Latvia & nearby (19)

Edvards Smiltens elected Speaker of Latvia's 15th Saeima

Edvards Smiltens of the political force United List has been elected Speaker of the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, for a second time. He received 79 votes in favour, with 15 against.

BNN · 3 Nov, 16:09

Icing possible on Latvian roads on Wednesday morning

Forecasters expect air temperatures in many parts of Latvia to fall slightly below zero on Wednesday night and in the morning. Ice may form on some road sections.

LSM · 3 Nov, 15:11

New electric trains to start running on Estonia's Tartu line in February

Rail infrastructure work between Tallinn and Tartu in Estonia is due to finish in mid-January, cutting the journey to 1 hour 55 minutes. Operator Elron plans to introduce its new Škoda electric trains on the route in February.

ERR News · 3 Nov, 15:10

Light frost expected in Latvia overnight, with possible icy roads

Light frost is forecast across much of Latvia overnight into Wednesday and in the morning, so some road sections may ice over. Daytime highs will range from +3 to +11 degrees.

Latvijas Avīze · 3 Nov, 15:09

Riga Raids Catch Drunk Drivers, Including a Woman With a Child in the Car

Police and vehicle inspectors in Riga detained six drunk drivers and removed number plates from six vehicles. One intoxicated driver had a small child in the car.

NRA · 3 Nov, 15:09

Herem: Estonia must accept that sustaining its defense capabilities may get harder

Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem told ERR that, because of the threat from Russia, the country must quickly build up certain defense capabilities even if maintaining them later proves harder. He stressed that new proposals for the defense development plan do not necessarily require extra funding.

ERR (rus) · 3 Nov, 15:09

Bark beetles damage Limbaži's main Christmas tree, which will have to be felled

Bark beetles have damaged the main Christmas tree on Baumaņu Kārļa Square in the Latvian town of Limbaži. The local municipality says the tree will have to be cut down.

LSM (rus) · 3 Nov, 14:11

Liepiņa again recites the Lord's Prayer before taking deputy's oath

Linda Liepiņa, a member of Latvia's 15th Saeima from the party "Latvia First", recited the Lord's Prayer before taking her oath, as she did at the first sitting of the 14th Saeima. She then swore the oath and signed it.

Diena · 3 Nov, 14:11

Five deputies forced to repeat their oath at first session of Latvia's 15th Saeima

Five members of Latvia's newly elected parliament, the 15th Saeima, had to repeat their solemn pledge at its first sitting because they misstated the text. The Saeima then voted on confirming the deputies' mandates.

BNN · 3 Nov, 14:11

Tallinn Wants to Sell Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre a Plot on Sakala Street

Tallinn's city government has proposed selling a plot at Sakala 19 to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre for €780,000. The academy plans to build a modern performing arts teaching centre there.

ERR (rus) · 3 Nov, 14:09

Petrol Station Broken Into in Narva-Jõesuu, Two Suspects Detained

Thieves forced a door at a petrol station in Narva-Jõesuu, Estonia, overnight into 3 November and took a cash register with cash. Police detained two men about two hours later.

ERR (rus) · 3 Nov, 13:09

Survey: 28% of Latvian residents consider their workplace pay system unfair

A survey by research company Norstat finds that 28% of Latvian residents consider their workplace pay system unfair, rising to 34% among working people. Lower-paid staff and non-managers report this more often.

NRA · 3 Nov, 13:08

Estonian cyber authority: Motives behind Selver fridge hack not yet known

A spokesperson for Estonia's Information System Authority (RIA) says the motives for Monday's cyber attack on supermarket chain Selver's refrigeration equipment are unclear. There is so far no evidence that artificial intelligence was used.

ERR News · 3 Nov, 12:11

Two TVNET GRUPA Editors Among Finalists for Baltic Freedom of Speech Award

Two editors from the media company TVNET GRUPA are among the finalists for the 2026 Peter Greste Baltic Freedom of Speech Award. The laureates will be honoured in Riga on 5 November.

TVNET · 3 Nov, 12:10

Storms damaged forests more than bark beetles this year

Latvia's State Forest Service has found that bark beetle damage to forests fell considerably this year, while the number of trees damaged or felled by storms rose significantly.

LSM (rus) · 3 Nov, 12:09

Estonia plans to reduce number of doctor-led ambulance crews

Estonia's Ministry of Social Affairs wants to cut back its 13 doctor-led ambulance crews. Medics are divided, and the impact on jobs remains unclear.

ERR News · 3 Nov, 11:11

Head of Estonian Theatre Union: Theatre Ticket Prices Should Be Lower

Gert Raudsep, chairman of the Estonian Theatre Union, says high prices are a bigger problem than hard-to-get tickets. On Monday, tickets for the Estonian Drama Theatre's January and February shows sold out within minutes.

ERR (rus) · 3 Nov, 11:11

Police ask public to help find missing woman Inese Ancāne

The State Police are searching for Inese Ancāne, born in 1980, who has been missing since July this year after leaving her home in Augšdaugava municipality. Police are asking the public for any information about her whereabouts.

Jauns.lv · 3 Nov, 11:10

“School of Creativity” Opens for Teens in Gaujiena

Seventh- and eighth-grade pupils of the Ojārs Vācietis Gaujiena Comprehensive and Arts Primary School took part in the first event of the “School in the Community” project during the October break. It focused on teamwork, creativity and planning a creative camp.

Ziemeļlatvija · 3 Nov, 11:09

Kalsnava Parish Administration Invites Residents to a Meeting on 10 November

The Kalsnava parish administration is holding a meeting with residents at the parish house at 5:30 p.m. on 10 November. It will cover housing management, planned works and other current issues.

Stars (Madona) · 3 Nov, 11:09

Valka Municipality Launches Financial Stabilisation Process

The municipality of Valka in Latvia can no longer pay its creditors on time and has decided to start a financial stabilisation process. Finance Ministry data show it has the highest debt burden of any local government in the country.

LSM (rus) · 3 Nov, 11:08

Kučinskis to lead United List faction in Saeima, with Melnalksnis and Bergmanis as deputies

Māris Kučinskis, the outgoing finance minister, will head the United List faction, the largest in Latvia's newly elected 15th Saeima. Dāvis Melnalksnis and Raimonds Bergmanis will serve as his deputies.

NRA · 3 Nov, 11:08

Illegal Migration to Estonia Has Eased, but May Rise Again in Spring

Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) says fewer illegal migrants have been caught in recent weeks than it had forecast. An official expects numbers could climb again next spring.

ERR News · 3 Nov, 10:11

Madona basketball team BK Madona/BJSS to host BK Līvāni on Friday

On Friday, 6 November, basketball team BK Madona/BJSS will play at home against BK Līvāni in the Aizdevums.lv Regional Basketball League regular season. Fans are invited to attend.

Stars (Madona) · 3 Nov, 10:11

Fire hits production hangar on Lejupes Street in Ādaži

A fire broke out on Sunday, 1 November, in a production hangar on Lejupes Street in Ādaži, Latvia. Rescuers needed several hours to bring it under control, and nobody was injured.

Apollo.lv · 3 Nov, 10:11

Kulbergs in no hurry over government formation as new Saeima convenes

Latvia's new parliament, the Saeima, begins work, but government formation led by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs is moving slowly. Political scientist Iveta Kažoka describes the talks as chaotic, with no visible strategy.

Staburags · 3 Nov, 10:10

Expert: Latvian Voters Are Demanding and Being a Lawmaker Is Getting Harder

Constitutional law expert Jānis Pleps says voters in Latvia are demanding toward the deputies they voted for. In his view, the job of a Saeima member is becoming more difficult.

LSM (rus) · 3 Nov, 10:10

State-funded eye doctor visits at Valka polyclinic may end next year

There is a risk that from 1 January 2027 the Valka polyclinic in northern Latvia will no longer offer state-funded ophthalmologist services. The local municipality is negotiating with the Ministry of Health, the hospital and the National Health Service to find a solution.

Ziemeļlatvija · 3 Nov, 10:10

Newly elected 15th Saeima convenes for its first sitting

Members of Latvia's 15th Saeima, the country's parliament, are gathering today at 10:00 for their first sitting. The Saeima Press Service announced this.

TVNET · 3 Nov, 10:10

Driver from Ireland injured in truck collision near Salaspils as around 400 litres of fuel spill on Riga bypass

Two trucks collided on the Riga bypass near Salaspils on Monday morning. The likely culprit, a driver from Ireland, was injured, and about 400 litres of fuel spilled onto the road.

Jauns.lv · 3 Nov, 10:08

Sindija Bokāne says Niks Endziņš's appendicitis could have been fatal

Latvian influencer Sindija Bokāne said on the show “Slavenības. Bez filtra” that her partner Niks Endziņš had such an acute case of appendicitis that it could have ended fatally. She also stressed that the verdict in his case is not yet final.

BNN · 3 Nov, 09:12

Linda Liepiņa says she is shocked by state finances after meeting the prime minister

Latvian lawmaker Linda Liepiņa said on Facebook that she had seen the true state finance figures after meeting Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs and was shocked. Commenters are asking why this information surprised her only now.

Latvijas Avīze · 3 Nov, 09:10

Folk Dance Concert “Satikšanās” to Take Place in Valmiera

A folk dance concert called “Satikšanās” (“Meeting”) will take place at the Valmiera Cultural Centre on 7 November at 5 p.m., featuring ten dance groups. It is organised by the folk dance ensemble “Gauja”, and tickets cost €10–14.

Valmieras Ziņas · 3 Nov, 09:10

Deputies of the 15th Saeima to Gather for First Sitting on Tuesday

The deputies of Latvia's 15th Saeima will meet for their first sitting on Tuesday at 10:00. The Saeima Press Service has announced this.

Apollo.lv · 3 Nov, 09:10