More than 33,000 runners will take part in the "Rimi" Riga Marathon this weekend, and the World Running Championships, which were held in Rīga last year, play a significant role in the increase in the number of participants, Aigars Nords, the head of the event's organizing team, told Latvian Television on Friday.
On Monday, May 20, from 10:00 to 10:08, alarm sirens will be activated for three minutes throughout the country to check the procedure for activating the national early warning system and its operation, as well as to detect damage, the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) informed.
The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO) is leaving its home - the Great Guild Hall - for the duration of the renovation works, LNSO said on May 17.
Coastal fishermen have been complaining for years about the damage caused by seals to fishing gear, fish catches and the entire fish population in the Baltic Sea. The seal is a protected animal, the seal population is growing and there are now more than 60.000 grey seals in the Baltic Sea. The possibility of allowing some fishermen to hunt seals has been raised, Latvian Radio reported on May 17.
The association "Mazjūras zvejnieki" brings together 74 coastal fishermen. Andris Cīrulis, chairman of the association's board, said that fishermen have been talking about seal damage for 20 years, but the situation has become increasingly complicated in recent years. Seals eat up to two to three times more fish per year than coastal fishermen catch.
Rīga municipality promises to open a comfortable and modern low-floor tram service from the city center to Ķengarags around Midsummer. The reconstruction of tram line 5 in Pārdaugava will take a few more months, the municipal company Rīgas Satiksme plans.
On Thursday, May 16, a soldier of the National Armed Forces (NBS) died after sustaining injuries in a road traffic accident during a military exercise, the NBS said.
"Not just Vyshyvanka Day!" - this is the name given to the Ukrainian community march and charity event that took place in Riga on Thursday. Ukrainians from all over Latvia gathered for a united march on the occasion of World Vyshyvanka Day, Latvian Television reports.
Following an assessment and proposal by the Latvian Central Bank (Bank of Latvia) the European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to issue a credit institution license to JSC "Indexo Banka". The decision takes effect on Thursday, May 16, the Bank of Latvia said in a press release.
The first two chicks hatched on Thursday in a white stork nest on a power pole equipped with a live camera. The stork couple Mamma and Tuks welcomed them around noon, the electricity distribution network "Sadales tīkls" informed.
Data published on May 16 by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia show that in March 2024 the number of non-resident and resident arrivals at tourist accommodation establishments accounted for 164.2 thousand, which is 18.8 % more than in March 2023.
On Thursday, May 16, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs met with Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church in a private audience, said the Chancellery of the President of Latvia.
The State Security Service (VDD) has detained two persons on suspicion of collecting information and passing it on to the Russian special services, the service said. One of the persons has already been accused of spying for Russia - Sergejs Sidorovs, a taxi driver who passed information to the so-called "Baltic anti-fascists".
Several political forces will not take part in pre-election debates and broadcasts in Russian, according to statements by the parties to the media on May 16.
Following the Constitutional Court's judgment declaring the felling of younger trees unconstitutional, the State Forest Service (VMD) carried out inspections in 5,874 forest stands and canceled tree felling certificates in 1,019 cases in a total area of 835 hectares, the VMD said.
The sluggish lending by banks is widely cited as one of the problems of Latvia's economic underdevelopment. But, as the banks' own data show, this has the potential to change. There is interest in borrowing from both citizens and businesses, and the banks themselves are also interested in lending, Latvian Television reported on May 15.
In order to protect doctors from violence by patients or their relatives, the Latvian Medical Association (LĀB) wants to change Article 269 of the Criminal Law. If introduced, medical staff would have a similar status to police officers or firefighters: if attacked, perpetrators risk going to jail, Latvian Rado reported on May 15.
A new public toilet in Jēkabpils has been set up, the cost of which is surprising residents. The total amount spent on the installation of the toilet is just over 70 thousand euros. Jēkabpils is accused of being wasteful, but the municipality explains that there are reasons for this, Latvian Radio reported on May 16.
On May 18 and 19, the most ambitious grassroots sports event in the Baltics, the Rimi Riga Marathon, will bring together more than 30,000 running enthusiasts from almost 100 countries, including top-ranking professionals
As part of its continued intensified monitoring of the fresh fruit, vegetables and berries trade, the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) has inspected more than 400 food outlets, including shops, market stalls, street stalls and wholesalers. In 36% of cases, various infringements were found, the service said.
The official bathing season opens in Latvia on May 15, and this week's weather forecast will encourage many people to take to the water. Last year, firefighters rescued 12 people from the water between May 15 and September 15, but 50 people met a tragic end in the water during the summer season, the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) said.
In 2023 there were 57.4 thousand agricultural holdings in Latvia, which is 11.6 thousand or 17 % fewer than registered in the Agricultural Census 2020, according to data published by the Central Statistical Bureau on May 15.
The arguments in the project on the dismissal of the Rēzekne City Council in financial difficulties, prepared by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (VARAM) and supported by the Government, are insufficient and the State would lose in case of legal proceedings, warns the Legal Bureau of the Saeima.
May is in full bloom, and natural treasures are everywhere. One of the most valuable plants worth harvesting now is the dandelion, says expert and doctor of pharmaceutics Vija Eniņa.
This year, new urban meadows will be created in seven places in Riga - in Grīziņkalns Park, Lucavsala and Jugla near Umurgas Street, as well as in the areas of Mirdzas Ķempes Street, near the Rumbula and Velnezers swimming areas and Lielvārdes Street near the 84th secondary school, the Latvia Fund for Nature (LDF) said.
On August 3, the second LDF Meadow Festival will take place in Riga, dedicated to Latvia's natural meadows.
The troubles with the new Vivi train service seem to be over for now. However, people complain that it is difficult to get out and into the new electric trains. In response to questions from viewers, the Latvian Television's 4. studija team found out that it does take a lot of physical effort to get on board the new trains.
The body of a possibly prematurely born infant has been found in a waste container in Ventspils. In connection with the incident, the State Police asked people who have information about the possible mother of the child to contact them.
In the first two months of this year, only seven patients with different rare diseases received reimbursable medicines, compared to nearly 1,500 diagnoses of rare diseases in the country. The Latvian Alliance for Rare Diseases called for €19 million to expand treatment options, but the Ministry of Health has not earmarked such funding. What does this mean for rare disease patients? Latvian Radio spoke to patients May 15.
Svetlana Pavāre is one of about 20 people diagnosed with hereditary angioedema in Latvia. For most of her life, she has experienced countless attacks that neither she nor her doctors could explain for a long time. Four years ago, Svetlana woke up in the night unable to swallow her saliva. When she saw that her face was swollen, she called an ambulance. At the hospital, Svetlana Pavāre met an anesthetist who asked her the question that finally led to a diagnosis.
A new agreement between the Baltic and Benelux countries on the automatic recognition of higher education diplomas entered into force this month. It is the first international agreement of its kind between two regions of the European Union, EURANET PLUS reported May 15.
