Latvia & nearby
Putniņš: Prolonged Zolitūde case points to problems in justice system
Neurosurgeon and 15th Saeima member Renārs Putniņš said on TV24 that the drawn-out Zolitūde disaster trial shows Latvia's court system is poorly organised. The case remains unresolved more than ten years after the catastrophe.
Latvijas Avīze · 29 Oct, 18:09
Construction of Estonia's Baltic Defence Line delayed by half a year
Work on the next strongpoints of the Baltic Defence Line on Estonia's eastern border has slipped by about six months because of disputes over a public procurement. Construction is expected to resume at the end of the first or start of the second quarter of next year.
ERR (rus) · 29 Oct, 18:09
/nginx/o/2025/12/17/17345336t1h20e6.jpg)
Supreme Court overturns conviction in Bondars couple's criminal case
Latvia's Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of Mārtiņš Bondars, former head of Latvijas Krājbanka, and his wife Ieva Bondare. The document forgery case has been sent back for a new hearing.
Apollo.lv · 29 Oct, 17:11
Official Photo of Estonian President Ülle Madise Published
The Estonian president's office has released the official photograph of the country's new president, Ülle Madise. It features a triptych by Estonian artist Tarrvi Laamann next to the presidential flag.
ERR (rus) · 29 Oct, 17:10
Bus collides with delivery robot in Tallinn; Starship plans software fixes
A bus and a Starship Technologies delivery robot collided in Tallinn on Monday evening, injuring several people. The company is investigating internally and plans software improvements.
ERR News · 29 Oct, 17:09
Agreed accident notice to be allowed in more cases in Latvia
On 29 October the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, adopted amendments to the Road Traffic Law. From next year, an agreed accident notice will be possible even when more than two vehicles are involved or a third party's property is damaged.
LSM (rus) · 29 Oct, 17:08
President to nominate Kulbergs for prime minister on 4 November
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs will sign an order on 4 November tasking current Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs with forming and leading a new Cabinet of Ministers.
LSM (rus) · 29 Oct, 16:10
Estonian FM: Zelenskyy Wants to Attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in Tallinn
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to take part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Tallinn. His attendance will depend on the situation in Ukraine in January.
ERR News · 29 Oct, 16:10
/nginx/o/2026/08/19/17859005t1h349e.png)
Martins Ritins Excellence Award to be presented for the first time for culinary arts, hospitality and farming
The Martins Ritins Excellence of the Year Award will be presented in Latvia for the first time on 1 November. It honours people who advance culinary arts, hospitality and farming.
TVNET · 29 Oct, 15:11
Estonia to raise pay for police officers and rescue workers in 2027
Estonia's government has allocated €7.3 million to raise salaries in the interior ministry's area, mainly for lower-paid frontline staff. Pay will rise in 3,764 positions from the start of next year.
ERR News · 29 Oct, 15:11
Estonia Plans 150 Bunkers Along Border With Russia
Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem says the country plans to build 150 bunkers on its border with Russia's Leningrad region. They will be part of the Baltic Defense Line announced by the three Baltic states in 2024.
The Moscow Times · 29 Oct, 15:10
Changeable weather in Latvia on Friday: brief rain alternating with sunshine
Forecasters expect brief rain in many parts of Latvia on Friday, with occasional sunshine. Daytime temperatures will reach +8 to +12 degrees.
Latvijas Avīze · 29 Oct, 15:10
Latvenergo Strategic Forum 2035 Held in Riga on Latvia's Development to 2035
The "Latvenergo Strategic Forum 2035" is taking place at the Splendid Palace cinema in Riga, discussing Latvia's development prospects up to 2035. The focus is on decisions that need to be made now.
NRA · 29 Oct, 15:08
Riga heating tariff hike trimmed, but a colder winter could change the picture
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Riga's heating tariff this winter could be 96.63 euros per megawatt-hour instead of the forecast 130 euros. The calculation assumes a milder winter, so colder weather could push the tariff up.
Latvijas Avīze · 29 Oct, 14:11
Old Riga cameras capture "Bentley" break-in; police detain two men
Riga Municipal Police CCTV operators spotted two men breaking into a "Bentley" car in Old Riga. Both were detained and handed to the State Police.
Delfi · 29 Oct, 14:09
Five Saeima Members Fined or Warned Over Traffic, Firearms and Medical Violations
Five members of Latvia's Saeima were penalised administratively between 31 August and 25 October. The violations involved road traffic, firearms handling and medical practice.
NRA · 29 Oct, 13:11
Estonian unicorn Pipedrive announces major downsizing and office closures
Estonia-founded CRM software company Pipedrive has announced a sweeping restructuring that will affect most of its roles. It is closing its Portuguese office and consolidating into fewer locations.
ERR News · 29 Oct, 13:09
Martins Kibilds' widow, seven years after his death: grief is my shadow
Ilze Grase-Kibilde, wife of the late Latvian TV host Martins Kibilds, shared an Instagram post marking seven years since his sudden death. She writes that the pain of loss remains, but that she chooses to live with joy for the sake of their children.
Latvijas Avīze · 29 Oct, 12:11
Attempted Starlink Arson in Vilnius: Two Suspects Detained in Germany
Lithuanian law enforcement has identified two men who tried to set fire to a Starlink satellite antenna in Vilnius on 18 October. Both, aged about 20, were detained in Germany, and the case is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
Delfi · 29 Oct, 12:10
Latvia to fine coaches without certification, but checks only after complaints
From summer, Latvia will begin fining people who lead sports training sessions without the required qualification. Checks are planned only after complaints, and not everyone considers the requirements necessary.
LSM (rus) · 29 Oct, 12:10
Kuldīga business forum discusses workforce, education and cooperation skills
A business forum at the Duna concert hall in Kuldīga covered the local economy, labour market needs and the role of education. Participants stressed the importance of social skills, including the ability to cooperate.
Kurzemnieks · 29 Oct, 12:09
Two foreigners suspected of arson attempt on Starlink equipment storage firm in Lithuania
Lithuanian criminal police have identified two suspects in the 18 October attempt to set fire to a SpaceX Starlink base station. Both are in custody in Germany, and police suspect possible links to Russia.
Pravda — ziņas · 29 Oct, 12:09
/nginx/o/2026/10/29/18002737t1h5337.jpg)
Mieriņa at final session of 14th Saeima: parliament is a mirror of society
Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of Latvia's parliament, urged deputies to preserve respect for the Saeima and democratic values as the 14th Saeima concluded its work.
Apollo.lv · 29 Oct, 11:11
Businessman Martinsons: Latvia Lacks Strategy and Courage for Unpopular Decisions
Businessman Māris Martinsons, in a conversation with former foreign minister Jānis Jurkāns, criticises Latvian politics after the parliamentary election: government formation is dragging, long-term strategy is missing, and the state spends more than it earns.
Latvijas Avīze · 29 Oct, 11:11
Mieriņa closes 14th Saeima's term: no politician is irreplaceable
Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa of the Union of Greens and Farmers gave her final address to the 14th Saeima on Thursday, urging deputies to respect democratic values. She noted that 1,060 laws were passed during the term.
BNN · 29 Oct, 11:11
Eesti 200 proposes Estonian referendum on the right to euthanasia
The Eesti 200 faction in Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, has submitted a bill for a referendum on medically assisted voluntary death. The vote is proposed to take place alongside the parliamentary elections in March 2027.
ERR (rus) · 29 Oct, 11:11
/nginx/o/2026/10/29/18002872t1h5dd0.jpg)
Saeima rejects Progressives' request to Minister Indrikson over family health education
On 29 October, Latvia's Saeima rejected a request by the "Progresīvie" party to Education and Science Minister Ilze Indrikson about introducing family health education. The topic has caused disagreement.
TVNET · 29 Oct, 11:11
Trapene Local History Centre Preserves Parish History and Memory of Poet Ojārs Vācietis
The local history centre in Trapene parish, Smiltene municipality, features an exhibition on poet Ojārs Vācietis, the parish's history and notable locals. Visits must be arranged in advance by phone or email.
Ziemeļlatvija · 29 Oct, 11:10
Two Route 13 bus trips in Jelgava to change from 1 November
Jelgava's bus operator will restructure two Route 13 trips from 1 November so that pupils from the Branka area can reach Ozolnieki Secondary School on time. The changes also respond to a residents' suggestion to make it easier to reach the new Jelgava market in the morning.
Zemgales Ziņas · 29 Oct, 11:09
Health service cannot say when «rindapiearsta.lv» will be restored
Latvia's National Health Service cannot predict when the waiting-list website «rindapiearsta.lv» will be back online, as work on a PHP security vulnerability continues. Until then, information is available on the service's website and by phone.
Auseklis (Limbaži) · 29 Oct, 10:11
Female hippo Funte dies at Riga Zoo
Funte, a 37-year-old female hippopotamus and one of the longest-living residents of Riga Zoo, died on Monday, the zoo announced.
LSM (rus) · 29 Oct, 10:11
Waiting-list website rindapiearsta.lv still offline; health service gives no restoration date
Latvia's National Health Service cannot say when the waiting-list website rindapiearsta.lv will work again, as it is still fixing a security vulnerability. It points residents to alternative sources of information.
Latvijas Avīze · 29 Oct, 10:10
284 Kilograms of Food Waste Weighed in Aizkraukle Schools in One Week
Food waste was weighed from 12 to 16 October at Aizkraukle Municipality Secondary School and Aizkraukle Vocational Secondary School in Latvia. More than half of the 284.1 kilograms was uneaten food from students' plates.
Staburags · 29 Oct, 10:09
Ērģeme pensioner subscribes to Ziemeļlatvija because the newspaper is her only source of news
Austra Piebalga, a pensioner from Ērģeme parish, has taken out a full-year subscription to the regional newspaper Ziemeļlatvija. With no computer or tablet at home, the paper is the household's only source of news.
Ziemeļlatvija · 29 Oct, 10:09
Flies, not fire, set off smoke detector in Läänemaa-Nigula parish, Estonia
A smoke detector sounded at a summer house in Läänemaa-Nigula parish, Estonia, but there was no fire. The device was full of flies, and rescuers cleaned it.
ERR (rus) · 29 Oct, 10:09
/nginx/o/2026/10/27/17998360t1hb5d9.jpg)
Kulbergs: All Coalition Options Remain Open After First Talks
Andris Kulbergs, tasked with forming Latvia's next government, says the first talks with the National Alliance and New Unity have not yet given him a sense of what the coalition will look like. In his words, all cooperation options remain "on the table".
Apollo.lv · 29 Oct, 09:11