Latvian President Valdis Zatlers plans to visit the U.S. in mid-May where he is scheduled to take part in the annual meeting of the U.S.-Baltic Foundation. It is hoped the visit will strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, develop commercial ties and cooperation between the coalition forces in Afghanistan. Latvia is currently working to improve transport and logistics in the troubled region, including the construction of an alternative supply road to Afghanistan.
Some 4,000 teachers and scientists are expected to take part in a demonstration on April 2 to protest dramatic cuts in the education sector. Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Workers, which is organizing the protest, said further action may be taken in the future, including teacher strikes. Under harsh new budget cuts, teachers' salaries will be slashed by 34.5 million lats (49 million euro) and allocations to various education programs have been cut by 12.25 million lats.
Five men have been detained following a series of brutal robberies in which victims were beaten with iron bars. Criminal Police Chief Andrejs Grisins told the press two male victims were assaulted by a gang of five men in a Riga park on March 20. One later died in hospital from his injuries. It is alleged that between March 20 and March 23 the gang regularly traveled to Riga from Aizkraukle, a town some 100 kilometres to the south of Riga, to rob people in the city center. Police said gang members usually attacked their victims from behind, rendering them unconscious with iron bars before stealing their valuables.
