Dzintara monēta
The Bank of Latvia has issued a collector coin named the "Amber Coin," designed by Aigars Bikše. The coin features an eye with an embedded amber pupil. Amber is a mineral and semiprecious stone originating from the resin of ancient amber pines. Amber jewellery has been made in the Baltic States for thousands of years. The Amber Coin costs LVL 28 (EUR 39.50) and has a nominal value of LVL 1. The Bank of Latvia will issue 7,000 Amber Coins, which will be minted at Finland's Rahapaja.
Latvian cyberactivist Neo arrested
Ilmārs Poikāns, researcher at the University of Latvia's Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science has confessed to being "Neo" who accessed and enabled the publication of the tax records of Latvia's political and business elite. State Police Chief said Neo's so-called People's Army of the 4th Awakening was likely fictitious and Poikāns acted alone, communicating via social networking sites about how to access the data. The State Revenue Service said 120 people illegally downloaded documents from the service's electronic declaration system and that the "hole" existed from the end of 2007 until 4 February 2010, when it was discovered and closed. Some 7.4 million documents, equaling 120 GB of data, were downloaded from the site, including income statements and tax declarations of public officials, bureaucrats, and business. The data shows that top executives of the municipal companies received huge monthly salaries and enormous bonuses went out the door all while regular employees took wage reductions in light of budget cuts. Now, parts of Latvian society that lauded "Neo" as a hero are standing in defense of Poikāns' actions. There was a brief protest in front of the Cabinet of Ministers building Thursday in support of Poikāns.
Latvian Innovation: Disposable Cardboard Potty
The Latvian company, SIA Inovativas Konstrukcijas, has developed a product that will delight family travellers: disposable toilet seats. Latvian business daily Dienas Bizness reports that the company will market the cardboard potties under the brand name Pipin.
Liga Braslina, owner of SIA Inovativas Konstrukcijas, developed the potty in cooperation with the local cardboard plant, Austra Pak. The cardboard potty can withstand a weight of up to 20 kg. Pipin's retail price in Latvia will be around LVL 0.50 (EUR 0.70) per potty. The company is looking for export markets as well. Ms Braslina has big hopes for her business. "We want to sell these products throughout the world. We believe that in 5-10 years, Pipin will become just as familiar as pampers," she told Latvia's Diena daily. http://nekrize.lv/jauns-bizness-jauna-tirgus-nisa/Latvia sells entire town to Russian firm
A Russian company, Alekseevskoye-Serviss, bought an entire Latvian town for EUR 2.2 million at a privatization auction. The former military installation of Skrunda-1 is deserted and its 70 buildings are in disrepair. The town used to be home to 5,000 military personnel, who worked two enormous radar facilities in the area. The property spans 45 hectares and has several residential buildings, a school, officers club, sauna, and a medical clinic. Skrunda-1, which is located in Latvia's Kuldiga region, was built in the 1980s. The military installation had one of the so-called Hen House radar systems that could listen to objects in space and watched the skies for NATO missiles. The Pechora radar facility was a 19-story building that soared over the Kurzeme countryside. It was exploded by US demolition experts in 1995. The last residents left Skrunda-1 in 1998. No one has lived there since.
Maybe Haiti should help Latvia?
Meeting in emergency session today, the Latvian government allocated EUR 15,000 [sic] for dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. The money will be come from the budgetary fund for emergency situations and will be transferred to the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund.
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