Latvia Weekly

Joe sits down with Anete Germane from the Irregular Latvian YouTube channel to discuss the origin of her videos, life as an Latvian in France, intercultural customer service, and much more!

You can check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/GermaneAnete

Opening and closing music: courtesy of Ausma Apsīte

Otto calls into Joe from an overnight train in Finland to discuss the latest major stories of the week, including more layoffs at Latvian Railways, Aivars Lembergs' first place poll finish, the latest COVID updates in Latvia, and much more!

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 train stations, 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 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

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 train stations, 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 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

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 — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

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​ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

Image courtesy of the Office of the State President, used with a creative commons license: www.flickr.com/photos/149617228@…71/in/dateposted/

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 — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

Image courtesy of the Office of the State President, used with a creative commons license: www.flickr.com/photos/149617228@…71/in/dateposted/

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 also join in at the end to discuss the new school year.

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 youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

Image courtesy of the Office of the State President, used with a creative commons license: https://www.flickr.com/photos/149617228@N08/48777329871/in/dateposted/

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 youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

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 / Stream: bit.ly/_think-tank​ Music promoted by Audio Library youtu.be/mbV9t1Z0rA8

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!