Arina Lindānen, the founder of Riga's Vilki Books, on the consequences of the VAT increase for Russian books in Latvia Photo: Vilki Books We are talking about the decision to cancel the tax relief - or, in other words, to increase the VAT on books and printed publications in Russian in Latvia from 5% to 21% from 2026. I deliberately use the expression "books in Russian", because I have not seen bookstores in Latvia selling publications in Belarusian, Kazakh or other "non-European" languages.

Can postpartum depression begin in a man and what to do if you suspect it in yourself or a loved one? Photo: Andrew Teebay / Mirrorpix / Vida Press In the summer, a thread of one of the users went viral on the X network, talking about his experience of postpartum depression. “I remember only one thing. I lay face down on the pillow. I wasn't needed. The wife and daughter were like one. I was superfluous,” the man describes the first three months as a father.

Vladimir Putin speaks on the phone at the Kremlin on 22 May 2025. Photo: EPA/ALEXANDER KAZAKOV / SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL Vladimir Putin has demanded that Kyiv surrender full control of its eastern Donetsk region to Russia as a prerequisite for ending the war in Ukraine, The Washington Post (WP) reported on Saturday. In a call with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, Putin reportedly made control of the Donetsk region a condition of negotiating a peace deal.

Founder of Riga Vilki Books Arina Lindanen - about the consequences of increasing VAT on Russian books in Latvia Photo: Vilki Books The Latvian government has approved a proposal to abolish the preferential VAT rate of 5% for books published in languages ​​other than EU or OECD member countries or candidate countries from 2026. This means that the cost of books and printed publications in Russian in Latvia will increase by 16% in just a few months.

Whether Vladimir Putin realises it or not, Russia has no path to victory in Ukraine A view of the main building of Moscow University and tower of Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, 7 February 2025. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV The outcome of Russia’s war on Ukraine matters not just for those countries’ future, but for all of Europe. The root cause of the conflict is Vladimir Putin’s obsession with restoring his country’s status as an imperial power.

Photo: Baza Moscow police raided a self-styled “kissing party” at a nightclub in the eastern part of the Russian capital early on Sunday morning, in the latest instance of the authorities cracking down on what they deem to be “non-traditional” events, Telegram channel Baza has reported .

Experimental horror "Through the Eyes of a Dog" shows the story of a haunted house from an unusual side and does it quite successfully Photo: SXSW The independent, laconic horror film “Through the Eyes of a Dog” (originally The Good Boy, typical praise for a dog) was released in Russia, where the story of a haunted house and a man going crazy is shown from the height of his four-legged friend.

According to media reports, Napoleon's jewelry was stolen The Louvre Museum in Paris was robbed. This was announced by the French Minister of Culture. According to her, the robbery happened this morning. There were no casualties. Investigative actions are being carried out. No other details are provided. The museum itself said it was closing for the day “for exceptional reasons.” Permanent exhibition in the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre.

On October 15, 1970, the first successful hijacking of an airplane took place in the Soviet Union, but it ended tragically Collage: Rina Lu Gentlemen of fortune were natives of the Lithuanian SSR, father and son Pranas and Algirdas Brazinskas. During the hijacking, a flight attendant was killed and four other crew members were injured. They refused to extradite the air pirates to the USSR, as they declared themselves members of the resistance and fighters against the Soviet regime.

People were placed face down on the floor, some were “suggested” to do push-ups and stand in a plank position. On the night of October 18, security forces broke into the Kisskabar kissing party in the Moscow club Graphite. Baza writes about this. The reason for the raid was a search for drugs and “actions prohibited by law.” “According to visitors, some were asked to do push-ups and stand in a plank position, while the most violent ones were kept face down.

Vladimir Putin, during a recent telephone conversation with Donald Trump, demanded that Ukraine cede full control over the Donetsk region to Russia as a condition for ending the war. The Washington Post writes about this, citing sources. In exchange for the complete capture of the Donetsk region, Putin announced his readiness to give up part of the occupied Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. The Luhansk region is controlled almost entirely by the Russian army.

Report from Hebron. How Palestinians and settlers live in the Israeli-controlled part of the city Hebron. Photo: Maria Volokh On September 16, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground operation to establish control over Gaza City, the capital of the Gaza Strip. This provoked a wave of recognition of the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.