Latvia & nearby
Finnish operator Sokos weighs extending Viru Hotel lease in Tallinn
Finnish hotel operator Sokos is negotiating whether to extend its lease at Tallinn's Viru Hotel, even as it prepares to open a new hotel in the city's Talsinki district in 2029. Sokotel's 2025 results still showed a loss, though it narrowed from the previous year.
ERR News · 26 Aug, 15:35
Lithuania declares nationwide emergency after severe storm damage
Lithuania's government declared a nationwide emergency on Wednesday following a weekend storm that caused extensive damage to crops, livestock and farm infrastructure. The move is meant to help farmers meet obligations and allow the government to seek EU assistance and use state reserves.
LRT English · 26 Aug, 14:41
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PM: Those affected by CSDD cyber incident should get free licence plate replacement
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs says people affected by a cyber incident at Latvia's Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) should be allowed to replace their vehicle licence plates free of charge. He is calling for a solution so that affected residents do not bear the financial burden.
TVNET · 26 Aug, 14:39
Power supply to storm-hit customers to be restored by Friday
Sadales tīkls plans to fully restore electricity supply to all customers affected by the recent storm by Friday, August 28, the company's representative Ilze Dimante told LETA.
LSM (rus) · 26 Aug, 14:38
After destructive storm, Latvia to draft plan for mobile network resilience in crises
Latvia's transport minister has ordered mobile operators and partners to prepare an action plan by September 11 to strengthen communications resilience during emergencies, following an August storm that cut off communications for many residents.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 14:38
Valmiera family of sheep farmers finds room in their home for foster children
Ilze and Valters Mitāns, who run the “Jēru klubs” sheep farm in Valmiera municipality, have for several years also served as foster parents to children unable to grow up with their biological families. Their story was shared as part of the Welfare Ministry's campaign “Give children a loving family!”
Latvijas Avīze · 26 Aug, 14:36
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Some 74,000 customers in Lithuania still without power after storm
Days after a weekend storm hit Lithuania, around 74,000 customers still have no electricity, the national grid operator ESO told the BNS news agency.
TVNET · 26 Aug, 13:39
Young seasonal worker killed in tractor accident at Latraps grain facility in Eleja
A seasonal worker died after being hit by a tractor at the Latraps grain processing complex in Eleja; the State Labour Inspectorate and police are investigating the circumstances.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 13:36
Ukrainian war veteran from Hostomel recovers in Latvia and helps inspire others
Ukrainian soldier Dmytro Rybachenko, who has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Vaivari centre in Latvia since being wounded at the front in autumn 2022, continues working to regain his mobility while advocating for wounded servicemen in Ukraine.
LSM (rus) · 26 Aug, 13:35
Riga police to step up traffic safety checks near schools ahead of new year
Ahead of the new school year, police in Riga will increase monitoring near schools and kindergartens to prevent risks to children's safety on the road. The news agency LETA reported this.
LSM (rus) · 26 Aug, 12:40
Estonian pig farmers seek state aid as EU market oversupply hits prices
Estonian pig producers are operating at a loss after African swine fever closed export markets and flooded the EU with surplus pork, pushing prices below production costs. Industry representatives have asked the government for emergency support.
ERR News · 26 Aug, 12:39
Banks: Estonia's economy is improving, but people remain unconvinced
SEB and Swedbank economists forecast continued GDP growth for Estonia in the coming years, yet consumer confidence remains stubbornly low.
ERR (rus) · 26 Aug, 12:37
Storm-related power outages disrupt family doctors' work, spoil vaccines
Power outages caused by a major storm have disrupted services at several family doctor practices across Latvia and led to spoiled refrigerated vaccines. The National Health Service urges people to contact clinics before visiting.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 11:40
Unlicensed driver fined €1,000 for speeding in Tukums district
Police stopped an unlicensed driver on the Ventspils highway in Tukums district who was going more than 60 km/h over the limit, resulting in a combined €1,000 fine.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 11:39
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Farmers hit by storms and flooding can keep support eligibility despite unmet conditions
Farmers whose fields were damaged by storms or flooding will be allowed to keep their eligibility for already-requested support even if they cannot meet some conditions, provided they notify the Rural Support Service in time.
TVNET · 26 Aug, 11:39
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Latvia's Education Ministry allocates nearly €150,000 to bridge championships in Riga
Latvia's Education and Science Ministry has allocated funding to seven European and world championships being held in Riga this year, with more than half going to the Latvian Bridge Federation. An explanation of the allocation has been requested.
Apollo.lv · 26 Aug, 11:39
Estonian investor's planned buyout of Rīgas piena kombināts sparks concern over popular Latvian cheese brand
News that Estonian company Falber Investments has agreed to acquire the Rīgas piena kombināts group, including Valmieras piens, has triggered online discussion about whether the beloved 'Kārums' curd snack brand might change.
Latvijas Avīze · 26 Aug, 11:36
Weather set to shift in Latvia this weekend as rain returns
Forecasters say Latvia will see rain arrive on Saturday after a warm, dry stretch, with heavier showers possible in parts of the country next week.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 10:39
Debelak: Freedom arrived in Estonia, but the awakening must continue
ERR News has published an essay by Rohke Debelak reflecting on how, roughly 35 years ago, Western goods and market economy reshaped Estonian society after the Soviet collapse.
ERR News · 26 Aug, 10:39
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Two fatal accidents involving tractors reported in Latvia on Tuesday
Latvia's State Police confirmed two separate fatal accidents involving tractor machinery occurred on Tuesday, news agency LETA reported.
Apollo.lv · 26 Aug, 10:36
State forestry authority explains how to handle storm-damaged protected trees
Latvia's Nature Conservation Agency has reminded landowners that damage to a nationally protected old-growth tree caused by a storm must be reported, with the required response depending on whether the tree poses an immediate danger.
LSM · 26 Aug, 10:35
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Robbery investigation concluded in Daugavpils after victim had bag pulled over head
State Police have concluded an investigation into a robbery in Daugavpils, where unknown men put a bag over the victim's head and stole his handbag. The incident took place in late June this year.
Apollo.lv · 26 Aug, 09:38
MEP urges Lithuania to seek EU aid over storm damage
European Parliament member Virginijus Sinkevičius has called on Lithuania to apply to the European Commission for financial help after a severe weekend storm caused major damage. Latvia, hit by the same storm, is also weighing a similar application.
LRT English · 26 Aug, 09:37
Underage worker dies at Latraps grain processing facility in Eleja
Two fatal accidents involving tractor machinery occurred in Latvia on Tuesday, one of them at the Latraps grain pre-processing facility in Eleja, where an underage worker died. The State Police confirmed the information to the LETA news agency.
LSM · 26 Aug, 09:36
Supreme Court: complaint over Latgalian-language submission to guardianship court must be heard in full
Latvia's Supreme Court has ruled that a case concerning a municipal guardianship court's refusal to respond to a Latgalian-language submission is legally complex enough to require a full court hearing rather than summary dismissal. The case involves a person whose Latgalian-written filings to the Tukums municipality guardianship court went unanswered on the merits.
LaKuga · 26 Aug, 08:42
Storm also disrupted emergency medical service operations, says Cipule
NMPD director Liene Cipule says the weekend's severe storm most severely disrupted the emergency medical service through prolonged communication failures, with even radios going silent and some crews vanishing from tracking. Three days after the storm, about 11,000 customers in Latvia still lack power.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 08:42
Saeima elections will go ahead even without electricity, says CEC head
The head of Latvia's Central Election Commission, Māris Zviedris, says possible power or mobile network outages will not stop the October Saeima elections from taking place. He made the statement on Latvian Television's programme "Viens pret vienu".
LSM (rus) · 26 Aug, 08:40
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Latvia's emergency medical service reports communication gaps during weekend storm
The head of Latvia's Emergency Medical Service, Liene Cipule, says the weekend storm caused serious communication disruptions, with some ambulance crews briefly disappearing from tracking systems.
Apollo.lv · 26 Aug, 08:39
Luge athlete and police officer Kristers Aparjods involved in altercation with teenager in Allaži
A conflict at a night dance in Allaži's community house involved Olympic luger Kristers Aparjods and a 14-year-old teenager's family, prompting two administrative violation cases and a complaint to the Internal Security Bureau.
Latvijas Avīze · 26 Aug, 08:38
Tartu short on mooring spots for small boats
The Estonian city of Tartu has more small boats than available mooring spots, with a city-commissioned study finding the current roughly 400 spots need to roughly double.
ERR (rus) · 26 Aug, 08:36
Economist: Latvia must urgently confront demographic decline and immigration policy
Luminor Bank's chief economist Pēteris Strautiņš warns that Latvia has only a few years left to decide on immigration policy before shrinking, aging population trends become irreversible. He says a well-managed immigration approach could help preserve the country's critical mass for development.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 08:35
Grundzāle holds its first-ever parish festival
The Grundzāle parish in Smiltene municipality held its first parish festival on August 22, with rain and strong wind forcing organizers to move part of the event indoors. The highlight was the premiere of the amateur theatre group's new play "Pilsētnieki".
Ziemeļlatvija · 26 Aug, 07:42
Depopulation named main problem of Latvia's eastern border region
A new episode of Latvian Television's investigative show "Aizliegtais paņēmiens" looks not at border security but at everyday life in the Latgale border area, where the main problem is a lack of people.
LSM (rus) · 26 Aug, 07:40
EKRE slips to fifth place in Estonian party ratings
A new survey shows Isamaa still leads Estonia's party ratings, while EKRE has lost support over the past month and dropped to fifth place.
ERR (rus) · 26 Aug, 07:39
Rundāle Palace to host Baroque music concert exploring emotion and affect
On September 5, Rundāle Palace's White Hall will host the ensemble Džezbaroks performing a concert titled 'To Explain and to Feel: Affects and Elements,' exploring Baroque-era ideas about music and emotion. It forms part of the concert series 'Conversations in the Palace with Music.'
Bauskas Dzīve · 26 Aug, 07:37
11,000 customers still without power three days after storm
Three days after a destructive storm, power supply has been restored to about 96% of affected customers, but roughly 11,000 households are still waiting for electricity to return. Grid operator Sadales tīkls continues intensive repair work.
LSM · 26 Aug, 07:36