Riga is Latvia’s capital and largest city, a UNESCO-listed hub known for Art Nouveau and a pivotal Baltic cultural and economic center.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has visited Moscow after a U.S. C-17 transport landed at Vnukovo, flight-tracking data shows. Russian and U.S. officials have not detailed the meetings. U.S. sources told Axios that Washington asked Kyiv to pause strikes while the delegation travelled; Moscow later confirmed Ratcliffe met Russian security officials.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has flown to Moscow for undisclosed talks with Russian intelligence officials. The Kremlin has said President Vladimir Putin was briefed but did not meet Ratcliffe. U.S. officials and the CIA have declined to comment. Washington told Kyiv in advance and asked Ukraine to pause strikes on parts of Russia while the delegation was in the capital.
Shoulder-season savings are shrinking as travel costs edge upward. Industry data shows fall demand is returning to peak levels, with luxury travelers leading the charge toward October and November bookings.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has outlined plans to deepen ties with Canada and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been invited to address the European Parliament. Talks are focusing on security, Arctic cooperation, critical minerals, student exchanges and defence-industrial links, but officials say no formal new pact has been agreed and discussions remain at an early stage.
Latvia has declared a persona non grata a Russian commentator based on material from authorities, with officials citing national security reasons. The move follows prior expulsions of Russian cultural figures and signals intensifying scrutiny of Russia-linked voices in Latvia’s public sphere.
Latvia reports armed, masked individuals escorted a group of irregular migrants toward the Belarus border, sabotaging border infrastructure before retreating. Belarus denies involvement, while Latvia and allied observers call the action an information operation tied to Minsk and Moscow.