Latvia & nearby
Kuldīga youth call for a club for older teens and the return of carousels
Two young people from Kuldīga discussed leisure options in the town on the podcast "Kurzemnieks runā," saying older teens lack a gathering spot and residents want carousels back at town festivities. They also raised interest in a bowling alley and karting track.
Kurzemnieks · 26 Aug, 07:35
Police complaint filed against Olympian Aparjods after nightclub-party conflict
A fight broke out at a night party in the Allaži community house involving Olympian Aparjods, and both sides have filed complaints with police. Two administrative offense proceedings have been opened, while one man also contacted the Internal Security Bureau.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 07:35
Liepāja wrestlers top team standings at Latvia's open beach wrestling championship
Latvia's open beach wrestling championship was held in Saldus, where the Liepāja Complex Sports School won first place in the team standings among seventeen teams from three countries. Several Liepāja athletes also claimed individual medals across various age groups.
irLiepāja · 26 Aug, 06:44
16-year-old seasonal worker dies in accident at grain processing plant in Eleja
A 16-year-old seasonal worker died today in an accident at the “Latraps” grain pre-processing complex in Eleja after being run over by a tractor during work. The circumstances are being investigated by relevant authorities.
Bauskas Dzīve · 26 Aug, 06:41
Student hackathon on Latvia's largest wind farm site left out local residents
A Riga Technical University institute held a student hackathon on the future of the Saka parish, but neither residents nor the local municipality were informed, and most students had never visited the area. The article's author says materials used at the event were closely tied to the developer behind a contested wind farm project.
Žurnāls Ir · 26 Aug, 06:40
Opinion: August storm served as an unplanned civil defense drill for Latvia
Columnist Anita Daukšte argues that the August storm and resulting power outages exposed unpreparedness among officials and state institutions, not just citizens. She contends that calls for individual responsibility cannot replace the state's duty to act for the common good.
Latvijas Avīze · 26 Aug, 06:37
Liepāja to open competition exhibition of small artists' plein-air "Breath of the Sea"
From August 28 to October 10, the art salon "Ludviķis" in Liepāja will host a competition exhibition featuring works from the small artists' plein-air event "Breath of the Sea," where visitors can vote for their favorite piece.
irLiepāja · 26 Aug, 05:40
Kurmene village left without power for three days after storm, residents help each other
In the village of Kurmene in Bauska municipality, residents have gone more than three days without electricity or mobile phone service after a powerful storm, though water supply was restored on Tuesday morning. Locals are clearing roads together, sharing generators and trying to save perishable food.
Bauskas Dzīve · 26 Aug, 05:35
After the storm, silence – not darkness – frightened people near the border, says professor Zelče
Following the August 22 storm, residents near the Latvia–Lithuania border were left without electricity, phone service and internet, prompting Latvian University professor Vita Zelče to compare the information vacuum to the 1940 occupation. Her social media post sparked wide debate about state preparedness and the fragility of modern life.
Latvijas Avīze · 26 Aug, 04:42
Liepāja hospital welcomes this year's 400th baby
On August 21, the Liepāja Regional Hospital's maternity ward welcomed its 400th baby of the year – a boy named Gints. Hospital management greeted the family with a commemorative token and gifts.
irLiepāja · 26 Aug, 04:39
No significant rainfall expected in Latvia on Wednesday
Latvia will see partly cloudy weather on Wednesday with no significant precipitation, as temperatures rise to +17...+21 degrees. Riga will have a dry day with highs up to +20 degrees.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 04:35
Liepāja launches introductory phase of "Craft + Design" project on sustainable design
Liepāja's Music, Art and Design Secondary School began the introductory phase of the "Craft + Design" project in June, with students attending guest lectures on material research and sustainable design. The project's practical phase starts in September.
irLiepāja · 26 Aug, 03:39
Horoscope for Wednesday, August 26: order and balance
Wednesday's cosmic backdrop already carries tension from the coming full moon, encouraging people to seek harmony between mind and emotions, while the Sun and Mercury in Virgo boost a love of order. This energy favors paperwork, finances, and physical wellbeing.
Apollo.lv · 26 Aug, 03:39
How to deal with water voles in the garden
Water voles are among the most damaging garden pests because they gnaw through tree roots underground, and getting rid of them is difficult. Gardeners are advised to carefully use poisoned bait or rodent-specific poisoned grain.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 02:41
16-year-old seasonal worker killed in workplace accident in Eleja
A 16-year-old seasonal worker was fatally struck by a tractor while working at "Latraps" grain processing facility in Eleja on Tuesday, dying at the scene. The case has renewed concerns about workplace safety standards at Latvian companies.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 02:37
Estonia to see variable cloudiness Wednesday, temperatures up to +22 degrees
Estonian meteorologists forecast variable cloudiness for Wednesday, with cool, possibly foggy nights giving way to a much warmer day reaching up to 22 degrees. Isolated short showers are expected in places.
ERR (rus) · 26 Aug, 01:43
Jēkabpils county leader criticizes mobile operators' communication during storm
Raivis Ragainis, head of the Jēkabpils county council, criticized several mobile operators for poor communication during the power and telecom outages caused by the recent storm, while praising one operator for keeping the municipality informed.
Delfi · 26 Aug, 01:42
Latvian schools to offer free kefir, yoghurt and honey alongside milk
Latvia's government has approved changes to the "Milk and Fruit for Schools" programme, expanding the range of free products for pupils to include kefir, plain yoghurt and honey. No additional funding is required for the change.
Jauns.lv · 26 Aug, 01:42
Businessman Bergs: The West has grown too used to the luxury of peacetime
Entrepreneur Normunds Bergs said on TV24's "Preses klubs" that Western societies, including Latvia, remain unprepared for crises after too many years of peace, urging clearer state budget priorities for healthcare and border security.
Latvijas Avīze · 26 Aug, 01:41
Wedding in the storm: Anna and Ģirts marry as Latvia hit by devastating storm
Anna and Ģirts held their wedding on the day Latvia was struck by its most destructive storm since 2005, facing broken umbrellas, fallen trees and soaked clothes.
TVNET · 26 Aug, 01:40
Married through the storm: Anna and Ģirts wed on the day Latvia's worst storm since 2005 struck
Couple Anna and Ģirts held their wedding on the day a powerful storm hit Latvia, bringing broken umbrellas, fallen trees and soaked clothing. Forecasters had warned of severe weather in the days before, but the ceremony went ahead regardless.
Apollo.lv · 26 Aug, 01:39
Preiļi Municipality left without power for over 60 hours after storm
Residents of Latvia's Preiļi municipality went more than two days without electricity and communications after a severe storm, with some admitting they had not been sufficiently prepared for such a prolonged outage. Power is now gradually being restored as people rush to buy food and charge phones.
Apollo.lv · 26 Aug, 00:37
Woman warns after recently bought extension cord blows fuses and smells burnt
A woman on social media is warning others after an extension cord bought a few months ago blew her home's fuses and started smelling burnt. Latvia's Fire and Rescue Service reminds people which warning signs indicate a dangerous electrical fault.
Latvijas Avīze · 25 Aug, 23:40
Latvian court upholds life sentence for man who killed his mother while under drug influence
Riga Regional Court has left unchanged a life sentence handed to a man convicted of murdering his mother in 2024. The ruling can still be appealed in cassation.
Delfi · 25 Aug, 23:38
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CEC: parliamentary elections will proceed even during a power outage
The head of Latvia's Central Election Commission, Māris Zviedris, has stated that the upcoming 15th Saeima elections will take place even if there is a power outage.
TVNET · 25 Aug, 23:36
Election commission: Saeima vote will proceed even by candlelight
Central Election Commission head Māris Zviedris says the 15th Saeima elections will go ahead even amid power or communication disruptions, since votes are counted by hand. Contingency plans are also in place for possible air raid alerts.
Jauns.lv · 25 Aug, 23:36
Prisoners sent from Sweden to Tartu don't match what officials promised
Estonian media have found that the first Swedish prisoners transferred to Tartu prison include serious violent offenders rather than the affect-crime or economic offenders authorities had promised residents; Estonia has refused to accept even half of those originally offered.
Delfi · 25 Aug, 22:39
Costa in Tallinn: Defence to get unprecedented share of new EU budget
European Council President Antonio Costa met Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal in Tallinn on Tuesday, with talks focused on the EU's next long-term budget for 2028-2034.
ERR (rus) · 25 Aug, 22:35
Court begins hearing case over more than €20 million money laundering at former Baltic International Bank
The Economic Affairs Court has begun substantive hearings in a criminal case against several officials of the now-insolvent Baltic International Bank, including its largest shareholder Valērijs Belokoņs, who face charges of laundering criminally obtained funds as part of an organized group. The amount involved exceeds €20 million.
TVNET · 25 Aug, 21:41
Narva city council meetings to be held only in Estonian
Narva's city council chairman has decided that council sessions will from now on be conducted solely in Estonian, citing legal requirements, prompting mixed reactions from coalition and opposition politicians.
ERR (rus) · 25 Aug, 20:41
Storm damage forces cancellation of the 18th All-Latvia Horse Days
The All-Latvia Horse Days event, planned in Inčukalns, has been cancelled due to storm damage. Organizers are urging support for the worst-affected stables and horse farms.
Jauns.lv · 25 Aug, 20:40
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Only one candidate registered for Estonia's presidential election
Estonia's Central Election Commission has registered Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise as the sole candidate for the upcoming presidential vote. Parliament is set to hold the election next week.
Apollo.lv · 25 Aug, 20:38
Coalition dispute over education reform shortly before school year begins
Coalition partner 'Jaunā Vienotība' has blocked education minister Ilze Indriksone's proposed amendments to the student grading system, which were meant to take effect from the new school year. Reform proponents have little time left as the school year approaches.
LSM · 25 Aug, 20:38
Around 20,000 customers still without power Tuesday evening in Latvia
By Tuesday evening, four days after a powerful storm, power had been restored to 93% of affected customers in Latvia, but roughly 20,000 still remain without electricity. In some areas supply is cutting out again as broken trees continue falling on lines.
Latvijas Avīze · 25 Aug, 20:37
Kallas: Estonia must finally address teens who fall out of education after basic school
Estonian Education Minister Kristina Kallas says the state must for the first time seriously tackle the issue of thousands of teenagers who disappear from the education system after finishing basic school. Ukrainian war refugees and graduates of Russian-language schools make up a significant share of them.
ERR (rus) · 25 Aug, 19:40
Storm-related power outages force family doctors to discard vaccines
Recent storm-caused power outages left several family doctors' practices unable to keep refrigerated vaccines at the required temperature, forcing them to dispose of the doses. Doctors admit their practices are not adequately prepared for such crisis situations.
LSM · 25 Aug, 18:41