Latvia & nearby (73)

Job Seeker in Latvia Sends 230 CVs as Online Debate Highlights Lack of Employer Replies

A job seeker on the social network Threads says one search required 230 applications. The discussion shows that missing feedback from employers is a common complaint, while registered unemployment in August stood at 4.6%.

Latvijas Avīze · 10 Oct, 10:33

Madona Municipality Drafts Rules on Symbols and Keeps Varakļāni's Identity

Madona municipality in Latvia is drafting its first binding rules on the use of coats of arms, flags and visual identity elements. Varakļāni town's symbols are to be used alongside those of the municipality.

Stars (Madona) · 10 Oct, 10:32

Ex-Justice Chancellor: Estonian Orthodox Church Has Slim Chance in European Court

Former Estonian justice chancellor Allar Jõks says the Estonian Christian Orthodox Church and Pühtitsa Convent have little chance at the European Court of Human Rights because their complaint was filed too early. Both must sever ties with the Russian Orthodox Church by December 28.

ERR News · 10 Oct, 09:35

Perfume expert Marika Rozenberga on why the nose remembers what the mind has forgotten

The Aizkraukle-area outlet Staburags has published an interview with perfume expert Marika Rozenberga about the sense of smell, scent memory and emotions. It also touches on whether a distinctly Latvian scent exists.

Staburags · 10 Oct, 09:35

Welfare Ministry lacks a clear picture of waiting lists for municipal care homes

About 111,000 people in Latvia are over 80, yet care home places are available for only one in ten of them. The Ministry of Welfare, which oversees social policy, does not see the real picture of queues for municipal care homes.

LSM (rus) · 10 Oct, 09:34

Arigo Toro on child support defaulters and births to women who drink

Arigo Toro, a candidate for the Saeima (Latvia's parliament), formerly known as Aldis Gobzems, criticised court practice towards fathers on the programme “nra.lv sarunas” and argued children born to alcohol-dependent mothers should not be looked down on. The source says Latvia has just under 50,000 people who fail to pay child support.

NRA · 10 Oct, 09:34

Fuel Prices: Some Drivers Say They Would Keep Their Cars Even at €3 a Litre

In a discussion on the social network Threads, drivers explained that for many a car is a necessity, not a choice. Statistics show fuel prices in Latvia continued to rise in September.

Latvijas Avīze · 10 Oct, 09:33

Riga Zoo Offers Discount to Visitors With an Animal Name in Their First or Last Name

Riga's national zoological garden is offering a large ticket discount today to visitors whose first or last name contains an animal's name. An identity document must be shown at the ticket office.

OgreNet · 10 Oct, 09:32

Chimneys Must Be Cleaned by 1 November, Experts Warn of Fire Risks

In Latvia, flues of solid and liquid fuel heating appliances must be cleaned by 1 November. Insurer ERGO and master chimney sweep Māris Bambis explain how to avoid soot build-up and the dangers of poorly built chimneys.

Ziemeļlatvija · 10 Oct, 09:27

Strong wind in Latvia causes no major power supply disruptions

After overnight strong winds that gusted up to 28 metres per second on the Kurzeme coast, Latvia's electricity supply was stable on Saturday morning. No significant disruptions were observed, according to "Sadales tīkls".

LSM · 10 Oct, 09:25

Wind gusts in Latvia to stay below 15 m/s on Saturday, thunder possible in places

Forecasters at the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre expect gusts to ease and stay under 15 m/s on Saturday. Rain is forecast in the west and centre, with thunderstorms in places.

Jauns.lv · 10 Oct, 09:24

Armed incident on Latvia's Belarus border: smugglers threaten soldiers with pistol-like object

On Monday, three people smugglers pelted Latvian soldiers with stones at the Belarus border, and one threatened them with a pistol-like object. Border guards say Latvia now faces its highest level of illegal migration since 2021.

LRT English · 10 Oct, 08:27

Should Hydrangeas Be Pruned in Autumn? A Gardener's Advice by Type

Panicle and smooth hydrangeas, the most common types in Latvian gardens, can be partly pruned in autumn to help them overwinter, while climbing hydrangeas should only be cut in spring. The advice comes from gardener Avita Jasliņa in the magazine “Praktiskais Latvietis”.

Latvijas Avīze · 10 Oct, 08:26

Strong overnight winds cause no major power supply disruptions

Strong wind gusts recorded in Latvia on Friday evening and overnight into Saturday did not cause significant electricity supply problems.

TVNET · 10 Oct, 08:26

University of Latvia's Bauska branch sees student numbers rise, weighs new programmes

The University of Latvia's Bauska branch has 261 students this year, 34 more than last year. The university is assessing options to expand its offering but has not named any specific new programmes.

Bauskas Dzīve · 10 Oct, 08:26

Estonia: Object That Halted Helsinki–Tallinn Ferries Proved Harmless, and Other News of the Week

The Finnish navy and police said the metal object found in a Helsinki shipping lane, which halted traffic to Tallinn, was probably part of an old shipwreck rather than an explosive. Estonia also saw debate this week over a child left at a tram stop, drug-selling QR codes near schools, and firms supplying Ukraine.

ERR News · 10 Oct, 08:25

Wind Gusts Ease Overnight in Latvia After Friday Storm Peaked at 28 m/s in Ventspils

Data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre show the strongest gusts hit Ventspils at 28 m/s on Friday evening, then gradually weakened overnight. Gusts are forecast to stay below 15 m/s on Saturday.

OgreNet · 10 Oct, 08:25

Aizkraukle Municipality Resumes In-Person Meetings with Residents in Parishes and Towns

Aizkraukle Municipality in Latvia is restarting its meetings with residents this October, now in their fifth year. This time, representatives of the companies Lauma A and Aizkraukles ūdens will also attend.

Staburags · 10 Oct, 08:24

World Mental Health Day: psychologist explains how to tell fatigue from burnout

For World Mental Health Day on 10 October, Smiltene-based psychologist Iveta Broliša discusses how to recognise emotional health warning signs and when to seek help. The interview appeared in the subscriber section of the regional outlet Ziemeļlatvija.

Ziemeļlatvija · 10 Oct, 07:27

First-ever prose contest opens for authors linked to Selija

The Jekabpils Region Main Library, together with the Latvian Writers' Union, is holding its first prose contest, “Selija Prose Readings 2026”, for authors connected to Selija. Entries are due by 8 November, and the winner will take part in a festival in Riga.

Staburags · 10 Oct, 07:25

Experts discuss election results: low turnout and what voters want

In a post-election TV discussion on the news site nra.lv, sociologist Arnis Kaktiņš and political scientist Andis Kudors analysed what the vote reveals about public expectations and why only half of eligible voters took part.

NRA · 10 Oct, 07:25

Man without a driving licence caught behind the wheel in Bārbele parish

On 8 October, a man born in 2002 drove a Volkswagen car in Bārbele parish, Bauska municipality, without holding driving rights. Administrative offence proceedings have been opened.

Bauskas Dzīve · 10 Oct, 07:24

Lithuanians increasingly shop in Latvia after food VAT cut

After Latvia cut VAT on selected foods, Lithuanian media report more shoppers crossing the border. Economist Pēteris Strautiņš cautions the Baltic states against tax competition.

Latvijas Avīze · 10 Oct, 06:26

School principal Alijevs: switch to Latvian-language teaching should have happened in the 1990s

Romāns Alijevs, principal of Riga State Classical Gymnasium and a philosopher, said in the “Latvija 2035” discussion series that Latvia missed its chance to move to Latvian-language schooling early. He also criticised the lack of support for the unified school and the bureaucratic burden.

Jauns.lv · 10 Oct, 06:25

Lithuania halves train fares and sends troops to Russian border, while Estonia braces for new wave of migrants

Lithuania has introduced a 50% discount on local train tickets until year-end, and about 100 soldiers are helping guard its border with Russia's Kaliningrad region. In Estonia, a court has sentenced a Bulgarian man for bringing in migrants, and police warn of growing migration pressure.

NRA · 10 Oct, 06:25

Fuel price trends differ across Baltic capitals

Fuel prices in Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn moved in different directions last working week. Petrol was most expensive in Tallinn on Friday, while diesel was priciest in Vilnius.

Bauskas Dzīve · 10 Oct, 06:24

Reconstruction of Jelgava's Lithuania Highway overpass to start, costing €5.26 million

Reconstruction of the Lithuania Highway railway overpass in Jelgava begins on 13 October, with a total cost of €5.26 million. Traffic will be restricted during the works, and the whole project is due to finish by June 2028.

Zemgales Ziņas · 10 Oct, 05:27

Bank of Estonia in Tallinn reinforces its building with dolomite boulders

Estonia's central bank is placing large dolomite boulders along Kentmanni Street in central Tallinn to protect its building from vehicle impacts. The project is due to be finished by the end of next week.

ERR (rus) · 10 Oct, 04:28

Lithuanian craftspeople and home producers hold three-day market at Riga Central Market

A Lithuanian autumn market of craftspeople and home producers is running at Benjamiņa Square by Riga Central Market from 9 to 11 October. It is going ahead despite the weather.

TVNET · 10 Oct, 04:26

Latvian National Defence Service Volunteer Faces Roughly €3,000 Tax Bill on US Scholarship

A young person serving in Latvia's State Defence Service must pay about €3,000 in tax on a scholarship received from the United States. Economics lecturer Jurijs Ņikišins called the case glaring and said the state failed to exempt such income in time.

NRA · 10 Oct, 03:25

Man openly describes visits to prostitutes and his view of them

Latvian news portal Apollo.lv has published an anonymous man's account of paying for sex. He claims most men do it, including those in relationships.

Apollo.lv · 10 Oct, 02:26

Lawmaker: Raising Latvia's Retirement Age to 70 Is Not Expected in the Coming Years

Andris Bērziņš, chair of the Saeima's Social and Employment Matters Committee, said on TV24 that Latvia will not consider a retirement age of 70 within the next five years. He called the idea risky given the country's economic and social situation.

Latvijas Avīze · 10 Oct, 01:27

Quiz: Do you know which municipality this city is in?

The Latvian news site Apollo.lv has published an interactive geography quiz that asks readers to name the municipalities where various Latvian cities are located.

Apollo.lv · 10 Oct, 00:26

Estonian woman marries at Korean royal palace: "I can't believe this is happening to me"

An Estonian woman named Mai got married at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Korea, where she had first worn a hanbok ten years earlier. Korea's first lady attended her wedding.

TVNET · 10 Oct, 00:26