Latvia’s first ambassador to Brazil—home to about 200 Latvian citizens and many more persons who claim at least some Latvian ancestry—has received his letter of accreditation from President Valdis Zatlers.

Artis Bertulis, who is Latvia’s ambassador to Portugal, will be the country’s nonresident ambassador to Brazil. Because of Brazil’s colonial history, it and Portugal continue to have strong cultural ties.

Bertulis met May 10 with the president to discuss Latvian-Brazilian relations. Among other issues, Zatlers emphasized the need for the ambassador to support the Latvian community in Brazil, according to the president’s press office.

A total of 238 persons in Brazil had received Latvian citizenship by July 1995, when a window for claiming double citizenship closed, according to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Rīga. Hundreds of Latvians emigrated to Brazil in the late 19th and early 20th century, many spurred on by the promise of land.

Latvia also is represented by Honorary Consul Jānis Grimbergs in Sao Paulo, who has held the position since 1993.

Brazil is represented in Latvia by nonresident Ambassador Antonino Lisboa Mena Gonçalves, who is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Latvia’s outlook for getting into the quarterfinals of the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship has improved with a 4-1 victory May 11 over Norway.

After falling to Finland two days earlier, Latvia needed a pick-me-up. With the qualifying round win over Norway, the Latvians are in a position to advance to the quarterfinals if they can beat Germany and if Norway falls to the United States, according to IIHF official reports and statistics.

Against Norway, Latvia scored the first goal at 11 minutes, 34 seconds into the first period. Mārtiņš Cipulis, aided by Jānis Sprukts, got the puck past Norwegian goaltender Pal Grotnes. Norway answered about a minute and half later, when Lars Erik Spets scored against Latvian goalie Edgars Masaļskis. Spets was helped by Anders Bastiansen and Jonas Holos. But at 17:22, Latvia moved ahead off the stick of Herberts Vasiļjevs, assisted by Mārtiņš Karsums.

During the second period, Miķelis Rēdlihs scored at 12:27 to make it 3-1. He was assisted by Armands Bērziņš and Lauris Dārziņš. And with less than a minute to play in the third period, Dārziņš added an empty-net goal for Latvia. Georgijs Pujacs and goalkeeper Masaļskis earned the assists.

Overall, Latvia had 30 shots on goal for the game, compared to Norway’s 23. Each team spent a total of 10 minutes in the penalty box.

Latvia faces Germany at 8:15 p.m. May 12 in Halifax Metro Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

A teenager found dead May 10 near Limerick in western Ireland was a native of Ukraine, not Latvia, Irish police now say. The 16-year-old has been identified as Roman Vysochan of Ashley Close, Westbury, County Clare, the Garda Press Office announced May 11.

Earlier police had said they believed the youth to be a Latvian national. The boy was found late May 10 with a chest wound, lying on a footpath in Carrig Midhe, Westbury, County Clare. He was taken to Limerick Regional Hospital where he was pronouned dead.

A second youth, also 16, was injured in the incident and was taken to Limerick University Hospital, where he remains under treatment.

Another 16-year-old boy was arrested the morning of May 11 in relation to the death. He was being held at Mayorstone Garda Station, police said.