Industry and cybersecurity
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/8018-lvm-saskaries-ar-kiberdrosibas-incidentu
A cybersecurity incident was detected in the IT infrastructure of AS “Latvijas valsts meži” over the holiday period.
https://www.mk.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pec-incidenta-lvm-it-infrastruktura-ministru-prezidents-pieprasa-izvertet-valsts-kiberdrosibas-gatavibu
The technical investigation into the incident is continuing. But at the same time, I have serious questions about the state of cybersecurity readiness on a national scale.
https://www.lasi.lv/latvija-pasaule/ekonomika/cert-lv-vaditaja-ievainojami-ir-visi-ko-atklaj-uzbrukums-latvijas-valsts-meziem.44061
Over the recent holiday, LVM detected a cyberattack in which the attacker managed to penetrate its internal systems and rendered many of them completely inaccessible.
https://www.delfi.lv/898102/versijas/120124042/nils-putnins-latvijas-valsts-mezu-incidents-ir-atkartots-piemers-bet-problema-ir-sistematiska
(...) published, high-quality findings are exactly how Latvia’s security professionals learn from each other and grow. For universities, they are teaching material with real-world context; for students, real cases to analyse rather than abstract exercises.
Industry
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/ekonomika/23.06.2026-investejot-vairak-neka-400-miljonus-latvijas-finieris-gatavojas-nopietnam-attistibas-lecienam.a651804/
“The company makes a high-value-added product, one worth shipping halfway around the world to give the client the right solution,” said Uldis Biķis, chairman of the supervisory board of “Latvijas finieris”.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/cilvekstasti/24.06.2026-janis-pilegis-talsu-novada-izveidojis-zagetavu-un-galdniecibu-darbojas-amatierteatri-un-brivpratigaja-ugunsdzeseju-biedriba.a652483/
As the owner is 75 years old, his sons are gradually taking over the joinery business.
Worth knowing! Upcoming and ongoing events
27 June: Malnava College’s 105th anniversary
https://www.malnavaskoledza.lv/aktualitates/642-lbtu-malnavas-koledza-aicina-uz-105-gadu-jubilejas-svinibam.html
1 August: hunters’ festival “Munchausen 2026”
https://www.latma.lv/minhauzens-2026-koknese-mednieku-festivals-notiks-augusta-pirmaja-nedelas-nogale/
https://www.latma.lv/nebijis-notikums-minhauzens-2026-lidztekus-festivalam-notiks-ari-lmka-medibu-sunu-izstade/
Until 26 July: photo exhibition “My Bird 2026” at the Latvian National Museum of Natural History
https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/fotoizstade-mans-putns-2026
Until 10 August: public consultation on the “stress test” of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/18072-Birds-and-Habitats-Directives-stress-test/public-consultation_lv
Baloži peat museum railway excursions in 2026
https://kudrasbanitis.lv/lv/ekskursijas
Garden days and masterclasses at the Institute of Horticulture in 2026
https://fruittechcentre.eu/lv/article/2025-12-23/darza-dienas-un-meistarklases-darzkopibas-instituta-2026
All year: the National Botanical Garden’s anniversary event series “Nature in the Garden”
https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/nacionalais-botaniskais-darzs-70-jubilejas-gada-katru-menesi-aicina-uz-aizraujosiem-pasakumiem
Science
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/desmitgadem-ilga-pieredze-un-jauni-risinajumi-lvkki-petijumi-pirolizes-joma
In recent years, the institute’s scientific focus has increasingly shifted towards developing structured carbon materials for batteries, supercapacitors and other energy storage technologies.
https://kki.lv/aktualitates/ko-spej-si-iekarta-jaunais-masspektrometrs-paplasina-biomasas-un-materialu-analizes-iespejas
Gas chromatography makes it possible to separate complex mixtures of substances into their individual components. A mass spectrometer, in turn, helps determine which compounds are present in those mixtures.
Environment and bureaucracy
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/21.06.2026-grib-indulgences-dabas-postisanai-saeima-cinas-par-sodiem-vides-joma.a652389/
A proposal to exempt business operators from criminal liability was put forward for removal from the amendments to the Criminal Law. However, this week, in the Saeima subcommittee preparing the bill for its second reading, the proposal failed to win a majority, and the provision continues on its way.
Environment
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/25.06.2026-riga-var-lepoties-autoostas-sarkanais-ozols-cetrus-gadus-pec-sarezgitas-parvietosanas-zalo-jaunaja-vieta.a652639
The tree planted by the bus station in 1964 stood until 20 January 2022. It had become a symbol of the bus station, having been planted at the time to mark the station’s opening.
https://www.lvm.lv/jaunumi/7995-aktivos-karjeros-peldet-stingri-aizliegts
(...) active mineral extraction quarries are not intended, and are hazardous, for swimming or recreation by the water.
Bears
https://radioswh.lv/daba-un-turisms/lacis-latvija-ir-uz-paliksanu-un-kas-sobrid-aktuals-medibu-nozare-saruna-ar-lindu-dombrovsku/
She also disagrees with the claim, voiced publicly, that discussions about bears have turned heated. Rather, the focus at present is on finding answers to entirely practical questions – how to act in situations where the paths of people and bears cross.
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/vide-un-dzivnieki/14.06.2026-problemas-sakne-ir-cilveks-ka-justies-par-latvija-arvien-biezak-redzamajiem-laciem.a650801/
(...) concern, anxiety and politics have accompanied the large predators ever since the start of the century, when more in-depth research into them and the development of protection strategies began (...)
https://www.medibam.lv/uzmanibu-lielais-plesejs-nav-retums-meza-bet-lacim-nav-jabut-pilseta
This year, bears were encountered during a hunt. Getting out of the car and wanting to adjust his thermal camera before heading to the hide, Aivis heard something happening nearby – it turned out that, just three metres from the car, two bears were stepping out onto the road (...)
Not so good, though
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/22.06.2026-nozagti-stadi-rododendri-un-hortenzijas-riga-turpinas-apstadijumu-un-vasaras-terasu-postisana.a652422/
(...) walking round them in the mornings, we find that some of the flowers have been stolen, and then we again have to work out how to rearrange the display so that it still looks aesthetically pleasing (...)
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/25.06.2026-atbalstija-bet-tagad-atsakas-apturets-luznavas-koka-skolas-projekts.a652238/
The restoration works are not confined to this project’s budget alone; they include both maintenance work and the restoration of the surrounding area.
Unbelievable!
https://bauskasdzive.lv/latvija-un-pasaule/jelgava-mainis-tirgus-atrasanas-vietu/
(...) at the end of July, the market will close at its current location and will from then on operate in the new area.
Miscellaneous
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/dzive-stils/sarunas/21.06.2026-visu-pardaugavu-parverst-viena-liela-uzvaras-laukuma-intervija-ar-petnieci-skaidriti-lasmani.a652324/
(...) my main research question is – why did people trust a regime that was authoritarian and legally unlawful? Even though Kārlis Ulmanis had also served as prime minister under a democratic system and was one of the principal founders of the Latvian state. Let’s not forget that!
https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/kultura/kulturtelpa/13.06.2026-kultursoks-apsauba-dziesmu-un-deju-svetku-lielkoncertu-metu-konkursu-godigumu-iepirkumu-uzraudzibas-birojs-sudzibas-vertes.a651352/
After the most recent Adult Dance Festival, after its grand finale, where everyone usually ends up in tears, I found myself standing off to the side, and I said: “You know, I have this feeling that this has already happened before.” Of course, those attending for the first time do feel tears and emotion, but for those who were there even before 2003...
The news in cartoons
https://diena.lv/raksts/viedokli/karikaturista-skats/ko-darit-ja-sastopi-laci