The latest album from the Latvian post-folk group Iļģi has broken into the Top 20 of the World Music Charts Europe, finishing ninth in the June listing.

The album, Ne uz vienu dienu (Not for Just One Day), was released in March by the Rīga-based UPE Recording Co. It features 12 songs about weddings. Guests artists on the album are Rūta Muktupāvela, wife of noted folklorist Valdis Muktupāvels, and Ugandan-American musician Samite.

The music chart is compiled monthly from the favorite albums reported by world music specialists in 23 European countries, according to World Music Charts Europe. The lists are posted online at www.wmce.de and also displayed in shops where world music recordings are sold.

Appearing on the chart, Ainars Mielavs of UPE Recording said in a press release, is the greatest acknowledgement from international professionals that Latvian musicians so far have received in this genre.

Topping the June chart is La Cantina by American artist Lila Downs. The list also includes albums by such well-known world music performers as the British-Egyptian singer Natacha Atlas and Cape Verdean performer Cesaria Evora.

Does $2,000 seem like a lot of money for a pair of slightly used athletic shoes? How about if you knew one of the shoes was a minor part of recent Latvian hockey history?

Latvian hockey fan Dainis Krievs was fined LVL 50 for hurling his left shoe onto the ice of Arēna Rīga during the May 11 World Championship game between Canada and the hometown team.

Rīga resident Jānis Dumpis, who goes by the handle “bulkcover,” now is offering Krievs’ left shoe—and its less famous right-footed partner—for sale on eBay, an online auction service. Dumpis doesn’t own the shoes, but has agreed to handle the sale for Krievs, he told Latvians Online in an e-mail.

The left shoe was one of many diffferent items fans threw in protest of an American referee’s frequent penalty calls against the Latvian national team. The action delayed the game and garnered press coverage at home and abroad. Latvia lost the game 0-11.

The listing, which ends June 11, asks USD 2,000 for the initial bid. The story of the left shoe is retold in detailed text illustrated with several photographs, including two of a court judgment against Krievs. The shoes are listed under the heading, “Latvia-Canada 0:11 Ice-Hockey IIHF 2006 Scandal SHOEs.”

Dumpis usually markets Latvian antiques on eBay and currently offers more than 50 other listings, including old photographs, philatelic items and books.

Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga is scheduled to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress at 11 a.m. ET June 7, according to the president’s press office.

Vīķe-Freiberga, on a visit to the United States in late February and early March, was invited by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to address Congress.

Joint meetings of Congress are infrequent. So far this year, only three have been held and all were to hear from foreign leaders: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Silvio Berlusconi, who at the time was prime minister of Italy. In addition, President George W. Bush presented his State of the Union to a joint session of Congress.

Vīķe-Freiberga’s appearance before Congress in Washington, D.C., will cap a weeklong visit to the United States that will begin with her arrival May 31 in Los Angeles. From June 1-4, the president will attend the the 45th annual International Achievement Summit. Vīķe-Freiberga also will meet June 3 with members of the Latvian community in Los Angeles.

In Washington, the president is expected on June 5 to present the 7th Annual Peter Weitz Journalism Prize at a meeting of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. On June 6, she will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. And after the president’s June 7 address to Congress, Vīķe-Freiberga is scheduled to meet with Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, as well as with business representatives.

Vīķe-Freiberga will leave for Latvia on June 8, arriving in Rīga on June 9.

(UPDATED 30 MAY 2006)