Latvia & nearby
Non-formal education can also be an important career step, specialists say
Non-formal education in Latvia offers broad opportunities, but not everyone uses them or does so effectively. Specialists say the myth that it cannot raise qualifications is false.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 12:55
Läänemets: Estonia must be among the shapers of European foreign policy
Estonian politician Lauri Läänemets argues that Estonia should do more to influence decisions on European security and Ukraine's future. He criticizes Prime Minister Kristen Michal for a passive approach abroad.
ERR News · 21 Oct, 12:54
BMW Driver Hits Woman in Riga's Āgenskalns and Leaves the Scene
On Saturday in Riga's Āgenskalns district, a BMW driver hit a woman in a car park after a dispute and drove away. The victim has gone to the police and is appealing for witnesses.
NRA · 21 Oct, 12:54
Sausage in pastry at Riga Airport priced at €5.50 sparks social media debate
A picture of a sausage roll at Riga Airport priced at €5.50 has circulated on the social network Threads, with users joking about inflation. Data from Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau show consumer prices rose 3.2% year on year in September.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 12:54
State Police release video introducing the work of its hippologists
The Latvian State Police have published a video on social media presenting the work of its hippologists, specialists who work with horses.
TVNET · 21 Oct, 12:53
State Police video shows hippologists' work and the daily life of service horses
Latvia's State Police has published a video about the work of hippologists and the everyday routine of police service horses. It offers a look at an area of police work that is rarely seen by the public.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 12:53
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Niks Endziņš taken to hospital with appendicitis after arrest
Social media personality Niks Endziņš, recently sentenced to four years in prison in Latvia, has been diagnosed with appendicitis and is being treated at the Gaiļezers hospital. It has not been confirmed whether surgery has taken place.
BNN · 21 Oct, 11:55
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Latvia to switch to winter time overnight on 25 October
Latvia will move to winter time in the night to Sunday, 25 October, with clocks turned back by one hour. This was announced by the Ministry of Economics.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 11:55
Clocks in Latvia go back one hour on Saturday night
Latvia switches to winter time in the night from Saturday to Sunday, 25 October. Clocks must be set back by one hour, the Ministry of Economics has reminded the public.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 11:55
Poll: Government Rated Negatively, but Among the Highest Scores Since 2008
A SKDS poll commissioned by the think tank Providus shows 61% of Latvians were dissatisfied with Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' government in August, yet the rating index is among the highest since 2008. Healthcare was most often named as the top issue for the next parliament.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 11:53
Over half a tonne of methamphetamine found in Lithuanian drug laboratory
Officials of Lithuania's Criminal Police Bureau said a laboratory described as one of the largest in Lithuania and the Baltic states contained over 500 kg of methamphetamine. Four people have been charged.
LRT English · 21 Oct, 11:53
More than 200 LSM staff urge Saeima to protect media independence and not rush disputed amendments
More than 200 employees of Latvian Public Media (LSM) have signed an open letter asking the Saeima to drop the urgent procedure for amendments to the law on public electronic media. They also call for support of the proposals submitted by SEPLP.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 10:54
Polish-Lithuanian team investigates drone explosion in northern Lithuania
A joint team from the Lithuanian and Polish defence ministries is investigating a drone crash and explosion in Lithuania's Pasvalys district. President Gitanas Nauseda said the circumstances will be discussed only after official findings are received.
LRT English · 21 Oct, 10:54
Over 200 LSM Staff Urge Saeima Not to Rush Contested Amendments
More than 200 employees of Latvian Public Media (LSM) have signed an open letter asking parliament to drop the urgent procedure for amendments to the public media law. They also call for support of the proposals submitted by the public media supervisory body to safeguard LSM's independence.
LSM · 21 Oct, 09:55
Liepāja woman waited for an appointment with a doctor who had died
A resident of Liepāja said on social media that she never received an invitation to a specialist consultation. She later learned that her booking was tied to a doctor who had already died.
TVNET · 21 Oct, 09:54
Estonian President Madise Travels to Lithuania on Official Visit
Estonian President Ülle Madise left for Lithuania on 21 October, where she will meet President Gitanas Nausėda in Vilnius. The leaders will discuss security, defence, support for Ukraine and Lithuania's upcoming presidency of the EU Council.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 09:54
Firefighters on Tuesday put out both burnt food and kitchen cabinets
Firefighters of Latvia's State Fire and Rescue Service rescued several people from fires on Tuesday. The headline also mentions burnt food and burning kitchen cabinets.
Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 09:54
Daughter describes father's route through Latvia's healthcare: lack of information and a paid scan that was refused
A woman named Dace told Latvijas Avīze how her father, who developed double vision, had to find his own way to doctors, how the hospital gave relatives little information, and how a private clinic refused an MRI scan only after payment.
Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 09:53
Two Cars Burned in Lucavsala, Riga: Man Born in 1996 Detained as Suspect
The State Police have detained a man born in 1996 on suspicion of deliberately setting two cars on fire in Lucavsala, Riga, in August. Total damage has been estimated at 18,622 euros.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 09:34
Five emergency calls in Vidzeme in one day, hangar fire in Ineši parish
The Vidzeme regional office of the State Fire and Rescue Service received five calls in the 24 hours up to the morning of 21 October. The largest incident was a metal hangar fire in Ineši parish, Cēsis municipality.
Auseklis (Limbaži) · 21 Oct, 09:32
Vidzeme students prepare proposals for regional development programme
The Vidzeme Planning Region and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences are running an academy where students learn regional planning and draft proposals for Vidzeme's development programme. The proposals are due to be presented in December.
Valmieras Ziņas · 21 Oct, 09:32
Skrīveri handball side wins again in Latvian top league, coach warns tougher games lie ahead
Skrīveri-based handball team HK S&A beat Dobele side ZRHK Dobele/DSS 35:29 at home in the Latvian men's top league. Head coach Lauris Rūtiņš says the upcoming opponents will be considerably stronger.
Staburags · 21 Oct, 09:32
Zemgale and Lithuanian municipalities join forces to curb the Spanish slug
The Zemgale Planning Region and six other Latvian and Lithuanian municipalities are running the two-year “Slugaway” project to contain the invasive Spanish slug. In Bauska municipality, collected biomass will be treated in a mobile thermal unit using hot steam.
Bauskas Dzīve · 21 Oct, 09:31
Estonia designates 15 historic shipwrecks as protected cultural monuments
Estonian Culture Minister Heidy Purga has declared 15 shipwrecks at least 100 years old in Estonian waters to be cultural monuments. They are protected as archaeological sites, with a 300-meter protection zone around each.
ERR News · 21 Oct, 09:31
Lithuania seeks security: US troops return, but Washington's stance toward Russia raises doubts
US troops are gradually returning to Lithuania, yet the Trump administration's dealings with Russia leave Vilnius questioning US deterrence. Lithuania's leaders want a permanent American military presence.
LRT English · 21 Oct, 08:34
Government urged to audit its functions using artificial intelligence
A working group on cutting bureaucracy plans to use artificial intelligence to audit state functions and reduce the administrative burden. There is no political agreement yet, but the Prime Minister's Office says cutting bureaucracy will remain a priority for the new government.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 08:34
Jelgava Municipality Head on Possible Split of Former Ozolnieki Municipality: Residents' Will Must Be Respected
The residents' group “Mēs Ozolnieku novadam” has called a meeting on 21 October about restoring the former Ozolnieki municipality. Ingus Zālītis, chairman of the Jelgava municipality council, says the local government neither initiates nor rejects the idea.
Zemgales Ziņas · 21 Oct, 08:33
Latgalian language in tourism: visitors value it, but written materials lag behind
Tourism specialists in Latgale say visitors often want to hear the Latgalian language, though printed materials are mostly in Latvian. In a survey by the portal lakuga.lv, most respondents said they could converse in Latgalian at tourist sites.
LaKuga · 21 Oct, 08:33
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Ventspils Municipality Urges Saeima to Prioritise Port Reform
Ventspils municipality has called on Latvia's 15th Saeima to make adopting a port reform one of its priorities. The news agency LETA reported this, citing the municipality.
TVNET · 21 Oct, 08:33
Art Created for Tammsaare's "Truth and Justice" to Go Under the Hammer in Estonia
A hundred Estonian artists created works marking a century since the first edition of the novel "Truth and Justice"; reproductions of them adorn special book covers. The artworks and one-of-a-kind books will be auctioned on 30 October.
ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 08:32
Latvia's Autumn Stays Mild: Rain Expected From Friday
Forecasters expect relatively warm weather in Latvia over the coming days, with occasional rain from Friday, 23 October. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts data indicate that this week and next will be warmer than normal.
Jauns.lv · 21 Oct, 08:31
Border guard commander Mārcis Krams: families should prepare for crises in advance
Mārcis Krams of Latvia's State Border Guard explains in a podcast how families can prepare for crisis situations. He advises staying calm, gathering information and preparing a 72-hour survival bag in good time.
Ziemeļlatvija · 21 Oct, 08:31
Estonian utilities step up security: cyber defense, drone protection, underground pipelines
Estonia's water, heating, electricity and gas companies are investing in cybersecurity and planning drone defenses. The costs are likely to appear in customers' bills.
ERR News · 21 Oct, 08:31
Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria Visits Latvia on a Working Visit
Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria is on a working visit to Latvia today, 21 October. She is meeting President Edgars Rinkēvičs, visiting a museum and a university, and taking part in a discussion on women in business.
Bauskas Dzīve · 21 Oct, 08:31
Smiltene Municipality Honours Education Award Winners
On the evening of 16 October, Smiltene Municipality in Latvia honoured the winners of its “Smiltene Municipality Education Award 2026” in ten categories. The lifetime achievement award went to Ieva Zariņa, long-time head of Gaujiena Primary School.
Ziemeļlatvija · 21 Oct, 07:34
Should Latvia introduce a zero alcohol limit for drivers?
Experts say the safest alcohol limit for drivers is zero. In Latvia, driving is still allowed with up to 0.5 per mille of alcohol in the blood, and the Ministry of Transport has not even assessed a zero limit for all drivers.
LSM (rus) · 21 Oct, 07:33