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The next school year will begin and end as it is now, Education and Science Minister Roberts Kilis said today during a Saeima Education, Science and Culture Committee meeting.

The Infectious Diseases Center (IDC) reports that influenza resulted in a death last week.

Blistering cold temperatures remain in the forecast this weekend, with temperatures tonight and tomorrow night dropping to minus 33 degrees Celsius in some areas of the country, LETA was informed by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center.

Only one-fifth or 21 percent of Latvia's economically-active population aged 18 to 55 have a favorable opinion of what the third government of Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity) has been able to do during the 100 days in office, while more than half of respondents are unhappy with the government's performance.

Legendary Police General Aloizs Visvaldis Blonskis (1933-2012) has died in a hospital at the age of 78, the Interior Ministry informed LETA.

On Thursday afternoon in Egypt, five buses carrying tourists, including four Latvian and 19 Estonian citizens, were taken hostage for several hours, the Estonian Foreign Ministry informs.

Latvia's population as of March 1, 2011 was 2,067,887, according to preliminary population census data released by the Central Statistica Bureaul.

Yesterday, yet another incident occurred at the National Armed Forces' (NAF) military base in Adazi. A soldier was found dead in the personnel's recreation area.

"Our own hands and minds hold the power to make Latvia and its society harmonious, prosperous and governed by mutual respect," President Andris Berzins emphasizes in his Christmas greeting to the people of Latvia.

As Christmas approaches, a busy and eventful year is coming to an end. Hence we cherish this warm family holiday for bringing peace into our bustling everyday lives, making us forget our worries and calling on us to have faith, love and hope.