Latvia & nearby (49)

Lawmakers Propose Enshrining Autonomy of LTV and Latvian Radio News Services

Two coalition deputies have submitted proposals to a Saeima committee that would set in law the organisational and editorial autonomy of the news services of Latvian Television and Latvian Radio.

TVNET · 21 Oct, 07:32

Transport Minister: Railway Tracks Will Not Be Dismantled for Now as Latvia Seeks Transit Cargo

Latvian Transport Minister Rihards Kozlovskis says the funds the government allocated for dismantling railway tracks will go unused in the near term. Officials are instead working to attract cargo from Central Asian countries to the railway.

NRA · 21 Oct, 07:32

Security spending in Estonia may affect water and heating tariffs

Estonian water and heating companies are planning investments in cybersecurity, drone defence and infrastructure protection. The Competition Authority says assessing such costs for tariffs is difficult.

ERR (rus) · 21 Oct, 07:32

Government honours: Former Bauska Castle Museum director Māris Skanis receives Cabinet Certificate of Appreciation

Latvia's government decided at its Tuesday meeting to award a Cabinet Certificate of Appreciation to Māris Skanis, former director of the Bauska Castle Museum, along with other honours in culture, sport, science and other fields. Raimonds Pauls will receive a Cabinet Prize for lifetime achievement.

Bauskas Dzīve · 21 Oct, 07:31

Bauska Council to Review 50 Items Thursday: School Funding, Property Sales and Hospital Plan

At its Finance Committee meeting on 22 October, the Bauska Municipality Council will consider 50 items, including extra funding for education and sports institutions and the sale of municipal property. The session will close with a report on the Bauska Hospital development plan.

Bauskas Dzīve · 21 Oct, 06:32

Op-ed: Outgoing Saeima leaves disputed legacy on lawmakers' compensation and citizenship

In a commentary for the Latvian daily Latvijas Avīze, journalist Anita Daukšte criticises the outgoing 14th Saeima over deputies' compensation and citizenship granted for special merits. She argues these decisions undermine trust in parliament.

Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 06:31

Action group proposes AI-assisted audit of public administration functions to cut red tape

Latvia's Bureaucracy Reduction Action Group plans an AI-assisted audit of public administration functions to reduce the administrative burden. No political agreement on the idea has been reached yet.

LSM · 21 Oct, 06:31

Limbaži basketball team takes early lead in Jēkabpils

In the third game of the National Basketball League season, OC Limbaži won the first quarter 19:9 away to Jēkabpils BA. The full article is available to subscribers only.

Auseklis (Limbaži) · 21 Oct, 05:34

Appointment With a Deceased Doctor: What Patients Should Know

A resident of Liepāja said on social media that her specialist appointment was tied to a doctor who has died. TVNET+ looked at who is responsible for the patient in such a case.

TVNET · 21 Oct, 05:33

How Latvia's Social Insurance Treats Employees, the Self-Employed and Micro-Enterprise Tax Payers

An explainer from Latvia's State Social Insurance Agency compares the contributions and benefits under different tax regimes. Employees get the widest coverage, with employers paying most of the contributions.

LV portāls · 21 Oct, 05:33

More Than 35,000 Young People Are Taking State Defence Training in Latvian Schools

This school year, 35,836 students in Latvian secondary schools are taking state defence training. The Youth Guard Centre briefed a Saeima subcommittee on the challenges and planned changes to the programme.

Bauskas Dzīve · 21 Oct, 05:31

Tūja becomes the first smart village in Limbaži municipality

Tūja is the first village in Limbaži municipality to receive the title "Smart Village 2026". The awards were presented on 16 October at the Engure Community House.

Auseklis (Limbaži) · 21 Oct, 04:34

Potato weighing 955 grams grown in Limbaži Parish

A gardener in Limbaži Parish, near Nabe Manor in Latvia, has grown a 'Jule' variety potato weighing 955 grams. She says all her potatoes turned out large this year.

Auseklis (Limbaži) · 21 Oct, 03:34

Rural Life Quiz: Can You Answer What Every Country Person Is Expected to Know?

The Latvian news portal Apollo.lv has published a quiz testing knowledge of life in the countryside. Its questions cover things that every rural resident is supposed to know.

Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 03:34

Dry and Largely Sunny Weather Expected in Latvia on Wednesday

Forecasters say Latvia will see no significant precipitation on Wednesday, with sunshine in many areas. Fog is likely at night and in the morning, and daytime temperatures will reach +11 to +16 degrees Celsius.

NRA · 21 Oct, 01:34

Mother asks court to strip father of custody rights over children

A parental dispute over child custody continues in a municipality near Riga. The mother is asking a court to remove the father's custody rights.

Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 01:34

Shopper complains about rearranged goods in Rimi stores; retail association offers possible reasons

A shopper told TV24's “Uz līnijas” programme that products in Rimi stores have been moved around and are hard to find. Henriks Danusēvičs, president of the Latvian Retailers Association, suggested uncertainty after the chain's sale could be a factor.

Latvijas Avīze · 21 Oct, 01:34

New State Chancellery Director Gorkšs Pledges Data-Driven Policy and Change in Work Culture

Kaspars Gorkšs, confirmed on Tuesday as director of Latvia's State Chancellery, named data-based policy, efficient use of the budget and a results-oriented approach as his core principles. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs says the office must help deliver reforms in public administration.

NRA · 21 Oct, 00:34

Rucava tradition keeper Staņislava Skudiķe is an ambassador for "Liepāja 2027"

Staņislava Skudiķe, who guards and promotes the traditions of Rucava parish in southern Kurzeme, is an ambassador for "Liepāja 2027". She talks about local customs, including the rieze, the lindruks and unison singing.

Apollo.lv · 21 Oct, 00:33

LSM Editor-in-Chief: Error Has Been Corrected, but Tying the Media's Hands Over It Would Be Disproportionate

The editor-in-chief of Latvian Public Media says the error has been corrected and that restricting the media's work because of it would be disproportionate. On the morning of 20 October, LSM newsrooms also spent three and a half hours drafting scenarios for producing news during major crises.

LSM · 20 Oct, 22:34

Sunny Wednesday expected in Estonia, up to +13 degrees

The forecast published by Estonian public broadcaster ERR calls for a dry, sunny Wednesday with daytime temperatures of 8–13 degrees Celsius. Fog is possible overnight, and roads may be slippery in places early in the morning.

ERR (rus) · 20 Oct, 22:34

Mieriņa undecided on staying in ZZS after party's election failure

Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa says she is at a crossroads and will decide on remaining in the Greens and Farmers Union before the party congress. The party failed to clear the 5% threshold in the 15th Saeima election for the first time.

Jauns.lv · 20 Oct, 22:34

Scientists Demand Latvian Academy of Sciences President Kalviņš Resign Over Citizenship Row

Several members of the Latvian Academy of Sciences want president Ivars Kalviņš to step down after he recommended an Indian scientist for Latvian citizenship, while her education and publications are in doubt. Kalviņš refuses, saying there are no grounds.

Delfi · 20 Oct, 22:33

Jūrmala residents complain about oddly behaving smart traffic light

Residents of Jūrmala say a smart traffic light has been working strangely since it was installed. The matter was reported by the TV3 programme "Bez tabu".

Apollo.lv · 20 Oct, 21:32

Estonia's Riigikogu Begins Debating 2027 State Budget: Coalition Calls It Optimal, Opposition Wants It Redone

Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, has started the first reading of the 2027 state budget, but so many questions were raised that the scheduled time ran out. The coalition considers the budget optimal, while the opposition demands a complete overhaul.

ERR (rus) · 20 Oct, 20:33

Three cars collide on Graudu Street in Riga, including a municipal police vehicle; two injured

Three cars, including a municipal police vehicle, collided on Graudu Street in Riga's Pārdaugava district. Two people were injured and taken to a medical facility.

Delfi · 20 Oct, 20:33

Three-car collision on Graudu Street in Riga leaves two people injured

On Tuesday, three cars collided on Graudu Street in Riga, one of them a municipal police vehicle. Two injured people were taken to a medical facility.

TVNET · 20 Oct, 20:32

Man with axe-like object smashes furniture and cash register in Jēkabpils shop

A man carrying an axe-like object entered the “BETA” grocery store on Krustpils Street in Jēkabpils on the evening of 18 October and damaged furniture and a cash register. State Police say nobody was physically hurt and a criminal case has been opened.

Latvijas Avīze · 20 Oct, 20:31

Police search for missing Riga man Oļegs Želudevičs

The State Police in Riga are looking for Oļegs Želudevičs, born in 1969, who was last seen on 20 September at a public transport stop in Ķengarags. Police ask anyone who knows his whereabouts to come forward.

Jauns.lv · 20 Oct, 19:34

Three 1990s music acts barred from performing in Latvia after being put on undesirable persons list

Latvia's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the artists Haddaway, Dr. Alban and LayZee cannot perform in Latvia, as they were added to the list of undesirable persons in May. Riga's Xiaomi Arena said they will not appear at its venue.

NRA · 20 Oct, 19:32

Citizenship for Indian scientist sparks dispute and police complaint in Latvia

The decision to grant Latvian citizenship to Indian scientist Divya Kanan Vishvanat has prompted public debate. A complaint alleging possible fraud has been filed with the State Police, while the National Alliance demands a more transparent process.

NRA · 20 Oct, 18:32

Estonian PM Michal: Reform Party aims for 20 seats in the Riigikogu election

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said that 20 seats in parliament would let the Reform Party remain an influential player. On a broadcast he also discussed income tax, fuel excise, Rail Baltica funding and passport colour.

ERR (rus) · 20 Oct, 18:32

Demand for youth support is growing in Bauska municipality

The association "Laiks jauniešiem" in Bauska municipality helps about 100 young people every year, while the local government's Social Service reports rising demand for help. So far this year, 43 young people have turned to it.

LSM · 20 Oct, 18:31

Cinevilla Film Park to Host Nine-Day “Danger Fest 2026” Festival from 23 October

From 23 to 31 October, the Cinevilla film park near Tukums, Latvia, will host the family-friendly “Danger Fest 2026”, combining digital projections, live actors and horror elements. The climax will be a Halloween night on 31 October with a drone show.

Latvijas Avīze · 20 Oct, 18:31