Latvia could need more than €400 million to finance both the aid measures introduced so far in the energy crisis and those planned to be adopted at the government meeting on Tuesday, Latvian Television's 'De Facto' reported January 23.
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With costs increasing not only for gas or electricity but also food, there is a risk that the poor get even poorer even if they have a job or pension and their income has not decreased. Many in Latvia are at risk of poverty, with nearly half of them among pensioners, Latvian Television's De Facto reported January 9.
The commercial director of the company SIA “Brief”, with which the state has concluded a major contract for the supply of Covid-19 antigen self-tests, is involved in a criminal case concerning embezzlement and document forgery, reported Latvian Television's De Facto investigative show December 12.
The increase in the number of patients with Covid-19 also increases the suspicion of falsified vaccination certificates. The investigating authorities have criminal cases involving even hundreds of fake vaccination certificates, Latvian Television broadcast “De facto” reported October 31.
Criticism on the too early or late introduction of lockdown, too harsh or too lenient restrictions, low numbers of risk group vaccination is often addressed at Latvian politicians. Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš told Latvian Television broadcast De facto October 24 that it was not yet time to analyze the errors that led Latvia back into lockdown.
Following the 'lockdown' introduced on Thursday, Riga is not as empty as it was in the first waves of Covid-19. These restrictions will slow economic growth, but will not stop, according to the Bank of Latvia's estimates, Latvian Television's broadcast “De facto” reported October 24.
Intensive guarding of the Latvian-Belarusian border has not stopped cigarette smuggling, Latvian Television broadcast “De Facto” reported September 5.
€12.5 million has been earmarked for Covid-19 tests at schools until the end of the year, Latvian Television broadcast De Facto reported September 5.
A group of migrants was allegedly taken away from the Latvian-Belarusian borderline by Latvian authorities last week and dropped off in the territory of Belarus later, according to Latvian Television's investigative broadcast De Facto, which aired August 29.
If the parties elected to Ventspils City Council act as they promise, then Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs, currently imprisoned, will lack the votes to become the Mayor for the eighth time. However, another person of his party Latvijai un Ventspilij could be candidate for the post, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported June 13.
Although the Covid-19 vaccination rate is growing and finally reaching over 100 thousand jabs per week, Latvia looks quite different from other European countries, not only in terms of the slow pace, but also with population that has been reached, Latvian Television broadcast “De facto” reported May 23.
Along with other European countries, Latvia has set ambitious climate targets, including sharp reductions in vehicle CO2 and other emissions. But, according to the Latvian auto association, it is not clear how to reach these goals on a national level, Latvian Television broadcast De Facto reported May 16.
The closure of several online investment platforms in the Baltics a year ago continues to cast a dark shadow over the fintech industry. According to LTV's program "De Facto" aired April 18, the Latvian-based platform “Grupeer” still has not managed to return tens of millions of euros to foreign investors.
In the academic year 2020/2021, onsite learning in Latvia has not taken place for a longer time than average in European countries, according to information gathered by the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM), Latvian Television broadcast “De facto” reported April 11.
The Latvian healthcare digital database e-Veselība (e-Health) has notoriously been problem-plagued over the years. Now it has been decided that it is going to be rebuilt completely from scratch, which could add millions more to the already hefty bill for its development, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported March 14.
Centers for mass vaccination against Covid-19 are due to open early April. The main problem may be finding staff who will carry out vaccination in these centers, Latvian Television's analytical broadcast De Facto reported March 14.
Decisions on restrictive measures, which should have come before the more contagious virus spread, are lagging behind, Latvian Television's analytical broadcast De Facto reported March 7.
Although mass vaccination against Covid-19 is promised to start in late spring, it is not yet clear how many vaccines Latvia will receive. There is no certainty even about the coming weeks, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported February 28.
Latvian Television's analytical broadcast De Facto aired February 28 looked into the preparation stage of biomethane production which is due to begin in Latvia.
The aviation industry was one of the hardest hit in Covid-19 crisis, including the Latvian national airline airBaltic. Ministry of Transport estimates that the transport industry received EUR 500 million in aid last year and half of that went to airBaltic, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported February 21.
While starting to vaccinate social care center employees and customers, officials and elderly people, less attention is paid to another group which, in terms of priorities, is above these: hospital patients before complex surgeries or chemotherapy, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported February 21.
Some Members of the Saeima have considerably moved up on the list of priority vaccinations, Latvian Television's analytical broadcast 'De Facto' reported February 14.
It is planned to allocate EUR 82 million of the European Union Recovery Fund for building new industrial parks. However, there are difficulties finding tenants for existing sites, according to Latvian Television's investigative broadcast 'De Facto'.
Latvian Television's De Facto investigative show reported January 31 that plans are being drawn up by the Economics Ministry to re-open the retail sector as businesses face increasing strain under current regulations.
Prosecutor General Juris Stukāns has established a new prosecutor's office targeting crimes committed by state officials, Latvian Television investigative broadcast De Facto reported January 17.
Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) plans change daily - which hospitals to bring COVID-19 patients to. Patient admission is stunted by the large influx, Latvian Television analytical broadcast De Facto reported December 13.
Latvian mobile app Apturi Covid (Stop COVID), which can identify possible contact with an infected person, is used more frequently. However, the notification to the contact persons can come with a delay of several days, reported Latvian Television investigative broadcast De facto November 29.
Like in the spring, medical workers have been promised extra pay for work under increased load. However, this pay can vary from hundreds to just a few euros, reported Latvian Television analytical broadcast De Facto on November 22.
Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election four years ago was a push for populism around the world, both on the US political stage and on this side of the ocean, including Latvia, reported LTV analytical broadcast De facto November 15.
Belarusian asylum seekers in Latvia may start working only six months after arrival. However, there is a desire to begin earlier, LTV analytical broadcast De Facto reported November 8.
Latvia's economy must face another wave of COVID-19. Latvian Television investigative broadcast De Facto reported November 8 that although Latvian politicians say spring was a success, Latvia's economy was hit hardest of the Baltic States.
More than two months have passed since the Latvian State issued a court order to take over the possession of the arrested property in the criminal case of Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs. But the lawyer from Switzerland, Rudolf Meroni, who has been in charge of it for years, is in no hurry to give it away, Latvian Television investigative broadcast De Facto reported November 1.