Society
Minister: 'We cannot leave eastern Latvia to bears'
Minister: 'We cannot leave eastern Latvia to bears'
It is important to maintain the national network of services in eastern Latvia, otherwise, the territory would be left 'to the bears',  the Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Māris Sprindžuks, said in an interview with Latvian Television's broadcast “Morning Panorama” on May 16.
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.
Population up on year, but trends remain worrying
Population up on year, but trends remain worrying
Central Statistical Bureau provisional data on the first three months of the year showed that on April 1, 2023, the population of Latvia was actually higher than a year earlier, by 15,400 people.
Latvia's moms are exhausted, survey shows
Latvia's moms are exhausted, survey shows
Anticipating Mother's Day on Sunday, May 14, a survey conducted by the parent organization Mammamuntetiem.lv conducted a survey which showed that nearly all mothers of Latvia feel overworked and exhausted, Inga Akmentiņa-Smildziņa, the organization's head, told Latvian Television Thursday.
Ukrainian association to officially start work in Valmiera, Latvia
Ukrainian association to officially start work in Valmiera, Latvia
A representation of the Association of Small Towns of Ukraine will be opened in Valmiera on Thursday. Ukraine's ambassador to Latvia Anatoly Kucevol will participate in the opening, which will be mostly a formal confirmation of its status, since the association has been managed from Valmiera for more than a year, Latvian Radio reported May 11.
Migrant situation on Latvia-Belarus border still tense
Migrant situation on Latvia-Belarus border still tense
The overall situation on the border of Latvia-Belarus is tense throughout the year, Deputy Chief of State Border Guard Ivars Ruskulis told the Saeima Defense, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee on Wednesday, May 10.
Flower flag in support of Ukraine at Freedom Monument
Flower flag in support of Ukraine at Freedom Monument
Expressing support for Ukraine on its way to accession to the European Union (EU) and commemorating the victims of the war, a flower composition in the colors of the Ukrainian flag was created in Rīga on Monday at the Freedom Monument, Latvian Television reported.
Search continues for missing girl in Rogovka, Latvia
Search continues for missing girl in Rogovka, Latvia
The search for the seven-year-old Justīne Reinikova has continued since Friday evening, but still without a result. Meanwhile, the police are changing search approaches, Latvian Television reported on May 8.
LTV's De Facto looks at Latvia's drug problem
LTV's De Facto looks at Latvia's drug problem
The experience of the pandemic has not only contributed to the use of intoxicating and addictive substances, but also hampered the possibility of detecting networks of suppliers of these substances. According to the De Facto broadcast of Latvian Television aired May 7, the number of drug-related calls for medical help has increased significantly over the last 4 years, while crime related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances has halved.
Identity document queues still take weeks in Latvia
Identity document queues still take weeks in Latvia
Although the requirement for mandatory electronic identification (eID) cards has been dropped for a few months now, the receipt of identity documents in the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) departments still take weeks. The service is still short-staffed, which has been a problem for years now, Latvian Radio reported on May 7.
Repatriation law to be abolished in Latvia
Repatriation law to be abolished in Latvia
From next year, it is planned to abolish the rule of law which allowed third-country citizens – descendants of Livonia and Latvia –  to obtain repatriated status in Latvia, and to completely repeal the Repatriation Law from July 2028, the Interior Ministry said on May 2.
Ukrainian refugee integration center opens in Old Rīga
Ukrainian refugee integration center opens in Old Rīga
A place to meet Ukrainians living in Riga, to eat borscht or teach a word in Latvian to refugee children. The Ukrainian Refugee Support and Integration Center, “The Heart of Riga” (Rīgas sirds) has started work in the city council building, Latvian Television reported on April 26.
Fire at Domina shopping center on Saturday
Fire at Domina shopping center on Saturday
On Saturday at 18:19 the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) received a call to Ieriķu Street in Riga, where a fire broke out at the Domina shopping center. Firefighters contained the spread of flames at 20:06, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.
No fireworks on May 9 in Latvia
No fireworks on May 9 in Latvia
On May 9, regarded as WWII Victory Day by some of the Russian-speaking population, fireworks and festivities which do not correspond to the interests of national security, glorify military aggression or falsely reflect historical events, will be prohibited, the Saeima decided in two readings on April 20.
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