Latvia Weekly

Now that Joe is back to health, he joins Otto to belatedly celebrate Europe Day with a continent-sized episode discussing major domestic and international developments from the previous week and a half including threats of dismissals by Minister of Justice Jānis Bordans, the latest drama with Rīga City Council, surprising new EU election polls from the UK, a bittersweet run at the International Ice Hockey Federation Championships, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Image courtesy of European Parliament via flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/european_parliament/13064833244

18 Touko 20191h 6min

Last month, Joe brought his middle school students to the FIRST LEGO League robotics competition in Valmiera and took the opportunity to interview founders Edgars Skruodis and Anna Skroude about their experience starting and running the program as well as student and teacher participants about their experiences during the weekend. This episode is part of a new series exploring some of the interesting work that people throughout Latvia are doing that might escape the attention of news camera but is having an impact nonetheless. Full disclosure: Joe Horgan is a board member of FLL Latvija. Intro and outro music: Chill Day by LAKEY INSPIRED is licensed under a Creative Commons License https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/chill-day

13 Touko 201938min

KPV LV celebrates Game of Thrones' final season in style by sending party founder Artuss Kaimiņš to the wall, but with Aldis Gobzems already exiled and Atis Zakatistovs under investigation, is there anyone left to sit on the iron throne of what was one of Latvia's most powerful political forces just months ago? Otto, Joe and their guest producer Ivars discuss this and other major stories including the latest updates in the Rīga city government and public transit scandals, language and biking protests, online sale of alcohol, a major archaeological find in Ventspils, and much more! Produced by Ivars Bleidelis Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Image courtesy of Wicker Paradise via flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wicker-furniture/9162528732

7 Touko 201950min

The weather is heating up, and so is the growing conflict between the Saskaņa-led Rīga City Council and the national government. Join Otto and Joe as they discuss a major bridge closure, a phony contract scandal, updates in education reform and ongoing corruption cases, a possible concert hall in the Rīga Central Market meat pavillion, solar panels on Maxima supermarkets, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

1 Touko 20191h

Listen to Joe and Otto discuss the current run-up to the election of European Parliament in Latvia, as well as the usual look at national politics, sports, history and ideas for what to see in Latvia the next week. Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Image Credit: Marco Verch (https://foto.wuestenigel.com/white-paper-with-european-elections-text-on-european-union-flag/?utm_source=32376266987&utm_campaign=FlickrDescription&utm_medium=link) Used with a Creative Commons 2.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

22 Huhti 20191h 15min

Otto and Joe are back together at Rīga Central Station to discuss the latest drama at Latvia's public television and on Rīga city council, as well as a "vote of no confidence" against Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, some ambitious plans by Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Juris Pūce, smuggled daggers, and much more!

14 Huhti 201953min

Otto is joined once again by Olevs Nikers to discuss outgoing politicians, ongoing reforms, incoming bans on tobacco and totalitarian uniforms, a surprise Olevs encountered during his first run in Jūrmala, and what exotic events to enjoy the next week in Latvia! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

8 Huhti 201948min

Otto is back from a hectic business trip to the US just in time to discuss major stories from last week with Joe, including the closing of casinos in Rīga, the fate of Mayor Nils Ušakovs, the fall from grace of one of the region’s biggest banks, more delays for new electric trains, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8 Sports theme song: "Makai Symphony - Dragon Castle" is under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-SA 3.0). Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: youtu.be/9gBTKiVqprE Weather theme: Smooth Jazz (am) by Backing Track Ninja Source: backingtrackninja.bandcamp.com/track/smo…h-jazz-am

2 Huhti 201957min