Latvia

EU allows Poland, Baltics to trim migrant rights at Belarus border

The European Union proposed on Wednesday curtailing some rights of migrants at its frontier with Belarus, a gesture towards member states Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, even as Brussels acknowledged border…

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EU seeks to ease rules for Poland, Baltics in migration standoff with Belarus

BRUSSELS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The European Union executive on Wednesday will propose that Poland and its two Baltic neighbours handle migrants the West accuses Belarus of pushing to their…

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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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EU’s von der Leyen and NATO’s Stoltenberg visit Lithuania and Latvia

Nov 26 (Reuters) - The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will travel to Lithuania and Latvia on Sunday amid a migrant…

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Latvia: students to get affordable European-backed study loans

Together with Latvian banks, ALTUM and the European Investment Fund, backed by the Investment Plan for Europe, are enabling more favourable lending to students and learners in Latvia, to cover…

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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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EU executive summons Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian envoys over migration

The European Union's executive summoned envoys from member states Poland, Lithuania and Latvia on Thursday over the fate of migrants stuck on their border with Belarus. "I'm very concerned about…

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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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European Commission disburses €237 million in pre-financing to Latvia

The European Commission has today disbursed €237 million to Latvia in pre-financing, equivalent to 13% of the country's financial contribution as established in the Council Implementing Decision. The pre-financing payment…

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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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Poland, Latvia worry over Russia’s war games on tense EU-Belarus border

Poland and Latvia expressed concern over Russia’s looming military drills held jointly on Belarus’ western border where the European Union accuses Minsk of pushing migrants over to put pressure on…

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EU rights court calls on Poland, Latvia to aid migrants on Belarus border

The European Court of Human Rights asked the Polish and Latvian governments to intervene to help migrants camped on the Belarus border. The fate of the migrants has become part…

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European neighbours jointly rebuke Belarus for illegal migrant surge

WARSAW (Reuters) - The leaders of Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia came together on Saturday to condemn Belarus for allowing migrants to illegally cross its borders into the European Union. "All European Union member states have…

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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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Russia’s foreign ministry summons Slovak, Baltic states’ envoys – Interfax

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry will summon the ambassadors of Slovakia and the three Baltic states on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, without giving a reason.…

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On this day in 2004, Malta and nine other countries signed the EU accession treaty

On this day, in 2004 the leaders of ten new countries with a combined population of almost 75 million signed the accession treaty, through which they joined the EU. Up to…

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Turkey says not picking a side in Ukraine-Russia conflict, Baltic foreign ministers visiting Ukraine ‘to express support’

Turkey is not picking a side in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday in an interview on broadcaster NTV. President Tayyip Erdogan…

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Netherlands beat Latvia for first points of World Cup qualifying campaign

Steven Berghuis and Luuk de Jong scored either side of halftime as the Netherlands got their World Cup qualifying hopes back on track with a 2-0 home win over plucky…

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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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European countries announce restart of use of AstraZeneca vaccine – UPDATED

Italy, Latvia and Lithuania have said they will resume using the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, Sky News reports. Italian Prime Minister Draghi said that the giving of the AstraZeneca vaccine in…

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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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Poland and Baltics want more sanctions on Russia, diplomats say

BRUSSELS, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Six European Union states including Poland and the Baltics are pushing for new EU sanctions on Russian officials after the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei…

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Kremlin dismisses calls for sanctions over Navalny detention

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it would not heed calls by some Western countries for sanctions over Russia's detention of poisoned opposition politician Alexei Navalny because his case was a purely domestic matter. Navalny was detained on Sunday after flying back to…

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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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Malta wins against Latvia in UEFA Nations League

Malta registered its first UEFA Nations League Victory, and the first away victory since June 2013, when it won against Latvia 0 - 1 in Latvia. Latvia had their chances…

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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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Baltic countries, US reaffirm opposition to Russia’s attempts to rewrite history

On the 80th anniversary of the Welles Declaration, the foreign ministers of the United States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a joint statement reaffirming their opposition to Russia's attempts to…

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Photo Story: The 14th International Sand Sculpture Festival in Latvia

A sand sculpture depicting crowned lions holding up the coat of arms of Jeglava is displayed at the 14th International Sand Sculpture Festival in Jelgava, Latvia. The themes of this…

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Photo Story: Tribute to ‘Medics To The World’ in Latvia

Latvian sculptor Aigars Bikse reacts during the unveiling ceremony of the 6-meter-tall statue 'Medics To The World', made by sculptor Aigars Bikse, in tribute to medics around the world, at…

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Seven eastern EU member states set to oppose asylum seekers relocation mechanism

Seven eastern EU member states are opposing the possibility of the EU creating a mechanism to relocate asylum seekers between countries. In a letter to the European Commission, the interior…

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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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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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Malta amongst European countries wanting EU to suspend refunds for cancelled flights law

France, Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Poland and Portugal are calling on Brussels to temporarily suspend a European law granting refunds for cancelled flights. France and…

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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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Joint statement on the principles of the rule of law in times of Covid-19

Thirteen EU countries on Wednesday issued a joint statement calling for coronavirus emergency measures to be temporary and in line with rule of law principles. The move comes after Hungary’s…

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Malta, one of nine EU countries push back France’s drive to change EU enlargement process

Malta together with Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia have backed a counter-proposal to France's push aimed at changing the process for taking in new members, arguing…

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EU heavyweight states push for joint supervisor against money laundering

The European Union’s largest states are pushing for the establishment of a new supervisory authority that would take over from states the oversight of money laundering at financial firms, after…

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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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Photo Story: Fireworks rule the night from Poland to Singapore

Fireworks are a popular summertime tradition not only in Malta but in various corners of the world as these photos illustrate. Photos of various fireworks displays that were held…

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On this day…

365 Crete Earthquake followed by tsunami around the Eastern Mediterranean allegedly destroys Alexandria 1542 Pope Paul III begins inquisition against Protestants (Sactum Officium) 1831 Belgium gains independence from Netherlands,…

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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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Seven countries stop their participation in Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe following return of Russia legislators

Delegations of Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decided to cut short their participation in the summer session following…

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Maltese Company to expand container terminal in Latvia – Malta Independent

The Malta Independent carries a story about Maltese Hili Company expanding its container terminal in Latvia. The logistics hub already handles two-thirds of all container cargo in the Baltic country.…

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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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