Friday, April 19

Name day: Vēsma, Fanija

Public broadcasting of Latvia
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Māris Klūga

Latvian Television

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Bidder excluded from power grid procurement over security concerns
Bidder excluded from power grid procurement over security concerns
The Latvian electricity transmission provider High Voltage Network (Augstsprieguma tīkls, AST) signed a €77 million contract with Rolls-Royce Solutions last week to supply high-capacity battery systems. Another bidder, meanwhile, was excluded from the procurement over security concerns, Latvian Television's De Facto reported on February 18.
'airBaltic' has not long left to repay buyers of bonds
'airBaltic' has not long left to repay buyers of bonds
The state-owned airline airBaltic has half a year left to find 200 million euros to repay buyers of bonds issued in 2019. The head of airBaltic, Martin Gauss, said in an interview that the company will be able to raise money, the state as a shareholder may have to get involved, Latvian Television's De Facto reported on February 12.
LTV's De Facto looks at Latvia's petroleum gas imports from Russia
LTV's De Facto looks at Latvia's petroleum gas imports from Russia
Although statistics for December are not yet available, it is clear that Latvian imports from Russia exceeded half a billion euros last year. The largest section is not much-discussed grains, which mostly do not remain in Latvia, but mineral products, especially liquefied petroleum gas, Latvian Television's De Facto reported on January 21.
Why can tax debtors win state procurements in Latvia?
Why can tax debtors win state procurements in Latvia?
Officially, in Latvia there are currently no companies with tax debts under public contracts. In practice, however, cases can be found where the tax debt to the firm has disappeared just when it is checked by the procurement commission and then reappeared, reported Latvian Television's De Facto broadcast on January 7.
LTV's De Facto: Latvia's port reform at a standstill
LTV's De Facto: Latvia's port reform at a standstill
Port management reform will not be completed this year. The decision taken by the previous Saeima to establish state companies instead of private Rīga and Ventspils Freeport offices has lost political support, and therefore decisions to complete the reform have become stuck in the Cabinet, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported November 5.
LTV's De Facto: Belarusian business in Latvia under security scrutiny
LTV's De Facto: Belarusian business in Latvia under security scrutiny
The State Security Service (VDD) suspects a Belarusian businessman in Latvia of breaching European Union sanctions. He entered Latvia with the support of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) following Belarus opposition protests in 2020. Latvian Television's De Facto reports on October 8 that Igor Medved's shareholdings have now been arrested by the service so they can be seized in the future if necessary. 
LTV's De Facto: plant product imports from Russia have tripled in Latvia
LTV's De Facto: plant product imports from Russia have tripled in Latvia
Although Latvia currently imports considerably fewer goods from Russia than before the invasion of Ukraine, there are product categories that also bring hundreds of millions of euros of income to the Russian economy. It is cattle feed, especially maize, oil cake from sunflower seeds, and other agricultural products, Latvian Television's De Facto reported October 1.
LTV's De Facto looks at exports jumps to Central Asia
LTV's De Facto looks at exports jumps to Central Asia
While exports of sanctioned goods to Russia are shrinking, volumes have grown rapidly to countries that continue to trade with Russia. This has raised concerns about the circumvention of sanctions. Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto attempted to look into the issue on September 3.
LTV's De Facto looks at businesses continuing exports to Russia
LTV's De Facto looks at businesses continuing exports to Russia
Despite sanctions and other risks related to business with Russia, many Latvian companies still export to this country. Recently, the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) published a list of businesses continuing exports to Russia after the war began, and Latvian Television's De Facto attempted to take a closer look at it on August 28.
Train delays could result in EU money loss: LTV's De Facto
Train delays could result in EU money loss: LTV's De Facto
This week, Škoda Group representatives came to report on the progress of the new passenger train project in Riga. The delivery schedule is already delayed by more than half a year, and Latvia will lose co-financing of the EU if the trains will not be delivered on time, Latvian Television's De Facto reported on August 20.
Heated debate about potential smoking products ban: LTV's De Facto
Heated debate about potential smoking products ban: LTV's De Facto
Few subjects considered in the parliament gain so much attention from lobbying organizations as changes in smoking restrictions. MPs have received a pile of objections from various associations, particularly regarding the plan to ban flavors in electronic cigarettes, the De Facto broadcast of Latvian Television reported on June 11.
Latvia to up cybersecurity of national e-services
Latvia to up cybersecurity of national e-services
The National Health Service has already warned that e-Health will no longer be accessed by online banking identification tools from next year. The ministerial representatives responsible for IT systems say that online banking identification will also gradually disappear from other national e-services, the De Facto broadcast of Latvian Television, aired May 14, reported.
LTV's De Facto probes dairy industry crisis in Latvia
LTV's De Facto probes dairy industry crisis in Latvia
Latvian dairy farmers have been experiencing a crisis for several weeks. This week, the Ministry of Agriculture will present a plan to support the sector to the government, while the industry is planning protests, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported on February 26.
LTV's De Facto: Plans to double army size might have been too ambitious
LTV's De Facto: Plans to double army size might have been too ambitious
Russia's invasion of Ukraine led Latvia to reassess its military capabilities. The government in September backed a Defense Ministry plan to double personnel in the structures of the National Armed Forces in five years. Whether it will be done, it is not known at this time, and the reintroduction of mandatory defense service (VAD) will not recruit as many as initially planned, the De Facto broadcast of Latvian Television reported on February 19.
EUR 200 million left over from state aid for heating: LTV's De Facto
EUR 200 million left over from state aid for heating: LTV's De Facto
The government decided this week to reallocate half a billion euros for energy support measures this year. Data on aid amounts last year show that so much money is not likely to be paid out. The De Facto broadcast of Latvian Television reported January 22 that several aid programs save money, for example, where the purchase of wood must be proven by checks.
LTV's De Facto probes gas prices in relation to heating tariffs
LTV's De Facto probes gas prices in relation to heating tariffs
While the price of natural gas falls in Europe, heating bills for December arrive well higher than usual. Average temperatures in the last month of the year were lower than normal at that time, and thus bills increased by 50 per cent and more, according to the De Facto broadcast of Latvian Television aired on January 15.
LTV's De Facto: MPs hesitant to stall top state officials' salary rise
LTV's De Facto: MPs hesitant to stall top state officials' salary rise
In October, the story of the expected rapid increase in wages for political positions drew a lot of attention. A public initiative was submitted about the freezing of top state officials' salaries. The initiative has been transferred to the government, which should respond more than four months later, Latvian Television's De Facto reported on January 8.
LTV's De Facto probes failed cancer diagnostics center project
LTV's De Facto probes failed cancer diagnostics center project
Millions of euros from European funds and from Rīga Stradiņš University were invested in a "Nuclear Medical Center" which should have become a state-of-the-art producer of cancer diagnostic preparations. However, the money ran out way quicker than expected, and a criminal case for the deliberate cause of insolvency has been initiated, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported on December 11.
Gambling companies find loopholes to save business: LTV's De Facto
Gambling companies find loopholes to save business: LTV's De Facto
In Rīga, a transitional period comes to a close, during which gambling companies had to close their halls at the historic center of Rīga. For a large part the authorization has already expired, some may still work for a few months. However, in four and five-star hotels, gambling may still be organized, and businesses are attempting to convert the gambling hall into a hotel, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported on November 13.
LTV's De Facto: Latvia might have to buy CO2 quotas for woodchips
LTV's De Facto: Latvia might have to buy CO2 quotas for woodchips
The already high heat tariffs could also grow in municipalities using woodchips. From next year, the European Union will have to buy CO2 emissions allowances, reported the De Facto program of LTV on November 6. For district heating companies, this could mean additional costs of millions of euros, which will ultimately fall on the shoulders of the population in the form of an increase in tariffs.
Bolt fined €1.4 million for tax evasion: LTV's De Facto
Bolt fined €1.4 million for tax evasion: LTV's De Facto
The State Revenue Service (VID) has fined the “Bolt” taxi-on-demand company EUR 1.4 million for non-payment of corporate income tax (UIN). This is the second time the Latvian authority penalizes the Estonian unicorn for tax evasion in Latvia, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported on September 11.
LTV's De Facto: State aid will not cover energy price rises
LTV's De Facto: State aid will not cover energy price rises
Developing aid systems, the government estimated that on average centralized heating would cost around €150 per megawatt hour during the heating season. However, the price of natural gas on the market has climbed so fast that rates are far above that threshold. Therefore, the principle of covering half of the increase in many places will still mean a bill rise by several times, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported on September 5.
Locals protest against Skulte LNG terminal
Locals protest against Skulte LNG terminal
The project of the proposed Skulte Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminal has caused the local residents' association to stir. The greatest concern is the safety risks in the event of an accident, Latvian Television reported May 1.
Dairy producers raise alarm about prices skyrocketing
Dairy producers raise alarm about prices skyrocketing
Dairy producer companies raise alarm about the rapid rise in the price of raw milk. It has grown by 44% during the year. Consequently, there is a sharp increase in prices on store shelves, which some of the population could no longer afford, Latvian Television reported April 21.
Baltics might close their ports to Russian ships
Baltics might close their ports to Russian ships
If the European Union (EU) does not agree on the closure of ports for Russian vessels, the Baltic States could take that decision separately, said Transport Minister Tālis Linkaits on Latvian Television on March 21.