The premises of the Rainis and Aspazija Memorial in Lugano, Switzerland, will no longer be available in the future, the Minister of Culture Agnese Logina (Progressives) was informed on April 16 during her visit to Switzerland.
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Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has written to the popular German magazine Der Spiegel to point out a host of inaccuracies and tendentious claims in a recent article about Russian speakers in Latvia, reports Latvian Radio.
After seven years of reconstruction, in March 2024, the New Riga Theatre (JRT) will return to its historic home. The return is celebrated with five events -- a book, film, and three shows -- that give viewers a chance to look back at theater history and watch the theater's opening new productions in all three halls, the theater announced.
On Wednesday, February 28, the Latgale District Court in Rēzekne is hearing the criminal case of Ieva Raubiško, a member of the well-known human rights organization "I Want to Help Refugees", concerning events that took place a year ago on the border between Latvia and Belarus, Latvian Radio reports.
In Latvian media, several reporters have become familiar voices reporting from the war in Ukraine. Ieva Vārna from TV3, Ina Strazdiņa from Latvian Television (LTV) and Indra Sprance from Latvian Radio have all filed moving and powerful reports from the front lines as well as telling stories about those behind the front lines in Ukraine. Over three days LSM will profile these excellent, brave journalists.
In Latvian media, several reporters have become familiar voices reporting from the war in Ukraine. Ieva Vārna from TV3, Ina Strazdiņa from Latvian Television (LTV) and Indra Sprance from Latvian Radio have all filed moving and powerful reports from the front lines as well as telling stories about those behind the front lines in Ukraine. Over three days LSM will profile these excellent, brave journalists.
In Latvian media, several reporters have become familiar voices reporting from the war in Ukraine. Ieva Vārna from TV3, Ina Strazdiņa from Latvian Television (LTV) and Indra Sprance from Latvian Radio have all filed moving and powerful reports from the front lines as well as telling stories about those behind the front lines in Ukraine. Over three days LSM will profile these excellent, brave journalists.
What do Latvians have in common with Estonians? A lot, and among the many things it is the 60s, 70s and 80s porcelain. The dishes made by the Riga Porcelain Factory were taken to be painted by the northern neighbors. Examples are currently displayed at the Porcelain Museum in Riga in the exhibition “Riga and Tallinn meets”, Latvian Radio reports.
In less than two months, it will be two years since Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine. Latvia is reminded of this daily not only by news headlines, but also by a large number of Ukrainian refugees – around 33 thousand. How have the support measures changed over time, and what is planned for the future? Latvian Radio sought answers December 28.
The support center for Ukrainian residents will no longer be located in Old Riga next year, but in bigger premises in Jugla, on Pāles Street 9, Latvian Radio reported December 21.
The largest annual National Guard training “Namejs”, which is usually held in September and October, has ended, but also over the weekend in many places in Latvia, the public could see national guards in action. Intense training is needed as many new recruits have joined the ranks, Latvian Radio reported Saturday.
Entry to Latvia has been officially announced by the prestigious Michelin restaurant guide whose inspectors have already visited eateries in various places: on the coast of Kurzeme, in Jūrmala, Valmiera, Cēsis, Līgatne, and Tērvete.
While Rēzekne municipality is currently trying to overcome a financial crisis and plug the budget gap of almost four million euros, another municipality closer to Rīga, Ogre municipality, has kicked off to create a new children's playground of just under two million euros, taking out a loan to the Treasury, Latvian Radio reported on September 7.
From January 1, 2024, biological waste sorting will be mandatory in Latvia. Although sorting this waste may cause inconvenience to some, it is important for us to ensure that the waste mountains do not grow, Inese Avota, project manager of “Getliņi EKO” in the field of environmental education, told Latvian Radio September 6.
On August 24, the Ukrainian independence day, a charity breakfast organized by the Ukrainian embassy in Latvia and the organization Agendum, known as Twitterconvoy, was held in Rīga along with an auction of unique items.
The biggest challenge of the next school year will be the transition to the Latvian language only in general education. Minister Anda Čakša (New Unity), together with the State Education Quality Service, promises enhanced inspections, Latvian Radio reported on August 23.
On Thursday, August 17, a three-day "Latvian Voices" a cappella festival begins in Valmiera with master classes by musicians throughout the day and a concert from popular musical project Shipsea.
New tourism objects in Latvia do not come up often, let alone an entire village. In Valmiera municipality, Santa Paegle has fulfilled her dream of a mini-village, which is now open to visitors, Latvian Radio reported.
This summer season, the European tourism sector and Latvia's tourism industry are more optimistic than last year, Latvian Radio reported on June 10.
Nearly five years after insolvency administrator Mārtiņš Bunkus was gunned down in Rīga, the trial of those accused of his murder began in the Latvian capital May 20.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian and ally community center Common Ground begins work at a new location in the Old Town of Rīga, Latvian Radio reported on April 18.
Upon failure to pass Latvian exams, Russian citizens are in danger of being expelled as of December 2, according to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP). On Tuesday, official language tests for Russian citizens began, Latvian Radio reported April 11.
The Vidzeme region court in Cēsis has slapped a man with a hefty fine of EUR 50,000 for the deliberate destruction of at least ten eggs of an endangered species, the black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundu), Latvian Radio reported on April 2.
A proposal recently emerged in the Saeima to ban schools from conducting entrance exams selecting the highest-achieving students. The discussion sparked controversy in society, following which the Saeima removed the question from its agenda. The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) indicated on March 30 that the Saeima has in fact made it difficult to organize entrance exams this year, Latvian Radio reported.
Applications for a state language exam for Russian Federation citizens who live in Latvia are now being accepted. As of September 1, their residence permits will be voided if an A2 level of the state language is not presented. There are around 18,000 people like this in Latvia. Latvian Radio spoke to one of them, Ekaterina, who has lived in the territory of Latvia for nearly fifty years but does not know the language.
This summer, around third of Latvia's population intends to explore possibilities for domestic tourism according to survey data presented at the 'Balttour' tourism fair, which was held at the weekend in Rīga after a two-year pandemic-enforced break.
The new rules on the exemption of pupils from 9th and 12th-grade state examinations include children who need it due to health, athletes in training camps, asylum seekers, refugees, or alternative status recipients. There is confusion in schools about the possibility for Ukrainian pupils to be exempted from state exams, Latvian Radio reported on January 30.
This week, the Latvian government adopted a new rule: if a pupil has to be exempted from exams, it will no longer be as simple as going to the general practitioner (GP) and getting a note. In the future, a specialist or a medical consilium will be able to do that. This will be a huge burden for patients, the Association of Family Doctors told Latvian Radio on January 26.
On Friday, January 13, in Mārupe, where the head of the vehicle donation drive 'Twitterconvoy' Reinis Pozņaks collects donated cars to deliver to Ukraine, the thousandth car arrived. This time it is an ambulance, Latvian Radio reported.
An ice congestion has formed in the Daugava River between Jēkabpils and Zeļķu bridge, where a flood alert has been announced, Latvian Radio reported January 9.
Following renovation work, the lookout tower at Siksala – an island in the middle of the Teiču nature reserve – will be open to visitors again from June to November.
The war launched by Russia in Ukraine has not only created a wave of Ukrainian refugees, but also a significant wave of Russian emigration, and has also changed the thinking of many Russian citizens living in Latvia, some of whom have been here for years. Their desire to acquire Latvian citizenship has increased significantly, Latvian Radio reported on January 3.