Baltic Review

Finance Ministry: Latvian Economy Back on Track

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 19:06:30 +0000

Guided by prudent forecasts and detailed analysis in its budget preparation for 2010, the Latvian Finance Ministry believes now that the economic downturn has been stopped, returning Latvia to a path of growth. According to Minister of Finance Einars Repše, “Now it can be seen that the economic situation in the state is on the [...]

Latvia to Host 5th Annual High-Level Security Forum – The Rīga Conference

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:13:43 +0000

On September 10 – 11, Rīga, the capital of Latvia, will host one of the leading security forums in Northern Europe – the Rīga Conference. The international conference aims to kick-off high level discussions on key foreign and security policy issues before entering the intensive policy making season in the fall of 2010. The conference [...]

It’s the Economy…

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:06:04 +0000

Back in 1992, Bill Clinton won the U.S. presidential election because his top campaign advisor James Carville made everyone in the Clinton campaign repeat one sentence every morning when they woke up: “It’s the economy, stupid”. This was an internal campaign theme intended to remind everyone that the number one priority of the election and [...]

Latvia: The Peace and Pacts of August

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:18:46 +0000

In August, Latvia marks three anniversaries worth noting. On August 11, 1920, Russia signed a peace treaty with Latvia. Nineteen years later, on August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany. This promise of non-aggression between Stalin and Hitler led to one of the bloodiest wars in human history and put an end to peace and independence in Latvia. On August 21, 1991, Latvia restored that peace and regained its independence.

The renaissance of atomic energy

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:58:08 +0000

Germany plans to prolong the running time of nuclear power plants, Sweden has overturned the ban on new reactors and Finland is planning new nuclear plants. In several European countries nuclear power is making a comeback under the pretence of protecting the climate, laments the daily Eesti Päevaleht: “The key argument with which these states [...]

Why do Scandinavians Work?

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:01:39 +0000

If there is anything on this planet that resembles the mythical elves, it would be the Scandinavians. They live nearly forever, lead the world in the portion of their income that they donate to help poor countries, are hard-working, practically incorruptible, pathologically honest, supremely healthy, environmentally conscious, literate and multilingual, masters of gender equality. And [...]

Sweden must protect dementia patients

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:45:57 +0000

The Swedish Ministry of Social Affairs has decided that dementia patients at nursing homes and old people’s homes may no longer be kept locked up behind closed doors. The daily Göteborgs-Posten criticises this: “The authority finds the legislation outdated and insulting. The naivety with which the social affairs authority is acting is shocking. This became [...]

Polish conservatives unhappy at sale of confectionery

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:41:15 +0000

Poland’s monopoly authorities approved on Tuesday the sale of the Polish confectionery company Wedel by its British owner Cadbury to the Japanese industrial holding Lotte. The EU had made the planned takeover of Cadbury by the US company Kraft conditional on the sale. The tabloid Fakt pokes fun at conservative Polish politicians who are unhappy [...]

Youth Olympic Games 2010: Keeping the Lithuania Legacy alive

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:08:50 +0000

You wouldn’t want to mess with Lithuanian basketball player Rokas Narkevicius on the court — SYOGOC photo: Theodon Teo Lithuania has had an illustrious track record in Olympic basketball, winning three bronze medals over the last five Olympic Games. Their legacy looks very much alive, judging by the way the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lithuanian [...]

Lithuanian upsets world junior champion to win junior men’s single sculls title

mr.balticum@live.de (Mr. Balticum) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:47:46 +0000

Lithuanian rower Rolandas Mascinskas put in a stunning performance to upset Germany’s two-time world junior champion German Felix Bach and to win the junior men’s single sculls gold at Marina Reservoir. Felix, 18, had entered the final as firm favourite after clocking the fastest time during the semifinals. But he never came close to Rolandas, [...]