Latvia

Latvia votes to exit treaty opposing violence against women

The Latvian Parliament on Thursday voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at supporting women who are victims of violence. The tally from the ballot was 56 to…

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Latvia Strengthens Eastern Flank Security with New Air and Land Restrictions

Latvia is reinforcing its border security with Russia and Belarus, extending both air and land restrictions indefinitely as part of ongoing efforts to manage regional security risks and align with…

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African swine fever outbreak confirmed in Latvia, cull required

An outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed at SIA Baltic Pork in Laubere parish, Ogre region, affecting 20,000 pigs, the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) said on…

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Latvia to Ban One-Off Bus Trips to Russia and Belarus from October

Latvia plans to ban occasional passenger bus services to Russia and Belarus from 15 October, citing heightened border security concerns, the Ministry of Transport said. The measure would cover one-off,…

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Latvia warns public that ‘unkempt tourists’ might actually be Russian spies

Latvia's intelligence agency has issued a public warning about potential Russian saboteurs and spies operating within the country, disguised as tourists or hikers. The Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD)…

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Latvia to Upgrade 570 Public Bomb Shelters with EU Funding

Latvia will adapt approximately 570 public bomb shelters under a new initiative supported by over €22.2 million in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financing, Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis…

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GPS disruptions in Latvia rise, impacting navigation but not safety

For three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the number of navigation system disruptions in Europe, including Latvian airspace, has been on the rise. However, those responsible stress that…

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Third-country citizens’ travel requirements tightened in Latvia

Third-country citizens who have not been issued a visa or residence permit in Latvia will be required to provide specific information about themselves, their relatives and the purpose of their…

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National defense to be compulsory subject in Latvian schools

From September this year, national defense will be a compulsory subject in schools, according to the amendments to the general secondary education standard approved by the government on Tuesday April 16.…

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Latvian Foreign Minister resigns amid private jet scandal, EU ambitions affected

Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš announced his resignation on Thursday, engulfed by a scandal on taking private jets to official meetings. His departure effectively eliminates him as a challenger to…

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Latvia probes MEP for Kremlin spying

Media reports in Latvia claimed the country's VDD state security services had formally opened a criminal investigation into Tatjana Zdanoka, a member of the European Parliament, on suspicion of espionage.…

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Latvia’s Foreign Minister Karins eyes NATO top job

Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins on Sunday declared his interest in becoming NATO’s next secretary-general, throwing his hat in the ring for the much contended race to succeed Jens Stoltenberg…

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Latvia’s prime minister announces resignation

RIGA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins announced his resignation on Monday, blaming a breakdown in relations with parts of his multi-party governing government. "This Thursday I…

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Edgars Rinkevics elected president of Latvia

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Latvia's parliament has elected long-serving Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as the country's next president, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said. Rinkevics will represent Latvia, a European Union and…

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Photo Story: Bank of Latvia releases ‘For the Freedom of Ukraine’ collectors’ coin

Ukrainian freedom coin on display at the Bank of Latvia in Riga, Latvia, 26 January 2023. Bank of Latvia has issued a silver collectors' coin dedicated to Ukraine's fight for…

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UPDATED: Lithuania-Latvia gas pipeline blows up, but no sign of attack

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia was hit by an explosion on Friday but there was no immediate evidence of an…

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Photo Story: Christmas decorations in Riga

People look at Christmas decorations in Riga, Latvia. Via EPA-EFE/TOMS KALNINS

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EU needs to work on a tribunal to hold Russia accountable – Latvia PM

BRUSSELS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The European Union must remain united in its support for Ukraine and should start working on holding Russia legally accountable for its activities in the…

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Latvian PM calls on EU to end all tourist visas for Russians

Latvia’s prime minister, Krisjanis Karins, has called on EU leaders to stop all tourist visas for Russians, reigniting the debate about further tightening sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Speaking to…

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UPDATED: Latvia to remain Russia’s critic as prime minister wins election

RIGA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The centre-right New Unity party of Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins won Saturday's election, according to provisional results, with its 19% of the vote putting…

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Latvian PM’s New Unity party ahead in vote, exit poll shows

RIGA (Reuters) - The centre-right New Unity party of Latvian prime minister Krisjanis Karins appeared set to win Saturday's national election, a LETA/LSM exit poll showed, with security concerns dominating…

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As Latvia goes to polls, ethnic Russian population fears losing identity

RIGA (Reuters) - Latvia's parliamentary election on Saturday could widen a growing rift between the country's Latvian majority and its Russian-speaking minority over their place in society, amid widespread national…

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Latvia says it won’t offer refuge to Russians fleeing mobilisation; Flights out of Russia sell out

European Union member Latvia, which borders Russia, will not offer refuge to any Russians fleeing Moscow's mobilisation of troops, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said in a tweet on Wednesday,…

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UPDATED: German businessman named as owner of jet that crashed in Baltic

BERLIN, Sept 5 (Reuters) - A private jet that crashed into the Baltic Sea off Latvia after flying half way across Europe from Spain without responding to controllers' calls belonged…

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Latvia, Estonia withdraw from China cooperation group

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Latvia and Estonia withdrew from a cooperation group between China and over a dozen Central and Eastern European countries on Thursday, following in the footsteps of Baltic…

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Latvia declares Russia a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’

Latvian MPs on Thursday adopted a statement declaring Russia a "state sponsor of terrorism" and said its actions in Ukraine constituted "targeted genocide against the Ukrainian people". The statement said…

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UPDATED: Russia’s Gazprom halts gas supplies to Latvia

July 30 (Reuters) - Russian gas producer Gazprom GAZP.MM said on Saturday it had stopped sending gas to Latvia after accusing it of violating supply conditions, a move the Baltic country said would have…

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Photo story: The International Sand Sculpture Park in Jelgava, Latvia

Visitors look at the demo sculpture, a sand replica of Michelangelo's sculpture 'Pieta (The Pity)', made by Latvian sculptors Karlis Ile and Maija Ile at the International Sand Sculpture Park…

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Photo Story: City Festival in Kuldiga, Latvia

Members of Dutch Bicycle Orchestra perform during city festival in Kuldiga, Latvia. It had already become a tradition that on the third weekend of July, thousands of people go to…

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Latvia president calls for compulsory military service for all

Latvia may have to increase it defence spending and introduce compulsory military service for its citizens regardless of their gender to contain any possible security risks arising from Russia, President…

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Latvia wants more NATO troops, fed up of “paying for lunch for the others”

BRUSSELS, June 16 (Reuters) - Latvia on Thursday made a last pitch for the deployment of more NATO troops in the Baltics, two weeks before NATO leaders are set to decide the…

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Photo Story: Snow in Riga, Latvia

People walk at snowy park in Riga, Latvia, on Wednesday 06 April 2022. According to the data of the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center, seven centimetres of snow was…

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Baltic nations expel ten Russian diplomats

VILNIUS, March 18 (Reuters) - Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have expelled a total of ten Russian diplomats, the foreign ministries of the three Baltic countries said on Friday. Lithuania expelled four diplomats…

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Latvia allows its citizens to fight in Ukraine

VILNIUS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Latvia's parliament voted unanimously on Monday to allow its nationals to fight in Ukraine if willing, the parliament said in a statement. "Our citizens who want to…

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U.S. troops in Latvia in warning to Putin

ADAZI MILITARY BASE, Latvia - The presence of U.S. and other NATO troops in Latvia sends a message to Vladimir Putin that Russia should stay away, Latvian Defence Minister Artis…

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Baltic nations plan to close airspace to Russian planes

VILNIUS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Baltic nations of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have agreed in principle to close their airspace to Russian aircraft, Lithuanian Transport Minister Marius Skuodis said on Saturday.…

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UPDATED: NATO welcomes more U.S. forces to Romania, says reinforcing in east

CONSTANTA, Romania, Feb 11 (Reuters) - NATO will continue to reinforce its eastern flank amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border but will also consider a longer-term presence in…

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U.S. clears Baltic states to send U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine

The U.S. State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send U.S.-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine, three sources familiar with the decision said, as President Joe Biden…

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West could cut Russia from SWIFT, sanction Nord Stream, Latvia says

The West must send a strong message to Russia to deter the Kremlin from invading Ukraine, including cutting Russia off from the SWIFT payment system, sanctioning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and…

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Photo Story: Snowy weather in Riga

A man walks during a snowy day at the Ziedondarzs Park in Riga, Latvia. The Finnish Meteorological Institute in its forecast for Latvia predicts winterly temperatures of down to minus…

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Latvia calls for permanent U.S. troops to guard against Russia threat

Latvia needs a permanent U.S. military presence to deter Russia and wants to boost its defences with U.S. Patriot missiles, Defence Minister Artis Pabriks said on Monday as NATO's chief…

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Latvia allows businesses to fire the unvaccinated

The Latvian parliament on Thursday allowed businesses to fire workers who refuse to either get a COVID-19 vaccine or transfer to remote work, as the country battles one of the…

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Latvia announces four weeks of lockdown as COVID-19 cases spike

Latvia announced a COVID-19 lockdown from Oct. 21 until Nov. 15 to try to slow a spike in infections in one of the least vaccinated European Union countries. "Our health…

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Photo Story: Lidl open 15 stores in Latvia

A view of the logo of a Lidl store in Riga, Latvia, 07 October 2021. German retailer Lidl opened 15 stores in Latvia on October 7. Lidl is a German…

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Photo Story: White Night in Riga

A view of the sculptures project 'Travellers/Les Voyageurs' by French artist Cedric Le Borgneat as part of the contemporary culture forum 'White Night' in Riga, Latvia. The contemporary culture forum…

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Latvia starts pushing back migrants at tense Belarus border

Latvian border guards turned back dozens of migrants into Belarus overnight under a new state of emergency designed to stem a flow of arrivals the European Union says is orchestrated…

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Photo Story: Easter feeling in Latvia

People enjoy the installations of the Easter decoration in Ogre, Latvia. Residents and guests of the city are invited to enjoy the the spring sun and the feeling of the…

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Photo Story: Snowstorm in Riga

People walk during a snowstorm in Riga, Latvia, as heavy snowfall fell in many places in the country. Photo: EPA-EFE/TOMS KALNINS

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Photo Story: Ice on the River Ogre in Latvia

A boy walks on the ice float fragments piling on a bank of the Ogre river, near Ogre, Latvia. Latvia saw a new 'heat record' this week with air temperatures…

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Photo Story: Frozen Baltic seacoast in Latvia

People walking on the ice of the frozen Baltic seacoast in Carnikava, Latvia. Weather forecasts predict air temperatures of up to 10 degrees Celsius in some places in Latvia for…

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Latvia to police New Year curfew amid rising COVID infections

Latvian police and border guards will patrol the streets to enforce a New Year’s night curfew aimed at preventing large crowds gathering as coronavirus infections rise. The curfew will last…

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Photo Story: Christmas illuminations in Riga

Photos of the Christmas illuminations and decorations around Riga, Latvia. Christmas illuminations at Dzeguskalns in Riga, Latvia. People view the Christmas illuminations and decorations at Sarkandaugava in Riga. The Christmas…

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Photo Story: The Silver Arrow exercise in Latvia

Over 3,000 troops and 200 vehicles from 12 NATO Allies took part in exercise Silver Arrow in Latvia this week. The multinational exercise, which wrapped up on 3 October, provided…

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First European ‘travel bubble’ ends as coronavirus cases rise in Estonia

The first European pandemic “travel bubble”, created in May by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, burst on Friday, as Latvia said it was mandating a 14-day quarantine on everyone arriving from…

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Photo Story: White Night Festival in Riga

People view a 3-D installation named 'Museum of the Moon' by British artist Luke Jerram during the fifteenth White Night Festival in Riga, Latvia on Saturday evening. White Night in…

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Photo Story: The Limbazi Airshow 2020 in Latvia

Piper Cherokee and RV8 planes performs during the Limbazi Airshow 2020 that is being held over the weekend in Limbazi, Latvia. Lithuanian aerobatic pilot Jurgis Kairys performs during the Limbazi…

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Latvia eases restrictions after only two Covid-19 patients remain in hospital

The Latvian Government has eased social restrictions in the country, deciding that from the coming weekeing visitors to museums, libraries, cultural centers, exhibition halls, open-air museums, theater buildings, concert halls,…

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