Laura Dzērve

Latvijas Radio Ziņu dienesta korespondente

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State wants mentors to teach refugees work-specific Latvian
State wants mentors to teach refugees work-specific Latvian
Out of 26 refugees who've found work via the State Employment Agency within the past two years, eighteen are still in work. However they still face problems speaking Latvian, which the Welfare Ministry wants to try to solve with the help of language mentors giving work-specific Latvian advice to the people who've fled elsewhere and settled here, reports Latvian Radio January 19.
Estonian alcohol retailers to further expand on Latvian border
Estonian alcohol retailers to further expand on Latvian border

The owners of large alcohol stores in the area of the former Ikla-Ainaži checkpoint on the Estonian-Latvian border are expanding their stores in order to nearly double the locations' sales floors by next spring, reported ERR via the Postimees daily on November 13.

Family doctors continue strike
Family doctors continue strike

The Latvian Association of Family Doctors will not sign an agreement that would end the ongoing strike of family doctors (or GPs) as it doesn't, they say, meet their core demands, reported Latvian Radio on July 7.

Jelgava caretaker fined for abusing a child
Jelgava caretaker fined for abusing a child

Latvia's child protection authorities have fined a social worker at the Jelgava City Orphanage €210 for abusing a child, reported Latvian Radio on May 25.

Saeima committee steps back on circus animal ban
Saeima committee steps back on circus animal ban

On May 2 the Saeima Economic , Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee supported a proposal by Harmony MP Jūlija Stepaņenko to allow the use of wild animals born in captivity.

148 foreigners were imprisoned last year-end
148 foreigners were imprisoned last year-end

There were 148 foreign prisoners in Latvia's prisons in late 2016, up from 41 a few years ago. As some of them come from exotic destinations like Vietnam, there are difficulties with following human rights regulations, reported Latvian Radio.

School victorious in vegetarian food row
School victorious in vegetarian food row

The Ikšķile Brīvā skola (Free School) has won an administrative case against Latvia's Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) over the demand to include meat into children's weekly sustenance, reported Latvian Radio Wednesday.

State might lift reduced tax for OTC drugs
State might lift reduced tax for OTC drugs

The reduced value-added tax (VAT) rate of 12% for over-the-counter medicines could be lifted, meaning the regular VAT rate of 21% would apply to these drugs, says a Finance Ministry proposal for the 2017 budget, reported Latvian Radio Monday.

Driving to Positivus? Try avoiding traffic jams
Driving to Positivus? Try avoiding traffic jams

From Friday to Sunday the Positivus festival will take place in Salacgrīva - the largest music festival in the Baltics. Accordingly, Latvia's State Police warns of traffic jams, saying people should depart for the festival early in order to make sure they don't miss any of their favorite acts.

Unions announce major protest over healthcare budget
Unions announce major protest over healthcare budget

The Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia will hold a major protest calling for "respectable jobs and respectable remuneration for healthy and educated people in Latvia", the confederation's chairman Pēteris Krīgers told the press after a board meeting today.

Interview: refugee help group activist Liene Jurgelāne
Interview: refugee help group activist Liene Jurgelāne

The Kanepes Culture Center has never shied away from hotly-debated topics like refugees. The center has become a place of discussions about the topic as well as a space where locals can meet those residing in the Mucenieki asylum seeker center, sharing beautiful Sunday moments. Latvian Radio talked with Liene Jurgelāne, activist and head of the culture center, in a story aired Tuesday.

Zolitūde supermarket disaster trial starts
Zolitūde supermarket disaster trial starts

On Tuesday the trial resulting from the Zolitūde supermarket cave-in started, more than two years after the deadly roof collapse of a Maxima supermarket that took 54 lives on November 21, 2013. The next hearings are scheduled for early March 2016, reported Latvian Radio Tuesday.

Offenders' electronic monitoring underway in Latvia
Offenders' electronic monitoring underway in Latvia

In July, the government greenlighted amendments that allow for electronically monitoring offenders. The program is underway, with 33 people now wearing electronic tagging devices around their ankles. Despite that the participants' daily routine is strictly limited, a total of 131 offenders have applied for parole under the new program, reported Latvian Radio Monday.

MPs deny request to penalize Health Minister
MPs deny request to penalize Health Minister

The Saeima Mandate, Ethics and Submissions Committee has denied the request by the Corruption Prevention and Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) to hand Health Minister and MP Guntis Belēvičs (Greens and Farmers Union) for penalization on grounds of suspected interest conflict, Latvian Radio reported Wednesday.

Children taken into care abroad could be put into compatriots' families
Children taken into care abroad could be put into compatriots' families

Solutions are in the works to help Latvian children that were removed from their families abroad. For example, the Latvian Embassy in the United Kingdom has reached out to Latvian families, looking for foster parents for children that were taken from their compatriots' families. 

Latvia to use drones to fight illegal fishing
Latvia to use drones to fight illegal fishing

As methods for illegal fishing become more modern, the Latvian State Environmental Service (SES) has announced a tender for buying drones to gain an edge over the criminals, reported a Wednesday story on Latvian Radio.

More than 400 births thanks to infertility treatment program
More than 400 births thanks to infertility treatment program

In Latvia, the state-sponsored infertility treatment program was started in 2012. In the beginning it was just one of the many events for promoting the health of mothers and infants, but later it grew into a self-standing state budget program. On a story aired Thursday, Latvian Radio examined the successes and the challenges faced by the program.

Father of four struggles settling in the homeland of his deceased wife
Father of four struggles settling in the homeland of his deceased wife

'Every child is valuable to Latvia' is the bread and butter of some Latvian politicians, but their homecoming is not always easy, and it can be likened to an obstacle course, as the story of Imran's family shows. Imran has lead the children of him and his deceased wife, a Latvian national, to their home country as it wasn't safe in Pakistan. He wants to work and to participate in the Latvian public life, but he hasn't been able to do so as of yet, reported Latvian Radio on Wednesday.

Bribery watchdog barks at hospital diagnosticians
Bribery watchdog barks at hospital diagnosticians

A criminal probe has been opened by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) into a group of x-ray technicians and medical staff at Riga’s leading hospitals for requesting and accepting bribes for moving patients up in line.

Saeima moves up bill to curb quick loans
Saeima moves up bill to curb quick loans

Saeima approved a bill to tighten laws regulating the quick-loan industry in second reading Thursday, providing for a ban on handing out overnight credits and other more strict regulations on the business.