Architecturally it is a gem, there's music in the air and the Soviet Union is a mere memory. The capital of Latvia is still unexplored.

BILL CLINTON has written to President Guntis Ulmanis of Latvia, urging dialogue in Latvia's dispute with Moscow over the rights of Russian-speaking residents. Russia has launched a campaign against Latvia's policy on its Russian minority, cutting oil shipments to its neighbour. Most of the 700,000 Russian-speakers do not have Latvian citizenship.

A SYNAGOGUE belonging to the Lubavitch Hassidic movement was bombed before dawn yesterday in the Latvian capital Riga. The powerful blast damaged the building and smashed windows in nearby houses. The same synagogue was bombed in May 1995. Those responsible for that bombing have not been found.

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL 97

Breathing difficulties forced Chire Koyama, the former world champion who delights in beating her old team-mates now that she plays for Japan, to withdraw from the opening round of the women's singles at the World Championships in Manchester yesterday.

Basketball

Basketball

The effects of Latvian folk music on the growth of radish plants and The influence of sequential orgasm on the garden spider were only two of the many wrong answers we received to our mix 'n' match thesis titles competition. The correct entries alone, however, were enough to fill a large hole in any research budget. For those still longing to know the truth, it was, of course, holy water that effected radishes, and a tuning fork that influenced the spider.

The champions London Towers joined Chester Jets' growing list of victims when they lost 91-86 at Wembley Court last night against the Budweiser League's most improved team.

The England coach, Laszlo Nemeth, will depend on overseas-based players for his firepower and rebounding strength when his team face Latvia at Leicester on 30 October, in the first of three European Championship semi- final round group games before Christmas, writes Richard Taylor.

Latvia 0 Scotland 2

Latvia lie in wait for the Scots tonight. Phil Shaw reports from Riga

Television officials and football authorities are on a collision course over live coverage of next month's Scotland World Cup game in Latvia.

Football