Latvia's parliament elected Defence Minister Raimonds Vejonis as the Baltic state's new president, giving the 28th member of the European Union a Green party head of state.
Latvia's parliament votes for a new president on Wednesday as the small Baltic NATO and eurozone member weighs security concerns amid heightened tensions with Soviet-era master Russia.
In a special hostage rescue operation, Latvian police has freed a Kazakhstani family of four, who were kept hostage for their expensive property in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Latvia said Russia seemed more open to a negotiated solution over the conflict in Ukraine, raising the prospect of an easing of sanctions against Moscow.
EU leaders failed to reach agreement as their summit ended early Thursday over who should get the top jobs to steer the 28-nation bloc over the next five years.