Latvia & nearby (83)

Riga bus driver wins €250,000 in lottery side game

A 42-year-old Riga resident who works as a bus driver has won €250,000 in the Joker number-lottery side game, marking the fifth quarter-million lottery win in Latvia this year and the largest Joker payout since the prize fund was increased in late August.

NRA · 6 Oct, 12:56

Kristaps Porziņģis's father buys new property in Liepāja, welcomes fourth child

Tālis Porziņģis, father of NBA star Kristaps Porziņģis, has bought a large property in Liepāja this year, while in August his partner Zane gave birth to his fourth child, Latvian magazine "Kas Jauns" reports.

Latvijas Avīze · 6 Oct, 12:55

JKP board does not rule out dissolving the party

JKP board member Mārtiņš Štāls told the LETA agency that the party does not rule out self-dissolution, though no final decision has been made yet.

TVNET · 6 Oct, 12:04

New Conservative Party does not rule out self-dissolution

A board member of the New Conservative Party says dissolving the party remains a possibility, though no final decision has been made.

LSM (rus) · 6 Oct, 12:01

Forecasters warn: Latvia's first autumn storm to hit on Friday

After several sunny, warm days, Latvia will see its first autumn storm on Friday, October 9, with gusts up to 21 meters per second and up to 28 on the coast. Damage is expected to be far less severe than August's record storm.

NRA · 6 Oct, 11:59

Six vehicles collide on Bauskas Highway in Riga

A multi-vehicle collision occurred on Bauskas Highway in Riga, involving four trucks, a minibus and a passenger car. Details about the circumstances and consequences of the crash are not yet known.

Diena · 6 Oct, 11:28

Lithuanian parliament backs removing constitutional nuclear weapons ban

Lithuania's parliament passed in first reading a constitutional amendment that would lift the ban on weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases on its territory. A final vote is scheduled for January 12, 2026.

LRT English · 6 Oct, 11:27

Estonia tightens border checks in Valga after surge of migrants crossing from Latvia

Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board has stepped up checks in Valga, near the Latvian border, after 41 people were caught entering illegally from Latvia in a single week. Authorities link the surge to organized pressure possibly originating from Belarus.

ERR News · 6 Oct, 11:26

Providus: low turnout among voters registered abroad is dragging down overall election participation

Think tank Providus has found that the growing number of Latvian voters registered abroad, combined with their very low turnout, is increasingly pulling down the overall participation rate in Saeima elections. It proposes publishing domestic and overseas turnout figures separately during election day.

TVNET · 6 Oct, 11:26

Multi-vehicle crash on Bauska highway disrupts traffic

A multi-vehicle collision occurred on the Bauska highway near Dimzukalns on Tuesday morning, injuring four people. Emergency services are at the scene and one lane toward Bauska is blocked.

NRA · 6 Oct, 11:24

Tartu researchers: schools need support systems for teachers facing bullying

A University of Tartu study found that nearly three-quarters of surveyed teachers have experienced bullying, which has a lasting effect on how they perceive their workplace. Researchers call for schools to build support structures for affected staff.

ERR (rus) · 6 Oct, 11:23

Does Latvia's State Employment Agency actually help people find jobs?

Unemployed people in Latvia often criticize the State Employment Agency (NVA) for offering only formal, one-size-fits-all support, while the agency insists it tailors its help to individual needs.

LSM (rus) · 6 Oct, 11:00

Parliamentary committee nominates Dita Remberga for Latvia's media council

Latvia's Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee has nominated Dita Remberga, head of the media regulator's Monitoring Department, for a seat on the National Electronic Mass Media Council. The full Saeima is expected to vote this week.

Delfi · 6 Oct, 10:59

Saeima committee nominates Dita Remberga for Latvia's media regulator board

Saeima's Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee has nominated Dita Remberga, head of the media regulator's Monitoring Department, for a seat on Latvia's National Electronic Mass Media Council. Parliament is set to vote on her confirmation this week.

Diena · 6 Oct, 10:59

Land tax set to potentially double in three Estonian municipalities next year

Figures published by Estonia's Tax and Customs Board show that Kohtla-Järve, Ruhnu and Tori could see land tax rise by as much as 100 percent in 2027, after opting for the maximum annual increase allowed by law.

ERR News · 6 Oct, 10:58

Valmiera draughts players perform well at Latvian team championship

The Latvian team championship in 100-square draughts took place at Riga's new Family Activity Centre RIFS, with five teams from Valmiera taking part. The best result for Valmiera came from the U8 age group team, which finished in 2nd place.

Valmieras Ziņas · 6 Oct, 10:57

Signature drive against Riga council chair Kleinbergs continues; Progressives rule out trading mayor's seat for government role

The Sovereign Power/New Latvians party is collecting signatures to remove Riga city council chairman Viesturs Kleinbergs, while Progressives leader Edmunds Šuvajevs rejects giving up the mayoral post in exchange for a place in the national government coalition.

OgreNet · 6 Oct, 10:56

Saeima committee nominates Dita Remberga for NEPLP board seat

The Saeima's Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee has nominated Dita Remberga, head of the National Electronic Mass Media Council's Monitoring Department, for a council seat. The Saeima is expected to vote on the appointment this week.

NRA · 6 Oct, 10:55

Hard Enduro competition to take place in Madona on October 10

On October 10, the 'Smeceres sils' area near Madona will host a Hard Enduro motorcycle competition, part of the Latvian Motorsport Federation's A category, bringing together the country's strongest riders.

Stars (Madona) · 6 Oct, 10:22

Riga bus driver wins €250,000 in national lottery's Joker game

A 42-year-old bus driver from Riga has won €250,000 in the Joker supplementary lottery draw, marking the fifth quarter-million prize in Latvia this year. He plans to use the money to buy an apartment in Riga.

BNN · 6 Oct, 10:18

Ogre kindergarten children prepare Courage Boxes for young hospital patients

Children from the Ogre preschool "Strautiņš" visited Ogre district hospital together with their teachers, delivering handmade Courage Boxes filled with toys and small surprises for young patients.

OgreNet · 6 Oct, 10:18

Discussions continue over possible Latgale radio station as LSM drafts scenarios

Following calls from Latgale organizations and an audience study, Latvia's public media LSM is developing possible scenarios for a new Latgale radio station, though no final decision has been made.

Delfi · 6 Oct, 10:18

Power outages affect Āgenskalns and the Rūjiena area

On Tuesday morning, grid faults left hundreds of customers without electricity in Riga's Āgenskalns district and in the Rūjiena area, according to grid operator Sadales tīkls.

NRA · 6 Oct, 10:17

First autumn storm expected to hit Latvia on Friday

Meteorologists forecast that Latvia's first autumn storm will arrive on Friday, October 9, bringing gusts of up to 21 m/s inland and 28 m/s along the coast. Damage is expected to be smaller than during August's storm.

Bauskas Dzīve · 6 Oct, 10:16

Estonia's economy picks up pace despite debt concerns

The Bank of Estonia forecasts 2.6% economic growth this year, though rising public debt and the budget deficit cast a shadow over the recovery. Experts warn that future growth will increasingly depend on productivity gains.

Diena · 6 Oct, 10:15

Lithuania and Poland develop cross-border evacuation plan for crisis scenarios

Lithuania and Poland have identified additional border crossing points and begun work on a joint evacuation plan for a potential crisis. The move follows Lithuania's largest annual mobilisation exercise, which included Polish observers.

LRT English · 6 Oct, 10:15

Estonians keep returning bottles actively despite unchanged 10-cent deposit

Although Estonia's 10-cent container deposit has not changed since 2015 and inflation has eroded its value, residents continue returning bottles at high rates.

ERR News · 6 Oct, 10:14

Estonia sees rising number of border crossers arriving from Latvia

Estonian public television reports a growing number of migrants entering the country illegally via Latvia, straining the asylum reception system. Most of them are expected to be sent back to Latvia.

LSM · 6 Oct, 10:06

After tense election period, MP Jānis Dombrava publicly thanks his wife for her support

Following the Saeima elections, politician Jānis Dombrava thanked his wife Ieva on social media for her patience and support during the demanding period. He noted that family support often goes unnoticed despite being essential to a politician's work.

Latvijas Avīze · 6 Oct, 10:06

Estonian schools cut salt in meals — some pupils bring their own salt shaker to the canteen

During open-door days at Tartu school canteens this week, a gradual reduction in salt content has divided pupils' opinions, with some children now bringing salt from home.

ERR (rus) · 6 Oct, 09:55

Šlesers calls on Kulbergs to build coalition with LPV and NA

LPV leader Ainārs Šlesers has said the time has come for reconciliation, urging Apvienotais saraksts chief Andris Kulbergs to form a government coalition together with LPV and the National Alliance. He argues such an alliance would ensure a stable parliamentary majority.

Latvijas Avīze · 6 Oct, 09:28

Debate over low pay for Estonia's rescue workers highlights growing reliance on volunteers

A renewed debate in Estonia over the low salaries of professional rescue workers has drawn attention to the country's growing dependence on volunteers for internal security. Comments by Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi about pay increases sparked public backlash.

ERR News · 6 Oct, 09:28

Kristaps Porziņģis's father Tālis welcomes newborn in new relationship

Tālis Porziņģis, father of basketball star Kristaps Porziņģis, and his partner Zane have been caring for a newborn since August, the magazine "Kas Jauns" reports.

Apollo.lv · 6 Oct, 09:27

Climber Kristaps Liepiņš steps down from Denali tragedy investigation commission

Latvian climber Kristaps Liepiņš has withdrawn from the Latvian Mountaineering Association's commission investigating the fatal Denali accident after facing objections over his previously stated public opinions. The remaining five-member commission continues its work.

BNN · 6 Oct, 09:23