Latvia & nearby (158)

Sunday to bring mixed weather in Latvia, with rain in places and highs up to 23 degrees

Latvia's Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre forecasts a partly cloudy Sunday with scattered rain and moderate warmth of up to 23 degrees. A night thunderstorm is possible in some areas.

Latvijas Avīze · 29 Aug, 15:35

Cyclist killed after being hit by bus in Riga, over a dozen injured in road accidents nationwide

State Police have opened a criminal investigation after a bus struck two cyclists in Riga, killing one of them. Across Latvia yesterday, 14 people were injured in traffic accidents and nearly 500 violations were recorded.

Delfi · 29 Aug, 14:42

Ancient Bonfires organizer: Three fires reported from the US this year

Mairold Vaik, organizer of Estonia's Night of Ancient Bonfires, says three bonfire reports came in from the United States this year, along with reports from Latvia, Sweden and Finland.

ERR News · 29 Aug, 14:38

Justice minister responds to hunger strike and complaints at new Liepāja prison

Latvia's justice minister Edvards Smiltēns has addressed inmate protests at the new Liepāja prison, saying security rules and efforts to curb prison subculture will not be relaxed. Prison administration confirms four inmates are refusing food, while inmates themselves speak of dozens.

BNN · 29 Aug, 13:38

Fully covered face of Riga food courier sparks online debate over face-covering rules

A photo of a food delivery courier riding through Riga with his face almost completely covered has triggered a social media debate about facial visibility in public spaces. Opinions split between those citing safety concerns and those pointing to a practical need for protection from cold weather.

Latvijas Avīze · 29 Aug, 13:34

Riga launches open-door days for extracurricular education

Riga is holding two weeks of open-door days where anyone can try out extracurricular classes for free. The initiative comes as more children increasingly choose STEM-related activities.

LSM · 29 Aug, 12:37

Riga Airport to host Sunday gathering in support of families of Latvians missing in Nepal

Following devastating floods in Nepal and a mudslide in Tibet, Riga Airport is hosting a gathering on Sunday to support those awaiting news of loved ones. Latvia's Foreign Ministry has records of 39 Latvian tourists in Nepal, with 29 currently unreachable.

Jauns.lv · 29 Aug, 12:36

Estonian education minister: teachers and parents' responsibilities for children have become unbalanced

Estonia's Education and Research Minister Kristina Kallas says teachers today carry an unrealistic burden while parents should take on more responsibility for raising children. She also revealed that around 1,600 Estonian students still don't know which school they'll attend this fall.

ERR News · 29 Aug, 12:34

Minister: Liepāja Prison respects inmates' rights, will not compromise on security

Justice Minister Edvards Smiltēns has commented on social media about unrest at the new Liepāja Prison, stressing the facility was built to meet Latvian and international standards.

LSM · 29 Aug, 11:38

Estonia bids farewell to former PM Siim Kallas with state honors

Former Estonian Prime Minister Siim Kallas, who died on August 22 at age 77, is being laid to rest with state honors on Saturday. The funeral procession passed through Tallinn, stopping at several state institutions before a ceremony at the Estonia Concert Hall.

ERR News · 29 Aug, 11:35

Sillamäe seeks to remove councillor Vladimir Vysotsky from education committee

The chair of Sillamäe city council's education and culture committee has proposed removing fellow Centre Party councillor Vladimir Vysotsky over repeated absences. Vysotsky disputes the move and says he will keep working on residents' issues.

ERR (rus) · 29 Aug, 11:34

Wasp nest found in observation tower at Randu Meadows, visitors urged to be cautious

The North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve has warned visitors to the Randu Meadows trail about a wasp nest discovered in the observation tower near the fifth birdhouse. People are advised to exercise caution in that area.

Jauns.lv · 29 Aug, 11:33

Latvian Armed Forces reviewing possible license plate changes after CSDD cyber incident

The National Armed Forces (NBS) are assessing whether to change license plates on their vehicles following a cyberattack on Latvia's road traffic safety directorate (CSDD) and a possible resulting data leak. The information was confirmed to the LETA agency by the NBS.

TVNET · 29 Aug, 10:40

Lithuania dismantles Soviet-era Ignalina nuclear plant as Europe embraces nuclear revival

While nuclear power is enjoying a renaissance across Europe, Lithuania continues dismantling its only nuclear plant, Ignalina, with decommissioning set to run until 2050. The project is now entering its hardest phase, removing the reactor cores, something never before done for this reactor type.

LRT English · 29 Aug, 10:40

A year on, fate of Saaremaa's dismantled war memorial still undecided

Nearly a year after the Väike-Linnape war memorial in Kuressaare was taken down to allow reburial of civilian war victims, Saaremaa's municipal government still hasn't decided whether or where to restore it, with the dolomite stones at risk of ending up as landfill fill.

ERR News · 29 Aug, 10:36

Pumpkin grower explains how to help fruit ripen bigger and sweeter in autumn

Pumpkin grower Ilze Venterzute from Pūre parish explains that extra feeding and warmth help pumpkins ripen better during a longer autumn. She also advises against trimming vines and warns against nitrogen fertilizer at this stage.

Latvijas Avīze · 29 Aug, 10:36

Latvian MPs received nearly €19,000 in compensation in July

Members of Latvia's Saeima received a total of €18,951.16 in July in compensation for transport and housing rental expenses, according to data published by the parliament.

Apollo.lv · 29 Aug, 10:34

Forest fire drills held near Smiltene, testing ground and air response

Multiple Latvian agencies took part in forest fire response exercises in Launkalne parish, Smiltene municipality, despite the absence of major forest fires in the country in recent years.

LSM (rus) · 29 Aug, 10:33

More voters turning to AI for advice on who to vote for

Ahead of Latvia's parliamentary elections, a growing number of voters are asking artificial intelligence tools which party to support, even as the line between neutral information and influence proves blurry.

LSM (rus) · 29 Aug, 09:40

Estonia's smallest schools to welcome only a handful of first-graders this fall

Several small rural schools in Estonia will open the new school year with only a few new pupils, though municipalities say closures are not currently planned. Officials note that restructuring, such as reducing grade levels, may become necessary within the next five years.

ERR News · 29 Aug, 09:37

Trolleybus fatally hits cyclist in Riga

A trolleybus collided with a cyclist near the Deglava bridge in Riga on Friday, August 28, and the cyclist died as a result of the crash. State Police are investigating the circumstances.

Jauns.lv · 29 Aug, 09:33

Saturday to bring warmth up to +23°C in Latvia, with rain in places

On Saturday, August 29, temperatures in Latvia will rise to +23°C, but a precipitation zone moving in from the west will bring brief rain showers in some areas.

TVNET · 29 Aug, 09:07

Ogre municipality sees twice as many deaths as births in a week

Between August 20 and 26, five newborns were registered in Ogre municipality while ten residents passed away, according to the local Civil Registry Office.

OgreNet · 29 Aug, 09:05

Saturday to bring stronger winds and rain to Latvia

Forecasters say wind will pick up across Latvia on Saturday, August 29, with rain arriving from the west in the afternoon.

LSM (rus) · 29 Aug, 09:04

Nature protection official: Latvia lacks unified approach to habitat protection

Gita Strode, director of the Nature Conservation Department at Latvia's Nature Conservation Agency, says the country lacks a consistent approach to protecting species and habitats outside designated protected zones. She notes growing polarization in public attitudes toward nature protection.

Kurzemnieks · 29 Aug, 09:03

Estonia's Defense Ministry to temporarily take over EDF asset management

Following a National Audit Office recommendation, Estonia's Defense Ministry will temporarily assume management of the Defense Forces' assets to fix inventory record-keeping issues. Minister Hanno Pevkur says the function should return to the Defense Forces within six months to a year.

ERR News · 29 Aug, 09:02

Rail works to add an hour to South Estonia–Tallinn morning train journey

From August 31, the morning train from Põlva and Koidula to Tallinn will take about an hour longer due to a longer transfer wait in Tartu. Elron says the change is due to repair works on the rail infrastructure between Tapa and Tartu.

ERR (rus) · 29 Aug, 09:02

How to organize a child's room before the new school year – tips from an interior designer

Interior designer Anna Ilmere shares practical advice on setting up a child's bedroom so that a student can easily maintain order and focus on schoolwork. The key principle is giving every item its own, easily reachable place.

Ziemeļlatvija · 29 Aug, 09:01

Insurers already receive over 4,800 claims after last week's storm

The Latvian Insurers Association reports more than 4,800 insurance claims filed after last weekend's storm, with 424,000 euros already paid out and 8.05 million euros reserved for further compensation.

Bauskas Dzīve · 29 Aug, 09:01

Riga council temporarily closes mobility survey after public criticism

Riga City Council's survey on residents' mobility habits was live for less than a day before officials paused it to make it clearer and more user-friendly.

Delfi · 29 Aug, 08:08

MMN candidate Ē. Pucens pledges to reform election rules and protect private property

Kuldīga municipal councillor and We Change the Rules (MMN) party candidate Ēriks Pucens is running for the 15th Saeima, promising electoral reform and stronger private property protections. He also detailed his political and business background.

Kurzemnieks · 29 Aug, 08:04

Riga flower shop highlights fast delivery and fresh stock for holiday orders

Riga-based flower shop "Ziedu Ekspresis" offers online flower ordering with delivery, combining a large flower stock, wide assortment and add-on gifts. The company emphasizes speed, freshness and convenience as key benefits for customers during celebrations.

Bauskas Dzīve · 29 Aug, 08:03

Cloudy Saturday expected across Latvia with rain in some areas

A precipitation zone moving in from the west will bring variable cloudiness and scattered showers across Latvia on Saturday, with temperatures reaching up to +23 degrees.

OgreNet · 29 Aug, 08:01

Brief rain expected in parts of Latvia on Saturday

A precipitation zone moving in from the west will cause skies over Latvia to gradually cloud over on Saturday, bringing brief rain in some areas, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.

Apollo.lv · 29 Aug, 08:01