http://latviansonline.com Latvians Online is a Web site for anyone interested in Latvia and Latvians. Features include regular news reports, discussion forums, an events register, product reviews and shopping. en andris.straumanis@latviansonline.com Copyright 2012 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7984/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7984/ The hot-button language referendum scheduled Feb. 18 apparently has lots of voters abroad interested in letting their voice be heard, if figures from absentee ballot requests are any indication. Government, Elections 2012-02-08 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7962/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7962/ Latvian State Television (Latvijas Televīzija, or LTV) is testing a new channel aimed at Latvians abroad, the head of the service told a radio audience on Jan. 2. Computers and Internet, Entertainment, News and Media, Television 2012-02-03 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7942/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7942/ Calling his actions “brazen,” the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has charged a man from Latvia in a stock price manipulation scheme that allegedly netted him more than USD 850,000 in illegal profits. Society and Culture, Crime 2012-01-26 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7941/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7941/ Police in the western Ireland county of Limerick are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing a 16-year-old Latvian girl who has been missing for one week. 2012-01-25 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7940/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7940/ American-born Nils Muižnieks, who repatriated to Latvia and became a leader in human rights issues, has been elected the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights. Government 2012-01-24 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7933/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7933/ A total of 85 polling stations in 41 countries—the greatest number ever—will be open outside the homeland on Feb. 18 for a national referendum to decide if Russian should become an official language alongside Latvian. Government, Elections, Initiative 2011 2012-01-20 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7932/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7932/ The Constitutional Court will take up a case questioning aspects of Latvia’s initiative and referendum law, but it will not stop the Feb. 18 vote that could make Russian the country’s second official language. Government, Elections, Initiative 2011, Referendum 2011 2012-01-20 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7930/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7930/ Latvia’s population plunged 13 percent during the first decade of this century and stood at less than 2.068 million last March, according to provisional results of the census announced Jan. 18. The census counted how many people were living in Latvia on March 1, 2011. Society and Culture 2012-01-18 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7929/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7929/ The Feb. 18 referendum on granting official status to the Russian language will be a test of Latvian unity, leaders of Latvian central organizations abroad say in a Jan. 16 open letter. Government, Elections, Referendum 2011 2012-01-16 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7925/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7925/ Reacting to concerns that the upcoming referendum on Russian as a second official language was worded unclearly, Latvia’s Central Election Commission has approved a new version that offers greater explanation. Government, Elections, Referendum 2011 2012-01-11 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7924/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7924/ British police are distributing posters in four languages, including Latvian, as they seek information into the murder of 17-year-old Alisa Dmitrijeva, whose body was found New Year’s Day on the royal family’s Sandringham Estate northeast of London. Society and Culture, Crime 2012-01-10 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7917/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7917/ British police have identified the suspected murder victim found on the royal family’s Sandringham Estate as that of a 17-year-old girl from Latvia missing since August. Society and Culture, Crime 2012-01-08 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7909/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7909/ Latvia and its Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania are among a long list of “flawed democracies” around the world, according to a new report from The Economist magazine released in December. Government 2012-01-06 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7908/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7908/ The number of new immigrants from Latvia settling in Ireland appears to have dropped by nearly 30 percent last year compared to 2010, suggest data compiled by government authorities. Social Science, Society and Culture 2012-01-05 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7906/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7906/ A national referendum on whether Russian should become Latvia’s second official language is set for Feb. 18, the Central Election Commission announced Jan. 3 in Rīga. Government, Elections, Initiative 2011 2012-01-03 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7904/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7904/ Uz nākošajiem diviem gadiem par Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienības (PBLA) valdes priekšsēdi 2011. gada nogalē ievēlēts pazīstamais latviešu sabiedriskais darbinieks ASV un inženieris Jānis Kukainis. 2012-01-02 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7893/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7893/ Latvian romantic pop band Otra Puse, which traces its musical roots to 1991, is set for a two-week winter concert tour of the United States that will take it to seven venues in the east and the Midwest. Entertainment, Music 2011-12-29 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7889/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7889/ As expected, the Saeima has rejected a bill that would amend Latvia’s constitution to make Russian an official state language. Government, Elections, Initiative 2011 2011-12-22 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7886/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7886/ Canada’s foreign minister has appointed a new ambassador to Latvia, the government has announced. Government 2011-12-20 http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7884/ http://latviansonline.com/news/article/7884/ While exact figures from this year’s census in Latvia won’t be available until after mid-January, provisional results show that the country’s population remains above 2 million. Social Science, Society and Culture 2011-12-16