Jeļena Prokopčuka of Latvia has successfully defended her title in the ING New York City Marathon, finishing the Nov. 5 women’s race in a time of 2 hours, 25 minutes and 5 seconds, just under a half-minute slower than during her 2005 victory.

Prokopčuka, 30, is the sixth woman in the history of the New York marathon to repeat as champion, according to the marathon’s Web site. She will take home USD 130,000 for her victory.

She and Tatiana Hladyr of Ukraine broke away from the pack early in the race, but Prokopčuka eventually pulled clear and crossed the finish line a full minute before her.

Last year, Prokopčuka won after the leader, Susan Chepkemei of Kenya, became ill three miles from the finish line.

In 2004, Prokopčuka finished fifth with a time of 2:26:51.

Prokopčuka is coached by her husband, Aleksander Prokopčuks.

Prokopčuka’s personal best time in a marathon was 2:22:56, recorded last year in Osaka, Japan, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Marilson Gomes dos Santos of Brazil won the men’s race in this year’s New York marathon.

Other runners from Latvia participating in the marathon included Ivars Eskins, 44, who finished in a time of 3:38:04; Dzintars Rudzītis, 50, finishing in a time of 3:50:32; Kristaps Tamuzs, 25, finishing in a time of 3:54:33; Marts Kalniņš, 36, finishing in a time of 3:59:07; Andis Vītoliņš, 37, finishing in a time of 4:01:40; and Inta Eskina, 45, who finished in a time of 5:53:37.

Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis seems assured of a second term after a Nov. 1 meeting with Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, during which they discussed current issues and the Oct. 7 parliamentary election results.

The president will officially nominate Kalvītis as the next prime minister when the 9th Saeima meets for the first time Nov. 7, the president’s press office in Rīga announced.

A coalition of conservative parties—Tautas partija (People’s Party), Zaļo un Zemnieku Savienība (Union of Greens and Farmers), and the new alliance between Latvijas Pirmā partija (First Party of Latvia) and Latvijas Ceļš (Latvia’s Way)—will control 51 of the 100 seats in parliament, according to results of the Oct. 7 election.

“After my consultations with all the parties it is clear that, with these election results, for me as president the choice of Mr. Kalvītis as the new prime minister is completely logical, legal and just about inescapable,” Vīķe-Freiberga said in a prepared statement.

Kalvītis is a member of Tautas partija. He became prime minister in December 2004 and his current term expires with the close of the 8th Saeima.

Still unclear is whether and how the coalition might be enlarged.

Jaunais laiks (New Era), the conservative party that has seen its popularity plummet in recent months, will control another 18 seats in the new parliament and has been in talks with the other parties about rejoining the ruling coalition it abandoned in April. If it were to join, the coalition’s majority in the parliament would increase to 69 seats.

Jaunais laiks also would like to see its candidate, former Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete, become the next president when Vīķe-Freiberga’s second term expires next year.

Also represented in the 9th Saeima are Saskaņas Centrs (Harmony Centre), which will control 17 seats, and Par cilvēka tiesībam vienotā Latvijā (For Human Rights in United Latvia), which will have six. Both are viewed as left-leaning and friendly to Moscow.

The conservative Tēvzemei un Brīvībai / LNNK (For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK) will control eight seats and also has been mentioned as a potential partner in a conservative ruling coalition.

Kalvītis’ nomination will have to be approved by the Saeima.

A new promotional video, “Sounds Like Latvia,” touts the country as a diverse land proud of its natural habitat and achievements in science, economics and culture, the Latvian Institute announced Oct. 20 in Rīga.

The five-minute film, created with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially highlights Rīga’s Art Nouveau architecture. The video uses details of that architecture as unifying elements as it invites the viewer to not just see Latvia, but to hear the sounds of its nature, its high technology and the grand choir concert of a Song Festival.

Director of the video is Ivo Kalpenieks, who along with Ēriks Božis also wrote the script. Music for the video was composed by Ģirts Bišs.

The video is intended for distribution to world media and to governments and ministries, the institute announced. The video also will soon be available in DVD format and on the Web site of the Latvian Institute, www.li.lv. The institute’s popular “Welcome to Latvia” video, featuring the music of Prāta Vētra, also is available for download on the site.