Latvia & nearby
Estonian police: repeated neighbor disturbances warrant a call every time
A representative of Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board says residents should call police every single time neighbors cause repeated disturbances, since all calls to an address are logged and help build a case for the local officer. The topic will be featured on the show "Своя правда" on September 28.
ERR (rus) · 27 Sept, 12:47
Imanta construction removes free parking, municipality offers no alternative
Major construction work in Riga's Imanta district has eliminated free parking spaces, and the municipality has not yet offered residents an alternative solution.
LSM · 27 Sept, 12:44
Estonian commentator warns culture and higher education keep losing out to defense spending
Estonian writer Mikk Kasesalk argues that Estonia's state budget repeatedly shortchanges culture and higher education while defense spending grows rapidly, urging the government to secure adequate funding for all three pillars of national resilience.
ERR News · 27 Sept, 11:48
Latvian MPs propose vehicle confiscation for smuggling migrants across the border
Lawmakers from New Unity have proposed Criminal Law amendments allowing vehicle confiscation for illegally transporting people across Latvia's border. The proposals have been submitted to the Saeima's Legal Affairs Committee ahead of the bill's second reading.
Jauns.lv · 27 Sept, 11:45
Regional journalists: lawmakers vanish after elections, return only before the next vote
A discussion with regional newspaper editors and journalists revealed that most MPs elected to the 14th Saeima have not visited the regions that elected them during the four years between elections.
Staburags · 27 Sept, 11:43
Between three countries, a young Lithuanian finds her way home
20-year-old Sofija Kaniauskaitė, raised in Northern Ireland and now studying in Croatia, spent this summer living independently in Lithuania for the first time, interning at Kaunas University of Technology.
LRT English · 27 Sept, 10:49
Riga's Eastern Hospital saves life of football coach from Liepāja
Doctors at RAKUS performed a more-than-12-hour operation on a young Brazilian football coach working in Liepāja who had an extensive tumor in his abdomen. The patient has already begun walking again and continues to recover.
LSM (rus) · 27 Sept, 10:45
Riga's Great Cemetery still without lighting despite 2024 resident request
Residents of the Brasa neighborhood asked the Riga municipality back in 2024 to install lighting at the Great Cemetery, but the paths remain dark. The municipality says the site is a complex object requiring involvement of the National Heritage Board.
LSM · 27 Sept, 10:42
Road safety expert: public reaction to welfare minister's drunk driving was insufficient
Traffic safety expert Oskars Irbitis of Latvia's Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) says Latvian society remains too tolerant of drunk driving, including the belief that "one drink is fine". He argues this attitude must be eliminated.
LSM (rus) · 27 Sept, 09:47
Next week's name days: Sergejs, Svetlana and Dmitrijs most common
Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) reports that among next week's name-day celebrants, Sergejs, Svetlana and Dmitrijs are the most widely held names in the country.
Staburags · 27 Sept, 09:47
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E-bike Sharing Firm "Ride" Appeals Court Ruling Over €10,000 Fine
Shared e-bike operator "Ride" has appealed a Riga district court ruling that upheld a €10,000 fine imposed on the company by Latvia's Consumer Rights Protection Centre.
TVNET · 27 Sept, 09:47
How "Stability!" won over voters in Latgale in 2022
In the 2022 Saeima election, the party "Stability!" drew far stronger support in Latgale than nationwide, helped by aggressive social media campaigning and promises tailored to the region.
LSM · 27 Sept, 09:46
Shelter animals nobody wants twice: Latvia's overlooked pets
Latvian animal shelters house hundreds of pets that, once abandoned, may never find a new home again, as adopters favor small puppies while larger, older or troubled animals are passed over. Shelter directors describe how they care for animals that face a lifetime in shelter care.
Bauskas Dzīve · 27 Sept, 09:45
How border guards search for underground tunnels near Belarus border
A geodesy expert explains that ground-penetrating radar is the most effective way to detect migrant-dug tunnels near the Latvia-Belarus border, where two such tunnels were already found in August.
Latvijas Avīze · 27 Sept, 09:44
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Eight fires extinguished across Latvia in past 24 hours
Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service reported eight fires registered nationwide over the past day, with no injuries in any of the incidents.
Apollo.lv · 27 Sept, 09:44
Estonia urged to become a 'smarter buyer' as drone security spending grows
Estonian expert Kristian Sirp warns that drone technology is evolving faster than state procurement can keep up, calling for rigorous testing and better system integration before major purchases.
ERR (rus) · 27 Sept, 09:42
Sign language animation of Luke's Gospel being made for the deaf
Two organisations are producing a sign language animation of the Gospel of Luke to help deaf and hard-of-hearing people learn about Jesus. The project is eventually planned to expand to more than 300 sign languages.
OgreNet · 27 Sept, 09:41
Kurzeme defence forces conclude Namejs 2026 national defence exercise
The National Defence exercise Namejs 2026 wrapped up on September 20 in the area of the 4th Kurzeme Brigade of the National Guard, involving around 1,500 personnel. The drills tested both conventional defence readiness and response to hybrid threats.
Kurzemnieks · 27 Sept, 08:48
Lithuania's interior minister seeks to restore police warning shots
Lithuania's Interior Ministry is proposing to restore warning shots for police and border guards and loosen some firearms-use restrictions, a move police unions have met with scepticism.
LRT English · 27 Sept, 08:48
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Sunday to bring warmth up to +18°C across Latvia
Sunny weather is expected across much of Latvia on Sunday afternoon, with temperatures rising to as high as +18°C, according to the national weather agency.
TVNET · 27 Sept, 08:46
Gardening tips: how to care for berry bushes after harvest
Experts explain when and how to prune blackcurrants, redcurrants, gooseberries and raspberries after harvest to boost next year's yield, noting that older branches produce fewer berries.
Latvijas Avīze · 27 Sept, 08:45
Ukraine opens honorary consulate in Tartu municipality
An honorary consulate of Ukraine opened in Tartu municipality on Saturday to strengthen Estonia-Ukraine ties and support Ukrainians living in southern Estonia. The office is led by honorary consul Siim Nellis.
ERR News · 27 Sept, 08:43
Cat dumped outside in winter frost finds a new home in Latvia
A cat named Tomiņš, abandoned outdoors during a severe winter cold spell, has found a warm home and a caring owner, Latvian public television reported.
LSM · 27 Sept, 08:42
Sunday, September 27: sun to break through at times, temperatures rising
Sunday morning will bring cloudy skies and patches of fog across Latvia, but the weather is expected to clear up with sunshine appearing in many areas by the afternoon.
LSM (rus) · 27 Sept, 08:41
Līvāni residents urged to attend apartment building meetings
SIA "Līvānu dzīvokļu un komunālā saimniecība" is calling on residents of multi-apartment buildings to attend general meetings to decide on savings funds for future repairs and the election of building representatives. The meeting schedule is available on the company's website.
Jauns.lv · 27 Sept, 08:41
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Speed dating events target women in their forties in Riga
Speed dating events aimed at women around forty are gaining popularity in Riga, offering a way to meet potential partners more efficiently. Dating at this age is described as more challenging than in youth.
Apollo.lv · 27 Sept, 07:48
Election reform: over half of Latvia's parties propose changes to how parliament and president are elected
More than half of the political forces running for Latvia's 15th Saeima have included changes to the electoral system in their campaign platforms, ranging from a popularly elected president to an entirely new voting model. LV portāls compiled which parties propose what.
LV portāls · 27 Sept, 07:46
New Senior Schools Launch in Vidzeme, Inviting Older Residents to Learn and Connect
Senior schools called "Changing Life Stop" have started in Smiltene and Palsmane this September, offering residents aged 65+ practical digital, financial and social skills. The first sessions take place on September 28.
Ziemeļlatvija · 27 Sept, 07:43
What Is Type II Collagen and How Does It Differ From Other Types?
Collagen occurs in several forms throughout the body, and type II collagen is mainly found in cartilage, making it relevant for joint health and physically active people.
Bauskas Dzīve · 27 Sept, 07:41
Hiking through Turlava: the Curonian Kings' heritage and wooden bears
Continuing their series of hikes across Kuldīga municipality's parishes, a group of friends explored Turlava's centre and Ķoniņciems, meeting local heritage researcher Inita Peniķe along the way.
Kurzemnieks · 27 Sept, 07:41
Kõlvart sees no problem in Estonian Centre Party's falling ratings
Support for Estonia's Centre Party has declined for a fourth straight month, but party chairman Mihhail Kõlvart insists backing remains stable. Analysts say it is too early to speak of a major loss of Russian-speaking voters.
ERR (rus) · 27 Sept, 06:45
Students vandalizing school toilets in Jūrmala – parents say issue not isolated
An online post about repeated toilet vandalism at a Jūrmala primary school sparked a wide discussion, with parents and staff confirming similar problems occur at other Latvian schools too.
Latvijas Avīze · 27 Sept, 06:41
Rare protected amphibian — great crested newt — spotted in a Sēlija garden
A woman picking apples in her garden in the Sēlija region came across a great crested newt, a rare, specially protected amphibian species in Latvia. Her online post about the encounter drew widespread attention.
Jauns.lv · 27 Sept, 05:43
Several motorcycles, including police ones, crash during Jelgava parade
An accident during a season-closing motorcycle parade in Jelgava left at least three people injured. Police motorcycles used to manage traffic were also involved in the collision.
Jauns.lv · 27 Sept, 04:46
Estonia launches open database of deceased residents
Estonia's Interior Ministry has opened a public database listing deceased residents to ease verification work for institutions and provide a new resource for historians and genealogists. Death records appear seven days after registration so relatives are not the first to learn of a death through the database.
ERR (rus) · 27 Sept, 02:46
Kutkēviča removed from Rīga East Hospital's supervisory board
The Health Ministry on Friday removed Vineta Kutkēviča from her post on the supervisory board of Rīga East Clinical University Hospital, citing potential conflict-of-interest risks; she left the position on September 26.
Jauns.lv · 27 Sept, 02:45