France still fails to agree on next year’s budget
The French parliament failed to agree on the 2026 national budget on the 19th of December, meaning that emergency solutions will have to be sought to avoid a standstill …
2025-12-19
2025-12-19
A cat gets caught up in the fray around Lithuania’s public broadcaster; president outraged by the nonsense
At the end of the year, Lithuanian lawmakers created a situation where even a cat has a say in whether to dismiss the head of the country’s public broadcaster, Politico …
2025-12-19
It's a bear market: Latvia set to hold double ursine auction
While the Latvian government has spent quite a while extolling the supposed benefits of privatising public assets, a privatisation of an unusual kind is planned, accordi…
2025-12-19
Birkentals finishes ahead of Rastorgujevs in France
Renārs Birkentāls claimed a decent 34th place in the 10-kilometre sprint at the biathlon World Cup in France on Friday, finishing ahead of the regular leader of the Latv…
2025-12-19
Estonian Interior Minister: Russians don’t know how to read maps
The Estonian government will conduct a new risk assessment on December 19, and it is not ruled out that the border with Russia could be closed after the incident in Vask…
2025-12-19
BNN IN FOCUS | Tried to win favour, but failed: what went wrong with the Latvian Government’s “reset”?
One of the most prominent issues of the outgoing year was the fight against bureaucracy. Residents hoped that bureaucrats would finally be knocked off their pedestal, wh…
2025-12-19
MikroTik gives major donation to help wounded Ukrainian defenders
Latvian technology company MikroTik has donated EUR 250,000 to the Entrepreneurs for Peace Foundation’s initiative to strengthen the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian sold…
2025-12-19
Minister criticizes Czech climate policy; promised “green blood will flow”
Czech interim environment minister Petr Macinka has said that ideology must be broken and the ministry’s climate protection department will be closed, writes Politico. M…
2025-12-19
Latvian central bank gives its end-of-year economic forecasts
Latvijas Banka (LB), the Latvian central bank, published revised macroeconomic forecasts on December 19th, and the good news is that economic growth is projected to be s…
2025-12-19
Winter solstice events in Rīga
During the solstice and Christmas, Rīga invites you to enjoy a diverse festive program - concerts in concert halls and churches, winter solstice traditions in Old Town, …
2025-12-19
Scammer steals tens of thousands of euros for 'construction work'
The State Police has completed its investigation into a man suspected of defrauding eight residents. The suspect offered various construction services, received advance …
2025-12-19
EU agrees loan for Ukraine; frozen Russian assets untouched for now
European Union leaders have agreed on a 90 billion euros loan for Ukraine, but it will be financed from the bloc’s budget, not frozen assets of aggressor Russia, the BBC…
2025-12-19
Agricultural conditions in Latvia are becoming increasingly challenging each year, expert says
The situation in Latvian agriculture is becoming more complicated with each passing year, primarily due to climatic conditions, said Juris Lazdiņš, Chairman of the Board…
2025-12-19
Jewellery chain Grenardi expands with new acquisition
Latvian jewellery store chain AS Grenardi Group announced on December 19 it is acquiring SIA Goldwork, a company specializing in jewellery repair services. Under the agr…
2025-12-19
Weather in Latvia during the holidays: cloudy, locally rainy, and cool
On Friday and Saturday, skies will be mostly cloudy, with some clearing during the daytime in places. During the second half of Friday night, light rain is possible in p…
2025-12-19
Russia built a school-to-trenches conveyor belt for children. Is the West ready?
Western policymakers often treat “soft” humanitarian concerns—such as returning Ukrainian children from Russia—as separate from “hard” security issues like future defens…
2025-12-19
Hoarfrost expected during Christmas week in Latvia
According to forecasts, the weather in Latvia will become colder during Christmas week.
2025-12-19
First sloth baby born at Rīga Zoo
A week ago, on the evening of December 12th, a Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) baby was born at the Rīga National Zoo. This is the first baby of this sp…
2025-12-19
Residents concerned about green square in Rīga being built on
A residents' association and public figures are calling for the 'Little Arkādija' green square in Pārdaugava not to be built on. Architects see it as a place of cultural…
2025-12-19
High Five! raises record-high amount for charity in Latvia
With donations totalling €1,001,388, the twelfth charity marathon organised by Latvian Public Media, "Dod pieci!" (High Five!), came to an end on the evening of December…
2025-12-19
News in simple Latvian: 18th December, 2025
Every evening at 21:00, Latvian Radio 1 broadcasts a five-minute summary of the day's news stories in a simplified language format called Ziņas vieglajā valodā ('News in…
2025-12-18
Inspectors find no violations in 'starvation' of vulnerable man at care centre
After completing an inspection at the Ezerkrasti branch of the state social care center "Riga", where a young man with severe developmental disorders was found dangerous…
2025-12-18
Compulsory secondary education introduced in Estonia; schools struggle to adapt to changes
Schools say the Ministry of Education’s ban on expelling students from secondary school caught them by surprise and are now facing difficulties implementing the new rule…
2025-12-18
Crisis simulation reveals weaknesses in Riga’s civil defence system
Comprehensive civil defence exercises would help improve public preparedness for crises, according to the study “From Siren to Shelter? Civil Defence in Riga” conducted …
2025-12-18
Sculpture causes controversy ahead of Liepāja's capital of culture stint
Artistic debates are raging in Liepāja with just over a year to go until it becomes a European Capital of Culture – though perhaps not in quite the way the organizers ha…
2025-12-18
Twenty road signs stolen in Cēsis municipality
A total of 20 "Weight Limit" road signs have been stolen from a regional road in Cēsis municipality, said Latvian State Roads.
2025-12-18
Spying equipment discovered on ship in France; person from Latvia also detained
French intelligence services are investigating a possible operation by foreign agents of influence after high-tech spying equipment was found on a ferry in the port of S…
2025-12-18
Dispute over abolition of water meter verification reaches Latvia’s Constitutional Court
Latvia’s Constitutional Court has initiated proceedings in a case concerning the termination of state metrological control — verification — of water consumption meters i…
2025-12-18
Are prices in Latvia as high as we think?
Latvian politicians regularly make claims that Latvians pay more for this or that service or product than people in other European Union countries. Indeed, the gnashing …
2025-12-18
Russian border guards entered Estonian territory
Three Russian border guards crossed the border in eastern Estonia on the 17th of December without prior agreement; the reason is currently unknown, but the incident did …