Food prices in Latvia are expected to plummet next month as merchants and producers struggle to survive in the current tough economic climate. Latvian Merchants' Association President Henriks Danusevics told LETA that residents' lower purchasing capacity is largely behind the price drop. This year's turnover of food products is expected to drop from five to 10 percent, with fierce competition amongst merchants and producers further expected to drive down prices.
A Latvian hot air balloon pilot has set 2 new national records. Gunars Dukste crossed Latvia while flying from Estonia to Lithuania aboard the "BizBizMarite" hot air balloon. The flight continued almost 8 hours, setting a new duration record, and a new distance record of 225 kilometers. Poor weather conditions hampered the record breaking flight and Dukste was forced to land the balloon 1 kilometer before reaching Lithuania.
Latvia will this year scale back its participation in international civil missions. With the government declining to allocate necessary funds for the continuation of international operations and projects, officials will need to decide which missions will remain a priority. Interior Minister Mareks Seglins predicted that the Interior Ministry's representatives would continue their missions in Kosovo and Georgia, however, the number of experts in Afghanistan will likely be reduced. Latvia's mission in Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina are also under threat.
Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins has confirmed he will attend an upcoming meeting of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in the Czech capital city Prague. On the agenda are key issues concerning energy security, Trans-Atlantic relations, as well as EU institutions. Energy talks are expected to deal with preparations for the EU Southern Corridor summit, as well as improving information sharing among EU members.
Plans for a new concert hall in Riga are on hold after the government announced it would be unable to fund the project. Latvian Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis has also questioned plans to launch the project in 2010 or 2011, saying that "we were in a different situation" in 2004 when the decision to build the concert hall was taken. On Dec. 30, 2008, state agency j3b signed an agreement with AB.SZK architects office on the design of Riga acoustic concert hall.
