“Riga’s residents gave us a second chance – if we betray them, there won’t be a third,” Kleinbergs warns

There will be issues that the new Riga City Council coalition will find difficult to decide on – such as matters of traffic and security – but the coalition will be able to work successfully through the entire term, said Viesturs Kleinbergs...

Wind damages Rīga's beaches

The Housing and Environment Department of the Rīga City Council has assessed the damage and will begin cleaning up the beaches as soon as possible. Several days of strong winds and the resulting waves have caused serious damage - wooden walkways...

Estonia's police hand out postcards from Death to celebrate good drivers

Road deaths and accidents in Estonia have been on an upward trend for the last five years, pushing authorities to find innovative ways to combat the problem. Experts say there is little demand in society for road safety measures. The campaign was...

Demand for more dog walking spots in Rīga

The only areas where dogs are allowed off the leash outside the home are places where municipal regulations allow it. In Rīga, there are currently seven areas where dogs can be walked without a leash. The city council has already received requests...

Economics Ministry: Planned Rīga heating prices unfounded

The Rīga heating company Rīgas siltums previously indicated that the submitted planned heat energy tariff is 88.10 euros/MWh, with the most significant increase being for heat energy purchased on the right bank of the Daugava, the price of which...

Polish government criticises “citizen patrols” blocking migrant returns on German border

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We...

The NATO Meeting in The Hague and the Latest Developments in the International Security Environment

Conclusions and Lessons for Military and Intelligence Services “Geopolitics does not forgive ignorance and does not reward indecision.” — adapted from Zbigniew Brzezinski By Corneliu Pivariu The NATO meeting held in The Hague on June 24-25, 2025,...

235 same-sex partnerships registered in Latvia within a year

In the year since Latvia introduced the Partnership Institute, 235 same-sex partnerships have been officially registered, according to the Latvian Council of Sworn Notaries. As of the 1st of July, a total of 613 partnerships have been recorded in...

Partnerships registered by over 600 couples in one year in Latvia

In total, as of 1 July this year, the Register of Natural Persons contains information on 613 registered partnerships, of which 235 are same-sex partnerships and 378 are opposite-sex partnerships. Meanwhile, 19 partnerships have ended. Nine...

Three Months of Elections Sketch Dos and Don’ts for EU Democracy Shield

Democratic forces are struggling to win elections convincingly. FIMI/DIMI operations continue to affect results, and build polarisation and political disillusionment, preying on poor leadership. Recent elections in Central and Eastern Europe, most...

Four arrested in UK over M&S, Co-op and Harrods cyberattacks

Four arrests have been made in the UK as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into major cyberattacks on M&S, Co-op and Harrods. The arrests come after a torrid few months for retailers in the UK as M&S was hit by a major cyberattack in...

World Flavours, Indian roots: Hotel menus that bridge continents

The global palate is evolving. As travellers become more adventurous and culturally curious, hotel kitchens are transforming into cultural crossroads—places where diverse culinary influences meet the richness of Indian tradition. The phrase "world...

Poland Has Placed A Kazakh Company, Which Belongs To Pinskdrev, On The Sanctions List

1 Photo: Charter97.org For circumventing sanctions. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Poland has included the Kazakh company QARTREE LLP in the sanctions list at the request of the National Tax Administration. The tax authority proved that the...

Latvia takes steps toward 5% of GDP for defence

This year, the largest amount of funding in Latvia's history has been allocated to defence – more than €1.5 billion, or 3.45% of GDP. By comparison, last year it was 3.3% of GDP. Initially, the government committed to allocating at least 4% of...

Photos: Baltica folklore festival in Rīga, Daugavpils

According to representatives of the Latvian National Centre for Culture, this year's festival focused on the languages and dialects of our country. The festival consisted of 35 different concerts, parades, singing and dancing events, master...

Latvian Foreign Minister on the new NATO landscape under Trump

International Festival of Arts and Talents in London: World Talent Award 2025

The traditional large-scale festival of talents, organised by the cultural platform Golden Time Talent, has once again captivated London. This event became a true international celebration of talent, culture, and creativity. In 2025, the event...

International & Trade Buyers Turn Out For Eldred’s Continental Auction

This late Nineteenth Century Russian School oil on canvas of a man helping a soldier shave, 29 by 22 inches, framed, was indistinctly signed but sold for the sale’s highest price — $13,360 — to a buyer in Latvia ($1,2/1,800). Review by Madelia...

Latvian Foreign Minister: Iran Strikes Reassured NATO and Were Good ‘Demonstration of Strength’

On Tuesday’s broadcast of CNN International’s “The Brief,” Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže stated that the American strikes on Iran has given NATO members reassurance that President Donald Trump will act militarily when he feels he...

Latvian Foreign Minister: NATO’s Making ‘Important’ Commitment to Spend 5% on Defense Thanks to Trump

On Tuesday’s broadcast of CNN International’s “The Brief,” Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže said that NATO allies will agree to spend 5% on defense and that “is the doing of Mr. Trump.” And that’s important because they face real...