Sintija Ambote

Latvian Radio

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Rīga shines for four days in annual festival of light
Rīga shines for four days in annual festival of light

The light festival Staro Rīga has begun, taking place from November 18–21 with the motto “Light was called… in search of feeling at home in Latvia”. The central objects of the festival are the Cabinet of Ministers and the Old Church of St. Gertrude, while the most prominent of the objects this year will be the Freedom Monument, reported LSM's Latvian-language service Tuesday.

Infections widespread in Latvia's prisons
Infections widespread in Latvia's prisons

The spread of infectious diseases has not shrunk in Latvia since 2010, according to last year's research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It has also been established that 41% of inmates are or have been infected with diseases such as HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, reported a story on Latvian Radio Monday.

Soldier wounded in Ukraine glad about treatment in Latvia
Soldier wounded in Ukraine glad about treatment in Latvia

The fund for supporting the victims of the Ukraine conflict is still taking donations for treatment of war veterans in Latvia, but the influx of donations has fallen recently as the events in Ukraine have been eclipsed by the refugee crisis. However, Ukrainian soldiers are still undergoing treatment in Latvia, reported Latvian Radio on Monday.

Researchers ready to start looking into Latvia's KGB legacy
Researchers ready to start looking into Latvia's KGB legacy

The investigative commission charged with studying the massive store of documents detailing KGB activities during the time of the Russian-occupied Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic will finally conclude agreements with researchers and start investigating the KGB "sacks of Cheka files", reported Latvian Radio on Friday. 

Irregular work, tiny wages for Latvia's young scientists
Irregular work, tiny wages for Latvia's young scientists

Following the planning period in August, scientists' access to EU funds will be cut at least until next year. During this time, many young scientists leave for other countries while others spend the time living on unemployment benefits. A number cite the inadequately small government funding to be responsible for professionals looking for work abroad or choosing another profession. 

Group helps Ukrainian kids escape horror of war
Group helps Ukrainian kids escape horror of war

This month the non-governmental organization Latvia Without Orphans (Latvija bez bāreņiem) together with volunteer families from around the country is offering seventeen more children from Ukraine the chance to visit here to try to overcome the traumas they’ve undergone in their war-torn home territories in the nation’s east.

Barely-inhabited villages struck from state maps
Barely-inhabited villages struck from state maps

Last year Latvia lost precisely eighty-four villages, a formal administrative process of elimination wherein the state Land Service and local governments determine that they no longer exist and their territories are no longer shown by the respective zoning maps.

Not all Ukraine refugees given asylum
Not all Ukraine refugees given asylum

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) a total of 79 residents of Ukraine have requested asylum in Latvia this year. Many of these Ukrainians have relatives in Latvia helping them with their residence permits, others have sent only their offspring here temporarily while the homeland is insecure, others are awaiting PMLP rulings on their refugee status.