Dalia Grybauskaite sworn in as the first female President of the Lithuanian Republic

Vilnius -- Less than a week after Lithuanians celebrated one thousand years of their country's history, the Baltic state marks another historic occasion: the inauguration of its first female president.

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Vilnius 2009: Artscape jazz program presents the British jazz coryphees

Artscape jazz program presents the British jazz coryphees John Law's Art of Sound Trio

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OSCE's criticism of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact is important

The OSCE passed a resolution at the beginning of July condemning the so-called Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, a non-aggression treaty signed on 23 August 1939 between Germany and what was the Soviet Union at the time. …

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BALTIC GUIDE: Holiday Tips with the Tallinn Card

If you’re off to Tallinn to indulge yourself in its sights, sounds and city centre splendor, then to be sure to pick up the Tallinn Card to get the most out of your shoe leather and your Kroon*.

The Tallinn Card has been re-launched this year and offers some unbeatable savings on museum entry, public transport and discounts in shops and cafes, along with lots of new goodies to make sure your trip to this magical Baltic state is one to remember.

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Lithuania: New youth protection law too strict

The news portal Delfi voices scepticism over a new youth protection law passed by the Lithuanian parliament…

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The European Commission announces plan for Baltic Sea region development

The European Commission (EC) published on Wednesday an action plan for the strategy of the Baltic Sea region, which will be aimed at clearing the sea of pollutants, accelerating the construction of energy and transport links,

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Estonia missing the crisis boat

Times of crisis often give birth to particularly creative ideas, the daily Postimees writes, bemoaning the fact that this is hardly the case in Estonia…

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Baltic Pirates

Baltic Pirates

“Slumdog Millionaire” director planning another film about Mumbai

Oscar winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) is reportedly returning to India to make another movie about Mumbai (India), with a considerable portion revolving around its slums.

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The tension is rising: Obama visits the Middle East

 

US president Barack Obama begins his first state visit to the Arab World today (03.06.2009). The expectations are immense. After meetings with King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia to discuss the Middle East peace process, Obama will travel to Egypt on Thursday, where he will deliver a speech to the Muslims of the world.

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Economy: Bank speculation drives up oil prices

Global oil prices have risen sharply in the past few weeks. In the daily To Ethnos Giorgos Delastik takes a critical view of this new development:

"In mid-February the [barrel] was at just 32.70 dollars. … Last week the price rose to over 65 dollars. That's a hundred percent increase in the space of three months. What happened? The rise in the price of oil is all the more distressing and, according to the rules of the market that supposedly govern it, unjustifiable. For two things are happening that would tend to reduce it rather than increase it. The first is that global demand for oil is constantly sinking. … At the same time the oil reserves of the major consumer countries are very large. … The explanation for this mystery is simple: the hundreds of billions that the banks in Europe and the US received from governments have not just saved them. Now they have money they've started to speculate on oil prices."

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Media: Literature blogs bringing readers together

 

The left-liberal daily La Repubblica describes the phenomenon of self-made literary criticism on the Internet using the example of the blog aNobii and evaluates the accessibility of this form of criticism as positive:

"Technically the website aNobii is a large virtual bookstore, a melting pot for an infinite number of other bookstores. …

It could be described as the 'Meetic [online partner portal] of paper', where it is not singles who meet, but readers who want to exchange views on books.

… But as always the rules that apply beyond the net don't apply on the Internet. By comparison with other media the Internet cannot compete as a platform for the launching of bestsellers. But it is an excellent tool for confronting a reader with a work and persuading him to engage with a novel he wouldn't have dreamed of reading otherwise. Thanks to the enthusiasm of other web users he can discover new literary works. This is not possible with TV or paper."

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The Finns have a neurotic relation to alcohol

Ninety years ago a ban was introduced in Finland on the production of drinks with an alcohol content of over 2 percent.

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Sony PlayStation products – Global Worldwide boycott

Hindus give worldwide boycott call against Sony PlayStation products

Perturbed over Sony’s “Hanuman: Boy Warrior” videogame and further vexed by stiff-necked attitude of Sony officials, various Hindu groups have given worldwide boycott call against Sony PlayStation products. | more… |

Visa regime not to shut Belarusians off from EU

Visa regime should not shut ordinary citizens of Belarus off from the European Union (EU), former President of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski and Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius agreed at their meeting on Friday.         | more… |

Lithuania: 70% of companies plan to sack employees

The trends in the construction sector remain similar in May as in the previous month. 77% of the leaders of construction companies stated that the number of orders went down, 2% said that it went up (80% and 1% in April respectively), according to the survey conducted by the Department of Statistics. Even 95% of all respondents noted the weak construction demand.

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North Korea threatens military action

 

In the wake of international criticism of its nuclear tests, North Korea is now openly threatening military action. The country considers the planned participation of South Korea in a US-led initiative against weapons of mass destruction as a "declaration of war", the regime in Pyongyang said on Wednesday.

After North Korea's war threats the daily Diário de Notícias (Portugal) calls for the UN to take measures:

"The threats of North Korea are usually just empty rhetoric to get concessions from the international community. The communist regime has thus induced the US to send the country crude oil and South Korea to send it food. This is Kim Jong-il's way of feeding the people and preserving the dynasty founded by his father Kim il-Sung. But as well as its aggressive statements North Korea possesses a powerful military machinery - encompassing not only conventional weapons but also nuclear weapons, as the tests this week have proven. Therefore North Korea's threats must be viewed with caution. A rash reaction could lead to a war or the fall of the regime, which would have dramatic consequences for the whole region. But the international community cannot remain silent, and North Korea continues to insist on defying everyone and everything. The US must state its position clearly - with the support of Russia and China."

-eurotopics.net

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What's a seagull's backside doing in the Latvian EU election campaign?

Journalist Laila Pakalnina (“DIENA”) fumes about the European elections advertisement on the webpage of Latvia's LPP/LC party…

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Lithuania's emigre community to kick off voting in EP elections

Lithuania's diplomatic missions and consular posts on Tuesday will open voting in the country's elections for European Parliament (EP).

 

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Poland: USA stationed 196 Patriot missiles in the vicinity of Warsaw

Warsaw -- Poland will deploy a US missile unit in the country later this year as part of a pact with Washington, Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Komorowski said Thursday.

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Czech pilots first in action in Baltic

Klaipeda -- Czech pilots of the Jas-39 Gripen fighters who have protected the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia within NATO since May were used for the first time on Thursday,  … more

Konigsberg: Before and After

Do you know a German philosopher Immanuel Kant? He left in easternmost part of Germany in the city called Konigsberg.

Today this city is not called Konigsberg any more, it is Kaliningrad now, the most westernmost city of Russia and the things so are already for 60 years.

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Estonia: Government stands before the break

Estonia's prime minister says he plans to sack three Social Democrat ministers and dump the party from the center-right coalition government due to disagreements over budget cuts and other matters.

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Finland: Health or business?

In 2006 former Finnish prime minister Paavo Lipponen described his vision of reducing sales of tobacco in Finland to zero by 2040.  …

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Lithuania: New president brings westward orientation

The victory of Dalia Grybauskaitė in Lithuania's presidential elections means that that Baltic state is orienting itself on the West …

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Eurovision 2009: More than music

People all over Europe avidly watched the Eurovision Song Contest last Saturday. But the European press writes that the competition in Moscow was about more than music.

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Lithuania: First woman president elected

EU budget chief Dalia Grybauskaite looked set to become the first female president of recession-hit Lithuania with a resounding election score Sunday, but her victory hinged on voter turnout…

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Eurovision 2009: Norway wins song contest

After an exciting voting in front of thousands of people in a fully packed Moscow Olimpisky Indoor Arena and millions of TV viewers all over Europe, it was finally Alexander Rybak from Norway who received the highest number of points from televoters and juries from the 42 countries participating in this year's edition of Europe's favourite TV-show!

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Lithuania: Presidential elections against the backdrop of financial crisis

The presidential election in Lithuania (17.05.2009) Sunday is devoted to economic decline.

Lithuania heads into Sunday's election with its economy in shambles, having crashed amid the global financial turmoil along with neighbors Latvia and Estonia after years of steady growth that followed EU membership in 2004.

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Eurovision 2009: Lithuanian singer Sasha Son qualifies for finals

Lithuanian singer Sasha Son(g), qualified for the finals of the international Eurovision song context during semi-finals in Moscow on Thursday.

Among other qualifiers from the second group of semi-finalists are Albania, Azerbaijan, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Moldova, Norway and Ukraine.

Under Eurovision rules, votes were only accepted Thursday from the 19 countries whose entries performed at the Olimpisky arena in Moscow. Votes received by each of the songs are withheld.

Nine finalists were determined by votes, with the tenth picked by a special jury.

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The facilitated visa regime for inhabitants of the Lithuania-Kaliningrad frontier

 

The European Commission (EC) was approving of the Vilnius-Moscow agreement on a facilitated visa regime for inhabitants living on the Lithuania and Russia's Kaliningrad enclave frontier.  more --->

Eminem hailed by Hindus for entertaining jobless autoworkers

Hindus have applauded Oscar winner rapper-actor Eminem for planning to fly 200 jobless Detroit autoworkers to enjoy a rare live show and musical performance about 2,300 miles away in Los Angeles.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was a wonderful gesture on Eminem’s part to try to put a smile on the face of Detroit where the jobless rate is reportedly almost three times than the national average.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, quoted ancient Hindu scripture Taittiriya Upanishad, which says: “Give with faith. Give with love. Give with joy,” and adds, “Wisdom means a life of selfless service.”

Rajan Zed urged other entertainment celebrities like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce Knowles, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, etc., to bring cheer to the struggling communities affected by economic downturn nationwide through gestures like Eminem’s.

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Publicitas

Publicitas in Baltics is the leading representative of international media with more than 15 years of experience. We represent leading newspapers, magazines, websites, television and radio channels in Baltics and  Europe.

We work as an intermediary between publishers worldwide and Baltics advertisers and media agencies.

Being a part of Publicitas, the international all-media sales company with around 200 specialists employed in 9 countries, we use the resources and know-how of a strong global network.

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Latvia: Commemorate the end of World War II

Thousands of members of Latvia's Russian minority congregated in the capital Riga Saturday to commemorate the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in WWII.

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Urban Symphony will now represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow

Urban Symphony will now represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow … continue reading --->

V. Landsbergis: That arrogant ignorance is typical for Russian political style

 

(…)That arrogant ignorance is typical for Russian political style and proves, therefore, "Nord Stream" be a project and goal of current Russian Government, at first. (… )

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Huge success in Latvia

Latvian broadcaster LTV had hesitated long with their decision to participate in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Only after finding sponsors for the country's participation, LTV finally gave green light for Moscow. (more…)

Sasha Son represent Lithuania

Lithuania has made their final decision and will send Sasha Son to the 54th Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow after a series of heats and semi-finals!

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Germany: Grim forecast for economy

Berlin -- The German economy will shrink by a record 6 per cent in 2009, leading economists said yesterday, as the global economic slowdown begins to bite in Europe’s largest economy.

In their spring forecast Germany five “economic wise men” said they saw no good news on the horizon this year or next.

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Tallinn: Why Baltic Cruises Are the New Cruise Favourite

This video presents Tallinn as a modern meeting place that offers the joy of discovery and surprise, where there’s plenty to do for holidaymakers and businesspeople alike. Duration 4.56 minutes.

source: Baltic Review

 

Lithuania: Spring cleaning campaign expected to clear up close to 6,000 tons of trash

Organizers of the country-wide annual spring cleaning campaign Darom 2009 expect the event to contribute to clearing up close to 6,000 tons of trash. more -----|>

Why Baltic Cruises Are the New Cruise Favourite

When it comes to cruising, the Caribbean and the Med used to be the first destinations on everyone’s lips, but these days Baltic cruises are fast catching up with the traditional favourites. …  more -----|>

Estonia with Julia

Julia Trutko is an Estonian of Russian descent. She’s living in San Francisco now.
She’s quite intelligent and thoughtful. This is one of the best WanderLearn podcasts because she is so clear, precise, and insightful. She’s a fascinating lady and you will enjoy the podcast, which includes music from Estonia ... more --->