November 19, 2009

Latvia falls in corruption index

After several years of improvements, Latvia’s ranking in a global index of corruption has dropped almost to the point it was at five years ago, according to results announced Nov. 17 by the Berlin-based anti-graft organization Transparency International.

Latvia ranked 56th out of 180 countries in the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index, down from 52nd in last year’s ranking, according to a press release from the organization.

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Izglītība

Sadarbībā ar Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienību, piedāvājam resursus un pārdomas par latviešu izglītību ārzemēs.

ALAs skolotāju konference un domas par turpmāko darbu

Publicēts 2009.07.14

Marta pirmajā nogalē 35 skolotājas no deviņām Amerikas latviešu skolām sabrauca uz Vašingtonas draudzes pamatskolu Rokvilē, Merilandē, lai piedalītos Vašingtonas skolas paspārnē rīkotajā Amerikas Latviešu…

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Skolu karte

Latviešu skolas ārzemēs

Sameklējiet latviešu skolas ārzemēs ar interaktīvo karti. » Aiziet!

Weather

Current conditions at Rīga, Latvia

6°C (43°F)

Humidity: 93%

Sky: partly cloudy

Conditions: clear

Wind: S at 4 m/s

Visibility: 9 km

Events

November 25

Massachusetts

Annual ALJA congress set for Boston

The annual congress of the American Latvian Youth Association (ALJA) is set for Nov. 25-29 in Boston. For more information visit www.aljakongress.net or www.alja.org or write to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

November 28

Queensland

Zolīte tournament in Brisbane

A tournament of the popular card game zolīte begins at 13:00 hours Nov. 28 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave, Buranda. Cost to participate is AUD 5.

December 05

Queensland

Christmas craft fair in Brisbane

The Daugavas Vanagi women’s auxiliary is hosting the annual Christmas craft fair in Brisbane, which begins at 10:00 hours Dec. 5 in the Brisbane Latvian House, 24 Church Ave., Buranda. Filled pancakes and salads will be available for AUD 10, cakes and coffee for AUD 5.

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Did you know?

Wilhelm Ostwald

Nobel Prize winner born in Rīga

Wilhelm Ostwald, the 1909 winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry, was born to German parents in Rīga…

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Valsts prezidenta apsveikums tautiešiem ārzemēs

Publicēts 2009.11.17

Sagaidot Latvijas Republikas 91. gadadienu, Valsts prezidents Valdis Zatlers savā apsveikumā tautiešiem ārzemēs atgādina, ka "latvietis ir latvietis vienmēr, lai kur arī dzīvotu, lai arī par ko strādātu, lai arī kādas domas domātu savā ikdienas dzīvē".

News

November 18, 2009

PBLA honors Valdis and Lalita Muižnieks for years of service

The late Valdis Muižnieks and his wife, Lalita, have been honored by the World Federation of Free Latvians…

Publicēts 2009.11.13

Ar īpašu piegaršu, firma ‘Zafte’ meklē savu vietu dizaina pasaulē

Dizaina grupa “SIA Zafte” ir 2008. gada nogalē Rīgā nodibināts uzņēmums, kas izteicis sev trīs pamata darbības virzienus…

November 11, 2009

Russian official criticizes Europe for slow response on Baltics

European officials remain “sluggish” in their response to efforts at rewriting the history of World War II and…

November 10, 2009

Hospital reports first H1N1-related death, number of cases tops 100

Latvia has reported the first death from the H1N1 flu virus, while the number of confirmed cases in…

November 05, 2009

Swedish newspaper supports Vīķe-Freiberga for EU president

A leading Swedish newspaper has thrown its support behind former Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga to become the next…

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Reviews

Uz priekšu

20 years is long time to wait for Alis P, but worth it

November 20, 2009

Twenty years after Latvian-Swedish band Alis P released its first album, the sole remaining member has returned with Uz priekšu. The group was founded in 1979 by Gundars Rullis (vocals and bass), Māris Rozenbahs (drums) and Pēteris Šmitmanis (guitar), and released its first album, Alis iet pastaigāt, in 1988.

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In the forum

The Jan. 13 protest

We were there. There was lots of energy (maybe different from last year) and, even more, anger... Unfortunately, I left more cynical than when I came.

"Russia’s Imperial Crutches" posted by Peteris Cedrins on 23 Nov 2009

Latvian male charactertistics? posted by fleuryfox on 22 Nov 2009

"Ulmanis. Kolaboracionisms. Nepieciešama precizēšana." posted by Peteris Cedrins on 21 Nov 2009

How do you say, "Happy Thanksgiving!" posted by bgpa on 21 Nov 2009

Saulgozis posted by lorac on 21 Nov 2009

On the Edge with...Michael Hudson (1/2) posted by Irena on 19 Nov 2009

Song translation... posted by bgpa on 19 Nov 2009

Hello & Weddings. posted by bgpa on 19 Nov 2009

Elizabetei posted by Peteris Cedrins on 19 Nov 2009

Independence day debacle? posted by Pols on 19 Nov 2009

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Music blog

Linda Leen

Updated version of ‘Manai tautai’ recalls desire for Latvian unity

November 22, 2009

The unofficial anthem of the late 1980s National Awakening in Latvia was the moving “Manai tautai,” a song performed by Ieva Akuratere and penned by California-based Brigita Ritmane and her father, Andris Ritmanis. Now, two decades after the song rattled Soviet authorities in occupied Latvia, a group of young performers has recorded a new version.

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Books blog

Hellbent for Cooking

Skyforger’s pork ribs recipe included in heavy metal cookbook

November 22, 2009

Not only can pagan metal band Skyforger kick out some growling tunes about Latvia’s history, but at least one of its members can cook up a mean dish of pork ribs.

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Dažādi

Ghetto ohne Zaun

German students produce film about Latvians in Münster

October 03, 2009

History students at the Hittorf-Wilhelm-Gymnasium Münster in Germany have produced a short documentary film about the history of the once-thriving Latvian exile community in their city. Titled Ghetto ohne Zaun (The Ghetto With No Fence), the film includes interviews with members of the community, as well as historical images, according to a press release from the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe), which supported the documentary.

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Festivals

What's new

Blogs

22 Nov 2009

Updated version of ‘Manai tautai’ recalls desire for Latvian unity

The unofficial anthem of the late 1980s National Awakening in Latvia was the moving…

Blogs

22 Nov 2009

Skyforger’s pork ribs recipe included in heavy metal cookbook

Not only can pagan metal band Skyforger kick out some growling tunes about Latvia’s…

Reviews

20 Nov 2009

20 years is long time to wait for Alis P, but worth it

Twenty years after Latvian-Swedish band Alis P released its…

Garāmejot

Links to news about Latvia and Latvians, plus other items found while surfing the Web.

Latvian ‘cheddar’ now outselling the original. Import is giving local product a run for its money.

Kigel explores her homeland. Artist whose grandparents came to America around 1911 exhibits paintings of Latvia.

Latvia agrees budget cut goal. The BBC reports on how the Saeima will reduce spending by LVL 500 million.

Panel members offer personal perspectives of Berlin Wall’s fall. Professor Rasma Lazda joins discussion at University of Alabama.

Big-scale bets revealed in Latvian soccer scandal. More details revealed in FK Dinaburg betting scheme.

» Archive

Iz kolōnijām

Explore Iz kolōnijām, our growing guide to Latvian communities abroad. The project is supported by the Latvian government's Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration.

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