Unvaccinated boy dies of diphtheria
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A four-year-old boy in Latvia died of diphtheria at the Children’s Clinical University Hospital (BKUS) in Riga on 16 September 2024, LSM reports. The boy was unvaccinated for the preventable disease.
on Sep 23
From viabaltica.fi
Lithuania: All military units to have FPV drones: Defence Minister
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The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) will equip all its units with first-person view (FPV) drones, Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas announced, BNS reports. LGP will create a “drone ecosystem” of…
on Sep 23
From viabaltica.fi
Estonia: Ministries, stakeholders criticise proposed climate law
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Several ministries in Estonia have criticised the Ministry of Climate’s proposed new climate law, ERR reports. The ministries argued that the bill’s structure and purpose were unclear…
on Sep 23