Riga - There was a sting in the tail of this week's trading on the small Baltic stock exchanges Friday when prices dropped sharply in response to big falls on the world's main exchanges.

All three Baltic stock exchanges were down significantly at the close of trading, crushing hopes that the worst of the financial downturn might be over in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Riga - Latvian President Valdis Zatlers launched a national history project Friday in the suitably historic surroundings of Riga Castle.

Zatlers recorded a brief piece of video in which he talks about Latvia from a personal perspective.

His contribution will be added to an online library of interviews with ordinary Latvians which has been created at the website www. collectivememory. tv.

The hope is that as video clips are added to the 40 currently online, an authentic aural history of the Baltic nation will be established, distinct from academic history.

Riga - The three Baltic stock exchanges were all down Thursday at the close of trading.

The NASDAQ OMX Tallinn exchange in Estonia suffered the biggest hit of the day, down 4.67 per cent. The Vilnius exchange in Lithuania was down 1.73 per cent. Meanwhile, Riga dipped just 0.75 per cent, despite the suffering of three of the larger listed Latvian companies.

Drinks maker Latvijas Balzams, steel producer Liepajas Metalurgs and pharmaceuticals manufacturer Rigas Farmaceitiska Fabrika all suffered double-digit falls in their share prices.

Riga - The three Baltic stock exc

Riga- A soldier belonging to the Latvian parliamentary and presidential security service was found dead in the national parliament overnight, according to a statement released by the National Armed Forces (NAF).

The man's body was found on Thursday morning in one of the premises guarded by the security service located in the parliament building.

Riga - The government of Latvia spent more than 2,000 euros on improving the table manners and dance skills of President Valdis Zatlers and his staff, a report said Wednesday.

Zatlers, who was plucked from obscurity as a doctor to unexpectedly become president in July 2007, was taught to dance the polonaise by instructor Valdis Skutans at a cost of 280 euros (about
380 dollars), the Neatkariga Rita Avize (NRA) newspaper reported.