Latvia & nearby
Rinkēvičs: Trump had kind words for Latvia during UN General Assembly week
Latvia's President Edgars Rinkēvičs said he briefly spoke with and was photographed alongside US President Donald Trump during UN General Assembly week in New York, where Trump praised Latvia's 5% defense spending and pledged to keep out "bad guys."
Latvijas Avīze · 1 Oct, 23:20
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Young man dies after being hit by train in Riga
A 21-year-old man died on Thursday after being struck by a train on the railway section between Torņakalns and Zasulauks stations in Riga.
Apollo.lv · 1 Oct, 22:26
Misunderstanding over pupil numbers leaves Bārbele primary school without teacher salary funding
Bārbele Primary School has been left without state funding for teachers' salaries after the first month of the school year, as it has only 17 pupils while the new funding model requires at least 45. The school's management says it misunderstood the Education Ministry's criteria.
LSM · 1 Oct, 22:25
Man wanted in Latvia for murder detained in Lithuania
A 50-year-old man wanted in Latvia on suspicion of murder under especially aggravating circumstances has been detained in Šiauliai, Lithuania, with help from an anti-terrorism unit. He is set to be extradited to Latvia.
Latvijas Avīze · 1 Oct, 22:25
Friday forecast for Estonia: partly cloudy, no rain, up to +19 degrees
Estonian meteorologists forecast partly cloudy, dry weather for October 2, with fog in some areas overnight and daytime temperatures reaching +15 to +19 degrees.
ERR (rus) · 1 Oct, 22:25
Job hunting on social media: woman to post daily updates for a month seeking part-time work
A woman on the platform Threads has pledged to post daily about her job search for an entire month, hoping this approach will help her find suitable work. The case raises the question of whether social media could become an alternative job-listing channel.
Latvijas Avīze · 1 Oct, 20:22
Estonian government weighs possible measures against high energy prices this winter
Estonia's government reviewed potential support measures for residents in case energy prices spike sharply this winter, though no final decision on aid has been made.
ERR (rus) · 1 Oct, 20:21
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Kulbergs explains why Latvia was not invited to NATO meeting in Poland
Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs told a press conference that the US discusses NATO's future with the Baltic states through other formats as well, not only at the meeting held in Poland.
Apollo.lv · 1 Oct, 19:24
Progressives party reports former Riga deputy Mārtiņš Eņģelis to police over alleged abuse of a minor
The Progressives party has submitted information to police about former Riga City Council deputy Mārtiņš Eņģelis over a possible sexual relationship with a minor, while disabling comments on its own statement about the matter.
Jauns.lv · 1 Oct, 19:21
Survey: Nearly half of Latvians don't know who their loved ones will vote for
A new SKDS survey ahead of Latvia's 15th Saeima elections shows that 47.2% of respondents don't know or don't discuss with family and friends which party they plan to support. Supporters of JKP and the Gobzems list are the most secretive, while Rising Sun for Latvia and Harmony Centre voters are the most open.
Delfi · 1 Oct, 18:26
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State Forest Service explains logging permits issued near Rucava
The State Forest Service has stated that it found no restrictions when issuing logging permits for an area near Rucava managed by the "Forest Research Station."
Apollo.lv · 1 Oct, 18:24
Lithuanian President: Russia's Nuclear Threat Letter Did Not Surprise Him
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said he was not surprised by a letter Russia sent to NATO threatening nuclear strikes if the Kaliningrad region were threatened, noting that such reckless statements from Russia are becoming more frequent.
Ukrainska Pravda · 1 Oct, 18:22
Pregnancy of 12-year-old girl uncovers serious crime, case sent to prosecutors
After doctors in Vidzeme discovered in February that a 12-year-old girl was pregnant, police have completed an investigation into sexual abuse against her and referred the case to prosecutors.
Latvijas Avīze · 1 Oct, 18:21
Jelgava Approves Over Three Million Euros for Culture House Renovation
Jelgava's city council has approved more than three million euros in funding to improve the energy efficiency of its Culture House, including installation of a passenger elevator. Part of the main stage equipment has already been replaced for safety reasons.
Delfi · 1 Oct, 17:27
Estonia's state authentication service has repeatedly malfunctioned in recent weeks
Estonia's state authentication system again malfunctioned on October 1, disrupting access to several public e-services. Officials say the causes have varied between technical issues and, in one case, a DDoS attack.
ERR (rus) · 1 Oct, 17:27
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One of the motorcyclists injured at Jelgava motorcycle parade dies in hospital
One of the motorcyclists injured in an accident during last weekend's motorcycle parade in Jelgava has died in hospital this week, Latvia's State Police confirmed.
Apollo.lv · 1 Oct, 17:27
Latvia's parliament toughens criminal penalties for environmental crimes
Latvia's Saeima has adopted amendments to the Criminal Law expanding liability and raising penalties for environmental crimes, with sentences of up to ten years in prison possible if a violation results in a person's death.
BNN · 1 Oct, 17:24
Tallinn finalizes preliminary design for Väike-Ameerika street overhaul
Tallinn's city government has completed a preliminary design for reconstructing Väike-Ameerika tänav and part of Luha tänav, to be presented to residents on October 7. The plan turns the existing five-way intersection into a roundabout doubling as a public square.
ERR News · 1 Oct, 17:22
Tartu launches tender to buy 1,000 city bikes
Tartu's transport company will spend nearly €1.6 million to renew its city bike-sharing fleet with 1,000 new e-bikes, delivered in five stages through 2030.
ERR (rus) · 1 Oct, 16:24
Case of alleged rape of 12-year-old girl, resulting in pregnancy, sent to prosecutors
Latvian police have completed an investigation into an adult allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl by exploiting her helpless state, leaving her pregnant. The case has been forwarded to prosecutors to consider pressing charges.
Jauns.lv · 1 Oct, 16:21
Latvia's forest service finds no grounds to deny logging permits near Rucava
Latvia's State Forest Service says it found no restrictions that would have prevented issuing logging permits for an area managed by the Forest Research Station near Rucava.
TVNET · 1 Oct, 16:20
Estonia bans transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through its territory
Estonia's government introduced national sanctions on Thursday banning the transit of Russian and Belarusian grain through Estonian ports. The move aims to prevent Baltic ports from being used to support Russia's war economy.
Delfi · 1 Oct, 15:25
Latvian lawyer backs idea of letting State Audit Office review Saeima's finances
Riga City Council deputy and parliamentary candidate Ringolds Balodis supports allowing the State Audit Office to review the Saeima's economic affairs, though he doubts such a law amendment will actually be passed.
Latvijas Avīze · 1 Oct, 15:22
Uzbek nationals convicted of torturing a swan in Carnikava to be deported from Latvia
Latvia's Citizenship and Migration Affairs Board has revoked the residence permits of two Uzbek nationals convicted of torturing a swan in Carnikava, giving them seven days to leave the country.
Jauns.lv · 1 Oct, 15:21
Estonia's president-elect Madise assembles adviser team ahead of inauguration
Estonia's president-elect Ülle Madise, who takes office on October 12, has already named several advisers, while an ERR News columnist published a satirical piece suggesting unconventional additional posts.
ERR News · 1 Oct, 15:20
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Saeima rules Russian-language content at public broadcasters to become exception
Latvia's Saeima has passed amendments stating that Latvia's public broadcasters will henceforth produce Russian-language content only in exceptional cases. The change alters the established approach to minority-language content on public media.
Apollo.lv · 1 Oct, 14:24
Estonian mayor pushes back against regional policy experts' reboot plan
Lääneranna Municipality mayor Tarvi Sits has criticized Estonian regional policy experts' proposed support scheme in an ERR News opinion piece, arguing instead for placing education, culture and living environment at the core of regional development.
ERR News · 1 Oct, 14:23
Saeima backs plan to let residents add to social insurance record for 1991–1995
Latvia's parliament has given conceptual support to amendments allowing certain groups of residents to voluntarily top up their social insurance record for the years 1991 to 1995. The move targets people who were studying or raising children during that period.
LSM · 1 Oct, 14:20
Lithuania voices sharp criticism over Baltic states' exclusion from NATO future talks
Lithuanian politicians have criticized the fact that the Baltic states were not invited to a planned meeting in Poland on NATO's future, though some downplay the significance.
Delfi · 1 Oct, 13:21
Latvia bans fishing on salmon rivers as spawning season begins
As of October 1, fishing is completely banned on all of Latvia's salmon rivers during the salmon and trout spawning season, with the Nature Conservation Agency stepping up monitoring.
LSM · 1 Oct, 13:21
Journalist Andrei Titov joins Estonia's Press Council
From October 1, Radio 4 managing editor Andrei Titov and Tartu Postimees editor-in-chief Rannar Raba have joined Estonia's Press Council. Two previous members left the council after reaching their maximum term.
ERR (rus) · 1 Oct, 13:21
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Police Detain Ukrainian National With Over €17,000 in Cash
Latvia's State Police have detained a Ukrainian citizen found carrying more than €17,000 in cash believed to originate from criminal activity and intended for removal from Latvia.
TVNET · 1 Oct, 13:21
15th Saeima Elections Approach: Over 115,000 People Have Already Cast Votes
Ahead of Saturday's 15th Saeima elections, more than 115,000 voters — 7.42% of those eligible — have already deposited their ballots. Ādaži municipality shows the highest turnout so far, while Augšdaugava lags behind.
BNN · 1 Oct, 12:22
Severely injured moose put down after train collision; residents blame fence along new bike path in Ādaži municipality
Near Vecāķi, a severely injured moose had to be put down after colliding with a train, with local residents pointing to a roughly two-metre fence along the railway as the cause. Latvian Railways says the fence was built for the Vecāķi–Lilaste bike path project and no openings for wildlife were requested during planning.
Jauns.lv · 1 Oct, 12:21
Estonian Transport Department to deregister over 91,000 vehicles on November 1
Estonia's Transport Department plans to remove more than 91,000 vehicles with long-suspended registrations from the national vehicle register on November 1. Owners are urged to check their vehicles before a steep new deregistration fee takes effect.
ERR (rus) · 1 Oct, 12:20
Latvia detains two citizens suspected of spying for Russia
Latvia's security service has held two citizens since June on suspicion of gathering intelligence on the Ādaži military base for Russia's GRU. The investigation continues.
Politico Europe · 1 Oct, 12:20