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Attracting attention with absurd advertisements, a company markets suspicious supplements, Latvian Radio reported September 19 after an investigation. Shoppers are lured in by promising a cure for vision dystrophy, foot fungus, back pain, and other problems. Industry experts see various potential violations in the company's operations.
The most important issue in Latvia's internal affairs system currently is a lack of personnel, which can be observed in all the services, the new Minister of Internal Affairs, Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity party), told LTV's "Morning Panorama" news show September 18.
On Thursday, September 14, the Saeima granted Latvian citizenship to Indian businessman and scientist Kannan Vishwanatth.
As of January 1, 2024, all municipalities in Latvia are obliged to establish and finance a local, municipal police. State money is not intended for this purpose and local governments have to finance their autonomous functions, such as ensuring public order and security, themselves.
Despite significant improvements over the last decade, Latvia retains one of Europe's highest rates of death from suicide according to Eurostat data published September 8.
September marks one year since Latvian nurse Sarmīte Cīrule has been helping the wounded on the Ukrainian front day and night. She has received several awards recently, including the Order of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, after she herself was wounded in an attack, Latvian Television reported September 7.
On Thursday, September 7, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Civil Law in the third reading, as well as related amendments, stipulating that absence of witnesses will not be an obstacle to entering into marriage.
More than 10 years ago, shortcomings were identified in the regulation of disciplinary responsibility for public administration, but they have still not been addressed. It is the competence of the State Chancery. In general, the authorities shall evaluate disciplinary violations, but not in all cases, the State Audit Office said September 6 after a review.
During the period from April 11 to August 29, the Latvian language test was passed by 39% of Russian citizens taking it for the first time, while 61% of Russian citizens did not pass the test on the first try, the State Educational Content Center (VISC) reported on September 5.
According to Eurostat data published September 4, young Latvians leave the parental home aged 26.8 years, on average.
According to the law currently in force, a number of citizens of the Russian Federation who have not shown an initiative to pass the Latvian language check lose their permanent residence permit in September. Meanwhile, additional proposals are coming in and there is no complete clarity on what's awaiting these people yet, Latvian Television reported on September 4.
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.
More than 25 thousand Russian citizens living in Latvia have their permanent residence permits expire on September 1. About 19 thousand people have applied for the status renewal or are planning to do so. A little over 800 people have applied for a temporary permit. The others have done nothing to get a residence permit, Latvian Radio reported.
Enjoy the beauty of sunflowers and help someone in need. With this goal, sunflower fields have been sown close to the roads throughout Latvia. People are invited to take photos with the sunflowers and pay for the scenery in the “People have Power” program on the “Ziedot.lv” platform. The money in there will help someone in sudden trouble, Skrunda Television reported on August 31.
The Riga City Council decided on Wednesday, August 30, to set a threshold of 20,000 signatures to initiate a public consultation on a topical issue for residents, Latvian Radio and Latvian Television reported.
Over 20 years, Latvian residents and businesses have invested €73 million in Latvia's prosperity through the charity Ziedot.lv, the chief executive of Ziedot.lv, Rūta Dimanta, told Latvian Radio on August 30.
More than 30,000 non-governmental organizations are registered in Latvia, but only about 1,000 participate actively in the decision-making of various state and local governments, said Kristīne Zonberga, director of the Civic Alliance, in an interview with Latvian Radio on August 29.
It is possible that several thousands of Russian citizens living in Latvia may have to leave Latvia in the near future because they have not done anything to extend their residence permit status, as is required by law.
Recent Eurostat data on foreign-born people in European Union countries shows that the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have the EU's highest proportions of foreigners not born in another EU member state.
Public broadcaster Latvian Television (Latvijas Televīzija/LTV) said August 24 that it would no longer broadcast Orthodox Christian church services for the forseeable future.
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 government will urge the Saeima to amend the Immigration Law, providing that those Russian citizens who have not passed the Latvian language exam until September 1 will have the opportunity to apply for a temporary residence permit for two years during which the exam is to be set, Minister for Interior Māris Kučinskis told Latvian Television on August 23 after the government meeting.
The Independence Day of Ukraine will be celebrated in Riga on August 24 with a wide program of art performances, flash events, a concert and the illumination of the Freedom Monument in Ukrainian colors, Riga City Council representatives have announced.
This year, rescuers from the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD) have removed 84 dead from water bodies, Latvian Radio reported August 20.
Two children of pre-school age died in a fire on Friday afternoon in Rīga, Purvciems district, Ieriķu Street, services told newswire LETA on August 18.
At the end of August, the new asylum-seeker accommodation center in Liepna, Alūksne municipality, will house its first 50 inhabitants, Latvian Television and Latvian Radio reported on August 17.
On August 7, Latvia was hit by a devastating storm that ripped off rooftops and caused other damage to buildings, destroyed fields, and broke windows of cars and houses. Insurers have received 2,500 claims of €14 million so far, but insurers can say that few residents insure their properties and they are often insured for much lower amounts than their fair value, Latvian Radio reported on August 18.
On Tuesday, August 15, the Cabinet of Ministers approved granting Latvian citizenship to 51 persons who have successfully completed the naturalization procedure.
Thousands of members of the Roman Catholic church have gathered in Aglona, eastern Latvia, for an important annual pilgrimage.
Central Statistical Bureau provisional data published August 14 show that in the first six months of 2023, some 14 291 deaths were registered, which is 1 434 deaths or 9.1 % fewer than in the same period a year ago and 49 deaths or 0.3 % fewer than before the pandemic (i.e. the first half of 2019).
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