Latest news with #Latvian
India Gazette
17 hours ago
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand CM hosts foreign diplomats on eve of International Yoga Day
Chamoli (Uttarakhand) [India], June 20 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday welcomed Ambassadors and High Commissioners of various countries to cultural programme organised on the eve of International Yoga Day on Friday in Bhararisain. Speaking at the event, CM Singh Dhami said, 'When I went to London, Dubai and other countries and when we used to talk among the people there, people used to ask me how many destinations do you have here?... Today, there are fewer than fifty, which are at present known as destinations. But I say that you will see a new destination wherever you go in Uttarakhand...' Earlier today, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Representatives of eight countries reached the Vidhan Sabha premises in Bhararisain to participate in the programme organized in on the occasion of International Yoga Day. As soon as they reached Bhararisain, the foreign guests were overwhelmed by the natural beauty, green valleys, clean environment of Gairsain, the summer capital of Uttarakhand. They lavished praise on Gairsain. When the ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives of eight countries reached Bhararisain, Gairsain, a glimpse of the rich folk culture of Uttarakhand was presented to welcome them. The guests were given a grand welcome with the echo of Chholia dance and traditional musical instruments. The foreign guests were filled with joy with this cultural welcome and appreciated the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. The Ambassadors and High Commissioners also got themselves photographed among the artists performing the traditional Chholiya dance. Mexican Ambassador to India Federico Salas, Head of Economic Affairs at the Mexican Embassy Ricardo Daniel Delgado, High Commissioner of Fiji Jagannath Sami, Nepal Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma, Ambassador of Suriname to India Arunkomar Hardian, Ambassador of Mongolia to India Dambajavin Gambold, Deputy Head of Mission at Latvian Embassy in India Marks Deetons, Minister Counselor of Sri Lanka High Commission of India Lakshmendra Geshan Dissanayake, First Secretary at the Russian Embassy Kristina Ananina and Third Secretary . Katerina Lazareva and Yoga Guru Padmashri Swami Bharat Bhushan were among those present in the Yoga Day programme. (ANI)
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Latvian president believes NATO will overcome obstacles, meet 5% goal
RIGA - Latvia's president expressed confidence NATO would agree to a new higher defence spending target demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, despite Spanish objections, saying the alliance had little choice given the growing threat from Russia. Spain on Thursday asked to opt out of the plan to increase members' defence spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, as requested by Trump, a move which could derail next week's NATO summit at the Hague. Any agreement to raise defence spending needs unanimous approval by the 32 member states. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics told Reuters on Friday he understood why countries further from Russia might have difficulties convincing their voters to spend more on defence. But he said the need was pressing. 'I do hope there is the understanding in Madrid that this is a critical time for the Alliance, both when it comes to (increasing) its defence capabilities, but also to the Trans-Atlantic relationship,' he said in an interview in Riga. 'I think that they don't have much of a choice,' he added. At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Latvia and fellow Baltic states Lithuania and Estonia are urgently ramping up their militaries, fearing that their neighbour and former overlord Russia could push on from its 2022 invasion of Ukraine to take more territory. They spent more than 3% of GDP on defence this year, and have committed to top 5% for the next few years. "We are saying that we need to spend as soon as possible now in order to avoid a worst-case scenario, spending much more later," Rinkevics said. "While Russia is stuck in Ukraine, that possibility of a direct military attack is not very high," he said. "But it may change very, very quickly ... if a development in Ukraine leads Russian leadership to believe that NATO is weak, that Ukraine is defeated, that NATO is divided". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Latvian president believes NATO will overcome obstacles, meet 5% goal
By Andrius Sytas Latvian president believes NATO will overcome obstacles, meet 5% goal RIGA, - Latvia's president expressed confidence NATO would agree to a new higher defence spending target demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, despite Spanish objections, saying the alliance had little choice given the growing threat from Russia. Spain on Thursday asked to opt out of the plan to increase members' defence spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, as requested by Trump, a move which could derail next week's NATO summit at the Hague. Any agreement to raise defence spending needs unanimous approval by the 32 member states. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics told Reuters on Friday he understood why countries further from Russia might have difficulties convincing their voters to spend more on defence. But he said the need was pressing. 'I do hope there is the understanding in Madrid that this is a critical time for the Alliance, both when it comes to its defence capabilities, but also to the Trans-Atlantic relationship,' he said in an interview in Riga. 'I think that they don't have much of a choice,' he added. At an estimated 1.28% of GDP, Spain had the lowest proportion of expenditure on defence in the alliance last year, according to NATO estimates. Latvia and fellow Baltic states Lithuania and Estonia are urgently ramping up their militaries, fearing that their neighbour and former overlord Russia could push on from its 2022 invasion of Ukraine to take more territory. They spent more than 3% of GDP on defence this year, and have committed to top 5% for the next few years. "We are saying that we need to spend as soon as possible now in order to avoid a worst-case scenario, spending much more later," Rinkevics said. "While Russia is stuck in Ukraine, that possibility of a direct military attack is not very high," he said. "But it may change very, very quickly ... if a development in Ukraine leads Russian leadership to believe that NATO is weak, that Ukraine is defeated, that NATO is divided". This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Chilling and disgusting abuse aimed at World Grand Prix darts champion as he goes public over sickening taunts
Belgian star latest top star to be hit by keyboard grief Mike De Decker has been subjected to chilling and disgusting social-media abuse following a defeat at the Players Championship. The Belgian star became the latest in a line of darts and sporting stars to be hit by unacceptable messages on various online platforms. In an article in it is written that De Decker shared some of the posts with some appeared to be linking to betting as he responded 'bye bye' to one which stated they have to kill themselves after losing 20k. Another wrote: You're a fraudster, I hope some (one) kills you, you don't deserve to be on earth. In another post, De Decker was subjected to an individual reportedly wishing cancer on him after the loss to German Dominik Gruellich. The World Grand Prix champion is the latest in a line of stars who have been upset at comments which have rained upon them. Premier League stars spoke openly about abuse and grief which was dished out to them during the campaign. Ironically, it was the exclusion of individuals such as De Deck and the inclusion of Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price in the eight-man showpiece that brought a raft of stuck towards the Stockport slinger. He later reflected on the difficulties of the sniping and said: 'I'm not going to lie, it was s**t, it was hard, it was horrific, I came off social media because of the abuse I was getting. I'm not being exaggerated here, but it ruined my life for a month, not just my life, my family's, it was horrific. 'But I'm a professional sportsman, you've got to deal with it and I put things in place to deal with that. I think me and Gezzy have both received the same treatment and we've used it to our advantage.' World No.1 Luke Humphries is another who hit at social-media stick after facing a backlash earlier for honest opinions. He said: 'Considering the comments, people not understanding what I meant, [this] will be the last time I ever confess my real feelings to the public. Everything I ever say or do just never seems to be good enough for anybody. As long as no-one complains when we all give the same answers in interviews like robots and not our true feelings. Then everyone I guess will be happy, or as usual will still find a way to moan at us.' Latvian Madars Razma also pleaded for it to stop as he said on Facebook: 'I never thought that I would have to do this, but keyboard warriors keep commenting my performance and results in darts and it really kills. I know there always will be some idiots, but I hope that after this, someone will stop doing it. 'I know that in the last few months I have been far from the performance I can and I want to show. But I have my own reasons why I don't respond to your messages and decline all interviews. Just a few days before the start of the season uninvited guests came to my family's new house.'
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Do the Phoenix Suns really want to trade for Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis?
Do the Phoenix Suns really want to trade for Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis? Do the Phoenix Suns really want to trade for Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis? After seeing how poorly he was able to play in yet another postseason, there is a certain contingent of Celtics fans who are more than ready to ship out the Latvian center at the first available opportunity. But Porzingis has real value when he is able to take the court, and his recent viral malady was as rare of an issue as his ankle injury from the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Add in the fact that he is currently on a $30.7 million expiring deal that could solve Boston's cap crunch concerns by literally doing nothing, and KP has value to the Celtics on multiple levels -- including the fact that Boston has a dearth of high level big men under contract, and that they could also save money AND keep Porzingis by renegotiating an extension with him. Can the Suns put together an offer that would beat those pluses for the Celtics? The folks behind the "WEEI Boston's Sports Original" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Jones and Keefe" show to talk it all over. Check it out below!
