Latvia
latest news & developments
From summits to substance: Europe’s chance to meet Africa on its terms
The clustering of Africa summits in 2026 is not coincidental. It reflects a continent whose geopolitical and economic weight is growing and whose governments are increasingly…
How a boy born on World TB Day helped turn the tide on SA’s deadliest TB
Norbert Ndjeka was born on World TB Day. Decades later, he would reshape how South Africa treats the deadliest forms of the disease
Europe’s bizarre rules for Covid vaccine passes
Here are some of the more puzzling rules as Europeans settle for another winter holiday season overshadowed by the pandemic threat
Understanding Biden’s dilemma in Ukraine
Flanked by divided NATO allies, the US walks a tightrope over a potential third world war
Mocking T-shirts, penguin jibes lighten mood in Latvia
As Latvia’s economy shrinks, making fun of the state’s embattled leaders — with mocking T-shirts and penguin posters — has become quite popular.
‘Introverted’ Latvians let rip through song
Latvia lets loose every five years with a huge songfest that long powered its drive for freedom under decades of Moscow-led rule.
Presidential bunny dies of stress
The pet rabbit of Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, Leonardo da Vinci, has died, the Telegraf newspaper reported on Thursday. Nicknamed Lisis, the five-year-old bunny possibly…
You think Christmas trees grow on trees?
Latvian authorities have given residents something to cheer about when they invited them to cut their own Christmas trees for free — only to be chased away by forest rangers. A…
Passport-free future to blow dust from old Europe
Optimists call it the end of the Iron Curtain. Pessimists fear a ”Fortress Europe” or a wave of illegal immigration from December 21, when passports will be checked at fewer…
Nato leaders commit to Afghanistan for long haul
Nato pledged on Wednesday to stay the course to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan at a summit where nations offered guarded concessions to improve the mobility of allied…
Baltic Riviera boasts long beaches, alluring architecture
Visitors to the so-called Baltic Riviera will be impressed by the region’s long, white, sandy beaches and pine forest where hundreds of elaborately decorated old wooden houses…
Man severs penis in drunken bet
A man who cut off his own penis in a drunken bet had his organ stitched back on Thursday by Latvian doctors, the first such operation in the country’s history, Latvian public…
Naked robber scares Latvian beach-goers
Latvian police have detained a thief on a lonely beach who walked up to young women stark naked, scared them and then stole their personal belongings, police said on Tuesday.…