Latvia & nearby
Latvian journalist joins volunteers to reach Ukrainian soldiers near the front
A journalist from Zemgales Ziņas joined a volunteer group delivering homemade drone munitions to Ukrainian troops near the front line, visiting a military unit and hearing how battlefield tactics have changed. He also stayed overnight in a rented farmhouse used by soldiers.
Zemgales Ziņas · 14 Sept, 06:47
Uzulnieks dismissed as welfare minister after drunk driving, Augulis to take over duties
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has dismissed Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks after he was caught driving with a blood alcohol level of 3.09 per mille, with Agriculture Minister Augulis temporarily taking on the ministry's duties.
Delfi · 14 Sept, 06:43
Wet weather delays winter rapeseed and other autumn sowing in Latvia
Many Latvian farmers failed to sow winter rapeseed on all planned fields on time this year due to rainy weather and waterlogged soil. An expert from the Latvian Rural Advisory and Training Centre warns that late sowing reduces yield potential, while excess moisture is also delaying other winter crop planting.
Bauskas Dzīve · 14 Sept, 06:43
PM candidates clash over cost of Latvijas Pasts' rebranding
On TV24's talk show, prime ministerial candidates Jūlija Stepaņenko and Andris Šuvajevs disagreed over the €200,000 spent on rebranding postal company Latvijas Pasts. Stepaņenko called it wasteful, while Šuvajevs urged a more specific, contextual assessment.
Latvijas Avīze · 14 Sept, 05:50
Tallinn's Pikk Street hosts its third annual street festival
Tallinn's Pikk Street held its third street festival, featuring music, exhibitions and hands-on activities. The event coincided with Estonia's Grandparents' Day.
ERR (rus) · 14 Sept, 05:50
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Wormy mushrooms: bin them in the forest or bring them home?
During autumn mushroom season, many Latvian foragers face a recurring dilemma over wormy mushrooms, since forest finds are relished not only by people but also by snails and squirrels.
TVNET · 14 Sept, 05:49
Budanov: As Russia demands everything, Ukraine will keep fighting
Ukraine's presidential administration head Kyrylo Budanov told LETA in an interview that Russia shows no genuine intent to end the war and keeps making unrealistic ultimatum-style demands. He said Ukraine will continue fighting until Moscow changes its stance.
Bauskas Dzīve · 14 Sept, 05:45
Progressives' election list overshadowed by scandals and government crisis
A month before Latvia's 15th Saeima elections, support for the Progressives party hovers around nine percent in polls, down from over 13% in early 2024, after a series of scandals and a spring government collapse.
Jauns.lv · 14 Sept, 05:43
ZZS sharply condemns minister's drunk driving incident
After reports that Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks was caught driving drunk, his party ZZS issued a strong condemnation and moved to expel him, while the prime minister has already relieved him of his duties.
Latvijas Avīze · 14 Sept, 04:50
Police complete investigation into alleged long-running insolvency fraud scheme
Latvian police have concluded an extensive investigation into an alleged long-term fraud scheme in which a legal office promised debt-ridden clients help starting insolvency proceedings even when this was not legally possible. Fifty-seven people have been recognized as victims.
LSM · 14 Sept, 04:49
Family in Ogre region builds raspberry farm over ten years
Ineta and Dzintars Bulavs moved from Riga to the countryside in Krape parish ten years ago and started growing autumn raspberries, which now cover several hectares. The family also grows and processes fruit and vegetables at the farm.
LSM (rus) · 14 Sept, 03:50
Analyst warns: cute dog-and-child videos online can hide real danger
After a dog attack injured six children at a Carnikava kindergarten, political analyst Filips Rajevskis warned that popular social media videos of dogs playing sweetly with children can be misleading. He stressed that children should never be left alone with a dog, even one that seems friendly.
Latvijas Avīze · 14 Sept, 03:49
Latvian Interior Ministry sees no grounds to strip oligarch Aven's citizenship
While the EU is still deciding whether to extend sanctions on people linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, Latvian-based oligarch Pyotr Aven's citizenship appears secure, as the Interior Ministry sees no basis for revoking it even after a change of political leadership.
LSM · 14 Sept, 03:49
Estonian transition-school students struggle more with math, experts say
PISA test results again show a persistent gap in math performance between Estonian-language schools and so-called transition schools, with experts citing language barriers and a teacher shortage as key causes.
ERR (rus) · 14 Sept, 03:48
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Estonian company in Riga's Vef quarter tried to prove its property was a "derelict building" in court
An Estonian-owned investment company that owns a property in Riga's Vef quarter went to court trying to get its building officially classified as derelict, hoping to avoid a certain fee, but lost the case.
Apollo.lv · 14 Sept, 02:50
Latvian parliament advances bill removing insolvency administrators from anti-money-laundering subject list
On September 10, Latvia's Saeima sent several bills to committee, including one excluding insolvency process administrators from the scope of the anti-money-laundering law and from special sanctions oversight. The changes follow the planned liquidation of the Insolvency Control Service.
LV portāls · 14 Sept, 00:43
Estonian orchard owners celebrate rich apple harvest despite cool summer
Estonian growers report an unusually abundant apple harvest this year, though hail damaged fruit in several orchards, pushing much of the crop toward juice production instead of direct sale. Owners say the taste and size of the apples remain excellent despite the unpredictable summer weather.
ERR (rus) · 13 Sept, 23:51
Massive pike caught in Lake Ungurs, but Latvia's record still stands
Angler Roberts Valters caught a 15.7-kilogram, 125-centimeter pike in Lake Ungurs. The national record, held by the same lake for over 35 years, remains unbroken.
Jauns.lv · 13 Sept, 23:43
Former dairy plant site in central Riga to become mixed-use "Fabrika" quarter
A €45 million project called "Fabrika" is underway on Valmieras iela in Riga, on the site of a former dairy plant, combining restored historic buildings with new construction. Completion is planned for early 2028.
Delfi · 13 Sept, 22:52
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No grounds yet to strip Aven of Latvian citizenship, security services say
Latvian public broadcaster's programme "De facto" reports that Russian billionaire Pjotr Aven, who resides in Latvia, currently cannot be stripped of his Latvian citizenship because security services lack sufficient evidence to justify such a decision.
Apollo.lv · 13 Sept, 21:49
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EU set to extend sanctions on Russia-linked individuals, including Riga resident Avens
EU member states must agree by Tuesday to extend sanctions on more than 3,000 individuals linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the process delayed by Slovak objections. The list includes Latvia-based former oligarch Pyotr Aven.
TVNET · 13 Sept, 21:46
Witnesses say minister Uzulnieks seemed normal at election debate hours before his detention
Attendees of a pre-election debate reject unofficial claims that Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks was intoxicated during the event, though he was detained later that same day roughly 70 kilometers away.
Jauns.lv · 13 Sept, 20:43
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Court in Dobele to hear case of over €85,000 fraud via Russian call centre
Zemgale District Court in Dobele will begin hearing a criminal case on October 1 against five Latvian citizens accused of defrauding people of more than €85,000 through a call centre operating in Russia.
TVNET · 13 Sept, 19:49
New business district planned on site of former dairy plant in Pärnu
A developer plans to build a business district with companies, entertainment venues and a multifunctional hall on the site of a former dairy plant in Pärnu. Construction could start within a couple of years and cost 50–60 million euros.
ERR (rus) · 13 Sept, 19:43
Arborist explains how much of an old cherry tree's branches can safely be cut
Arborist Edgars Neilands warns that overly aggressive pruning of an eight-metre-tall cherry tree can do more harm than good. He recommends removing no more than about 30-50% of its leaf canopy per year.
Latvijas Avīze · 13 Sept, 18:45
A giant puddle has plagued Purvciems residents for years — who will drain it?
Residents of Riga's Purvciems neighborhood have long complained about a large puddle that hampers movement, with the issue complicated by the site not belonging to the city.
LSM (rus) · 13 Sept, 17:50
Election commission explains why Uzulnieks stays on ballot despite 3.09 per mille incident
Latvia's Central Election Commission says former welfare minister Reinis Uzulnieks, caught driving heavily intoxicated, cannot be removed from the Saeima election candidate list because that requires a court ruling, which does not exist, and there is no time left to reprint ballots.
BNN · 13 Sept, 17:49
Lithuania's air raid alert triggered by flock of birds, not a drone
An air raid alert issued around Vilnius over a suspected drone was lifted after NATO fighter jets confirmed the radar contact was actually a flock of birds, Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre has officially confirmed.
Latvijas Avīze · 13 Sept, 17:48
Election commission: Uzulnieks cannot be removed from ballot
Central Election Commission chairman Māris Zviedris explained that Welfare Minister Reinis Uzulnieks cannot be struck from the Saeima election candidate list over a drunk-driving case, due to lack of legal grounds and time constraints. Uzulnieks is being relieved of his ministerial duties, replaced temporarily by Uldis Augulis.
Jauns.lv · 13 Sept, 17:44
Latvian citizen detained in Krāslava region for transporting seven illegal border-crossers
Armed Forces soldiers stopped a car in Ezernieki parish carrying seven people without valid documents who had previously crossed the Belarus-Latvia border illegally. The Latvian citizen driving the vehicle now faces criminal proceedings.
Delfi · 13 Sept, 16:51
Lithuania scrambles jets and briefly halts flights after alert turns out to be a flock of birds
An alert over a possible drone in the Vilnius region on Sunday led to NATO jets scrambling and flights being suspended, but the radar signals turned out to be caused by a flock of birds. The alert lasted about 38 minutes.
Pravda — ziņas · 13 Sept, 16:46
Election commission cannot yet remove Uzulnieks from parliamentary candidate list
Although the Union of Greens and Farmers has dismissed Reinis Uzulnieks as welfare minister and expelled him from the party following his arrest for drunk driving, Latvia's Central Election Commission says it cannot yet strike him from the parliamentary election list.
Delfi · 13 Sept, 15:50
Latvian welfare minister removed after drunk-driving arrest
The Union of Greens and Farmers has recalled Reinis Uzulnieks from his post as welfare minister and expelled him from the party after police detained him for driving with a blood alcohol level of 3.5 per mille. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has issued an order releasing him from the position.
ERR (rus) · 13 Sept, 15:49
Political scientist: sacking Uzulnieks as minister may not hurt ZZS at the polls
After Reinis Uzulnieks was removed as welfare minister and expelled from the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS) over a drunk-driving case, experts note he still remains the party's lead candidate in Zemgale for the upcoming Saeima elections. Political scientist Jānis Ikstens believes the scandal may not significantly affect the party's overall result.
Latvijas Avīze · 13 Sept, 15:46
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Ombudsman finds no deliberate spread of false claims about Dombrava's letter
Latvia's public electronic media ombudsman Edmunds Apsalons has concluded that public broadcaster LSM did not knowingly spread false information about Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava's letter to Spain on the migrant crisis, though the outlet failed to sufficiently substantiate its claims.
TVNET · 13 Sept, 15:44
After the storm, people are rushing to buy generators — but how much power do they actually need?
Following a recent storm that left tens of thousands of households without electricity, people are rushing to buy generators and battery packs, but many are unsure what capacity these devices actually need to have.
LSM (rus) · 13 Sept, 15:44