Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano re-elected

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano was re-elected on Saturday, April 20, following a cross-party appeal to run for office again to resolve a growing political crisis.

• World

1 comment

April 22, 2013

Minister: grass burners interfere with rescuers' efforts in flooded districts

The State Fire and Rescue Service has received more than 200 calls to locations with burning grass. At the same time, the SFRS' resources are currently deployed at flooded locations to help with rescuing residents.

YouTube sensation: How animals eat their food

Sometimes the internet makes you laugh. Sometimes you are left open-mouthed. Often it does both.

• Leisure ,
• Other news

Video

April 21, 2013

Economic diary. Investors are more than welcome

The Latvian government seems to have adopted a clear course for attracting foreign businessmen. The adoption of a holdings regime and the issue of residence permits is not enough now. This is why the special working group has begun to reconstruct the Immigration Law once again.

Photo: The 10 largest ships ever conceived

It's fairly easy to sort out what's the biggest car or the fastest car in the world. Determining the biggest ship is much more subjective, and here are Jalopnik readers' ten picks.

• Leisure ,
• Other news ,
• World

Photo

April 20, 2013

Recipe: Mediterranean fish casserole

SP compiles administrative violation report for illegal pre-election campaign at Riga City Council

The Latvian State Police (SP) has compiled an administrative violation report against Riga City Council for illegal pre-election campaign activities in the office of the Mayor of Riga Nil Ushakov.

Latvian soldiers depart for a new operational region in Afghanistan

The next Latvian contingent was sent away to Afghanistan with a festive ceremony at Adazi Military base on April 19. Several units with nearly 150 soldiers were sent away.

• Social ,
• Latvia

1 comment

April 19, 2013

Latvian families are saving more and more money

Last month's observed increase of household savings continued in March as well. The total monetary offer has reduced, as did the bank deposits. The surplus of domestic credits continued to reduce. The rate of changes in crediting had improved during the year – from minus 10.1% in February to minus 6.7% in March, Bank of Latvia economist Vilnis Purvins notes.

Government budget's deficit for 2012 down to 1.2% of GDP

General government budget deficit at the end of 2012 comprised 187.2 million LVL or 1.2 % of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and the general government debt comprised 6309.2 million LVL or 40.7 % of GDP, according to the results of the April 2013 general government budget deficit and debt notification.

Estonians to develop four office buildings in Vilnius for EUR 44m

Estonian E.L.L. Real Estate property development and management group that is majority-owned by Estonian businessman Toomas Annus plans to develop four office centres in Vilnius with a total leasable area of 44,000 sq.m at a cost of EUR 44 million euros.

Olainfarm pharmaceuticals plant recovers from the accident

Olainfarm has completely recovered from the explosion that took place on April 17. As it is known, two people were injured in the blast.

Passenger transport services to be managed by a single system

An agreement was reached during an interdepartmental meeting in regard to the organization of public transport services in a single route system.

Photos of the week, 2013.04.19

Each Friday BNN-NEWS.COM offers the most interesting, the most scandalous and simply the most beautiful pictures from all over the world.

• Leisure ,
• Photo ,
• World

Photo

April 19, 2013

Demand for housing credits remains low in the Baltics

The interest of Baltic residents for housing credits has increased this year. It is expected that the housing credit portfolio of Estonia and Lithuania will continue to grow in 2013, while no changes are expected for Latvia's housing credit sector.

Daily Joke: What Goes Around, Comes Around

A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer...

Bloomberg: Latvia in its way to euro rejects money from Cyprus

Latvia is turning away money that’s fleeing Cyprus as the Baltic nation defends its banking credentials in the run-up to next year’s planned euro adoption.

Liepājas metalurgs: one for all and all for one

One of the shareholders of Liepājas metalurgs (LM), Kirov Lipmans, is prepared to invest his own funds in the saving of the enterprise under the condition that other shareholders will do the same.

30 injured in Greece farm shooting

About 30 migrant workers have been injured in a shooting on a strawberry farm in Greece after requesting salaries that had not been paid.

FBI releases photos of Boston suspects

The FBI has released photos of two suspects it wants to identify as part of the investigation into Monday's Boston Marathon bombings.

• World

Video Photo

April 19, 2013

Minister: there will be new trains next year

In spite of the failed train procurement contest, Latvia may still acquire new trains in 2014, according to Transport Minister Anrijs Matiss.

Plavinas' ice piles reach the height of a two-storey building

The flood situation in Ogre has stabilized since the morning of April 19. Daugavpils' situation is made less threatening to the city given the fact that the ice pile near Nicgale has started moving again, reducing the risk of floods. However, the current situation in Plavinas is dire.

• Social ,
• Latvia

Photo

April 19, 2013

3D printing could help the blind «see» art

While there are blind painters who are able to create masterpieces, have you ever wondered about the rest of the blind or visually impaired population and how they appreciate art? Considering that they cannot see, and since most paintings have a “no touching” policy, it would be almost impossible, right?

Global IT report ranks Estonia 22nd, Lithuania 32nd, Latvia 41st

Estonia climbed two places to 22nd in the Global Information Technology Report 2013 of the World Economic Forum. Lithuania was ranked 32nd and Latvia was ranked 41st.

Kaunas airport grows in popularity among Latvians

Kaunas International airport (KIA) is experiencing a rapid increase of passengers from Latvia. The number of Latvian passengers has increased by 44% lately.