Latvia & nearby (100)

Latvian medics to picket government today demanding 30% pay rise

About 1,000 healthcare workers are expected to join a union-organized picket outside Latvia's government building demanding a 30% salary increase for all medical staff. Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri admits the raise is justified but is unsure funding can be secured.

Latvijas Avīze · 29 Sept, 09:48

Medics to protest outside government today as minister doubts pay raise

Latvia's healthcare workers' union is holding a protest outside the Cabinet building today demanding a wage increase, but the health minister stopped short of promising the raise will happen. He said the final call rests with the finance minister and the whole coalition.

OgreNet · 29 Sept, 09:47

Record number of teams take part in Jelgava's Tourism Rally

A record 65 teams with 228 participants took part in the annual "Tourism Rally" orienteering competition held in Jelgava on World Tourism Day. The team "TurboMammas un Mazie Rallisti" won first place.

Zemgales Ziņas · 29 Sept, 09:47

About 2,600 households left without power after major grid fault in Dobele district

A serious power grid fault was recorded in the Dobele district on Tuesday morning, leaving around 2,600 customers of grid operator Sadales tīkls without electricity. The outage affects the areas around Tērvete, Penkule and Naudīte parishes.

Jauns.lv · 29 Sept, 09:42

Latvia Holds 15th Saeima Elections on Saturday — Citizens Urged to Vote

Latvia's 15th Saeima elections take place on Saturday, October 3, with voters choosing among 14 candidate lists. A commentator urges citizens to take part in the vote and highlights the importance of regional issues in national politics.

Ziemeļlatvija · 29 Sept, 08:42

Lithuania warns of second autumn wave of tick-borne encephalitis after 380 cases and four deaths this year

Lithuanian health authorities are warning of a second wave of tick activity this autumn, with 380 tick-borne encephalitis cases and four deaths recorded so far this year. Latvia also continues to face an elevated risk from tick-borne diseases.

Latvijas Avīze · 29 Sept, 08:42

A month after Nepal tragedy, daughter of missing Latvian couple shares raw reflection

A month after the Nepal disaster that left 33 Latvian nationals missing, including her parents Agnese and Raimonds Fūrmanis, Klaudija Fūrmane has published a personal message about loss and the value of life. A charity auction is being organized to support affected families.

BNN · 29 Sept, 08:41

When parents can't agree: why contact persons matter in child custody disputes

Judge Ieva Bāliņa explains the role of court-appointed contact persons in parental disputes over children, stressing they are needed when parents cannot ensure safe, calm contact themselves. She also calls for support systems before cases reach court.

Delfi · 29 Sept, 07:47

At least ten candidates in Latvia's election have previously run for PM

Ahead of Saturday's 15th Saeima elections, at least ten of this year's candidates previously stood as prime ministerial nominees or topped their party lists in one of the last three parliamentary elections, news agency LETA has found.

Latvijas Avīze · 29 Sept, 07:46

Estonian media firms seek reversal of foreign-language dubbing ban

Heads of four Estonian media companies are urging the education minister to revise Language Act amendments banning foreign dubbing and voice-over, warning it could push viewers toward Russian media.

ERR (rus) · 29 Sept, 07:44

Why a HEPA filter in a vacuum cleaner matters for healthier indoor air

Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters can trap up to 99.97% of fine particles, significantly improving indoor air quality, though results depend on the filter class and correct choice of device.

Bauskas Dzīve · 29 Sept, 07:43

Court to rule today in "Stiga RM" dispute against former Competition Council head

The Zemgale District Court in Tukums is set to issue a ruling today in a case brought by "Stiga RM" owner Andris Ramoliņš against former Competition Council head Juris Gaiķis and the Council itself, over the acquisition of sawmill "Norupe".

Apollo.lv · 29 Sept, 07:43

Jelgava students' artwork recognized in international children's initiative

A Jelgava school for students with special needs was visited by a representative of the “The Children are Painting the World” foundation from Kazakhstan, who honored two students for their participation in an international drawing initiative.

Zemgales Ziņas · 29 Sept, 07:42

Late September still brings up to +20°C, but October signals change

Latvia will see cloudier weather with some rain and possible thunderstorms midweek, though daytime temperatures can still reach +20°C. Early October is expected to stay calm before autumn cooling gradually sets in.

BNN · 29 Sept, 06:45

Several former PM candidates from past elections are running again for the 15th Saeima

At least ten candidates who were previously nominated as their parties' prime ministerial candidates or topped their lists in the last three elections are running in the upcoming 15th Saeima elections, LETA reports. The vote takes place Saturday.

Bauskas Dzīve · 29 Sept, 06:45

Zemgale Flavours and Crafts Festival held in Eleja

On September 26, Eleja Manor Park in Jelgava municipality hosted the Zemgale Flavours and Crafts Festival, bringing together craftspeople, local producers and cultural groups. Visitors could explore traditional regional crafts and take part in various creative activities.

Zemgales Ziņas · 29 Sept, 06:44

Expert: Latvia should unify procurement of defense tech for military and civilian use

Following a major defense industry forum in Rēzekne, an industry representative argues that many defense technologies are also needed by municipalities and civilian services, yet procurement remains fragmented. He calls for a unified requirements catalog and stricter testing of purchases.

Žurnāls Ir · 29 Sept, 06:42

EU sanctions dispute: Latvia stood alone against a 26-country compromise

Latvia was last week the only EU country resisting a compromise to remove several Russian oligarchs from the sanctions list, prompting a late-night call from the EU presidency's prime minister to Latvia's premier. Meanwhile, property in Jurmala belonging to Usmanov's sister remains outside Latvia's national sanctions.

Latvijas Avīze · 29 Sept, 06:42

Over 25,000 voters cast early ballots ahead of Saeima elections

On Monday, September 28, more than 25,000 voters took the opportunity to cast their ballots in advance of the 15th Saeima elections, which will take place on Saturday, October 3, according to Central Election Commission data.

LSM (rus) · 29 Sept, 05:48

Pakrojas Manor stuns again with giant ornaments made from 80 tonnes of vegetables and fruit

Starting October 3, Pakrojas Manor in Lithuania hosts the 'Baroque Autumn' festival, featuring giant baroque-style ornaments created from more than 80 tonnes of locally grown vegetables and fruit. The festival runs every weekend throughout autumn.

Bauskas Dzīve · 29 Sept, 05:44

Riga construction company defends luxury car leasing scheme in court against tax authority claim

Latvia's State Revenue Service has challenged a Riga construction company's years-long practice of leasing luxury cars from a related company, calling it a scheme to reduce taxes; the dispute over the resulting tax assessment has reached court.

Apollo.lv · 29 Sept, 04:46

Estonia to see scattered brief showers on Tuesday, daytime highs of 13-17°C

Estonia's Tuesday forecast calls for variable cloud cover with isolated brief rain showers and daytime temperatures between 13 and 17 degrees. Overnight conditions will be mostly clear with a chance of light rain after midnight and patchy fog.

ERR (rus) · 29 Sept, 02:49

1.66% of voters already cast ballots on first day of early voting

More than 25,900 Latvians cast their votes on the first day of early voting for the Saeima elections, with turnout highest in Ādaži municipality and Riga. The main election day is Saturday.

Delfi · 29 Sept, 02:48

Truck with driver banned from driving crashes off road on Riga's Ulmaņa gatve

On Monday morning a truck drove off the road on Ulmaņa gatve in Riga and crashed into a fence after roughly 200 meters on a pedestrian path; it emerged the driver had been banned from driving vehicles.

Jauns.lv · 29 Sept, 02:48

Online debate erupts over promised €5,000 newborn payment ahead of Latvian elections

Days before Latvia's 15th Saeima elections, a heated discussion on social platform Threads questions whether a promised €5,000 one-time payment per newborn would actually solve the country's birth rate problem.

Jauns.lv · 29 Sept, 01:47

Most tested patients in Salaspils kindergarten outbreak confirmed with norovirus

Latvia's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has confirmed norovirus caused an illness outbreak at the Salaspils kindergarten "Jāņtārpiņš," with 92 cases recorded so far. A food safety inspection found no hygiene violations.

Delfi · 28 Sept, 23:47

Estonian court sentences man to seven years for working for the Kremlin

The Harju County Court found Oleg Bessedin guilty in a plea bargain procedure of working for the Russian Kremlin and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

Postimees · 28 Sept, 22:47

Under 1.6% of voters cast ballots in Saeima elections by evening

Latvia's Central Election Commission reports that 24,504 voters, or 1.57% of the electorate, had voted in the 15th Saeima elections by the evening of September 28. The figure may still change as some polling stations continue compiling data.

Latvijas Avīze · 28 Sept, 21:48

15th Saeima elections: more than 25,000 voters have already deposited ballots for safekeeping

On Monday, September 28, more than 25,000 Latvian voters used the option of depositing their ballot for safekeeping ahead of the 15th Saeima elections, set for October 3.

LSM · 28 Sept, 21:46

Ventspils Municipality: Oil Pollution Found Along Coast Could Amount to a National-Scale Environmental Disaster

The Ventspils municipality has stated on its website that oil pollution detected along the city's coastline could possibly be classified as a national-scale environmental disaster.

Apollo.lv · 28 Sept, 21:45

Oil pollution along Ventspils coast now spans nearly 30 kilometers

Ventspils municipality is treating oil pollution along its coastline as an emergency that could be classified as a national-scale environmental disaster. Cleanup work may take a long time, and its cost cannot yet be estimated.

Jauns.lv · 28 Sept, 21:45

Queues Form at Riga Shopping Mall Polling Stations in First Half-Hour of Voting

Wire agency LETA, visiting four polling stations in central Riga during the first half hour after polls opened, found a calm atmosphere overall, though queues already formed at stations located inside shopping centers.

Apollo.lv · 28 Sept, 20:46

18 years after "Soviet Story": Šnore warns of Russia's future and urges voter turnout

Eighteen years after the premiere of his film "Soviet Story," director Edvīns Šnore discusses Russia's likely future and warns about pro-Russian forces ahead of Latvia's upcoming parliamentary elections, urging people to vote for the National Alliance on October 3.

Latvijas Avīze · 28 Sept, 20:42

Cert.lv: No election-related cyber incidents detected on first voting day

On the first day voters could cast their ballots, no election-related anomalies or cybersecurity incidents have been detected in Latvia's cyberspace, Cert.lv reports.

TVNET · 28 Sept, 20:42