Rinkevics elected as Latvia first gay president / Photo: © AFP
-
AI data centre supplier Zhongji InnoLight slips on Hong Kong debut
-
Root named England Test captain, Fleming appointed coach
-
Eurozone economy grows despite Middle East war
-
May, June heatwaves caused 2,877 extra deaths in England: govt
-
Singapore group will develop 'most promising' Ebola vaccine
-
France firefighters hopeful, as Spain reports 'almost no flames'
-
BMW profit down a third as carmaker plans job cuts
-
Shell profit surges as Mideast war fuels oil prices
-
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe leaves club: reports
-
Russian strikes kill 8 across Ukraine, including 6 from one family
-
Japan quake toll hits 34 as survivors struggle in heat
-
Rain dampens France fire, as Spain reports 'almost no flames'
-
Seoul extends losses as most Asian markets drop, oil rises again
-
India's history-making stand-in cricket captain Rahane retires
-
New Zealand top diplomat draws Chinese embassy complaint in racism row
-
Car maker Stellantis says back in profit in second quarter
-
Eggs back in India school meals after outcry
-
Japanese survivors deal with second quake disaster in 10 years
-
Gambling.com Group Is Now Grandstand
-
Stranded boats, out-of-work fishermen as Danube hits record lows
-
South Korea coach Hong grilled by MPs over World Cup flop
-
South Korea Hong coach grilled by MPs over World Cup flop
-
Nolan's 'Odyssey' boosts sales of mythology tales in UK
-
Japan quake toll hits 30 as survivors struggle in heat
-
'It's exhausting': southwest Japan deals with second big quake in 10 years
-
Japan quake toll hits 28 as survivors struggle in heat
-
Russian strikes kill at least 8, wound more across Ukraine
-
AI data centre supplier Zhongji InnoLight tumbles on Hong Kong debut
-
Samsung quarterly operating profit up 1,800% on AI boom
-
Drones and blackouts inflict a tense summer on Russia-annexed Crimea
-
Son at the double as MLS All-Stars beat Liga MX 4-3
-
Australia ask for more information on FIFA sell-off plan
-
Meet the astronomer digging into the Milky Way's 'fossils'
-
South Korean stocks bounce after rout, oil holds gains on Mideast woes
-
French teen fined in Singapore 'straw licking' case
-
Stokes should return for 'one more Ashes': Australia coach McDonald
-
AI data centre supplier Zhongji InnoLight falls on Hong Kong debut
-
Ngumoha scores as Liverpool beat Wrexham 1-0 in New York friendly
-
South Korea's women web sleuths fight AI deepfake porn
-
Up to 23 feared dead in Japan quake
-
Rushdie assailant convicted of terrorism charges
-
Samsung operating profit up 1,800% in second quarter on AI boom
-
Australian regulator says Telegram breached online safety law
-
De Zerbi wants Bergvall at Spurs, but can't promise starting role
-
New Zealand foreign minister in racism row with Chinese ambassador
-
De Minaur tops Tsitsipas to set up Hewitt clash in Washington
-
Anything but programmable: New cost-efficient EC-power-supply-series for the DIN rail by CAMTEC PS
-
Messi returns to Miami training after World Cup break
-
Japanese population below 120 million for first time in decades
-
Idi Amin's grandson disqualified from Commonwealth boxing bout
Rinkevics elected as Latvia first gay president
Latvia's foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics was elected as the Baltic country's new president on Wednesday, the first openly gay person to hold the office.
Latvia's top diplomat since 2011, the 49-year-old will serve as head of state of the EU and NATO member for the next four years after incumbent Egils Levits decided not to run for a second term.
"I will do everything for our country to prosper and be secure," Rinkevics said after the vote in parliament.
He came out as gay in 2014, the first prominent political figure in the country to do so.
Latvia's president is selected by lawmakers and is a largely ceremonial role.
Riga has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its efforts to fight Russian aggression, advocating Kyiv's accession to both the EU and NATO.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Rinkevics, calling him "a true friend of Ukraine".
"Latvia will be in safe hands during the next four years," the outgoing president Levits said following the election of his successor.
Before becoming foreign minister, Rinkevics worked as a foreign news analyst at the public broadcaster Latvijas Radio and for the defence ministry and president's office.
D.Schneider--BTB