Latviski
English
По-русски
Netherlands to ban tourists from marijuana coffee shops
(+1 of 1)
Court in the Netherlands has upheld a new law to ban foreign tourists from entering cannabis cafes.
The ban is due to start in three southern provinces next month, and go nationwide by the end of the year, BBC reported.
The decision is based to the situation that many tourists visit the Netherlands only for drugs, and there have appeared foreign dealers selling illegally at home.
There are about 700 coffee shops, as they are called, in the Netherlands. The cultivation and sale of soft drugs through them is decriminalized, although not legal; police generally tolerate possession of up to five grams of cannabis.
The ban will not concern Dutch residents who will still be allowed into the cafes, as long as they have valid identification.
Meanwhile coffee shop owners are planning to lodge an appeal against the new law, as they think it will cause enormous losses for their business.
Ref: 110.110.110.777
Russia angry over Azerbaijan's Eurovision mistake
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described as «outrageous» Azerbaijan's failure to award points to Russian representative in the Eurovision song contest.
U.S. stock futures advance
U.S. stocks futures were trading in a narrow range on Wednesday, May 22, morning, but with the major pre-market indexes seeing slight gains.
500 kg large aircraft bomb found at Ventspils port
Yesterday, May 21, a 500 kg large aircraft bomb was found on the premises of Ventspils port, 3rd Zemessardze disttict headquarters representative Zanda Tamulone reports.
Latvian commercial banks create joint enterprise
On Wednesday, May 22, the Enterprise Register of the Republic of Latvia registered a joint company - Kredītinformācijas Birojs – founded by a number of Latvian commercial banks – SEB bank, Swedbank, Nordea, DNB bank, Citadele bank and ABLV Bank. The goal of the newly founded enterprise is to have it function as a credit bureau.
Energy and taxes to be discussed in EU summit
EU heads of state and government are convening in Brussels to enhance energy market and limit tax avoidance.
Latvian residents travelled more often last year
The results of the survey on the domestic trips of Latvian residents show that the number of overnight recreational and other private trips in 2012 was 3.6 million, which is 11.8% more than in 2011.
Average income per capita in the Baltics exceed pre-crisis peak
The Baltic States continue to come close to the average level of the European Union – in the middle of 2011, the average income per capita in the Baltic states were above the peak of the pre-crisis period.
SEB: there is a 50% chance Lithuania will be eligible for Euro in 2015
The Baltic States have been the most rapidly growing economies in the European Union lately, and they can retain their positions in the future as well. Economic growth in Latvia and Lithuania is expected to slow down this year. That in Estonia will remain unchanged – 3.3% respectively.
Bank of Latvia: increase rate of the national economy to slow down
The general money offer index and attracted finances of credit institutions increased slightly this April. The general cash money demand, on the other hand, had reduced. There was also a moderate reduction in the general credit portfolio.
Apple and other great American companies that keep mountains of cash overseas
Apple found itself in front of a Senate Subcommittee Tuesday, May 21, defending its elaborate practice of keeping cash offshore in order to minimize their tax liability. But Apple is far from the only company that does this.
Oklahoma tornado: a lucky mistake in death toll
Oklahoma state officials have corrected the previously announced number of storm victims down from 91 to 24.
Economy Minister: Russian business interest increases in Latvia
There are two scenarios available for the development of Latvia's economy – stay smart and grow naturally, or use a basis of cheap expenses – attract cheap workforce, Latvian Economy Minister Daniels Pavluts believes. The minister points to the growing interest of Russian business in Latvia, which could potentially lead toward rapid development.
Ilves: Estonia is a world power in IT
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves who is on a working visit to the UK to attend the Google conference Zeitgeist 2013 said in his speech that IT solutions have made Estonia a world power in terms of IT.
Oil deposit exploration in Latvia's waters; project managed by people close to Lembergs
The company responsible for oil deposits surveying in the Baltic Sea in Latvia's economic zone near Liepaja – Balin Energy with its Ocean Nomad drilling platform has reached 525 m depth below sea level.
EU bathing water continues to improve
The latest data on EU bathing water quality has been released, showing 93% of sites meet the minimum standards.
Syria and Israel in exchange of fire
Israeli and Syrian forces have exchanged fire across the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights.
This week's special in Latvia – thunder and lightning
On Tuesday, May 21, most of Latvia's territory will have thunderstorms, which will be accompanied by gusts of wind, reaching 20 m/Sec.
Cypriot banks launder money, leaked EU report reads
It has been unveiled in a leaked EU report that close to 60 percent of the clients of a Cypriot bank are «high risk» as regards money laundering and a large part of all bank depositors' files present errors.
Lembergs on residents' complaints: not worth listening to chatter on the streets!
A serious competition for the seat of Mayor of Ventspils has been brewing for a good time against Aivars Lembergs.
Apple has avoided paying billions in U.S. taxes, investigation unveils
U.S. Senate has released a lengthy report outlining the corporate strateges the hi-tech giant has employed to avoid paying billions in U.S. taxes.
Latvian entrepreneurs have the longest hours in the Baltics
Compared to their colleagues in Estonia and Lithuania, Latvian businessmen are used to working longer hours. At the same time, they devote less time to physical activities than their counterparts in Estonia, even though they are more active than Lithuanians.
Friendship with Unity – the only thing that keeps Prudentia afloat?
The income Prudentia Advisers received from the agreement with Latvia's national airBaltic airline was the company's only source of income last year.
Microsoft monitors Skype more closely than previously believed, reports suggest
Your Skype conversations aren't very private, a new report reveals. In an experiment, tech news site Ars Technica found that two out of the four links they sent over Skype were accessed by a computer that matched Microsoft's IP address.
Tornado in U.S. moves on reaching 320 km/h in Oklahoma City
A suburb of Oklahoma City has suffered a massive tornado. 91 people, including 20 children have been left dead, Oklahoma state officials have said.
Reform Party: language problem popularization at kindergartens is a political game
The popularization of the language problem in kindergartens two weeks before the elections and without attracting experts is merely a political game, Reform Party believes (RP).
Recommended
May 22 in picturesLatest
- Russia angry over Azerbaijan's Eurovision mistake
- U.S. stock futures advance
-
May 22 in pictures
- Energy and taxes to be discussed in EU summit
- Driver admits hitting cyclist on Twitter and provokes response from police force
- SEB: there is a 50% chance Lithuania will be eligible for Euro in 2015
-
Photo: Chelsea Flower show
-
Photo: Abandoned luxury cars in streets of Dubai
- Apple and other great American companies that keep mountains of cash overseas
-
Oklahoma tornado: a lucky mistake in death toll
Most read
-
Infographic: How teens' habits threaten the future of Facebook
-
Bloomberg: The eurozone must be split to save EU | 1
-
May 16 in pictures
-
Petrol price fixing scandal: oil giant bosses to be jailed if found guilty | 1
- Gold shipment worth EUR 483,000 lost in Miami
- French President: austerity endangers EU
-
The most horrifying industrial disasters of all time
- Obama administration sacks U.S. Internal Revenue Service chief
- Angry Birds film in production
-
Cannes film festival suffers $1m jewellery theft
Most commented
-
Petrol price fixing scandal: oil giant bosses to be jailed if found guilty | 1
-
Parliamentary groups in Brussels struggle around controversial EU data protection bill | 1
-
Tornado in U.S. moves on reaching 320 km/h in Oklahoma City | 1
-
Syria army storms rebel town Qusair | 1
-
Bloomberg: The eurozone must be split to save EU | 1
-
Cypriot banks launder money, leaked EU report reads | 1
- Richter's painting becomes most expensive work of living artist
- China offers India a handshake across the Himalayas
- Angry Birds film in production
-
May 21 in pictures
Top 5 Business news
Economic Diary: Smash Business with Taxes
Latvia's foreign trade export is growing faster than import
Latvenergo's profits drop by 18.5% in 2012
Slow-down in Estonia’s growth expected
PAA bath manufacturer modernizes production plant and creates Silk Stone materialTop 5 Social news
Paul Krugman declined participation in the First Riga Economic Forum
Friendship between Unity and Prudentia: gigantic losses for state budget
HM: smoking in the presence of a child is considered abuse
Bathing season officially open in Latvia
Latvia's living costs reach record high levelTop 5 World news
Infographic: How teens' habits threaten the future of Facebook
Bloomberg: The eurozone must be split to save EU
May 16 in pictures
Petrol price fixing scandal: oil giant bosses to be jailed if found guilty
Gold shipment worth EUR 483,000 lost in MiamiTop 5 Video
Greek politician slaps woman live on TV
Colombia hosts Miss Pole Dance 2012
VIDEO: Airline fined for in-flight bikini show
VIDEO: The birth of a snowflake
VIDEO: World's most dangerous marketplaceNewest galleries
May 21 in pictures
May 20 in pictures
Photos of the week, 2013.05.17.Newest comments
-
Bono @ 2013-05-22 16:25:53
I guess the owners of Latvia metallurg work even more to rescue the firm.
-
Orlov @ 2013-05-22 16:22:50
-
Bozo the clown @ 2013-05-22 11:22:05
No doubt Latvia metallurg will highly contribute to the growth of that country.
-
JPR @ 2013-05-21 19:07:44
-
Oddis @ 2013-05-21 18:22:38
So, according to your logic, you can tax as much as you can as long as you can afford it?
Loading ...
What a pity :(