https://eng.lsm.lv/ eng.lsm.lv en https://eng.lsm.lv//assets/logo/lsm_hi.png https://eng.lsm.lv/ https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/16.07.2026-small-demonstration-staged-against-closure-of-sports-school.a655319/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:55:00 GMT 655319 Around 20 people gathered outside the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) building in Old Riga on Thursday morning to protest against the closure of the Jūrmala branch of the Murjāņi Sports Gymnasium (MSĢ). https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/16.07.2026-young-latvians-lag-behind-neighbours-in-digital-skills.a655278/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:39:00 GMT 655278 In 2025, 74.6% of young people aged 16-24 in the EU had at least basic digital skills, according to data published by Eurostat on July 15th. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/16.07.2026-auditors-deliver-damning-report-on-ogre-district-procurement-practices.a655254/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:10:00 GMT 655254 Ogre district municipality has not ensured transparent and responsible management of public funds, the State Audit Office (Valsts kontrole/VK) has concluded in an audit. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/16.07.2026-researchers-in-latvia-concerned-about-potential-threat-to-academic-freedom.a655251/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:36:00 GMT 655251 Researchers are expressing concerns about a possible threat to academic freedom after learning that the Saeima plans to discuss the usefulness of certain research. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/16.07.2026-high-hopes-for-ten-turtles-released-into-the-wild-in-latvia.a655245/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:33:00 GMT 655245 Ten European turtles were released into the Ruģeļi wetland in Daugavpils on July 15th as part of an ambitious rewilding project, reports Latvian Television. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/15.07.2026-latvia-tweaks-its-military-national-service-rules.a655227/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:29:58 GMT 655227 On Tuesday, July 14th, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft law developed by the Ministry of Defence, which aims to improve the regulation of the State Defence Service (VAD) – Latvia's system of compulsory military conscription – based on the experience gained during the first six intakes. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/15.07.2026-baltics-and-poland-warn-again-about-potential-russian-provocations.a655213/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:37:00 GMT 655213 Lithuania has intelligence information indicating that Russia may be preparing to carry out provocations of some sort in the Baltic region, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said in an interview with the BNS news agency. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/15.07.2026-carnikava-may-soon-become-a-city.a655176/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:49:42 GMT 655176 The village of Carnikava should be granted city status, the Saeima's State Administration and Local Government Committee decided on Wednesday, July 15th. The draft law has been given urgency, and it is planned that the law will come into force on August 22 to coincide with local festival celebrations. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/15.07.2026-lrt-lithuania-considering-reintroducing-checks-on-latvian-border.a655168/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:24:00 GMT 655168 Lithuania's incoming Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas has not ruled out temporarily reintroducing border controls with Latvia as the number of migrants arriving from Belarus via Latvia continues to increase. Compared with the first half of last year, secondary migration from Latvia has risen fourfold, reports Lithuanian public media LRT. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/14.07.2026-projections-suggest-significant-population-shrinkage-for-latvia-over-next-25-years.a654862/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:45:00 GMT 654862 Latvia's population is set to shrink substantially over the next few decades, according to Eurostat regional data published on July 14th. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/14.07.2026-railway-workers-remains-found-on-riga-island.a655041/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:54:43 GMT 655041 The remains of a 'Latvijas dzelzceļš' (Latvian Railways) employee who fell into the Daugava River and went missing on Friday were found on Zaķusala island in Riga on Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/14.07.2026-schools-out-latvian-examination-results-similar-to-last-year.a655028/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:15:53 GMT 655028 The average results of centralized exams in primary education this year have not changed significantly compared to the previous school year, and 818 students have not passed a single exam. In secondary school, the results of centralized exams in Latvian and English have improved, but secondary school students have also shown worse results in mathematics, reports Latvian Radio. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/14.07.2026-research-institute-merger-forms-new-latvian-science-centre.a655005/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:12:00 GMT 655005 A National Institute of Research and Innovation (NIRI) has been established in Latvia by merging the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre. Institute representatives believe that the merger will accelerate the development and implementation of new medicines, diagnostic methods and medical technologies, reports Latvian Television. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/latvians-abroad/14.07.2026-latvias-way-with-surnames-can-cause-problems-in-other-countries.a654964/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:51:00 GMT 654964 In today's dynamic and global world, when borders between countries are becoming increasingly blurred and when Latvian citizens form families with citizens of other countries, travel and live all over the world, the rendering of surnames is an issue that can cause a number of problems. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/14.07.2026-textile-waste-a-growing-problem-in-latvia.a654959/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:58:00 GMT 654959 Textile waste is one of the biggest environmental burdens, accounting for approximately 3-5% of total waste. Moreover, its volume is increasing every year due to the increasing consumption of 'fast fashion', said Professor Inga Dāboliņa, head of the Personal Protective Equipment Laboratory at Riga Technical University, on the Latvian Radio program "Zināmais nezīnāmāja" ("The Known Unknown") https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/13.07.2026-wolf-and-jackal-hunting-season-starts-this-week-in-latvia.a654924/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:56:00 GMT 654924 Wolf hunting season in Latvia begins on July 15th, 2026. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/13.07.2026-search-continues-for-missing-diver-in-baltic-sea.a654874/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:21:41 GMT 654874 On Sunday, July 12th, at 2:00 p.m., the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center of the Coast Guard received information about a missing diver approximately 10 nautical miles northeast of Roja, Latvia in the Baltic Sea. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/13.07.2026-latvia-does-okay-on-hospital-bed-provision.a654860/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:34:46 GMT 654860 Fresh Eurostat data published on July 13th shows that Latvia is pretty much average among its EU peers when it comes to providing hospital beds for the treatment of its population. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/13.07.2026-baltic-sea-beauty-spots-are-turning-into-a-load-of-rubbish.a654828/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:26:00 GMT 654828 On the Vidzeme coast in northern Latvia, many vacationers who want to be by the sea, as well as foreign tourists, gladly choose to stop at the free parking lots on the A1 highway, which runs parallel with the Baltic Sea shore. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/13.07.2026-new-packaging-rules-apply-soon.a654822/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:01:19 GMT 654822 A new regulation on packaging and packaging waste will come into force on August 12th. It includes tea bags and mascara brushes as packaging and includes several changes regarding the volume of packaging and the harmful substances it contains. It also sets new requirements for the recycling and reuse of packaging. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/12.07.2026-turkish-citizens-killed-in-latvian-car-crash.a654767/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Sun, 12 Jul 2026 08:31:00 GMT 654767 The weekend got off to a tragic start on Latvia's roads with six people killed in several road accidents. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/10.07.2026-lithuanian-arrested-in-big-cigarette-seizure-in-riga.a654615/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:13:56 GMT 654615 Tax and Customs Police officers, in cooperation with State Border Guard officers, conducted an inspection of a warehouse in Rīga, in the Teika suburb, at the end of June this year. During the search, a large quantity of cigarettes, vehicles, tracking devices and other items were seized, indicating an intention to covertly transport a large quantity of cigarettes of illegal origin. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/10.07.2026-lions-leap-military-exercises-taking-place-this-weekend.a654614/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:04:25 GMT 654614 From July 11 to 12, the international military exercise “Lions Leap” will be held in the vicinity of Ozolaine, Vecsaule parish, Bauska district, in which the 53rd Infantry Battalion of the 1st Riga Brigade of the National Guard, the 503rd Infantry Company of the Lithuanian National Guard, and soldiers of the 2025 draft of the State Defense Service will participate. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/10.07.2026-latvia-celebrates-50th-heart-transplant.a654609/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:46:21 GMT 654609 The 50th heart transplant in Latvia has taken place at Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (PSKUS), reports Latvian Television. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/10.07.2026-riga-introduces-management-fees-for-municipal-apartments.a654603/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:12:00 GMT 654603 From this month, Rīga will start collecting management fees for municipality-owned apartments. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/10.07.2026-latvia-is-belarus-first-target-for-hybrid-war-border-guard-chief.a654588/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:48:00 GMT 654588 Latvia is currently the number one target of Belarus’s hybrid warfare, and the challenges are immense, Guntis Pujāts, commander of the State Border Guard, told Latvian Television on July 9 regarding the situation on the eastern border. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/09.07.2026-university-enrolment-begins-in-latvia-thursday.a654545/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:51:08 GMT 654545 On Thursday, July 9, the unified admissions process for undergraduate programs began at eight Latvian universities. Online applications for admission will continue on the “Latvija.lv” portal from Thursday through July 20, while prospective students will be able to apply in person starting July 14, Latvian Radio reports. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/09.07.2026-staged-robbery-uncovered-in-ogre-latvia.a654542/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:33:44 GMT 654542 The State Police have uncovered a staged robbery in Ogre that was organised to conceal the embezzlement of company funds, police said on July 9. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/09.07.2026-man-drives-luxury-cars-steals-fuel-and-sandwiches.a654522/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:54:44 GMT 654522 Police officers in Pārdaugava arrested a young man who, since this spring, had stolen fuel from at least six gas stations in Rīga and the surrounding area using luxury cars. The suspect is currently being held in temporary custody, according to the State Police. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/09.07.2026-key-figures-on-europe-2026-edition-now-available.a654497/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:38:57 GMT 654497 On July 9th Eurostat has released the 2026 edition of its Key figures on Europe. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/09.07.2026-lots-of-lilies-coming-to-latvian-nature-museum.a654474/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:24:10 GMT 654474 From July 16 to 18, the Latvian National Museum of Natural History will host “Lilies 2026,” a particularly colourful and fragrant exhibition for the gardening season, the museum announced. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/09.07.2026-two-minors-get-prison-sentence-for-double-homicide.a654472/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:14:08 GMT 654472 Two minors have been sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison and three years of probation for the murder of two people in Rēzekne, the Latgale District Court has ruled, according to the Prosecutor's Office. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/09.07.2026-baltic-air-policing-mission-switches-to-air-defence-mission.a654448/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:09:00 GMT 654448 NATO will reassign its longstanding Baltic air policing mission as an air defence mission, according to an agreement reached at a summit of NATO member states' leaders in the Turkish capital, Ankara, reports Latvian Television. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/09.07.2026-ai-data-centre-to-help-latvian-doctors-make-quicker-diagnoses.a654429/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:30:30 GMT 654429 Time is of the essence in diagnosing diseases, including cancer, as well as in selecting the most appropriate treatment methods. Thanks to high-performance computing, what used to take years can now be analysed much more quickly. A new artificial intelligence data server will provide Latvian scientists with this opportunity, Latvian Television reported. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/09.07.2026-latvian-border-guard-chief-migrant-smugglers-are-getting-aggressive.a654428/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:21:00 GMT 654428 Migrant smugglers have become more aggressive, and border guards are having to use increasingly aggressive methods to apprehend them, said Guntis Pujāts, commander of the State Border Guard (VRS), in an interview on the Latvian Radio programme “Good Morning” on July 9. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/defence/08.07.2026-canada-to-increase-troop-numbers-in-latvia.a654412/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:41:00 GMT 654412 NATO's summit in Türkiye concluded on July 8th, with one of the outcomes being a commitment from Canada to increase the number of troops it has stationed in Latvia as part of NATO's collective defence posture. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/08.07.2026-young-latvians-feel-a-lot-better-than-their-elders.a653972/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:58:00 GMT 653972 Young people in Latvia don't feel as well as most of their European Union peers, but at least they feel a lot better than their elders. Such are some of the conclusions that can be drawn from fresh Eurostat data published on July 7th. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/08.07.2026-latvias-main-cancer-clinic-to-be-reconstructed-over-two-years.a654354/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:04:28 GMT 654354 On Wednesday, July 8, the Oncology Centre at Riga East University Hospital (RAKUS) was handed over to contractors for full-scale reconstruction, covering 10 floors and an area of more than 23,000 square metres, Latvian Radio reported on August 8. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/08.07.2026-founder-of-latvian-emergency-service-passes-away.a654329/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:01:05 GMT 654329 Following a serious illness, Dr Renāte Pupele (June 14, 1953–July 5, 2026), the founder and first director of the State Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) and a healthcare management professional, has passed away, according to a post by the NMPD on Facebook. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/08.07.2026-teacher-accused-of-child-sexual-abuse-in-engure-latvia.a654325/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:31:35 GMT 654325 The State Police are recommending that a teacher in Engure, Tukums Municipality, be charged with at least 25 incidents of sexual abuse against minors. The suspect, a man born in 1950, is currently in custody, Latvian Television reports on July 8. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/08.07.2026-invasive-species-are-encamped-in-the-latvian-capital.a654291/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:45:00 GMT 654291 Rīga can be called the capital of invasive plant species in Latvia. Various alien species are increasingly common in forests, meadows and roadsides, crowding out native plants. To stop the spread of invasive species, the involvement of the entire society and an understanding of why they need to be combated is necessary, reports Latvian Television. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/07.07.2026-veterinarians-ask-that-animal-sexual-abuse-be-criminalized-in-latvia.a654192/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:04:30 GMT 654192 The Latvian Veterinary Association is calling on lawmakers to address a loophole in Latvian law by establishing criminal liability for sexual acts with animals, the association announced on July 7. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/07.07.2026-what-do-boars-do-in-the-woods-new-study-will-find-out.a654191/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:55:12 GMT 654191 In early July, an unprecedented project began in Latvia – attempts to catch adult wild boars in order to attach GPS transmitters to them. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/latvians-abroad/07.07.2026-more-than-a-suitcase-how-latvian-remigrants-feel-when-they-return-home.a654144/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:48:00 GMT 654144 Returning to one's homeland after many years abroad often seems simple – pack your bags and go home. However, in practice, it is an emotionally complex process for many. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/07.07.2026-four-accused-of-systematic-animal-abuse-in-latvia.a654134/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 07 Jul 2026 08:49:50 GMT 654134 The State Police have detained a group of four individuals suspected of systematic cruelty to animals. For several years, these individuals engaged in sexual acts with various animals at a stable in the Rīga vicinity, Latvian Television reported on July 7. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/07.07.2026-patients-rights-discussed-after-case-of-bullet-non-removal.a654121/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 07 Jul 2026 07:05:23 GMT 654121 Following the Health Inspectorate’s report on the case of the woman shot in the back in Rītabuļļi Forest, ombudsman Karina Palkova questions whether people are overlooking the fact that the Patient Rights Law protects not only the method of treatment, but also the patient, Latvian Radio reported on July 6. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/07.07.2026-mosquitoes-still-scarce-on-the-latvian-summer-menu-this-year.a654118/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Tue, 07 Jul 2026 06:50:45 GMT 654118 People continue to be surprised that there seem to be fewer mosquitoes this year. Some even report that they haven’t been stung a single time. Experts explain that there really are fewer mosquitoes because this spring saw a prolonged dry spell, which hindered the development of larvae, Latvian Television reported on July 6. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/health/06.07.2026-cancer-patients-will-be-centre-stage-at-lampa-festival.a654078/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:21:06 GMT 654078 Cancer patients want not only to survive, but also to live a high-quality, fulfilling life, but state-funded rehabilitation, psychological support, and medical supplements do not always reach patients with a serious diagnosis. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/06.07.2026-four-accused-of-spying-for-russia.a654043/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:17:00 GMT 654043 Four Latvian nationals are accused of spying for Russia through the organisation “Baltic Antifascists.” The State Security Service (VDD) has urged the prosecutor’s office to initiate criminal proceedings against them for gathering intelligence in Latvia and passing it on to Russian special services, the VDD said July 6. https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/crime/06.07.2026-irish-and-latvian-police-team-up-to-tackle-gangmasters.a653998/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=links Mon, 06 Jul 2026 09:43:00 GMT 653998 An Irish court has handed down sentences related to the labour exploitation of Latvians working in Ireland, notes the Latvian State Police.