Latvia & nearby (8)

Smiltēns: Latvia could face near-pre-bankruptcy conditions in 2029 and 2030

Saeima Speaker Edvards Smiltēns warned on TV24 that the state's finances are very difficult and austerity will be hard to avoid. He named halving lawmakers' compensation as a symbolic first step.

Latvijas Avīze · 8 Nov, 04:13

Regions

Young People in Narva Want to Turn Abandoned Joala Manor Grain Dryer into a Cultural Centre

The youth initiative Noor Projekt plans to convert the abandoned grain dryer of the former Joala manor in Narva into a centre for socially engaged arts. The building has no roof and needs major repairs.

ERR (rus) · 8 Nov, 04:13

Liepāja Prison Inmate Seeks €46,000 Compensation from State Over Soup, Cellmates and Transport

An inmate of Liepāja Prison in Latvia has taken the prison administration to court, seeking compensation for suffering. A panel of judges at the Administrative Regional Court assessed the case.

Apollo.lv · 8 Nov, 04:12

13 contacts identified for tuberculosis patient who worked at a kebab shop

Epidemiologists at Latvia's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have identified 13 people who had contact with a kebab shop worker in Riga diagnosed with tuberculosis. Their health will be monitored for two years.

LSM · 8 Nov, 03:13

State Security Service ex-employee caught drink-driving goes to court over grounds for dismissal

Latvia's Administrative Regional Court has heard a dispute between the State Security Service and a former employee who, after drink-driving and losing her special clearance, sought discharge on health grounds.

Apollo.lv · 8 Nov, 03:12

Lithuania to build a new public alert system for emergencies and security threats

Lithuania's Fire and Rescue Department has launched a tender for a multichannel public warning system. The project costs €5.5 million and the system is due to start operating in 2028.

Pravda — ziņas · 8 Nov, 03:11

Estonia to warm up to 10 degrees on Sunday

Dry weather is forecast for Estonia on Sunday, 8 November, with temperatures of 6–10 degrees above zero. Gusts of up to 12 metres per second are possible on the coast.

ERR (rus) · 8 Nov, 02:13

Sociologist: Kulbergs's government shows secrecy and a tendency toward one-man decisions

Sociologist Jurijs Ņikišins says the decisions promised by Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs have not materialised for a month, and sees signs of secrecy and unilateral decision-making. He stops short of calling the premier a populist.

Latvijas Avīze · 8 Nov, 02:12

Drunk driver flees police to a cemetery in Latvia; Home Guard helps hunt illegal salmon fishing

In Talsi municipality on 31 October, police detained an intoxicated woman who tried to escape in an Audi. Meanwhile, the State Environmental Service and the Home Guard are stepping up checks on illegal salmon fishing, and "Rīgas meži" warns about motorbikes in forests near Riga.

Jauns.lv · 8 Nov, 01:11

Protest in Jēkabpils Against Russian Grain Transit; PM Promises Bill

A protest against the transit of grain from Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories through Latvia took place in Jēkabpils on Saturday. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said a bill would go to the Saeima to ban new transit contracts.

Ukrainska Pravda (EN) · 8 Nov, 01:11

News of 7 November: Jēkabpils Protest, Kraków Shooting and Bomb Threats Across Europe

A few hundred people in Jēkabpils protested against Russian grain transit through Latvia, while a shooting in Kraków, Poland, left six people dead. The roundup also covers a European probe into bomb threats and the reopening of Tvaika Street in Riga.

LSM · 8 Nov, 01:11

Latvian military receives fourth and final Black Hawk helicopter

The Air Force of Latvia's National Armed Forces has received the last of four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters ordered by the country. The purchase, approved by the government in 2018, is now complete.

LSM (rus) · 8 Nov, 01:11

Saeima to get a new Sustainable Development and Demography Committee

In Latvia's parliament, the Sustainable Development Committee will be replaced by a committee that also covers demography. The change is to apply from the convening of the 15th Saeima.

NRA · 8 Nov, 01:10

Over 100,000 in Estonia lack a family doctor, with no single fix in sight

A new National Audit Office analysis found nearly 110,700 people in Estonia are on patient lists without a permanent family doctor. The state, doctors and the medical association disagree on how to respond.

ERR News · 8 Nov, 00:12

Riga Residents Struggle With Neighbour's Garbage-Filled Apartment

In an apartment block in Riga, an 80-year-old woman's flat has become a dump, causing odours and pests. She refuses all help, and the Health Inspectorate says the only solution is a court case.

Apollo.lv · 8 Nov, 00:11

Estonian Hunter and Chef Shares Her Tips for a Rich Game Pâté

Estonian hunter and chef Kerlin Ledis explains how she makes use of wild game, including less familiar cuts. Game Meat Week, themed "From Snout to Tail," begins in Estonia next week.

ERR News · 7 Nov, 23:11

Sofija and Jēkabs turn an old apartment into their dream home after a 15-month renovation

Project manager Sofija and marketing specialist Jēkabs renovated an old, unrefurbished apartment themselves, despite having no construction experience. The work took a year and three months and included craftsmen's mistakes and a flood.

Delfi · 7 Nov, 23:11

Estonia narrows nuclear plant site search to three locations in Viru-Nigula

Estonia has cut the number of candidate sites for a nuclear power plant from six to three, all in Viru-Nigula municipality. The decision rests mainly on a security analysis by the Ministry of Defense.

ERR News · 7 Nov, 22:12

Estonia seeks allies to ease EU brown bear protection

Estonia and several other European countries are looking to move the brown bear to a less strict protection level under the EU Habitats Directive. The process would be lengthy and need majority backing among member states.

ERR News · 7 Nov, 21:12

95 of 100 Members of Latvia's New Saeima Hold Higher Education Degrees

Data compiled by Latvian Television shows that 95 members of the 15th Saeima have higher education. Economics, business and management are the most common fields of study.

Apollo.lv · 7 Nov, 21:10

Riga apartment block struggles with neighbour's hoarded rubbish

Residents of a Riga apartment building are suffering from smell and pests because an 80-year-old owner has filled her flat with rubbish. Neither police nor medics can help, and eviction is possible only by court ruling.

Delfi · 7 Nov, 21:10

Estonia's Father's Day: A Handmade "Soul Bird" as a Gift

As Estonia marks Father's Day this weekend, crafts teacher Terje Raudsepa suggests giving a handmade felt bird, or "hingelind" (soul bird), that expresses the maker's feelings.

ERR News · 7 Nov, 20:11

Child seriously injured as basketball hoop falls at Iecava skatepark; municipality investigates

On 6 November a basketball hoop placed at the skatepark of a multifunctional court in Iecava, Bauska municipality, fell on a child, who was taken to the Children's Clinical University Hospital. The municipality has launched an investigation and will inspect all activity playgrounds in the municipality.

Delfi · 7 Nov, 20:11

Social media debate over 220,000-euro flats in Mārupe

A social media discussion in Latvia has questioned who can afford a 69-square-metre flat in Mārupe for 220,000 euros. Calculations suggest the loan payment would take about a third of the combined income of two people on average wages.

Latvijas Avīze · 7 Nov, 20:11

Child injured in Iecava after basketball hoop structure collapses

A child was injured on Friday at a multifunctional sports court in Iecava, Latvia. Initial information indicates a basketball hoop structure toppled over.

TVNET · 7 Nov, 20:10

New school in Estonia has better air, but much higher energy bills

A newly built high school in Lääneranna Municipality in western Estonia offers a better indoor environment but costs much more for electricity and heating. Experts say the main cause may be its modern ventilation system.

ERR News · 7 Nov, 19:13

Traffic restored on Tvaika Street in Riga after Sarkandaugava fire

Riga City Council reopened Tvaika Street in the Sarkandaugava district to vehicles at 4 p.m. on Saturday, after it was restricted following a large fire. Public transport routes and traffic rules at the Tilta Street and Ganību dambis junction are also changing.

Jauns.lv · 7 Nov, 19:12

Braže: Russia shifts to long-term war footing, seeking to undermine European unity

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže said in Warsaw that Russia is using unconventional tactics to weaken European unity and support for Ukraine. Meeting participants signed a joint declaration on backing Ukraine and tightening sanctions.

TVNET · 7 Nov, 19:12

Coastal Latvia to Warm Up to +10°C on Sunday

Forecasts from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre say Sunday will be cloudy across Latvia, with coastal temperatures reaching +10°C. Light rain is expected in some eastern areas.

Diena · 7 Nov, 18:13

Riga plans concerts, parade, memorial events and light festival for national holidays

Riga City Council invites residents and visitors to events for Lāčplēsis Day and the 108th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. Traffic restrictions and public transport changes are expected during the celebrations.

BNN · 7 Nov, 18:12

One of two cars catches fire after collision on Riga bypass A4

A BMW and an Audi collided on Saturday on the A4 Riga bypass in Salaspils municipality, and one of the cars caught fire. Traffic at the scene has been restored, and there is no information yet on any casualties.

Jauns.lv · 7 Nov, 18:11

Police Chief: Drug Users and Dealers Are Detained, but Get Less Attention Than Drunk Drivers

Latvia's State Police chief Armands Ruks said on TV24 that police regularly detain drug dealers and publish information about it. He admitted a shortage of staff limits the work.

Latvijas Avīze · 7 Nov, 18:10

Orange 'fireball' over Estonia turns out to be aircraft contrails

A bright orange object that seemed to fall from the sky over Tallinn and Lääne County on Thursday afternoon was most likely sunlit aircraft contrails, according to a member of the Tõrva Astronomy Club.

ERR News · 7 Nov, 17:12

Horoscopes for 8 November: Libra Urged to Stay Active, Gemini to Be Diplomatic

Latvian daily Latvijas Avīze has published its horoscope for 8 November covering all zodiac signs. Libra is advised to move more, while Gemini is told to be restrained in conversations.

Latvijas Avīze · 7 Nov, 17:10