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3 to 5, but no Poland or Latvia, Smoke and Fire

February 4
1945 February 4: Yalta Conference establishing post-WW2 world geopolitical boundaries
1948 February 4: Sri Lanka Independence Day
Photos: Nearly 900 compete in XIII European Sauna Marathon in Otepää, Estonia
Will ‘America First’ leave ‘Europe on its own’? Second Donald Trump presidency spells trouble for allies
Bundesbank goes Baltics
Baltic, Nordic politicians head to United States
Nordic, Baltic Foreign Affairs Committee chairs embark on US visit
Russia’s GPS jamming puts aviation, shipping at additional risk as well
Big cities shrink to middling towns amid Lithuania’s plummeting birth rates
Number of foster families in Estonia decreasing by the year
Estonian MEP leads call for EU not to recognize March Russian election
Jaan Poska Medal given to Toomas Hendrik Ilves, posthumously to Laas Leivat
Estonia: Bus companies in a pickle as eastern border increasingly closed


Corsica Libera Party Condemns Police Violence Against Activists
10 Million ISK donated by Faroe Islands to support residents of Iceland’s Grindavík
Scotland extradites Holocaust denier to France to face charges
Secretary Blinken’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Cameron
Farmers in Greece dump apples and chestnuts in Europe’s latest agriculture protest
Athletic Club is Basque only — for how long?
Drones worth about $66 k tried to be smuggled into Moldova
Life During Wartime: On the ground in Ukraine
A Dying Art: Kyrgyzstan’s Last Calligrapher
Eurozone governments rush to sell bonds to tap investor demand
How Primed for War Is China?
Wee Cho Yaw, billionaire was one of the last of Singapore’s 20th century banking giants, dies at 95

February 5
February 5: Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pakistan
1997 February 5: Gulja massacre, East Turkistan/Xinjiang
NATO and Allied Forces to Conduct Series of Military Exercises in Latvia
Lithuania Plans to Launch New 10-Year Bond
Latvia: ‘Lielais Kristaps’ national film awards handed out
Estonia presents proposals on reducing textile, food waste
Debate ongoing about future of former ‘Moscow House’ in Rīga
While Western Europeans smell smoke, we see fire – interview with Estonian general
Latvian Postal Service denies waste of money on staff party
Insurance broker Howden becomes the market leader in the corporate segment in Estonia
Latvians were hesitant to get mortgage in 2023
Hiking Estonia’s foreign labor quota to alleviate labor shortage mulled
Poor EU funding management leads to plan revisions in Latvia
Estonian capital Tallinn set to welcome global travel market at Tourest 2024
Latvia ranked highly for cyber security
Taiwan’s continuing trade with Russia ‘a problem’ say Lithuanian politicians – media
Latvian President Rinkēvičs visiting Malta
Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to ASEAN Presents Letter of Credence to the Secretary-General of ASEAN
Ice baths in Latvia
Attitudes toward tax changes increasingly negative in Estonia
Latvia: Sigulda hosts top bobsled championship
Lithuania: Unemployment rises to 7.4% in Q4
Four international military drills planned in Latvia this spring
Latvia: Ostapenko’s strong season continues
Estonians withdrew €4 billion in cash from ATMs last year
Lithuanian FM accuses Beijing of ‘diplomatic coercion’ against Vilnius
Number of impactful cyberattacks up by a quarter on year in Estonia
Photos: Latvian farmers take to streets
Lithuania’s social democrats endorse incumbent Nausėda in presidential election
60 percent of people from other nationalities in Estonia condemn Russia’s war
Latvia: Stay in dorms disproportionately cheap for tourists, says watchdog
Kaval-Ants voted most Estonian folk character
Spike of hepatitis A over past two weeks in Latvia
Estonia: 2023 freight transport down third in ports, 43 percent by rail
Lithuania to restart CEE sovereign euro supply
[Latvia] Agriculture Minister: Many of farmers’ demands have already been met
More defence spending will require tax hikes, says Lithuanian finance minister
[Estonia] Kaja Kallas: I’m not sensing any tensions within the coalition
Slight uptick in Latvia’s industrial production stats
Latvia a laggard on use of renewables in transport
Estonia’s Operation Inherent Resolve troops gifted sauna in Iraq
Malta and Latvia strengthen ties: Presidents Vella and Rinkēvičs affirm bilateral relations
[Estonia] Jüri Ratas: Government’s fiscal policy a slippery slope
Lithuania: Number of shelter places enough for around 30% of population, authorities say
Latvia: Talsi municipality mayor dismissed from office
Elering considers northwest Estonia as Estlink 3 cable’s landing site
Lithuania opens new €74m military facility near Vilnius
[Estonia] EDF chief: We have to stay calm in face of hybrid threats
With war-affected Ukrainian refugees still in need of support, UN launches plan to respond in Latvia in 2024
Estonia’s microbial cell factories to produce valuable fuels & chemicals
Around 2,000 farmers protested Monday in Latvia
Demystify Podcast: Embracing fintech and the green agenda with vice minister of finance, Lithuania
Latvian farmers protest Russian, Belarusian food imports
Galleries: Estonian, allied cadets get weeklong taste of winter warfare
Ukrainian ‘Thrilled’ To Run In EU Elections, On Latvia Ballot
[Estonia] UNHCR: Ukrainian refugees need longterm help with integration
JSC Olainfarm has submitted already 21 new medicinal products for registration in the EU countries
Nordic-Baltic leaders debate geopolitical issues at Columbia
Cymru U21 tickets for Lithuania qualifier on sale
Estonian FM discusses Sweden’s NATO bid with Hungary’s FM Szijjarto
Try to Make It Real. But Compared to What? Contemporary Art from Lithuania
The thinner, the better: From silicon solar cell to photovoltaics of tomorrow
Estonia: IT minister wants €200 million loan to develop Estonia’s e-state


10 Smallest Countries In The World, By Population
2024 Freeride World Tour | Verbier Pro | Switzerland
IBU Junior Cup Jakuszyce: Austria and Germany dominate
Austria’s new rail plan could drastically cut travel times to Munich and Paris by 2040
Flanders investing millions in safe bicycle paths, but isn’t actually spending that money
Belgium braces for the battle for Brussels
Countries colonised by France are rising up – Corsicans for freedom
Faroes set to host Seagriculture EU 2024
How Iceland takes better care of its foreign offenders than the rest of Europe
British Leader, in Northern Ireland, Relishes a Rare Success
Pope to receive Argentine president on February 12
Pope: Christians must rekindle hope in fighting today’s forms of slavery
Planica (SLO): First gold ever for Andorra
Telecom Egypt and 4iG form JV to build Albania-Egypt subsea cable
Germany vows security support amid Kosovo-Serbia tensions
Bosnian, Croatian, Journalists Honour Colleagues Killed in Israel-Gaza War
Croatia: Citizens push hard to kick-start energy sharing
Portugal, Ukraine sign memorandum on restoring Ukrainian schools
Cyprus set to curtail 28% of renewable electricity in 2024
Indonesia and Spain sign agreement to protect migrant fishing workers
Second group of Gaza children arrive in Italy for medical treatment
Spain to invest $502 mln in desalination plants in Catalonia amid drought
Unresolved business: Enlarging the EU towards Moldova and Ukraine (and perhaps Georgia)
Four Czech organisations will implement innovative projects with Moldovan partners
Schengen benefits for Bulgaria and Romania are being oversold
Bulgaria arrests state security officer for spying for Russia
‘Vanity project’: a climate summit in oil-rich Azerbaijan
Who bears responsibility for the customs crisis in South Ossetia: local authorities, Russia, or the “Georgian lobby”?
Afghanistan clears electricity debts to Tajikistan
Is Tajikistan’s succession saga any closer to the end?
Kazakhstan Forecasts 5.3% Economic Growth in 2024 Amid Strong Performance in Key Sectors
USAID Celebrates Women’s Empowerment in Uzbekistan’s IT Sector
European Democracy Support Annual Review 2023
Eurozone: The slowdown in bank lending is having palpable effects on activity and inflation
Canada limits international student numbers after backlash over rising rents
Canadian police apologize to woman for taking 6 years to bring charges in sexual assault investigation involving hockey stars
Yang Hengjun: Australian writer given suspended death sentence in China
Argentina Serves As Safe Haven For Russia’s LGBT Refugees
Russian Court Charges First Person Under ‘LGBT Extremist’ Law
Call to ban Ed Sheeran from performing in Malaysia over his ‘LGBT ideology’
Rapper Killer Mike taken away from Grammy Awards in handcuffs
Russia Accuses Ukraine of ‘Monstrous’ Attack on Bakery
Donald Tusk’s government moves ahead with plans to sack Poland’s top court judges
Ukraine’s president confirms plans for military shake-up
Meet the Fighting Belarusians
Finnish plant to hike ammunition production fivefold due to Russia’s war in Ukraine
Philippines wards off cyber attacks from China-based hackers
Mysterious ruins found hidden in courtyard of 500-year-old castle in Norway. See them
Netherlands pledges six extra F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
Germany’s health crisis: Why Europe’s biggest economy is fending off a chronic doctor shortage
Five Retired Belarusian Police Colonels Who Condemned Crackdown Detained
US envoy piles pressure on Orban to ratify Sweden’s NATO entry
Yandex sells Russian assets for $5.2bn, retains control of Finland data center
Germany outlines $17 bln plan to subsidise gas-to-hydrogen shift
Poland preparing for threat of war with Russia, defence minister says
Explosives allegedly in transit from Ukraine to Russia seized by Georgian security service
Canada extends ban on foreign ownership of housing by two years
Russian electronic weapon ‘based in Kaliningrad’ is jamming GPS on flights and ships
Hungary’s ruling party boycotts parliament session on Sweden’s NATO bid
Six US-backed Kurdish fighters killed in drone attack on US base in Syria
After scrapping nuclear reactors, Germany to spend billions on new gas power plants
Blinken meets Saudi crown prince amid heightened Mideast tensions
Two convicted in Danske Bank-linked money laundering case in Denmark
Argentina’s Milei embarks on diplomatic trip to Israel, Italy
Poland issues NOTAM invoking ‘unplanned military activity’ along eastern border
Will Germany Open the Gateway to Cannabis Medicine?
EU cautions against trade measures to support solar sector
Germany Will Support 10 GW of New Gas Plants, With Eye Toward Hydrogen
King Charles diagnosed with cancer, will postpone duties and undergo treatment
John Cage: Organ playing 639-year-long piece changes chord

February 6
1840 February 6: Waitangi Day, New Zealand
1917 February 6: Sami National Day
Rīga water supplier recommends boiling tap water this week
Lithuania Issues EUR1.5 Bln in New 10-Year Bonds
Latvian army reports receiving Russian-produced tea
BaltCap scandal: how could one man steal €16m – or twice as much – without anyone noticing?
Estonia: Olerex goes to court to seek retraction of biofuel claims it says are false
Economists predict end of industry decline in Latvia
Estonia: Competition Authority calls for non-prescription drugs to be on sale in stores
Lithuania: Former director of the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute indicted for bribery
Estonia: Industrial production volume fell by 10.5 percent in 2023
NGOs criticize Rīga hunting plans
Elering seeks licence for third interconnector between Estonia and Finland
Annual Latvian Startup Report published
Lithuania gets EC warning for failing to implement minimum corporate tax
Campaign to raise awareness of rare diseases in Latvia
Estonia’s leaders firmly back Kosovo EU, NATO aspirations
Future of biofuels in the EU remains unclear
Latvia: Urinating Lithuanian fined for paying tribute to Putin
Tartu students build Estonia’s first humanoid robot
Latvia: Osokin Freedom Festival for Ukraine to return April, May
Lithuanian Catholic Church kept 11 cases of suspected child abuse under wraps
Russian Orthodox church leader Metropolitan Eugene leaving Estonia Tuesday
Head of Russian Orthodox church in Estonia confirms he is leaving country after expulsion order
Lithuania’s MoD drafts bill to involve local cos in foreign arms deals
Ventolines Joins Estonian-Latvian Joint Offshore Wind Project Team
Lithuania pulls pricing towards fair value
Latvia reintroduces conscription to deter Russia from invading Europe
Police to stop using warning signs when monitoring speeding in Tallinn
Eurostat: Latvia among 11 EU countries with retail trade growth in December
Estonian policymakers say EU 2040 climate target is fair
Elza Gauja’s A Postcard from Rome crowned Best Feature at this year’s Lielais Kristaps
[Estonia] Agriculture chamber chief: No reason for our farmers to protest right now
Lithuania Unveils Military Campus in Vilnius District
Centrica contracts output of Enery’s 32-MWp solar duo in Estonia
Lithuania looks to close 2 more checkpoints on Belarus border quoting national security
Latvian citizen gets prison sentence for migrant smuggling
Estonia: Law change in managing Natura 2000 sites to cost state about €800,000 a year
Latvian ‘September’ photo gets Sony World Photography prize
Online growth drives Lithuania gambling revenue to €222.2m in 2023
Gambling revenues up 9% last year in Latvia
Estonia Delivers $88 Million in ‘Long-Term’ Military Aid to Ukraine
Latvia-Belarus border point Silene to remain closed
Estonia: Nortal manager recommends ‘doing a Bolt’ when creating a personalized state
New-style Latvian passports will be issued from next week
Biomethane-fuelled workboat ordered for Estonia
Video outlines guest worker procedure for Latvia
EC warns Lithuania over delays in transposing Pillar Two directive into national law
Estonia’s startup making last-mile delivery robots has raised $90m
NATO fighter jets scrambled twice in Lithuania 29 January – 4 February
Former head of Lithuanian food authority charged with €300k corruption
Phone scammers reported to use AI voice in Latvia
Estonia: LHV Group profits more than double in 2023 to €140.9 million
Lithuania Prepares to Close Two More Border Points With Belarus
Estonia Recognizes Growing Threat from Russia
EuroBasket: Lithuania calls up 14 players, including six EuroLeague stars
Russia unable to replace weapons pulled from storage
Estonia: Community-led restoration enriches rural life, bonds people
Latvia: Stradiņš hospital to break contract with builder
Boys can now vaccinate against HPV for free in Estonia
Russian reconnaissance sonar discovered on Curonian Spit in Lithuania
Average price of Tallinn apartments down 14 percent on month
IMF Staff Wraps Up Virtual Tour of Lithuania
Estonia: Coalition split over Eesti 200’s €200 million personalized state proposal
Lithuania: Govt’s commission proposes to close two more Belarusian border crossings from 1 March
Estonia Saves on Minting Expenses
Estonia to launch €28M small detached house reno grant measure this April
Long-lost stained glass masterpiece discovered in Vilnius strip club
Estonia Proceeds with Innovative Hydrogen-Electric RoPax Ferry
Estonian Railways’ losses to deepen in coming years


Luxembourg not to renew ties with Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger
Belgium’s Walloon government suspends ammunition exports to Israel over Gaza war, ICJ rulings
Scandals, poverty and ‘too much talk’: Walloons are losing trust in politics
The prospect of a united Ireland emerges as a republican leader takes office in Belfast
New dinosaur-like reptile discovered in Scotland after bones found on field trip
‘AI moving fast’: UK to spend $125m on AI hubs, regulation
UK urges world to ‘act now’ to avert Ethiopia famine, pledges $125M
Trapped In Their Own State: Many in North Macedonia to Miss Deadline to Get New Passports
Fugitive Albanian Politician, Wanted for Corruption, Hires US Lobbyists
Kosovo Shutters Serbian-Backed Municipal Offices Days After Banning Foreign Currency
Croatia’s Proposed State Attorney Hit by WhatsApp Message Scandal
Portugal’s centre right leading in poll, far right may end up kingmaker
Greece: Rule of Law Threatened
Basque-Only: A Double Edged Sword for Athletic Club
Worst drought recorded hits Spain’s Catalonia, sparking fears and ingenuity
Spanish farmers join wave of protests
Italy takes aim at tourists with Airbnb crackdown and loudspeaker bans
The Italian town where tensions are flaring over migrant workers
Is Italy’s government meddling in who runs top museums?
Air and Sea Schengen Seized on by All Sides in Romania and Bulgaria
Romania’s election year amid a far-right momentum
Russia Labels Japanese Association Seeking Return Of Islands ‘Undesirable’.
The European country that could be the next battleground in the Ukraine-Russia war
The Russian fleet is paralyzed
Kyrgyzstan upholds detention of 11 journalists; CPJ calls for release
Tajikistan’s president’s son is the man behind the national football team’s success at the Asian Cup
Kazakhstan: Tokayev appoints former anti-graft attack dog as PM
Kazakhstan: ITUC demands social dialogue and dropping of sanctions against striking workers
US Black Sea Strategy: The Georgian Connection
EU sanctions against Russia explained
Recommendations for 2040 targets to reach climate neutrality by 2050
Schengen: Council and European Parliament agree to update EU’s borders code
Eurozone retail trade figures slump as consumers feel the pinch
International travellers to Europe prioritise safe destinations and affordable prices in 2024
Ukraine-born Miss Japan relinquishes crown following affair
Google says Singapore has ‘very high’ potential to be a global AI hub
Can Europe resist the anti-LGBT politics of hate?
Man linked to Polish and EU politicians to stand trial in Poland accused of Russian espionage
Biden threatens veto of U.S. House’s ‘political ploy’ Israel bill
‘Try harder!’: Poland’s women demand Tusk act over abortion promises
Hungary’s Viktor Orbán dodges opportunity to approve Sweden NATO membership
Ukraine Petitions Norway, US, and EU for New Sanctions Against Russian Gas
Deadly California storm triggers flooding, mudslides, power outages
Catch-22 on the Baltic: The Twilight of Poland’s Coastal Fishermen
Taiwan ally Guatemala mulls commercial ties with China
Is Poland heading for a constitutional crisis?
North Korea defectors cite dwindling food rations, market reliance
Pantomimes and puppets: What to expect from Belarus’s faux-lection
Chinese coast guard vessels enter disputed waters in East China Sea
A blueprint for expanding Türkiye-Poland trade relations
Finland marks Sámi National Day
Lukashenko Allows Belarusian Military to Use Weapons Against Civilians
Iranian agents suspected of targeting Jews arrested in Sweden, deported
Sweden to change law so Ukrainians can get personal numbers
Houthis say they fired at two ships in Red Sea, damaging both
Decades of leukemia research samples destroyed at Swedish university due to freezer malfunction
This disused mine in Finland is being turned into a gravity battery to store renewable energy
Denmark to get King Frederik X coins by end of 2024
Russia buys bananas from India after Ecuador military hardware spat
Norway Denies Asylum To Alleged Wagner Deserter
Finland’s Reservists Leaving Military Service in Droves
Russia, Belarus Developing Shared Register of ‘Extremists’
Germany urges Orbán to ratify Sweden’s NATO bid as ‘a matter of loyalty’
UN envoy in Iraq to step down at end of May, says country ‘on a knife edge’
Norway: Jaeger battalion GSV gets weapons to destroy low-flying aircraft and drones
Chinese spies hacked Dutch defence network last year – intelligence agencies
Germany on board with EU sanctions against Israeli settlers, but EU disunity remains
Israel’s chief military spokesperson: 31 hostages in Gaza are dead
Wealthiest People in Finland
Spanish farmers blockade roads, joining EU peers’ protests
Wealthiest People in Norway
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy orders creation of separate military force for drones
Wealthiest People in Denmark
Tucker Carlson says he will interview Russia’s Putin soon
Largest Ukrainian organization in Denmark elects new chair
Scholz to seek to shore up support for Ukraine, NATO on US trip

February 7
1974 February 7: Grenada Independence Day
Bank of Estonia issues commemorative coin marking 150th anniversary of Konstantin Päts’ birth
Latvia: Pāvilosta wind park plans face resistance from locals
Defence, Holocaust memory, and human rights – interview with new US ambassador to Lithuania
Russian goods still found in Latvia’s shops
President Karis: Estonia, Switzerland partner nations with shared values
Swiss president discusses frozen Russian assets for Ukraine in Estonia talks
Latvia and Morocco agree on drawing up a road map for future cooperation
Estonia: CPI rose by 1.4 percent on month to January 2024
Latvian government announces multiple state companies that may be listed on the exchange
Estonia: Children’s library wants to bring Ukrainian enthusiasts together
Rīga mulls idea of drunk tanks for minors
Jaak Kilmi’s The Shadow in post-production
Latvian Capital Markets Forum taking place in Rīga
Inbank selects Montonio to offer BNPL services in Estonia
Latvian film included in Berlin Film Festival program
Estonia Records Significant Q4 2023 Growth in Investment and Pension Fund Assets
Moscow accuses Baltic states of ‘sabotage’ in Russian president election
Latvian Postal Service council steps down
Estonian Director Aljona Surzhikova Explores PTSD in Documentary Burn Pit
Effort to improve financial literacy of school pupils
Border guards stop four irregular migrants from crossing into Lithuania
More aggressive fliers registered over years in Latvia
Loans became cheaper in Lithuania in December 2023 – central bank
NATO STRATCOMCOE dialogue dates announced
Lithuania and Poland seek regular rail freight route to Ukraine
Head of Sweden’s Riksbank gives public lecture at the Bank of Estonia
Lithuanian households in for early natural gas price cuts
Estonia still struggling to train enough nurses
Latvia’s deposit return system achieves 80% return rate two years in
Estonia: President to decorate 151 people this year
A Postcard from Rome Awarded Best Latvian Feature Film of 2023 at Lielais Kristaps Awards
[Estonia] Luminor economist: Merchants raised prices more broadly in wake of VAT hike
Bite Lithuania claims fastest 5G in the country
[Estonia] General: We will defend Narva just the same as Tallinn or Kuressaare
Lithuania Recognises Constantinople Orthodox Church In Blow To Moscow
Participants in ‘Z’ symbol incident still on Tartu court payroll
Rīga-Tartu train unlikely to come before autumn
The Estonian delivery robots set to take over the world
151 people missing in Latvia since last year
Lithuania’s BaltCap pulls out of Bucha school project in Ukraine amid embezzlement scandal
Global Estonian Report: February 7-14
The Patriarchate of Constantinople is finalizing the creation of its own structures for the Orthodox Church in Lithuania
Estonia: PM Kaja Kallas asks former Reform head Andrus Ansip not to run in European elections
Latvia: Postal services might be moved to shops and libraries
State has to write off much of the €100,000 spent on failed Eesti.life website
Estonia: Defense minister nominates Col. Andrus Merilo as EDF chief
Latvia resumes conscription to deter Russia
Latvia: Plenty of candidates for investment agency vacancy
CEPA piece envisages how Kremlin strike on NATO in the Baltics might look
Lithuania Accuses China of Pressure Campaign Over Visa Blockage
Bank of Estonia: Q4 sees biggest yet voluntary pension fund contributions
Flu epidemic still going strong in Latvia
Lithuanian president and foreign minister hold meeting amid row over ambassador appointments
Tallinn buys 40 new trolleybuses and considers reopening some lost routes
China might have stopped issuing visas to Lithuanians over lawmakers’ visit to Taiwan
Health Board reports first case of measles in Estonia in years
Lithuania’s central bank insists Estonian supervisors responsible for BaltCap fiasco
Estonia: Liisa Pakosta wants to disclose MPs’ meetings with lobbyists
Belarusian reps in Lithuania warn against building new ‘iron curtain’
Estonia to put together common public transport ticketing system
Nordtext Expands Presence in Finland with Acquisition of Fluentic-Owned Transfluent
Estonia: Last year’s most exciting find 5000-year-old axe
Shadows over Vilnius: Unraveling Lithuania’s Judicial Morass
Estonian literary scholar Tiina Kirss wins award from expat organisation


B2C2 Secures EU Presence with VASP Registration in Luxembourg
Austria is sleepwalking toward a far-right victory
Obama to visit Flanders
Dilbeek is home to Flanders’ first co-op forest
Paris 2015 attacker Salah Abdeslam transferred from Belgium to France
Geert Wilders struggles to find coalition partners in the Netherlands
One of the key leaders of EncroChat extradited to France with the support of Eurojust
France moving towards a Constitution against life
South Africa and Scotland to host World Rugby U20 competitions in 2024
Scotland’s epic Viking-themed fire festivals to banish winter
The United Kingdom is clear that multilateralism is the best tool to tackle the shared challenges of the 21st century
School children rally outside UK parliament demanding Gaza ceasefire
Pope: Church has not listened enough to the voice of women
Pope thanks Patriarch of Jerusalem for ‘closeness’ to people amid ravages of war in Gaza
The Strait of Gibraltar, the safest passage in the world
New docuseries stars Bakersfield Basque community
January 2024 was warmest on record in Spain
Spain halts arms export licences to Israel following Gaza war outbreak
Moldova at forefront of Kremlin’s hybrid war, says Romanian FM
NATO Allies Pressure Hungary Over Blocking Sweden’s Accession
EU launches legal action against Hungary’s ‘sovereignty’ law
EU Commission Starts Proceedings Against Czech Republic For Defence Procurement Violations
Turkmenistan Faces ‘Parallel Reality’ Media Landscape
Documentary Renews Focus on Religious Freedom in Uzbekistan
NATO allies warn Hungary not to hold up Sweden’s membership as US patience wears thin
NATO, U.S. pledge Ukraine support and warn Russia not to ‘miscalculate’
‘Now we are not safe’: Sweden’s Kurds fear Nato deal has sold them out
The geopolitical consequences of a second Trump term would be seismic
Capital markets Union: Council and Parliament agree on improvements to EU clearing services
Instant payments revolution is here: the new standard across Europe for the benefit of consumers and businesses!
Australian strikes hit 8-year high as unions make up for ‘lost time’
Why Is North Korea Turning More Aggressive?
US House rejects Republican-led effort to pass Israel-only aid bill
Germany’s Industrial Production Falls For Seventh-Straight Month
Chile’s former president Sebastian Pinera dies in helicopter crash
‘If I die it’s my choice’: Finland’s volunteer soldiers on Ukraine’s front line
Romanian President Iohannis: “We must stand by Ukraine and its people”
In Sweden, we’re smug about our ‘neutrality’. The truth is not so squeaky clean
Women’s rights in Poland and Czechia: seeing past the Istanbul convention
Ukraine air defenses under pressure as two Russian missile types again evade interception
Ukraine lawmakers pass first reading of mobilisation bill
Australia to allow workers to ignore after-hours calls from bosses
Leading Chinese bank halts operations in Russia, Belarus
Saudi Arabia: no Israel ties without recognition of Palestinian state
Ukraine: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict – January 2024
Norway: New Agreement Gives US Access to Four New Military Areas in the North
Uzbekistan and Belarus: A Partnership Marked by Economic and Cultural Bonds
Switzerland to China: ‘Give Us a Hand’ With Ukraine Peace Process
Russia, Belarus to coordinate website censorship
Norway’s Equinor open to more long-term gas deals
Denmark orders schools to stop sending student data to Google
Nicaragua to take UK, Germany, Canada, Netherlands to ICJ over Gaza war
Polish F-16 fighter jets scrambled as Russia fired missiles towards the NATO-Ukrainian border
Pope sees ‘hypocrisy’ in those who criticise LGBT blessings
Solarplaza Summit Finland 2023
Sweden ends Nord Stream sabotage probe, hands evidence to Germany
Changing course: Poland’s energy in 2023
US Senate eyes new plan to salvage Ukraine, Israel aid after collapse of border deal
Russia’s GDP boost from military spending belies wider economic woes
German patent court rules against Intel over some of its chips
Poland and Hungary Continued Corruption Slide in 2023
Netanyahu dismisses Hamas ceasefire proposal, insists on total victory
Taiwan expands list of export control items to Russia and Belarus
UK PM Sunak makes transgender jibe during visit of murdered girl’s mother
Poland to plan coal phase-out
Helsinki-based Reveel closes 650k to turn paper maps into smart digital guidebooks for the tourism sector
Kremlin confirms Putin gave interview to ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson
Norway finds common ground with China on support for the Palestinians
Poland publishes data on thousands of migrant “pushbacks” at Belarus border for first time
US Senate defeats border deal, but Ukraine, Israel aid may survive
Germany opens third migration center in Nigeria
Nicaragua grants asylum to Panama’s ex-President Martinelli

February 8
Kazakhstan, Estonia to cooperate on citizen readmission
Corruption cops pay visit to Rēzekne City Council
Lithuania: Stricter procedures for the employment of foreigners
Latvia has basic amenities for 2% of population in case of crisis
Jonava is creating an Industrial park for sustainable investments
EC representative: Rail Baltica must be done by 2030 with or without Rīga
Russian GRU assassin and mastermind of terror attacks sat next to Vytautas Landsbergis
Latvian MEPs call for stricter rules on countering pro-Kremlin influence activity
Bunkers to Fortify Baltic Borders
‘Snow crab’ dispute settled with losses for Latvian business
Another BaltCap project stalls in Lithuania amid embezzlement scandal
Latvia Fortifies Security Amid Rising Tensions and Hybrid War Threats
Statistics: Foreign tourists have found their way back to Estonia
Daugavpils schools switch to buffet-style school meals
Free choice and lack of teachers: Lithuania’s schools do not rush to phase out Russian classes
[Estonia] SDE chair: Current coalition effectively preparing for progressive income tax
Latvia: Hospital builders disagree with contract termination
Lithuania: More oil spilled from Orlen’s terminal than first reported, some reached Latvia’s waters
Valmiera industrial park project ready to roll at last
Solar energy generation tripled last year in Latvia
European Commission: Rail Baltica must be ready by 2030
Baltic nations prepare 600-strong bunker defensive line, with Russian threat in mind
Ukraine, Estonia prepare to start negotiations on security agreement
Rally in support of Ukraine planned in Rīga February 24
Insurance payments total exceeds €600 million for the first time in Estonia
Innovation in the Baltics: 10 promising Latvian startups everyone should keep an eye on in 2024
Tallinn ranks in 19th place in global quality of life index
Lithuania’s new Orthodox community receives state recognition
Latvia’s dairy production grew significantly in 2023
Two irregular migrants tried to cross into Lithuania in past day
Russian cars will be banned from traffic as of next week in Latvia
Lithuania: Govt seeks out real estate projects to rent flats to German brigade troops
Estonia postponing the implementation of the minimum tax until 2030
Ranka Kartonfabric Ski Marathon this Sunday in Latvia
Estonia: Lifetime Achievement Awards in Culture go to Olav Ehala, Sirje Helme, Arvo Valton
International education conference coming to Rīga in March
Debt collectors to fall under FSA supervision in Estonia
American skater Allison Reed reapplies for Lithuanian citizenship
Interior Minister: Latvia remains vigilant against potential Russian provocation
Oil spill in Lithuania reaches Latvian waters
Estonia: Wiedemann language award goes to poet Hando Runnel
Few Latvians are planning to buy electric cars yet
Joint Statement on Concerns Related to Human Dimension Commitments in Belarus
Latvia 2024: Your guide to the ‘Supernova’ final
[Estonia] MP: Draft law removing Russian citizens’ voting rights to reach Riigikogu in 2024
Lithuanian Ambassador Visits “The First Team”
348,000 people receive alerts after Tallinn Ring Road accident
EuroLeague live: First-ever EuroLeague game in Latvia
Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon met the Prime Minister of Lithuania
Estonia: 17,000 reservists invited to EDF training exercises in 2024
Fearful of Russia, Latvia Reintroduces the Draft
Estonia: Writers’ Union installs context plaque below Juhan Smuul statue
Latvia’s Golden Visa Struggles to Raise Capital Without Russians
Estonia: Proposed climate law could introduce congestion tax or tolls
Japan-Latvia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Working Dinner
Lithuania Probes Baltic Sea Oil Spill


China’s military alliance prepares for confrontation
India-EFTA close to finalise $100 bln trade agreement deal
Funerals reportedly canceled due to ransomware attack on Austrian town
The Netherlands in Taiwan: 400 Years of Shared History
Netherlands adds extra security at Israeli embassy in The Hague
Smyril Line orders two e-methanol-ready RoRo ships in China
Iceland’s volcano erupts for the third time since December
National Irish Language Theatre seeks applicants for its board of directors
Is Ireland inching closer to being united as one?
Are American nuclear weapons returning to the United Kingdom?
12 Nations Call on FIFA to Ban Israel from World Soccer Competitions
Malta Supports Ukraine as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
Libya’s Electrical Interconnection Committee review with Malta the line’s intended route and landing points
The President of Slovenia is on an official Visit to BiH
North Macedonia’s Best Mobility joins IRU
Massive Drug Network Dismantled from Albania to Germany
University of Indonesia Explores Educational Cooperation with Bosnia-Herzegovina
EP adopted resolution on Serbia, calling for an investigation into December elections
Greece Shaken by ‘Mafia-Style’ Execution of Businessman
Basque Parliament approves law against climate change
Spain invests in UNDP to advance the Global Goals for Sustainable Development
Spain train strikes: When and where trains will be cancelled throughout February
The EU’s discreet Moldovan anti-misappropriation hub
Majority of Moldovan citizens consider a justice reform crucial for Moldova’s European integration
Thousands protest in Slovakia claiming government is softening on corruption
Robert Fico closes Slovakia anti-corruption office despite EU warnings
Bulgaria to launch investigation against Kremlin regime’s ‘aggression’
In Romania, some fathers opt to take on the lion’s share of childcare
Behind the Lines: Inside the Resistance Sabotaging Putin’s Plans for Ukraine
How a 1,600-year-old alphabet shaped Armenian identity
As Peace Negotiations Advance, Armenia And Azerbaijan Are Going It Alone
Azerbaijan election: President Ilham Aliyev wins fifth term
Russia OKs release of millions in frozen N. Korean assets
Kyrgyzstan: Unprecedented crackdown on civil society threatens human rights and country’s international standing
Creative Industries: Leap Towards Sustainable Development in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan: Baseless ‘Extremism’ Case Heads to Court
European disability card
Czech debate on joining Eurozone moved forward ‘significantly’, says minister
The eurozone economy is bottoming out
Smart Regions: Discover Europe’s largest underwater telescope!
North Korea ends all economic cooperation with South as ties hit new low
Japan’s stock market barely grew for decades. Now it’s booming
East Asia realignment: Japan and the Philippines move closer
Why the War in Ukraine Will Not End This Year
Ukraine’s missing children tracked down in Russia by digital sleuths
Signs of rare unrest among North Korean workers in China, researchers say
National Resistance Center: Belarusian secret police ramps up pressure on Ukrainians in Belarus
Reagan ‘must be turning in his grave’: Poland’s Tusk slams Republicans over Ukraine aid
Russia attacks Avdiivka from all directions, situation ‘difficult’ – mayor
Germany sends frigate to help secure Red Sea shipping
Turkey used Sweden’s NATO bid to force compliance with anti-Kurdish policies: human rights advocate
Hindus throng another disputed mosque in India
Norway’s deep-sea mining plans could put it on collision course with the EU
Norway transfers $26m to UN Agency for Palestinian refugees
Belarus: EU mobilising all means for political prisoners in Belarus
German aid: Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plan for Ukrainians
Germany’s Scholz calls on EU, US to send ‘very clear signal’ to Putin
UK PM Sunak declines to apologise over transgender jibe
Finland to keep border with Russia closed until April
Spanish farmers say paella rice under threat after EU pesticide ban
Ukraine, Denmark begin talks on security agreement
Switzerland and Norway could invest $100 billion in India
Denmark to teach tech at schools as part of new digital strategy
US offers $10mln reward for information on Hive ransomware leaders
Rosneft warns Berlin over plan to nationalise its German assets
Online Passport Applications Targeting Belarusian Exiles Are Fake
Poland Secures State Support for Coal Workers as Phaseout Gains Momentum
Taiwan bans export of almost 80 machine tools to Russia, Belarus
Germany’s Scholz urges US, EU to ramp up Ukraine aid
Norway’s opening up of deep-sea mining in the Arctic ignores concerns of ocean scientists
Ukraine’s Zelensky replaces top general Zalushnyi with Syrsky in dramatic military shakeup
US-backed force in Syria: more air defence needed after deadly drone attack
Poland-Belarus border: 6,000 pushbacks in 6 months
Vietnam’s rare ‘dragon chickens’ all the rage for Lunar New Year
Finland gives EUR 1.2 million to improve developing economies’ participation in world trade
Climate change drives world to first 12-month spell over 1.5C
Utility Helen launching 40MW BESS in Finland
US lawmakers accuse VC firms of funding Chinese military-linked firms
US approves $1.2 billion sale of military airships to Poland
Unleashing Sweden’s innovation potential: a blueprint for the green transition
Brazil police seize Bolsonaro’s passport as net tightens in coup probe
Wealthiest People in Sweden
US Senate advances $95 bln Ukraine, Israel aid bill after failed border deal
Denmark: organic policy and sector action driving organic breakthroughs
El Salvador launches mass trial for nearly 500 accused gang leaders
UK and Denmark establish voting rights treaty
Russia, Ukraine swap 100 prisoners each -statements
Germany supports child protection, education and provision of safe drinking water in Syria
Iraq says US strikes pushing government to end US-led coalition’s mission

February 9
Rīga to replace and install more electronic bus timetables
Putin sweettalks Tucker Carlson, says Russia has no interest in attacking Poland or Latvia
Vladimir Putin: ‘No interest’ in attacking Poland, Latvia
Liepāja house boasts major savings due to biowaste sorting
Estonian Business, Innovation Agency: Estonia’s tourism fueled by Latvians, Finns
Latvia not as wasteful as much of Europe
Estonia MP Tõnis Mölder declared suspect in bribery case
Latvia’s president to continue meeting with representatives of all Saeima factions
RIA to declare public procurement for Estonia’s state mobile application
600 Bunkers to Stop Russian Invasion in the ‘First Hour’
Lithuanian president slams military’s approach to drones
Estonia Car tax bill goes for its first reading
The Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Latvia has announced an increase in the risks of hybrid provocations from Russia
Total value of real estate transactions down 17 percent on year in Estonia
Lithuania eyes fresh euro deal before summer
Expats can practice Estonian for free with mentors
Attacking Poland or Latvia ‘out of the question’, says Putin in scandalous interview
Telia claims mobile speed lead in Estonia
Unlicensed carriers taking people to Belarus will lose visas – Lithuanian official
Future Rail Baltica already affecting Pärnu real estate market
Rīga ranked sixth best destination in Europe
After Over Two Years Docked, Former AIDAvita Leaves Estonia
Latvian central bank governor: ‘inflation dragon’ is down but not out
Estonian fuel retailers meet biofuel obligation in 2023
Latvia: Dailes Theater delighted with Paris run of Rothko show
Estonian watchdog rejects responsibility in BaltCap embezzlement
Estonia: Foreign trade decreased significantly in 2023
Top 5: Lithuania’s Busiest International Air Routes
Few sanctions breach cases reach court in Latvia
Movies: Lithuanian Director Laurynas Bareisa in Postproduction with Drowning Dry
Farmers will not protest in Rīga next week
Austria, Estonia key examples of European freedom and solidarity
Latvia – further sanctions enforcement statistics including seven convictions
Estonia planning to restore 25,000 hectares of marshland by 2050
Annual inflation in Latvia drops below 1%
Estonia joins other EU member states in skepticism over corporate sustainability directive
Lithuania requests Italy to supply spares for C-27 Spartan
Estonia: Luukas Ilves to quit as digital development undersecretary
First steps taken building Rail Baltica bridge over Daugava
Generals tend to quit the Estonian Defense Forces when changing jobs
President: Switzerland must strengthen defence capability
Lithuanian prosecutors reopen Stepukonis probe dropped in 2022
Construction output up by a fifth in Latvia in 2023
NyxAir confirmed for Estonian PSOs, mulls more capacity
Rīga’s public toilets get an upgrade
Commission proposes stripping Russian businessman of Lithuanian citizenship
The Nordic-Baltic region: An Example for NATO
Lithuania delivers winter equipment, clothing to Ukraine
Estonia’s Coop Pank turns record profit in 2023
Estonia: Kethy Õunpuu retires from football after career spanning nearly two decades
Latvia’s foreign trade figures were down in 2023
A thousand obstacles separate refugees from the Estonian dream
Ice Hockey: Hungary tops Lithuania to stay perfect
Joint European Torus reactor’s end-of-life record promising
Former Lithuanian PM proposes creating “Ukrainian Ministry” in government
Estonia to develop single travel planning and ticketing platform
Estonia, Ukraine drawing up bilateral support agreement


Axe-wielding Iranian asylum seeker killed by police in Swiss train hostage situation
Huawei’s offices in France raided by financial prosecutors
Channel Islands LGBTQ+ 2024 writing competition launched
Confex expands membership with new Channel Islands wholesaler
Swiss pharma’s big bet on Slovenia
US Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Albania and Germany
Massive hydrogen reservoir discovered under chromium mine in Albania
Vucic refuses to sign EU agreements with Kosovo during showdown at UN Security Council
Bosnia marks the passing of unidentified migrants with marble gravestones
PIF’s Tasaru invests in autonomous mobility firms in Austria and Croatia
Greece signs Artemis Accords
Joint Statement on the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue
How Italy’s Government Polices Teaching of WWII ‘Foibe’ Massacres
Meloni’s multilateral mountain: The challenges facing Italy’s G7 presidency
Farmers Protest In Bulgaria
Hungary, Czech Republic hold up EU move to sanction violent Israeli settlers
Romania relaunches call for investment in battery storage for solar photovoltaic facilities
Putin’s Talk with Tucker Carlson… and America: A Mixture of Blunt Lies and Toxic Propaganda
Death From Above game about Ukrainian combat drones gets release date and new trailer
In Plain Sight: The Gradual Disappearance Of An Armenian Church In Central Tbilisi
Four killed in shooting incident at market in Georgia
Georgia parliament approves West sceptic as new PM
Turkmenistan, Airbus discussing space cooperation prospects
Tajikistan Shortens List Of Jobs Banned For Women
Uzbekistan’s trade balance is underwater in its “all-weather strategic partnership” with China
Symposium on textile industry cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany takes place in Tashkent
Hungary signals willingness for Swedish Nato membership
Western Europe can’t ignore its eastern allies
Israel’s credit rating downgraded because of war with Hamas
Why the Philippines Is Increasingly Keeping a Close Eye on Taiwan
Russia’s federal censorship agency investigating Duolingo for ‘LGBT propaganda’
From Poland to Spain, Europe’s farmers ramp up protests
No power, no signal: how a Poland deployment gave new life to old adage, “train how you fight”
EVs Drop To 17.3% Share In Germany As Hangover Hits
Food and medicine for Gaza – Germany has increased its assistance for people in Gaza
US Senator Chris Coons finds doppelganger in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Malaysia’s top court strikes out some Islamic laws in landmark case
Polish farmers launch 30-day protest, blocking roads and Ukraine border crossings
A Temperature Check on NATO’s ‘Arctic Sparta’
Could Norway become a graveyard for CO2 emissions?
Poland’s President Duda visits Rwanda’s Kibeho Marian Shrine.
Japan’s Seiji Ozawa, one of world’s best-known conductors, dead at 88
Poland, South Korea wrangle over big-ticket weapons financing
Who is Colonel General Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s new army chief?
Church of England: ‘Profound disagreement’ remains on homosexuality
Ukraine faces ‘gap in the hose’ as western ammunition dries up
Finland to choose between two presidential candidates with tough stance on Russia
Russia could attack a Nato country within 3 to 5 years, Denmark warns
Poland signs ‘military Schengen’ deal alongside Germany and Netherlands
Confronting the Bear: Counterintelligence in Finland
Denmark’s new king and queen to visit Scandinavian monarchies on 1st foreign state tour
Republicans ‘shameful’ for blocking Ukraine aid, says Australia’s Tony Abbott
Germany reiterates deep concern over the situation of civilians in Gaza
Norway to provide more NASAMs to Ukraine
Sweden Democrats threaten to quit right-wing EU group if Orbán joins
Finland Announces New Military Aid Package For Ukraine Worth $205 Million
Pakistan’s former PM Nawaz Sharif declares victory in national elections
Norway makes waves with ‘polluters pay’ policy
Putin justifies Hitler’s actions: The Poles were uncooperative. Poland expresses outrage
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin gives ‘annoying’ half-hour lecture on why he started war in Ukraine
Replacing Ukraine’s popular army chief is big gamble for Zelenskiy
Quran burner Salwan Momika ‘to be expelled from Sweden’
Germany and Algeria boost cooperation with new hydrogen pact
Protesters demand Hungary’s president quits over sex abuse case pardon

February 10
NATO chief calls on Europe to ramp up arms production
Max out your supercar at this Estonian road rally
Tonight: Supernova 2024 Grand Final in Latvia
Less symmetry, more chaos: What’s distinctive about Lithuanian cemeteries
Estonia receives Blue Spear missile system
Long-range anti-ship missile system arrives in Estonia
Military Schengen to ease troops movement between countries
Sweden sends troops to NATO frontline as military gears up for membership
Estonia: New law requires municipalities to assign kindergarten places within two months
Užgavėnės, Donut Festival, and Kaziukas Fair: How Vilnius is celebrating end of winter
Adoption of EU corporate sustainability & responsibility directive stalled
Estonia: Center elects Erki Savisaar as council chair, adopts statement in support of bank tax
[Estonia] Trade unions: Recruiting young people is a challenge
Four days of Pärt’s music, exhibition of his musical diaries & talks in Dortmund
Maria Metsalu’s new performance ‘Kultuur’ attracts and repels
Mexican writer living in Estonia: Setomaa and Mexico have much in common
Sweden to send troops to Latvia amid Hungary’s NATO opposition
Merilo: Future scenario for Estonia could be very challenging


Minesto tidal energy kite delivers first electricity to Faroe Islands grid
Norky’s rambles: the Isle of Man TT
Moldova Pushes Back Against Russian Election Plans In Transdniester
Hungary’s president resigns over child sexual abuse scandal
Atesh Guerrillas Probe Ammo Depots in Occupied Crimea
Red alert: Foreign agents bill in Abkhazia submitted to parliament
Georgia Emerges “Biggest Tormentor” Of Russia; Putin Trains Guns On Ex-Soviet State During Carlson Interview
Turkiye, Kyrgyzstan sign Joint Economic Commission protocol
Uzbekistan conducts trade relations with 198 countries in 2023
Israel appears to be in breach of ICJ orders on Gaza, senior UN official says
Spain’s LGBT matador: ‘More will come out because of me’
Poland corrects ten Putin lies from Tucker Carlson interview
US court sentences ex-DEA informant to life for role in Haiti assassination
Hydrogen Storage – Hexagon Purus Maritime opens new office in Ålesund, Norway
Egypt steps up security on border as Israeli offensive in Gaza nears
Europe’s growth engine is sputtering. Can Germany’s economy be revived?
The number of centenarians in Norway has tripled
On a Frozen Border, Finland Puzzles Over a ‘Russian Game’
Vladimir Putin on invading Poland, the war in Ukraine, American ‘spies’ and Russia joining NATO
Germany’s Days as an Industrial Superpower Are Coming to an End
Warsaw’s mayor has appointed a new climate team – but what are their goals?
The pretty European country where locals pay the highest taxes but are genuinely happy to
Putin’s Myths About Ukraine, Debunked
Uzbekistan, Belarus to contribute to poultry industry
Germany warns Israeli attack on Rafah would lead humanitarian catastrophe
Banning Germany’s AfD misses the point
Women in Germany demand better access to fertility treatment
Russia says it foiled Ukrainian drone attack on civilian cargo ships in Black Sea
US aid ‘indispensable’ for defense of Ukraine, Scholz says
Ukraine aid bill inches forward in US Senate
Overnight Russian drone attack kills at least seven in Ukraine’s Kharkiv
Cuba charges 30 over massive chicken heist
Fewer trees were cut down last year, and that’s good for Finland’s carbon sink
Kyrgyzstan shuts down prominent news outlet
Poland counters Putin’s historical distortions, debunks claims in Tucker Carlson interview
Italy bids quiet farewell to Vittorio Emanuele, son of its last king
Poland tempers reparation demand from Germany
Pakistan election: Imran Khan’s party wants to form government, threatens protests
Skiing: Clean sweep for Norway at the U23 World Championships interval start in Planica
Yemen’s Houthis hold funeral for 17 militants killed in US-UK air strikes
Émigré scientists ‘key to UK-Poland research links’
Hamas had command tunnel under U.N. Gaza headquarters, Israeli military says
Can the EU do more to support Ukraine?
Palestinians brace for Rafah assault, Israel promises evacuation

*
1929 February 11: Foundation of Vatican City, Lateran Treaty Day
1818 February 12: Chile Independence Day
1913 February 13: Tibetan Independence Day
2011 February 14: Day of Rage (Bahrain)
1804 February 15: Statehood Day in Serbia
1918 Fabruary 16: Lithuania Independence Day
1949 February 16: Lithuanian Partisans’ February 16 Declaration
2008 February 17: Kosovo declaration of independence
1965 February 18: Gambia Independence Day