Latvia Weekly

With the situation in the health care sector reaching a new critical point, Health Minister has called for the emergency mobilization of health workers. Union leaders have responded by calling for his resignation. Otto and Joe break down this situation and other major news stories including a law to streamline border construction, populist leaders potentially changing their tune, naming future tra...

As Latvia implements its strictest COVID-19 measures yet, Otto and Joe remember the life of statesman Ojārs Kalniņš after his sudden passing last week and discuss other important stories that have happened here in Latvia. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported —...

Otto and Joe break down the newly declared state of emergency and COVID-19 related restrictions along with a few other important stories from the week here in Latvia. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​...

Joe discusses the newest COVID-19 safety measures and restrictions along with a controversy involving the president's influence, a legal challenge to a mural, increases to energy costs, and a number of other stories from the last week and a half. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — A...

While President Egils Levits visits the US and the UN General Assembly, Ainars Šlesers continues his comeback to Latvian national politics with a number of controversial actions. Otto and Joe discuss these stories and more, such as Minister of Health Daniels Pavļuts surviving a vote of no confidence, the merger of universities, potential new COVID restrictions, and more! Joe's 11th grade students...

As yet another strange school year begins amid the ongoing pandemic, Joe breaks down the biggest stories of the past week and a half. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​ Music promoted by Audio Library y...

As the migrant situation on the Latvian-Belarussian border becomes more complicated and critical, Otto and Joe sit down to discuss the biggest stories of the week from Latvia and the region. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stre...

Otto and Joe discuss the 32nd anniversary of the Baltic Way, this year marked with a protest against obligatory vaccination, along with other important stories from the week such as a controversial mural in Riga, hope for better management of bus ticketing, and much more!

As the world watches Afghanistan fall back under control of the Talbian, Otto and Joe discuss the long historic connection between the two nations and the possibility of fallout from the new situation being felt as far away as the Baltic region. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — At...

After a small summer break, Otto and Joe are back to talk about Latvia's results in the 2020 summer olympics, as well as some of the biggest other stories of the week!

Joe sits down with expat lawyer Rick Jacobus who discusses some of the most common issues that new arrivals to Latvia might fact, along with his own experiences living in Liepāja.

Joe calls into Otto from the windy amber coast of Liepāja to discuss the latest vaccination debate in parliament, some major infrastructure plans on the horizon, an escaped wallaby on the loose, and much more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix audionautix.com​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 F...

As temperature records are smashed across Latvia, effects such as forest fires and increased hospitalizations are being seen throughout different parts of the country. Otto and Joe discuss the heatwave along with the updated plan for mandatory vaccinations in some professions, the thrilling conclusion to a trashy three-year waste saga, and more!

As Latvia reels from the tragic loss of hockey goalie Matīss Kivlenieks in a 4th o July fire accident, more serious discussion begins about what measures should be implemented to bring school back to the classroom in fall. Otto and Joe break all this down along with other major stories from this week in Latvia! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme son...

Joe finally sits down to chat with Japanese musician Masaki Nakagawa and German-born Jorän Steinhauer, both of whom write songs in the Latvian language and are well known throughout the country. Find out how they first came to Latvia, how they were able to learn the language, and the interesting ways they write songs — including their latest track "Es lepojos ar tevi" which you can hear as the ope...

As Latvia marks an important holocaust remembrance day, member of parliament Aldis Gobzems uses the infamous Star of David that persecuted Jewish people were forced to wear as a tasteless way to make a point about COVID restrictions. Otto and Joe discuss the fallout from this as well as other stories included a bold new plan to upgrade roads, the completion (for now) of territorial reform, the lat...

Līgo! Līgo! Happy midsummer! Otto joins Joe on one of the shortest nights of the year to talk about stories such as planned urban meadows in Rīga, new debt relief for the needy, some promising COVID-19 related numbers, and much more! Opening music: "Kas to Līgo ielīgoja" performed by Ernests Elks-Elksnītis. Available in the public domain. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kas_to_L%C4%ABgo_ie...

Back in mid-March, Joe interviewed Gary Dickenson from the YouTube channel Baltic Homesteaders about his experience moving from the UK to northern Vidzeme and setting up a completely new, self-sufficient life with his family. Opening and closing music by Austra Apsīte, used with permission

With less people getting vaccinated week-on-week but only 23% of the country vaccinated so far, the government might be running into a wall in terms of convincing more people to get the shot. Otto and Joe discuss this development along with the further reopening of the Latvian economy, some public works dramas in Rīga, the murky future of Aivars Lembergs, and more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki"...

The 2021 municipal elections have resulted in strong showing for older guard parties like the Union of Greens and Farmers and the National Alliance, while big winners from the 2018 national election such as the New Conservative Party and KPV.LV had a much rougher go. Otto and Joe break down the results and implications, along with some other important stories from the week in Latvia! Theme song "M...

As a bizarre constitutional drama unfolds out east with local elections just days away and KPV LV clutches at its last grasp on power in the coalition, Latvia slowly strips away more COVID restrictions with infections decreasing and vaccinations on the rise. Otto and Joe unpack these stories and more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission Closing theme song: Think T...

Following the Belarusian government's shocking grounding of a Ryanair plane in order to arrest an opposition journalist, Latvia has become embroiled in a diplomatic standoff with not just the Lukashenko regime, but also the International Ice Hockey Federation, whose championship is being hosted in Rīga right now. Otto and Joe discuss these stories along with others such as Latvia's Eurovision woes...

With the 12th grade centralized English exams over but outdoor for cafes and restaurants all tightly booked, Joe joins Otto in his garden to discuss major stories of the week such as a debate over young people's use of Latvian, the further disintegration of what was left of the KPV LV party, a possible one computer per student policy by 2025, the latest COVID updates, and more!

Days after white tablecloth celebrations marking 31 years since independence, diners return to outdoor restaurant and cafe terraces. Otto and Joe discuss these stories and a number of others, including updates to investigations into two tragic fires, increases to state family benefits, a reorganiziton of the vaccine bureau, and more!

Otto joins Joe remotely from Rīga to discuss the wide-reaching implications of two very different but equally tragic fires that happened in Latvia over the last week. Other stories include the latest chapter in the endless KPV LV soap opera, good news for Latvia's aviation agency, outrage over Russia's suspected actions in NATO ally Czechia, blooming cherry blossoms, and much more! Theme song "Mēs...