Latvia has a budget for the next year, the State Police is considering conducting outreach work not only in Latvian but also in Russian, the White House has unveiled a new U.S. National Security Strategy...
We present the traditional weekly roundup of news that did not go unnoticed.
Latvia Has a Budget
On December 4, a child of political compromise was born. The Saeima of Latvia adopted the state budget for 2026 in its final reading. Budget revenues are planned at 16.1 billion euros, expenditures at 17.9 billion euros, and the deficit will be 3.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Fifty-two deputies voted in favor, while forty-two voted against.
The budget adoption process, including breaks, took about 24 hours. This year, deputies did not hold night sessions as previously decided. The unconditional priority of the main financial document is security. Along with it, a substantial package of amendments was approved, including new taxes and duties, as well as changes to benefits.
There Is No Better Color
The American Color Institute Pantone announced the color of the year 2026 - a neutral white shade called Cloud Dancer. It symbolizes calmness, clarity, and a sense of new beginnings. According to experts, white helps to "disconnect from the noise" and focus on one's own feelings. The institute also described it as "key and structural" - one that sets the foundation for other shades.
As noted by The New York Times, the choice of the color of the year 2026 is likely inspired by the political situation in the world.
Over 900 People Died Due to Storm in Asia
The fashionable color may not guarantee calmness and tranquility everywhere. As a result of extreme weather conditions in Asia, over 900 people have died, and millions have been forced to leave their homes due to flooding. The most severe situation has developed in Sri Lanka and several Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Stolen Watches, But They’ll Serve Years
The much-publicized robbery of a watch store in Old Riga, committed this spring, turned out to be the work of a Serbian gang of four that has been touring Europe. Three of them were detained in Finland, according to the State Police of Latvia.
According to the police, three members of the organized group were arrested in Finland in October, who, in April of this year, committed an armed attack in the center of Riga and stole about 80 exclusive wristwatches.
During an international operation, the criminals were identified, after which the extradition process to Latvia began. The fourth member of the gang is still wanted.
The robbery occurred on April 29, 2025, during the day in Old Riga. The attackers, threatening with firearms and using physical force and pepper spray against the store employees and a visitor, stole about 80 expensive watches in a matter of minutes. The damage to the store amounted to approximately 690,000 euros. After the attack, the perpetrators fled using a car with stolen license plates.
Change Tires for the Season
From December 1 to March 1, all passenger vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons in Latvia are required to be equipped with tires designed for winter conditions.
The Road Traffic Safety Directorate's website states that winter tires must be specifically designed for driving on snow and ice and have the international marking of "mountain and snowflake." Drivers should note that in the current winter season, tires marked only "M+S" without the "mountain and snowflake" symbol are not considered winter tires. The minimum allowable tread depth for winter tires is 4 millimeters.
To Catch a Criminal, You Must Speak Like a Criminal
A small sensation - the State Police of Latvia, in an effort to reduce the level of fraud, is considering conducting outreach work not only in Latvian but also in Russian. This was stated by the head of the State Police, Armands Ruks. According to Ruks, most of the victims of fraud are Russian-speaking residents. This is explained by the fact that the fraudsters themselves often communicate in Russian.
Despite the fact that the police regularly conduct various information campaigns explaining popular fraudulent schemes and warning residents, achieving tangible results is not easy. In this regard, the possibility of expanding outreach work to include Russian is being discussed.
"For a long time, we had a principled position - not to communicate in Russian. But now we see that at the expert level, such outreach work will be necessary," Ruks noted.
A Turn of the 'U.S. Aircraft Carrier'?
The White House has unveiled a new U.S. National Security Strategy, which many commentators claim resembles a declaration of friendship between the U.S. and Russia against democratic Europe. This document has become a new blow to relations between Europe and America.
The document declares a priority for the "America First" approach, a reduction of U.S. security commitments in Europe, and a de facto cessation of further NATO expansion. The strategy emphasizes that European countries must ensure their own defense, while the U.S. will concentrate resources in other regions.
At the same time, the strategy identifies "restoring strategic stability" in relations with Russia as one of the key priorities, avoiding a direct designation of the Russian Federation as an aggressor in the war against Ukraine. Analysts believe that this balance appears favorable to Moscow.
European countries are described in the document in a sharply critical tone - as a region with demographic, economic, and civilizational problems that is allegedly losing the ability to be a reliable partner.
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