Saturday, April 27

Name day: Tāle, Raimonda, Raina, Klementīne

Public broadcasting of Latvia
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LTV raidījums "Aizliegtais paņēmiens"

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Dark side of 'White' milk: dairy producer's workplace safety questioned
Dark side of 'White' milk: dairy producer's workplace safety questioned
In a span of a couple of months, four employees of the "Tukuma piens" dairy producer company, more commonly known under the brand "Baltais" ("White"), have got serious injuries. Latvian Television's "Forbidden Method", aired February 26, checked concerns about the employer's lax attitude to safety and employee health.
To sort or not to sort – is biowaste sorting really mandatory in Latvia?
To sort or not to sort – is biowaste sorting really mandatory in Latvia?
As of this year, the sorting of biodegradable waste in Latvia is mandatory. Or is it? Latvian Television's broadcast 'Forbidden Method' (Aizliegtais Paņēmiens, AP) looked at the capital Rīga's example, where sorting has been as if mandatory since 2021, but in reality, hardly anyone does it.
How do Latvian youths become illegal money mules?
How do Latvian youths become illegal money mules?
Money muling, or receiving (illegally acquired) money from a third party and transferring it on, can sound enticing as a way to earn easy money, and Latvians, particularly youth, are also susceptible. Latvian Television's "Forbidden Method" (Aizliegtais paņēmiens, AP) attempted to examine how youth are dragged into the scheme and what the consequences can be.
What to do with run-down Latvian Television building?
What to do with run-down Latvian Television building?
The Latvian Television building in Zaķusala, Rīga, which was built in Soviet times, is, on the one hand, a strategic object of national importance, and on the other hand, a huge eyesore. Latvian Television's broadcast 'Forbidden Method' (Aizliegtais paņēmiens, AP), aired December 4, went on a tour of the building exploring its many shortcomings and it as a visualization of politicians' indecisiveness.
Latvian eating habits examined
Latvian eating habits examined
What do Latvians eat, and why is their health in such an apparently poor state? Latvian Television's show 'Forbidden Method' (Aizliegtais Paņēmiens, AP) asked these ambitious questions in its November 27 broadcast.
LTV goes undercover to expose people smugglers on the Latvia-Belarus border
LTV goes undercover to expose people smugglers on the Latvia-Belarus border
Latvian Television's Aizliegtais Paņēmiens (Forbidden Method', AP) investigative journalism show tackled a very topical subject October 2 with a daring probe into the murky world of people smugglers operating along the Belarus-Latvia border to get third-country citizens into the European Union. 
Over 80 Russians denied residency by State Security Service
Over 80 Russians denied residency by State Security Service
About 80 Russian citizens who have applied for residence permits in Latvia in connection with the amendments to the Immigration Law have received a negative opinion from the State Security Service (VDD), reports the Latvian Television broadcast "Forbidden Method" (Aizliegtais paņēmiens) on September 4.
LTV examines Latvia's large health insurance market
LTV examines Latvia's large health insurance market
Private healthcare schemes have become increasingly popular in Latvia during recent years, and there is a notable difference between the size of the market in Latvia and in the other Baltic states, reported Latvian Television's "Forbidden Method" (Aizliegtais paņēmiens)  investigative show March 20.
Stalemate at the steelworks in Liepāja
Stalemate at the steelworks in Liepāja
Last spring, an investor from Turkey bought one of the largest assets ​​of the former Liepājas metalurgs plant for several million euros – an electric steel smelting furnace, in which scrap metal can be melted. 
'Official email' project still in the inbox
'Official email' project still in the inbox
The possibility of issuing everyone in Latvia with a standardized 'official' email account for official correspondence has been discussed and planned for ten years – but still the project has not been fully implemented, LTV's Forbidden Method investigative show reported March 21.
Food Union cuts ties with Russia and Belarus
Food Union cuts ties with Russia and Belarus
The Latvian-based food producer group Food Union has cut "all ties with partners and Russia and also in Belarus", Latvian Television's investigative broadcast Forbidden Method reported March 14.
Retail restrictions continue harming small businesses in Latvia
Retail restrictions continue harming small businesses in Latvia
Since last Monday, stores are allowed to sell a wider range of goods but must provide more space per visitor. Businesses are not satisfied with this rule, according to Latvian Television broadcast "Aizliegtais paņēmiens" (Forbidden Method) February 15.
LTV broadcast investigates violence in Latvian kindergartens
LTV broadcast investigates violence in Latvian kindergartens
Latvian Television's investigative broadcast "Aizliegtais paņēmiens" explored attitude towards children at Latvian kindergartens. Episode aired November 2 showed the results of a four-month long investigation at one establishment.
Central Market cigarette mafia returns
Central Market cigarette mafia returns
Latvian Television reported on June 1 that half a year after revealing the system for illegal cigarette trade in the Riga Central Market, changes to law have still not been adopted but traders have started to renew the industry.
Keeping women in the kitchen while men go to space
Keeping women in the kitchen while men go to space
Psychologists have long debated whether our DNA or environment defines who we are as a person, and on February 24 the Forbidden Method (Aizliegtais paņēmiens) investigative journalism program dove into an analysis of Latvian television advertisements in an attempt to further untangle the 'chicken or the egg' question of whether the gender roles presented in ads are intrinsically a reflection of, or whether they themselves influence society.
LTV investigative journalists infiltrate Central Market cigarette mafia
LTV investigative journalists infiltrate Central Market cigarette mafia
LTV's investigative journalism program Forbidden Method (Aizliegtais Paņēmiens) has produced another notable scoop after conducting a six-month operation in which reporters infiltrated the Riga Central Market's illicit cigarette mafia, releasing the first of several episodes covering the 12,000-euro-per-month operation on November 25.
Seamy side of Rīga Airport's taxi world uncovered
Seamy side of Rīga Airport's taxi world uncovered
The latest investigation by LTV's investigative journalism program Aizliegtais paņēmiens (Forbidden method) has revealed the sometimes seedy world of airport taxi services and their questionable practice in several regards.
Political parties pass secret pension promise test
Political parties pass secret pension promise test
The electioneering season may be upon us with claims and criticism flying in all directions. But an attempted sting by LTV's Aizliegtais paņēmiens (Forbidden Methods) investigative show to catch politicians making promises they couldn't keep turned up an interesting and encouraging result: they told the truth instead.
Homeless in Latvia: Tax debts, casual roughing up, no help for alcoholics
Homeless in Latvia: Tax debts, casual roughing up, no help for alcoholics
Homeless people are subjected to violence during GP visits and stints at shelters, LTV show Forbidden methods has found in its most recent investigation aired June 4. In addition, some of them are involved in tax schemes and, legally at least, own companies with huge tax debts.  
How much do retail clerks earn in Latvia?
How much do retail clerks earn in Latvia?
The demand for retail clerks will skyrocket in Latvia shortly, with the upcoming IKEA store to seek for about 100 employees, and the Lidl retail chain to open four stores in Rīga.
What lies beneath? LTV probes Jēkabpils' thin roads
What lies beneath? LTV probes Jēkabpils' thin roads
Tales of roads being built that don't go as far as planned, or contain fewer lanes than they should, are a staple of jokes about corruption. But LTV's investigative show Forbidden Methods on March 19 uncovered what looks like an imaginative variation on the same theme: roads that are thinner than they should be.
What can you do with Bitcoin in Latvia?
What can you do with Bitcoin in Latvia?
In Latvia, you can use Bitcoin to buy a car, immovable property, build a house, or even fly somewhere with Latvia's flag-carrier airline airBaltic, reports LTV's Forbidden Methods (Aizliegtais paņēmiens) on January 23. 
Spring water not always as magical as many think
Spring water not always as magical as many think

Many Latvians collect at least some of their drinking water direct from natural springs, and ascribe all sorts of curative and health-giving powers to it. But an investigation by LTV's Aizliegtais paņēmiens (Forbidden methods) suggests that faith in natural purity may be misplaced in some instances.

Policeman and business owner arrested over paying non-taxed wages
Policeman and business owner arrested over paying non-taxed wages

For the first time a person has been arrested in Latvia for paying non-taxed wages in cash. The case, which also saw the arrest of a now former policeman, follows a story aired in March by LTV's Forbidden Method over a security company that evaded paying taxes for its salaries.