News | World | Latvia in the World

Switzerland is the greenest country worldwide. Latvia is ranked second, ahead of such countries as Norway, France, Great Britain and Sweden, according to "Environmental Performance Index" (EPI) by Yale and Columbia universities.

Retail trade turnover in Latvia in November 2011 increased 7.6 percent from November 2010, which was the second largest increase across the European Union, according to the latest data from the EU's statistical office "Eurostat".

This past November, producer prices in Latvia decreased 0.4 percent, compared to October, which was the largest reduction across the European Union, according to the latest data from the EU's statistical office "Eurostat".

Protesting that no change for the better is likely regarding unfair European Union area payments to farmers, Latvian farmers will stage simultaneous protests in Brussels and Riga on October 12, as farmers' organizations representatives told "Nozare.lv".

On 11 May, in Brussels, a sitting of the Permanent Joint Committee of Latvia and Brussels' French Community and the Wallonia Region took place, on the conclusion of which, the authorised representative from the side of Latvia, Director of the Foreign Ministry European Affairs Department Indulis Ābelis and the Inspector-General of the Joint Foreign Service of the Belgian French Community and the Walloon Region, Charles-Etienne Lagasse signed the working programme of the both parties for 2011-2013.

At last night's second "Eurovision" semifinal in Dusseldorf, Latvia's entry "Musiqq" - the duo of Marats Ogleznevs and Emils Balceris and their song "Angel In Disguise", did not qualify for "Eurovision" final.

During meetings with Latvian defense sector officials in Riga on Wednesday, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Stephane Abrial expressed his concern about Latvia's ability to ensure necessary defense capabilities, LETA was informed by the Defense Ministry.

On 20 May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, with support from the EU Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs is to hold an international discussion forum titled "African Platform".

On 9 May the Embassy of Latvia will take part in the celebrations of Europe Day in Prague organised upon the initiative of the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic.

On 19 April, the Foreign Minister Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis will visit Kyiv, Ukraine, in order to take part in the Kyiv Summit on safe and innovative use of nuclear energy.