A recent study by GE Money Bank found that the average cost of a date in Riga is about 109 euros. In the Lithuanian capital Vilnius a date costs 106 euros and in the Estonian capital Tallinn 119 euros. The cheapest city for dating is the Czech capital Prague where men would have to spend about 78 euros per night with their sweethearts, while the Polish capital city Warsaw is the most expensive city in this respect, as entertainment for two would cost some 168 euros there. Representatives of GE Money Bank told BNS that compared with the nine European cities covered by the survey, Riga is not the cheapest place for entertainment by any means.
Riga Mayor Janis Birks proposed to rename Riga airport after Latvia's first foreign minister Zigfrids Anna Meierovics. Mayor Birks added that the Riga City Council has no real right to decide on the name change of the Riga airport but would like to initiate a public discussion on the topic. Riga City Council development committee in mid-May supported renaming of Basteja Boulevard into Zigfrids Anna Meierovics Street, yet, the final decision on the issue will be taken by the city council. The idea of renaming the street after the first Latvian foreign minister was proposed by Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and Latvian President Valdis Zatlers supported the idea. Zigfrids Anna Meierovics achieved the recognition of an independent Latvian state on November 11, 1918 before the proclaiming of its independence, and is an important figure in Latvian history.
Cheese maker Lucien Heribert pled guilty to the seduction of several Latvian minor girls in regional court. The Prosecutor's Office reported that the suspect pleaded guilty, but the terms of the settlement as well as the type of punishment have yet to be disclosed. Four girls were admitted as the victims in the case. Two of them were below the age of 14 at the time of the crime. Heribert was charged with seduction of minor girls. The number of incidents, has yet to be disclosedbut last year a video was placed on the Internet with Heribert's bedroom and a naked 14-year old local girl in it. The material was allegedly filmed by another underage girl. The material was noticed by teachers who reported to the police. The Frenchman also allegedly paid money to the girls. Heribert said that he has not done anything illegal, but he did not deny that the girl, who was helping him in the cheese plant, was naked in his bedroom.
The government decided not to privatize the state-owned stake of 52.6 percent in Latvia's airBaltic air carrier. The government decided not to support the privatization transaction as airBaltic is continuing to respond to public interests and is operating in an industry with strategic importance in relation to the state. The offer to privatize the state owned shares was submitted by Oskars Galanders and Alto and Impero Investments companies. The ministers present rejected the privatization bids. The Latvian Transport Ministry currently holds 250,071 shares in the company or 52.6 percent of the fixed capital.
