Monday, May 20

Name day: Venta, Salvis, Selva

Public broadcasting of Latvia
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Agnija Lazdiņa

Latvijas Radio Ziņu dienesta korespondente

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Latvia commemorates WWII victims on May 8
Latvia commemorates WWII victims on May 8
May 8 is the day in Europe and Latvia to commemorate the defeat of Nazism and the victims of the Second World War. Commemorations are held in several Latvian cities, including, as every year, at the Riga Brethren (Brāļu) Cemetery, where wreaths and flowers were laid by the country's top officials.
Forest service reminds public to be careful with fire
Forest service reminds public to be careful with fire
As of May 3, the forest fire hazard period has been determined in Latvia. During this period, residents and forest owners have a number of prohibitions and restrictions, and non-compliance can be subject to administrative, civil, and criminal liability, Latvian Radio reported. 
SAB, KNAB claim no information about alleged election rig attempts(update)
SAB, KNAB claim no information about alleged election rig attempts(update)
The Constitutional Protection Bureau (SAB) and the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) have not received any information from the IT company SOAAR that it may have received encouragement from the Unity party to influence the results of the 2014 Saeima elections, Latvian Radio reported on April 25.
Around 40% of Latvia's residents donate to Ukraine
Around 40% of Latvia's residents donate to Ukraine
This year, 38.7% of the Latvian population has donated to support Ukraine or war refugees, according to a survey conducted by the market and public opinion research center "SKDS" on behalf of the LETA news agency.
Roads are bad and will stay bad, says Latvian authority
Roads are bad and will stay bad, says Latvian authority
With the planned funding, it will not be possible to improve the national road network in the coming years, Mārtiņš Lazdovskis, Chairman of the Board of the State Enterprise "Latvijas Valsts ceļi" (LVC), said at a road sector conference on April 19, Latvian Radio reports.
Rīgans protest against future football stadium
Rīgans protest against future football stadium
On Wednesday morning, about 100 protesters gathered in front of the Riga City Council to oppose the plan to build a football stadium in Lucavsala. Meanwhile, the Riga City Council is deciding on Wednesday on the allocation of more than 10 hectares of land for the construction of a national football stadium in Lucavsala.
Russian presidential 'election' shows 2% turnout in Latvia
Russian presidential 'election' shows 2% turnout in Latvia
Voters in the so-called Russian presidential "elections" gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Riga on Sunday, March 17. Several protests were also held there. Law enforcement officers monitored the situation and several people were detained, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.
Saeima mulls banning personal smart devices at schools
Saeima mulls banning personal smart devices at schools
Is there room for smart devices in schools? On Wednesday, March 13, the responsible committee of the Saeima started to view the portal “ManaBalss.lv” initiative to ban personal smart devices in primary and secondary schools.
Researcher: Latvia is 'too secretive' about defense
Researcher: Latvia is 'too secretive' about defense
The feeling of insecurity in society, when it comes to military threats, is caused by the fact that there is an exaggerated position of secrecy in the field of national security, said Valdis Kuzmins, a researcher at the National Defense Academy, in an interview with Latvian Radio on March 7.
Emergency team shows off new cars
Emergency team shows off new cars
The State Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) has received 47 new vehicles specially designed for the team to work in pairs. Previously, teams mostly had three people. The reduction aims to make the teams quicker and more accessible, Latvian Radio reported on February 21.
Ukrainian entrepreneurs in Latvia share their stories
Ukrainian entrepreneurs in Latvia share their stories
For more than a year, the Ukrainian Olga's restaurant “Green Pumpkin.UA” and Irina's Cafe “Smakoliki” have been open in Latvia. Olga and Irina did not use to work in the catering sector in Ukraine, but when the Russian invasion began they came here and decided to start their businesses and offer a small part of Ukraine to Latvia. Latvian Radio visited the restaurants on February 20.
Freedom Monument defender honored in Rīga
Freedom Monument defender honored in Rīga
Wednesday, February 14 saw Riga City Council (RD) pay tribute to local resident Sanita Katsuba, who at the end of last year intervened when thugs damaged and attempted to steal a model of the Freedom Monument designed for blind people, in the center of the Latvian capital.
Latvia has no system for medicine supplies in emergencies
Latvia has no system for medicine supplies in emergencies
Latvia still does not have a system in place to provide the necessary stocks of medicinal products in emergencies when international supplies to Latvia may be disrupted. This issue is particularly important because 94% of the Latvian medicines market is made up of imported medicines, Latvian Radio reported on February 13.
Big meth lab uncovered in Latgale
Big meth lab uncovered in Latgale
Police came across an impressive methamphetamine lab in January in a country cottage in Latgale, Raimonds Kronbergs, Head of the Criminal Police Department of Riga Region Administration of the State Police, said at a press conference on Wednesday, January 31.
Wounded Latvian soldier to be brought home from Ukraine
Wounded Latvian soldier to be brought home from Ukraine
A call for help recently went round social media – a Latvian who's been injured while fighting for Ukraine needed help to get home. The society "Mūsu ligzda" ('Our Nest') has accumulated the resources and will go pick him up on Tuesday, Latvian Radio reports.
Latvenergo denies allegations of energy instability
Latvenergo denies allegations of energy instability
Latvia saw a dramatic increase in electricity prices in early January, after which the association of political parties United List submitted an inquiry to the responsible ministers to the Saeima, considering that Latvenergo had not properly prepared its thermal power stations for stable and secure work during the winter period, Latvian Radio reported on January 17.
Saeima to discuss Latvia's withdrawal from Ottawa Convention
Saeima to discuss Latvia's withdrawal from Ottawa Convention
A collection of signatures on Latvia's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention has started. According to the author of the initiative, Latvian society would thus acquire a sense of security that the Latvian border could be mined in case of attack of the aggressor, Latvian Radio reported January 15.
Russia does not get Latvian beer, say producers
Russia does not get Latvian beer, say producers
No Latvian beer producer is known to currently export its products to Russia, Pēteris Liniņš, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Beer Producers' Union, told Latvian Radio, questioning the information in some media that Latvia and Lithuania had overtaken Belgium and the Czech Republic in their beer exports to Russia last year.
Free Latvian language courses available in Rīga
Free Latvian language courses available in Rīga
In Rīga, registration for the Latvian language courses financed by the local government has started. Until November, these courses are planned to be provided to at least 760 people, Latvian Radio reported January 8.
Mandatory biowaste sorting stirs no activity in Latvia
Mandatory biowaste sorting stirs no activity in Latvia
As of January 1, separate collection of biological waste should begin throughout Latvia. This means another - a brown container that says “Biological waste” - should appear alongside others. However, so far there is no response from the population and no increased interest from waste managers in collecting bio-waste, Latvian Radio reported January 4.
Hospitals see frostbite cases in recent days
Hospitals see frostbite cases in recent days
The past few days have brought a great cold to Latvia. It can pose health risks, especially for older people, infants, and the homeless. People have come to hospitals with frostbite, even before the New Year, Sergejs Smirnovs, head of the burns center at Riga East Clinical University Hospital (RAKUS), told Latvian Radio January 3.
No severe fireworks injuries this year in Latvia
No severe fireworks injuries this year in Latvia
This year, for the first time in a long time, on New Year's Eve, people have not suffered severe injuries while handling pyrotechnics. However, one celebrator burned very seriously when a Christmas tree caught on fire, the Emergency Medical Service (NMPD) reported January 1.
Are booze-mas trees ethical?
Are booze-mas trees ethical?
Is it right and ethical to place a “Christmas tree” made of bottles of alcohol in the supermarket's food department? The law, at least for now, does not prohibit it. The advertisement is legal, but it is not quite ethical, given that Latvia is trying to reduce alcohol consumption, experts surveyed by Latvian Radio on December 1 said.