In Riga, "Dome Square" is closed, in Caracas the president of the country and his wife have been kidnapped, 40 people died at a Swiss resort… We present the traditional weekly roundup of news that did not go unnoticed.
Lessons of Democracy: Could This Happen?!
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, January 3, that an elite American squad had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after conducting a "large-scale strike" in Caracas.
"The United States successfully executed a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader — President Nicolás Maduro, who, along with his wife, was captured and flown out of the country," Trump stated.
This "demonstrative punishment" of the foundations of international law caused a stir not only among the small obedient to the opinion of the EU democracy center but also in Brussels itself — it seemed necessary to condemn it, but what if one falls out of favor? Therefore, after a prolonged pause, a brilliant solution was found — the president of sovereign Venezuela was labeled a "bad guy" and it was stated that his elections were never considered legitimate. This opened Pandora's box — now anyone with military power can appoint and overthrow bad guys. And this is not just about Lukashenko, but also about the authorities in Denmark (who have started to fear a U.S. takeover of Greenland), Colombia, Panama, Mexico, and other countries.
Freedom of Speech: Silence in the Square
December 31 marked the last day of the broadcasting license for the radio program "Latvian Radio 4 - Dome Square" (LR4), according to a statement from the National Council of Electronic Media (NCEM), published in the official publication.
The NCEM decided to revoke LR4's license effective January 1, 2026, at the request of Latvian Public Media (LSM), submitted on December 3 of last year.
The reason is the desire to eradicate Russian broadcasting and all media in Latvia in the Russian language at all costs. It is artfully camouflaged as a desire to protect the Latvian language, unite society (but how?), and the most amusing — to achieve diversity of information sources and opinions.
Accident: The Greed of Two People Led to Ruin
On Friday afternoon, January 2, an explosion occurred in a residential building on Bauskas Street in Riga. Structures on the upper floors of the five-story building collapsed. According to preliminary information from the State Police, the cause of the disaster may have been an explosion during the dismantling of a gas pipeline by an "unidentified person."
The Riga City Council clarified that more than 40 residents were evacuated from the danger zone. While the issue of their accommodation is being resolved, people warmed up in Rīgas satiksme buses. A construction inspector is expected to issue a verdict soon: whether the building is suitable for living or if the structures may continue to collapse.
Later, the company Gaso shed light on the reasons for the incident. The scheme of illegal connection shows that a resident connected it for a gas stove, not for heating the apartment.
"This is not even about the fact that the illegal gas supply was used for heating the home or allowed savings through stolen gas. We are talking about a gas stove that consumes 2-3 cubic meters of natural gas per month. The absurdity of this tragedy lies precisely in the insignificant gain that a person achieved by committing illegal actions," emphasized the representative of the company's management, Petersone-Godmane.
Tragedy: The Ashes of Montana Knock at Our Hearts
And here is a tragedy where everything seemed to be running smoothly like clockwork. On the night of January 1, 2026, New Year's celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana turned into a tragedy. A strong fire broke out at the Le Constellation bar, resulting in the deaths of 40 people, with 115 injured and burned to varying degrees, reports Reuters.
According to the police of the Valais canton, the fire broke out around 1:30 AM local time (CET) in a crowded bar where a New Year's party was taking place at that moment. Most people were in the basement hall when the flames quickly engulfed the premises.
No Right to Language: Russian Books and Periodicals Taxed in Latvia
The tax on books and press in Latvia is differentiated by language. Starting January 1, books not published in the Latvian language, the languages of EU member states, or OECD member and candidate countries will be subject to the standard VAT rate of 21%. The changes mean that, for example, books in Russian will be taxed at the full, rather than reduced, VAT rate.
According to amendments to the Tax Law prepared by the Latvian Ministry of Culture, the previous reduced VAT rate of 5% will only apply to books and printed publications published in the state Latvian language, in the Livonian language, or in the official languages of certain EU countries and international organizations.
It turns out, we read: "the amendments are designed to strengthen public unity, relying on the policy of the Latvian language, as well as to reduce national security risks in the current geopolitical situation."
Loss: Founder of "Eolika" Composer Boris Reznik Passed Away
On the last day of 2025, composer Boris Reznik passed away after a prolonged illness.
Boris Reznik was born on May 3, 1947. He was a member of the original lineup of the group "Eolika" and served as its leader from 1972 to 1992. Reznik is the author of the music for several songs of the group "Eolika," as well as the composer of the famous song "Atmostas Baltija" ("The Baltics Awakens").
Fees: Jurmala is Now Two Euros Further Away
Starting January 1, 2026, new tariffs for entering the special regime zone in Jurmala came into effect. Now, a one-time pass will cost 5 euros, and the price of long-term subscriptions has nearly doubled.
Street machines at the entrance to the city now only accept bank cards or contactless payments (smartphones, watches). Cash can only be paid at the city administration building during official working hours.
Leave a comment