The Dispatch

Estonian central bank sees economy shrinking 10%, unemployment spiking

Estonia's central bank said on Wednesday it expects the economy to shrink 10% this year, a steeper decline than forecast in March, due mostly to weaker demand for the country's…

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20 new cases confirmed in Lithuania over weekend

Eleven new Covid-19 cases were reported in Lithuania on Saturday and nine more on Sunday. The country's total coronavirus infection count currently stands at 1,714. However, only 306 of them…

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Photo Story: RAF Typhoons scrambled in Lithuania to intercept Russian aircraft

A handout picture provided by the British Royal Air Force shows a Russian Coot A aircraft (top) being intercepted by RAF Typhoons from Siauliai Air Base, over Lithuania, 02 June…

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Lithuania allows people from 24 countries to enter without self-isolation, Malta not included

LRT televizija reports that the Lithuanian Health Ministry has published a list of EU and European Economic Area countries, where in addition to the Baltic travel «bubble» countries of Latvia…

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Latvia drops quarantine rules for more than 20 European countries

Latvia announced it will drop coronavirus quarantine rules for travellers from more than 20 European countries, a move already adopted by its Baltic eurozone neighbours Estonia and Lithuania. Mandatory two-week…

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Latvia to launch Google-Apple friendly coronavirus contact tracing app

Latvia aims to become one of the first countries to launch a smartphone app using a new toolkit created by U.S. tech giants Apple and Alphabet's Google to help trace coronavirus infections. Early success of tracing apps in countries like Singapore and Australia…

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Photo Story: The reopening of borders between Baltic neighbouring countries

A Lithuanian state border guard measures the temperature of a driver at the Salociai-Grenctale border checkpoint, Lithuania. Lithuania has maintained some restrictions for the citizens of the Baltic states that…

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Baltic countries open Europe’s first pandemic ‘travel bubble’

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opened their borders to each other at the stroke of midnight, creating the first “travel bubble” within the European Union in a bid to jump-start economies…

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Baltic states to create “travel bubble” as pandemic curbs eased

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia will open their borders to each other’s citizens from May 15, creating a Baltic "travel bubble" within the European Union amid an easing of pandemic restrictions, their prime…

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Latvia’s government approves 250 million euros investment in airBaltic

Latvia's government on Thursday gave the go-ahead to an investment of up to 250 million euros ($271 million) in airBaltic to help the airline get through the COVID-19 pandemic. The…

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Photo Story: Umbrella installation in Ogre in the colours of Latvia

Newlyweds stand under an umbrella installation in the colours of the national flag, in Ogre, Latvia, 05 May 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. Via EPA-EFE/TOMS KALNINS

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Photo Story: Drive-in cinema at Vilnius airport

A general view of a drive-in cinema at Vilnius airport, Lithuania. Films in this cinema are displayed on a screen which is the height of a five-story building. Until now,…

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Vibrant Old Town Cafes in Lithuania allowed to expand Seating Into Streets and Plazas as lockdown measures ease off

All public spaces in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius have been designated as open air cafés to support its vibrant café and restaurant culture through the coronavirus pandemic. This will…

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Photo Story: Storks flock to Latvia

A white stork near to Vecate, the largest colony of white storks in Latvia as storks gather in Latvia during their annual migration. About 4% of the world's white storks…

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Photo Story: Coronavirus situation in Lithuania

Lithuanian policemen guard a checkpoint on a road to the closed city of Nemencine, Vilnius region, Lithuania, 23 April 2020, amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Only residents of Nemencine…

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An alternative Christmas in Vilnius, Lithuania

People attend a lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree at the Alternative Christmas Yard in the former Lukiskes prison yard in Vilnius, Lithuania, that was held a few days ago.…

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An unusual Christmas Tree at Vilnius Airport in Lithuania

Photos of a Christmas tree decorated by using items confiscated from passengers at Vilnius Airport, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Vilnius Airport staff decided to make a special Christmas tree decorated with…

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Photo Story: Christmas tree with a difference unveiled in Viimsi, Estonia

A Christmas tree is on display in Viimsi, Estonia. The 12m-high Christmas tree was designed by artist Teet Suur from some 1,500 pieces of four-litre windscreen wash canisters. Photos:…

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Photo Story: Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Vilnius

Photos from the annual lighting of the Vilnius Christmas tree at the Cathedral Square, in Vilnius, Lithuania. The annual lighting of the Vilnius' Christmas tree was held on Saturday evening,…

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Photo Story: The Christmas market in Tallinn, Estonia

Scenes from the Christmas market in the Town Hall Square, Tallinn, Estonia. Reports state that the Christmas tree, which is the most important Christmas tree in Estonia and has…

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Photo Story: Autumn in Latvia

A couple kiss with a backdrop of Autumn colours at the Gauja National Park in Sigulda, Latvia. Gauja National Park is Latvia's largest and oldest national park and has an…

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Ex- Danske Bank head caught up in fraud probe found dead

The former head of Danske Bank's arm in Estonia has been found dead days after he went missing. Police had been searching for Aivar Rehe since he left his home…

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13 arrested in Lithuania in €1 million car parts theft ring

An organised crime network originating from Lithuania and specialised in the theft of car parts has been dismantled this week by the German Police of Heilbronn, together with the support…

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Photo Story: UEC European BMX championships Men Elite race

Filip Svanberg (L) of Sweden, Jeremy Rencurel (2nd L) of France, David Graf (3rd L) of Switzerland, Simba Darnand (3rd R) of France, Amidou Mir (2nd R) of France and…

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Latvia warns that European leaders fail to grasp ‘hardening’ of UK view on Brexit

Edgars Rinkēvičs, Latvia's Foreign Minister has warned that a hard Brexit could be made more likely because European Union leaders have failed to grasp the hardening of opinion…

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Photo Story: RAF Typhoons Intercept Russian Military Aircraft Close To Estonian Airspace

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defence showing a Russian SU-27 aircraft, in a photo from a British Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon aircraft (not pictured) from…

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Photo Story: Sculptured in Sand

Sand sculptures are on display at the 13th International Sands Sculpture Festival in Jelgava, Latvia. The theme of this year's festival is 'Ancient World'. 15 artists from eight countries…

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Photo Story: RAF Typhoons scramble to intercept Russian fighters

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defence showing RAF crews making a second scramble to intercept a Russian SU-30 Flanker fighter (top) and an Ilyushin IL-76…

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Danske Bank selling Estonian private loans unit

Danske Bank, which has been embroiled in a major money laundering scandal, has agreed to sell its portfolio of Estonian private loans to LHV Pank in a deal worth $410…

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Europe Votes: Lithuania, the projections

This is a summary of Politico’s projections of the voting today in Lithuania: Lithuania– The Projections If turnout of 47.35% is maintained in this vote, Politico predicts TS-LKD will beat…

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Lithuanian PM Skvernelis to step down

Lithuanian PM Saulius Skvernelis announced he will be steping down after failing to qualify for the second round in the country's presidential election. Skvernelis, who was one of the expected…

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Anti-immigrant party enters Estonian Government

A divisive anti-immigrant party, led by a father and son, is now part of the Estonia n Government with the family duo taking the oath as Estonia's interior and…

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EBA ends probe of Estonian, Danish regulators over Danske Bank

The European Banking Authority (EBA), the EU banking watchdog, terminated an investigation of financial regulators in Estonia and Denmark in relation to suspected money laundering activities by Danske Bank after…

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Far right set to enter government for first time in Estonia

A far-right eurosceptic populist party sealed a deal to be part of the next government in a three party coalition in Estonia. The Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE), said…

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Estonia goes to the polls

Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas of the Centre party and who leads a four-party coalition, Sunday will be facing stiff competition in a general election . BBC reports that his…

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Russia accused of literally toying with ex-Soviet neighbour

Distressed Lithuanian shoppers are asking questions about a game that surfaced in the market. The board game includes four military figurines and a peculiar cat that children are meant to…

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European Court of Human Rights concludes that Lithuania and Romania violated the European ban on torture

The European Court of Human Rights said on Thursday it had concluded that Lithuania and Romania hosted a CIA detention centres and allowed for Tortures. Lithuania hosted this prison from…

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Estonia to implement free transport

Euronews reports that as of July 1st, Estonia will implement free transport for its residents across most of the Baltic country. The free fare zone will run 24 hours a day,…

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