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Latvia

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Latvia. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Riga

Head of State

President Edgars Rinkēvičs

Head of Government

Prime Minister Evika Siliņa

A Ukrainian sapper on demining operations in the Kharkiv area, northeastern Ukraine. File photo: EPA-EFE

Ukraine war

Zelensky signs decree for Ukraine’s withdrawal from anti-personnel mines treaty

Driven by Russia’s widespread use of mines, the decision aims to restore Ukraine’s right to defend its territory.

30 Jun 2025 - 2:27PM

France

France charges UK man over staged Disneyland ‘marriage’ with child

24 Jun 2025 - 5:50PM

European Union

Poland, Baltic nations to quit landmine treaty amid Russia threat

19 Mar 2025 - 1:28AMvideocam

Russia

Lithuania blames Russian military intelligence for Ikea store arson

The Ikea store was set ablaze in Vilnius in May 2024 and caused no casualties.

17 Mar 2025 - 10:09PMvideocam

People cool off in a public fountain in Vilnius, Lithuania. Lithuania, a Baltic state and Nato member, has been a staunch ally of Kyiv since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and frequently warned against sabotage attempts inspired by Russia. photo: AP

Norway

Norway detains ship suspected of damaging Sweden-Latvia cable

The Russian crew and Norway-owned shipping company are cooperating with the authorities, police say, days after Sweden detained another vessel.

31 Jan 2025 - 8:44PM

American cinema

The Brutalist, Emilia Perez and Shogun win big at Golden Globes

Musical Emilia Perez and drama The Brutalist win best film awards, TV’s Shogun has a great night, Baby Reindeer and Demi Moore win too.

6 Jan 2025 - 2:26PMvideocam

Mergers & Acquisitions

US private-equity firm invests in Chinese-owned personal care brand Stenders

Investment firm says now is a good time to lean into China’s consumer sector amid lower competition and valuations.

10 Sep 2024 - 5:27PM

An assortment of Stenders bath bombs. Photo: Handout

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Explainer | US women set to defend 3X3 basketball crown in Paris, men debut as favourites

The addition of Jimmer Fredette has made the US gold medal contenders, but Serbia, led by ‘Dr Strange’, the world’s top player, will be tough opposition.

30 Jul 2024 - 2:00PM

Ukraine war

Opinion | How Nato’s China focus obscures greater threats coming from within

Discussions of China dominated the recent Nato summit, but what about the dangers of a sapping war in Ukraine and Trump ‘s potential return?

22 Jul 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

World Trade Organization (WTO)

At WTO, China’s trade policy sparks war of words amid geopolitical unease

Concerns about industrial overcapacity and lack of transparency in state subsidies elicit ‘frank and open’ exchanges, revealing deep schisms.

20 Jul 2024 - 1:45AMvideocam

Employees work on an electric-vehicle production line at a factory under Jiangling Group Electric Vehicle in Nanchang, China, on May 22, 2024. The European Union this week imposed provisional tariffs on Chinese-made EVs. Photo: Reuters

Nato

Threats from Putin, Xi will be a focus of upcoming Nato summit

The defence alliance, which is marking its 75th anniversary, will address the war in Ukraine and China’s role in bolstering Moscow, says senior US official.

6 Jul 2024 - 5:54AMvideocam

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands prior to their talks in Beijing in May. Photo: Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Performing arts in Hong Kong

HK Phil appoints Finnish conductor, 24, as next music director

Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski says he ‘couldn’t ask for more in an orchestra’, praising its ‘very high level’ as he is named music director of Hong Kong Philharmonic at 24 years old.

4 Jul 2024 - 8:23PM

Singapore

Singapore outranks Japan for world’s most powerful passport in 2024

Singapore passport holders have the most flexibility for travel worldwide, with the ability to visit 195 countries without a visa.

29 Jun 2024 - 11:02PMvideocam

Russia

Belarus to join Russia’s second-stage nuclear exercises

In theory the use of tactical nuclear weapons could deliver a stunning shock to the West without necessarily prompting a full-blown nuclear war, though the risk of triggering a cycle of escalation would be huge.

10 Jun 2024 - 6:33PM

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (right) and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Independence Palace in Minsk on May 24. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

China hawk von der Leyen confident of new term as Europe lurches right

European Commission president’s party remains largest parliamentary group while heavyweights Macron and Scholz damaged.

10 Jun 2024 - 2:45PM

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen celebrates at the European People’s Party headquarters in Brussels on Sunday. Photo: AP

European Union

Slovaks and others vote in EU elections under shadow of assassination attempt

Analysts say the Slovak ruling coalition has been using the attack on PM Robert Fico ‘expediently’ to boost his party’s chances of victory.

8 Jun 2024 - 5:10PM

Belt and Road Initiative

Opinion | How the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor can help revive Asia-Europe trade

As disruptions send shipping costs surging and trade volumes slow, the overland Trans-Caspian International Transport Route offers a cheaper, more sustainable option through Kazakhstan.

5 Jun 2024 - 8:30PM

China-EU relations

China’s best friends in EU Parliament fight for political lives back in Ireland

MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace have attracted global attention for their anti-US views and support for Moscow and Beijing within the parliament.

3 Jun 2024 - 3:51PM

Mick Wallace and Clare Daly pictured with China’s ambassador to the EU Fu Cong in Brussels. Photo: Mission of the PRC in EU

French Open

When is the French Open 2024, and who can battle Novak Djokovic for the title?

Everything you need to know about the world’s biggest clay-court tennis event where Ronald Garros king Rafael Nadal, who has won tournament 14 times, is likely to be featuring for last time.

23 May 2024 - 4:47PM

European Union

LGBTQ people in EU face less discrimination, more violence: survey

Online survey of more than 100,000 people shows LGBTQ people in Europe faced more violence, harassment, and bullying.

15 May 2024 - 4:42PMvideocam

Georgia

More protests in Georgia after parliament passes ‘foreign influence’ law

Huge throngs of protesters blocked streets in the capital of Georgia and milled angrily outside the parliament building after lawmakers approved a bill that critics call a Russian-style threat to free speech.

15 May 2024 - 1:53PM

Georgian protesters rally in Tbilisi on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong-UK spying row

UK spying case puts Hong Kong trade offices in London, elsewhere in cross hairs

Hong Kong trade office in London was where former city leader Carrie Lam and ex-finance chief John Tsang nurtured their budding government careers.

15 May 2024 - 8:30AMvideocam

European Union

Opinion | Nato needs allies in Asia but does it need an Indo-Pacific presence?

Nato members have vested interests in the region, individually and collectively, but an alliance expansion would raise complicated questions over collective defence and overreach

6 May 2024 - 7:30PMvideocam

China economy

Opinion | Why Hungary and Serbia are the important stops in Xi’s European tour

The Xi-Macron meeting will make a splash but Chinese EV and battery manufacturers’ plans in Hungary and Serbia are also shaping the China-EU dynamic in important ways.

30 Apr 2024 - 7:30PMvideocam

United States

These places have already banned TikTok

TikTok is in the cross hairs of authorities in the US, where new legislation threatens a nationwide ban unless its China-based parent ByteDance divests.

27 Apr 2024 - 7:24AMvideocam

New legislation in the US threatens a nationwide ban on TikTok unless its China-based parent ByteDance divests. Photo: Reuters

Crime

Belgian man whose body creates alcohol beats drink-driving charge

The 40-year-old proved he has auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), a rare condition whereby the body produces alcohol, but no symptoms of intoxication.

23 Apr 2024 - 4:34PM

Auto-brewery syndrome causes carbohydrates in the stomach to be fermented, increasing ethanol levels in the blood Photo: Shutterstock

China-EU relations

EU to launch first procurement probe over China’s medical devices sector: sources

Brussels has instigated a slew of investigations in recent weeks as frustration mounts over Beijing’s economic policies.

16 Apr 2024 - 8:00PMvideocam

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Hong Kong crash out of 3x3 basketball Olympic qualifiers but hail the experience

Home men’s and women’s teams exit competition as top four in each chase a first ticket to Paris on Sunday.

14 Apr 2024 - 8:38PM

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