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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

Jelena Ostapenko is Latvia’s top tennis player. Photo: EPA-EFE

Get to Know

Meet Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko, known for her on-court disputes

The 2017 French Open winner, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka at last year’s Stuttgart Open final, was once a national-level ballroom dancer.

9 Sep 2026 - 3:26PM

Ukraine war

Russia strikes Ukraine capital for sixth straight day, killing at least 12

1 Sep 2026 - 5:15PM

Accidents and disasters in China

China-Nepal floods: 261 foreigners missing in Tibet, online rumours targeted

30 Aug 2026 - 10:23PMvideocam

Nato

Nato jets shoot down foreign drone after it enters Latvian airspace

Latvia’s military said a foreign drone had entered its airspace as a result of Russia’s electronic warfare activity over the Balvi region.

14 Aug 2026 - 8:13PM

Servicemen of the Latvian National Guard gather before a search operation for the debris from an intercepted drone, in Rugaji, Latvia, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

United States

US to focus counterterrorism efforts on left-wing groups, Rubio says

Critics, however, fear that ‌designating groups as far-left terror organisations risks targeting lawful protests and political opponents.

17 Jul 2026 - 6:42AMvideocam

Singapore

17 nations launch pact to protect vital undersea cables amid US, China absence

Singapore’s defence chief tells the Shangri-La Dialogue the pact aims to explore potential areas of collaboration and share best practices.

1 Jun 2026 - 9:40AM

Nato

Germany, Netherlands to set up Nato command centre in Baltics

The centre, known as 1GNC, is a command centre that can control up to 50,000 troops.

28 May 2026 - 7:36PMvideocam

Polish and German soldiers pose outside the Main Command Post at the multinational Nato Corps in Szczecin, Poland in 2016. Photo: AFP

European Union

‘Work to be done’: EU says it’s not ready to give Ukraine a membership date

Ukraine applied to join the ‌EU days after Russia’s invasion almost four years ago, seeking to anchor itself to the West.

15 Feb 2026 - 8:49PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

In Brussels, a form of transactional pragmatism has taken root as bloc seeks to weather US hostility.

31 Jan 2026 - 6:00PMvideocam

Donald Trump

‘Never been more relevant’: did Trump make Davos great again?

The Trump administration brought its ‘America First’ agenda to Davos, challenging the summit’s status quo while drawing record crowds of elites.

23 Jan 2026 - 8:42PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Huge lines, laughs and gasps as Trump addresses Davos

Trump stuns Davos with jabs at Greenland, Nato, Canada’s Carney, and France’s Macron, as attendees liken the chaotic scene to a rock concert.

22 Jan 2026 - 12:00AMvideocam

People use their mobile phones as Donald Trump walks across the stage before addressing the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

United States

Opinion | Retreating globally, US finds a new arena to flex power – at home

Trump’s use of the military for domestic control without regard for constitutional boundaries should alert allies to a fundamental change in the US character.

22 Oct 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Russia

Baltic nations planning for mass evacuations in the event of a Russian attack

Moscow denies plans to attack Nato, but Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have long voiced fears about possible Russian aggression.

10 Oct 2025 - 3:02PMvideocam

Britain

UK police arrest 3 for spying as Lithuania eyes Russia-linked sabotage network

European security officials have previously warned that a widespread sabotage campaign blamed on Russia is growing more dangerous.

18 Sep 2025 - 7:55PMvideocam

British police said they arrested two men, aged 41 and 46, and a 35-year-old woman in the east London county of Essex. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

Some of China’s manufacturing industries, including the new-energy sector, have been plagued by low-price competition, or involution. Photo: Xinhua

Nato

Nato on high alert as Russia and Belarus launch major war games

Military drills heighten tensions, while France plans to send fighter jets to Poland - which says drone incursions were no mistake.

12 Sep 2025 - 7:21PM

China's military weapons

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

4 Sep 2025 - 10:45PMvideocam

Russia

Russia needles Nato by escalating electronic warfare against Baltic nations

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia press global organisations to take action against Moscow for threatening aviation and maritime safety.

24 Aug 2025 - 12:12PMvideocam

A rocket launcher is fired during a military exercise in Lithuania in June. Vilnius has accused Russia of orchestrating a spike in GPS jamming.

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

The man, who has a criminal record in Britain for sexual assault offences, staged the wedding with a girl, 9.

24 Jun 2025 - 5:50PM

European Union

Poland, Baltic nations to quit landmine treaty amid Russia threat

Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow Poland and the three Baltic countries to start stockpiling and using landmines again.

19 Mar 2025 - 1:28AMvideocam

A Ukrainian sapper in special shoes takes part in a demining operation in the Kharkiv area of northeastern Ukraine on March 12. Photo: EPA-EFE

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

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

Japan and France in a women’s 3x3 basketball quarter-final match at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Photo: AFP

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

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Latvia

Meet Latvian tennis star Jelena Ostapenko, known for her on-court disputes

The 2017 French Open winner, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka at last year’s Stuttgart Open final, was once a national-level ballroom dancer.

Russia strikes Ukraine capital for sixth straight day, killing at least 12

China-Nepal floods: 261 foreigners missing in Tibet, online rumours targeted

Nato jets shoot down foreign drone after it enters Latvian airspace

Latvia’s military said a foreign drone had entered its airspace as a result of Russia’s electronic warfare activity over the Balvi region.

US to focus counterterrorism efforts on left-wing groups, Rubio says

Critics, however, fear that ‌designating groups as far-left terror organisations risks targeting lawful protests and political opponents.

17 nations launch pact to protect vital undersea cables amid US, China absence

Singapore’s defence chief tells the Shangri-La Dialogue the pact aims to explore potential areas of collaboration and share best practices.

Germany, Netherlands to set up Nato command centre in Baltics

The centre, known as 1GNC, is a command centre that can control up to 50,000 troops.

‘Work to be done’: EU says it’s not ready to give Ukraine a membership date

Ukraine applied to join the ‌EU days after Russia’s invasion almost four years ago, seeking to anchor itself to the West.

Full pivot or anxious hedge? Europe’s leaders flock to China

In Brussels, a form of transactional pragmatism has taken root as bloc seeks to weather US hostility.

‘Never been more relevant’: did Trump make Davos great again?

The Trump administration brought its ‘America First’ agenda to Davos, challenging the summit’s status quo while drawing record crowds of elites.

Huge lines, laughs and gasps as Trump addresses Davos

Trump stuns Davos with jabs at Greenland, Nato, Canada’s Carney, and France’s Macron, as attendees liken the chaotic scene to a rock concert.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Retreating globally, US finds a new arena to flex power – at home

Trump’s use of the military for domestic control without regard for constitutional boundaries should alert allies to a fundamental change in the US character.

Baltic nations planning for mass evacuations in the event of a Russian attack

Moscow denies plans to attack Nato, but Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have long voiced fears about possible Russian aggression.

UK police arrest 3 for spying as Lithuania eyes Russia-linked sabotage network

European security officials have previously warned that a widespread sabotage campaign blamed on Russia is growing more dangerous.

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

Nato on high alert as Russia and Belarus launch major war games

Military drills heighten tensions, while France plans to send fighter jets to Poland - which says drone incursions were no mistake.

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

Russia needles Nato by escalating electronic warfare against Baltic nations

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia press global organisations to take action against Moscow for threatening aviation and maritime safety.

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.

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

The man, who has a criminal record in Britain for sexual assault offences, staged the wedding with a girl, 9.

Poland, Baltic nations to quit landmine treaty amid Russia threat

Quitting the 1997 treaty will allow Poland and the three Baltic countries to start stockpiling and using landmines again.

Lithuania blames Russian military intelligence for Ikea store arson

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Opinion | Retreating globally, US finds a new arena to flex power – at home