Afghanistan slips in corruption index Nov 18, 2009
Afghanistan worsens on corruption index. Second only to Somalia in annual survey; Iraq improves a bit. (MSNBC -- International)
Two NATO-Led Troops Missing in Afghanistan; Taliban Claims to Have Bodies Nov 7, 2009
Forces in the west are mainly from the U.S., Italy, Spain and Lithuania. President administration is considering a military request to send as many as 40,000 more U.S. personnel to Afghanistan in addition to the 68,000 due to be serving by the end of the year. (Bloomberg -- Canada)
World Reacts to Obama's Nobel Peace Prize Oct 10, 2009
relations with Russia and offer a fresh start to relations with the Muslim world, there is little so far to show for his fine words" Kind of says it all, right? by jameslouiky October 9, 2009 9:53 AM EDT Compare Obama's accomplishments to Reagan?s Obama freed 0 countries from tyranny, ended no war, brought no one together. Reagan Countries liberated from Communist tyranny during or shortly after RONALD REAGAN's presidency: Afghanistan Albania Angola Bulgaria Cambodia Czechoslovakia East Germany... (CBS News)
Q&A: The Lisbon Treaty Oct 2, 2009
LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK Defeated by referendum: Irish Republic Challenges: Czech and Polish presidents yet to sign treaty. If they reject it a second time, the treaty could be scuppered. (BBC News -- Europe)
The Imaginary Pirate of Globalization, Antoine Garapon, Eurozine Sep 23, 2009
The 22nd European Meeting of Cultural Journals Vilnius, 8-11 May 2009 The 22nd European Meeting of Cultural Journals took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, 8 to 11 May 2009. Under the heading "European Histories", the Eurozine conference explored the role of history and memory in forming new identities in a Europe in change. (Harper's Magazine)
AP Interview: Yushchenko optimistic about NATO Sep 22, 2009
"I'm a great optimist. I'm sure Ukraine will follow the path of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria.". He pointed also to the Russian invasion of Georgia, another former Soviet republic, in August 2008 as a strong selling point for NATO membership, which includes a guarantee that an attack on any member state will be viewed as an attack on the alliance as a whole. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
Swedish Government Forecasts Healthier Finances, Growth in Election Year Sep 21, 2009
The most serious risk to the economic forecasts and budget stems from the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, where Swedens and SEB AB are the biggest lenders, Borg said ... Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the European Unions fastest-growing economies from 2004 through 2006, have since toppled into the blocs deepest recessions. (Bloomberg -- Europe)
Did Obama Mess Up Health Care Politics? Aug 7, 2009
One-American__ Health Care Plan: MOre of the same sell out to Corporate America, the most expensive plan on earth, ranked th e 37th best in the world behind former Soviet Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania ... Republicons in Congress, even the southern white ones will be paying with their jobs in 2010 if it's more of the same shameful pathetic US health care system, which is ranked 37th best in the world, behind the former Soviet Republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. (CBS News)
Shulamith Meiselman, 97; devoted to Jewish education Jul 30, 2009
She was born in Raseiniai, Lithuania, one of five children of Rabbi Moshe and Pesha (Feinstein) Soloveitchik, and grew up in Warsaw. As a teenager in Poland, Mrs. Meiselman became a member of the Zionist Youth Movement and was, Kent said, the only woman on the executive board of Yardenia, a national Polish Zionist organization. (Boston Globe)
Fear Factor: How Herd Mentality Drives Us Jul 27, 2009
"A dramatic example is the loss of 200,000 scientists and engineers within the manufacturing sector____ECONOMIC STRIFE _ That is Being used as a Weapon to ELIMINATE a DEMOCRACY and REPLACE IT With The TOTALITARIAN DICTATORSHIP of : A NAZI FASCIST RULE Against the American People by rohink-2009 October 19, 2008 8:10 PM EDT Ask yourself, what in the world is going on and how did the Treasury and Fed Reserve just get all this power... and the American people are fighting over taxes. It is the... (CBS News)
Is Dalia Grybauskaite Lithuania's Obama? Jul 16, 2009
Is Dalia Grybauskaite Lithuania's Obama ... Is Dalia Grybauskaite Lithuania's Obama ... The media in Vilnius have likened her to Barack Obama, but Lithuania's new president faces an even tougher task mending its economic woes. (BusinessWeek)
Voters steer Europe to the right Jul 14, 2009
6%) and Lithuania (20. 9%), while the highest figures came from Luxembourg (91%) and and Belgium (85. (BBC News -- Europe)
Worst yet to come: White House economic advisor... Jul 12, 2009
But Summers whom I first met as an undergraduate 20 years ago when I dropped into his office at Harvard to ask about the economic advice he was giving to the leaders of what was then the Soviet Socialist Republic of Lithuania is not known for his casual conversation. Today, dressed in a navy suit, white shirt and blue and white tie, with dark circles under his blue eyes that are not entirely hidden by his tan, the 54-year-old seems particularly focused on work. (The Drudge Report)
New alliances Jul 2, 2009
NEW PARLIAMENT IN FIGURES Half of MEPs were re-elected, half are new Highest proportion of newly-elected MEPs is from Lithuania Youngest MEP - Emilie Turunen (Danish), 25 Oldest MEP - Ciriaco De Mita (Italian), 81 Women MEPs - 35. 3% (31. (BBC News -- Europe)
Jews hope to reclaim their architectural legacy in Eastern Europe Jun 26, 2009
But it's the thousands of derelict cemeteries and synagogues familiar to any off-the-beaten path traveler in Central and Eastern Europe that are the most visible remnant of the region's once-thriving Jewish life, from the 16th-century fortress synagogues of Ukraine and wooden synagogues of Lithuania, to the Moorish, Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau styles of Central Europe. Those not bulldozed were allowed to erode, or defiled as everything from warehouses and wine factories to discos... (Christian Science Monitor -- World)
Russia wants US assurances on missile defense Jun 21, 2009
Search Type Choose a search type from the items below. By ARTHUR MAX, Associated Press Writer Arthur Max, Associated Press Writer. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Full Story » Jun 21, 2009
Russia wants US assurances on missile defense - Yahoo. Search Type Choose a search type from the items below. (Yahoo News -- Politics)
Fears over Latvia currency remain Jun 6, 2009
If Latvia is forced to abandon its currency board - a mechanism which requires it to retain a link with a foreign currency - other countries in the region, such as Estonia and Lithuania may be forced to abandon theirs. "If one goes, the rest will have to go as they all have similar problems of overvalued exchange rates," said Neil Shearing, emerging Europe economist at Capital Economics. (BBC News -- Europe)
New round of marathon election Jun 6, 2009
Thursday: UK and Netherlands Friday: Ireland, Czech Republic Saturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech Republic Sunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday. Mr Wilders is facing prosecution over anti-Islamic statements. (BBC News -- Europe)
Dutch far-right 'gain' Jun 5, 2009
Thursday: UK and Netherlands Friday: Ireland, Czech Republic Saturday: Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Italy and Czech Republic Sunday: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and SwedenResults from 2000 GMT Sunday. If confirmed, the Freedom Party's result is second only to Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats (CDA), which dropped almost 5% to just... (BBC News -- Europe)
Italian royalty, Lithuania reality show host spice up Euro poll Jun 4, 2009
VILNIUS (AFP) - A Lithuanian reality TV host, an Italian prince and the socialite daughter of Romania's president are among a host of colourful characters hoping to pull Europe's apathetic voters to the polls ... In Lithuania, the National Revival Party has filled its ranks with celebrities, including a reality TV host and a pop singer ... Steered by Arunas Valinskas -- the 42-year-old producer and host of the Lithuanian version of the game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" -- the party is... (Yahoo! Asia News)
Euro election at a glance 1/6/09 Jun 2, 2009
A nun studies election posters in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, which is mainly Roman Catholic. Bookmark with. (BBC News -- Europe)
Europe may elect 'virtual MEPs' May 26, 2009
LISBON TREATY PROGRESS Approved by parliament: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK Defeated by referendum: Irish Republic Challenges: Legal objections delaying ratification in Germany, Polish president also delaying ratification, Czech president yet to sign treaty. In this election Spain has... (BBC News -- Europe)
Election country-by-country May 22, 2009
Lithuania's economy is expected to contract by as much as 15% this year, and worries about jobs and social welfare are overshadowing the election ... The big political news in Lithuania recently has been the election - by a landslide - of Dalia Grybauskaite as the country's first female president ... She is going home after working as EU budget commissioner, and voters apparently hope her financial experience and EU connections will help Lithuania in the current crisis. (BBC News -- Europe)
Lithuania set for energy rethink May 20, 2009
Lithuania's president-elect says she will push to open up the Baltic state's energy sector, which is still linked to the Soviet-era power grid. Dalia Grybauskaite achieved an election landslide on Sunday to become Lithuania's first female president ... Lithuania gets more than 80% of its gas and most of its oil from Russia. (BBC News -- Europe)
* World News Quick Take May 19, 2009
LITHUANIA Female president elected. The EUs budget chief will become the countrys first woman president following a landslide victory in a vote overshadowed by the Baltic countrys ailing economy, preliminary results showed yesterday. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Lithuania elects female May 18, 2009
EU budget chief Dalia Grybauskaite won a landslide presidential election victory in her homeland Lithuania, making her the Baltic nation's first woman head of state, official results showed. "I would like to congratulate the Lithuanian people on their decision and I think that with their continued belief in me, we can together make it out of hardship as far better, and prosperous, people," Grybauskaite said as the scale of her win became evident ... Grybauskaite will become Lithuania's fifth... (iAfrica.com)
EU commissioner wins Lithuania vote May 18, 2009
VILNIUS, Lithuania: The European Union's budget chief will become Lithuania's first woman president following a landslide victory in a vote overshadowed by the Baltic country's ailing economy, preliminary results showed Monday ... Lithuania , along with neighbors Estonia and Latvia, ranks among Europe's most depressed economies ... I am ready to carry this burden of responsibility, and I am sure that the people of Lithuania will never regret the decision to vote for me,'' Grybauskaite told a... (India Times, India)
EU Commissioner Declares Win in Lithuania Vote May 18, 2009
VILNIUS, Lithuania The European Union's budget chief was poised to become Lithuania's first woman president after a landslide victory in a vote overshadowed by the Baltic country's ailing economy, preliminary official results showed ... "There will be no second round as the president of Lithuania was elected tonight," election commission chairman Zenonas Vaigauskas said ... The results were in line with an exit poll earlier Sunday that showed voters were turning to the 53-year-old political... (Fox News)
Lithuania elects first female president May 18, 2009
VILNIUS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) budget chief Dalia Grybauskaite will become Lithuania's first female president after a landslide victory in the Baltic country's presidential election on Sunday ... Preliminary figures released by the Central Electoral Commission of Lithuania in the early hours of Monday showed that Grybauskaite won 68 ... "There will be no second round as the president of Lithuania was elected tonight," Zenonas Vaigauskas, chairman of the Central Electoral... (Xinhuanet, China)
Country profile: Lithuania May 18, 2009
Lithuania is the largest and most southerly of the three Baltic republics. Not much more than a decade after it regained its independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania was welcomed as a Nato member in late March 2004 ... Russia, anxious about the implications of the eastward advance of the EU and Nato to include the three Baltic republics, has a particular eye on Lithuania which has an important border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. (BBC News -- Europe)
Timeline: Lithuania May 18, 2009
1915 Lithuania occupied by German troops during World War I. ... 1918 - Lithuania declares independence ... 1920 - Soviet Russia recognises Lithuania's independence under Treaty of Moscow. (BBC News -- Europe)
* Lithuanians vote for new president May 18, 2009
Lithuanians vote for new president ... Lithuanians began voting yesterday in a presidential election expected to be won by EU budget commissioner Dalia Grybauskaite, at a time of deep economic recession and disenchantment with politicians ... Lithuania has already had a female prime minister in the early 1990s. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World Business)
Lithuania votes first woman in as president May 18, 2009
Lithuania apparently votes first woman in as president ... Lithuania apparently votes first woman in as president ... VILNIUS, Lithuania - The European Union's budget chief was poised to become Lithuania's first woman president after a landslide victory Sunday in a vote overshadowed by the Baltic country's ailing economy. (AZCentral -- News)
Grybauskaite elected first female president of Lithuania May 18, 2009
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EU budget chief is favorite in Lithuanian vote May 17, 2009
A man seen by an election poster board, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, May 14, 2009. Lithuanians vote in their Presidential election on Sunday, May 17, 2009 ... Advertisement VILNIUS, Lithuania - Polls opened Sunday morning in Lithuania's presidential eletion, with the European Union's budget chief strongly favored to win as crisis-weary voters seek relief from the Baltic nation's deepening economic gloom. (Santa Maria Times)
Recession-hit Lithuania heads... May 17, 2009
Recession-hit Lithuania heads to the polls ... Lithuanian presidential candidate Dalia Grybauskaite (L) looks at an election poster in Vilnius ... Recession-hit Lithuania heads to the polls in a presidential election expected to propel EU budget commissioner Grybauskaite, a fierce critic of Vilnius' handling of the economy, to power in her Baltic homeland. (Yahoo! Asia News)
Lithuania chooses new president May 17, 2009
Lithuania votes for new president ... People in Lithuania are voting for a new president amid widespread concern about the economic downturn ... She could win without needing a second round of voting, and if elected she would become Lithuania's first ever female president. (BBC News -- Europe)
Lithuanians start voting for president May 17, 2009
VILNIUS, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanians started voting early Sunday in the country's presidential election, pinning hope on the new president to lead the Baltic country out of a deepening economic crisis. Polling stations across Lithuania opened at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will close at 20:00 p.m. (1800 GMT) ... 34 million Lithuanians are eligible to vote. (Xinhuanet, China)
• EU budget chief favorite for Lithuanian president May 17, 2009
A man seen by an election poster board, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, May 14, 2009. Lithuanians vote in their Presidential election on Sunday, May 17, 2009 ... EU budget chief favorite for Lithuanian president By LIUDAS DAPKUS VILNIUS, Lithuania - Lithuanians voted for a new president Sunday, with the European Union's budget chief strongly favored to become the first female head of state in the crisis-stricken Baltic country. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Lithuanians to elect president amid recession May 16, 2009
VILNIUS, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian voters will elect a new president on Sunday ... Lithuania's central bank said on Thursday that the economy was likely to see a sharp shrinkage of 15 ... Lithuania has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the fast-growing economic "Baltic Tigers," notably since joining the EU in 2004. (Xinhuanet, China)
Seven-times winners Ireland dumped out of Eurovision May 16, 2009
Pre-contest favourites Norway, plus Albania, Lithuania, Moldova, Croatia and Azerbaijan also made the cut ... Norway Greece Ukraine (pictured) Estonia Lithuania Azerbaijan Albania Denmark Moldova Croatia. (BBC News -- Europe)
Central and Eastern Europe: No panic, just gloom May 15, 2009
The fall in Latvia was a stunning 18% and in Lithuania 12. 6. (The Economist)
IMF calls for European bank tests May 13, 2009
But the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will see their economies shrink by more than 10. "Europe is facing the economic storm of a lifetime and it urgently needs to weatherproof its institutions," said Mr Belka, who is head of the IMF's European department. (BBC News -- Europe)
Harper's slaying the protectionist dragon May 8, 2009
If it's Monday, it must be Lithuania. If it's Tuesday, it must be Latvia. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
Lithuania considers IMF lifeline to slow economic collapse May 1, 2009
Vilnius, Lithuania - Spurred by easy credit from Western banks, foreign investment, and local entrepreneurship, Lithuania was only last year among the fastest growing economies in Europe ... If Lithuania qualifies, one option could be a new flexible credit line program unveiled by the IMF in March ... Lithuania hopes to avoid the devaluation of the lita so it can stay on track for eurozone accession, as well as prevent the defaults of mortgages taken out in euros but paid in litas, a common... (Christian Science Monitor)
Lithuania's economy shrinks 12% Apr 29, 2009
Lithuania's economy shrinks 12. The Lithuanian government predicts growth will return in 2011 ... The Lithuanian economy shrank by 12. (BBC News -- Europe)
The EU Can Ignore Eastern Europe at Its Own Peril Apr 28, 2009
The early months of 2009 saw riots in Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria. Governments in Latvia, Hungary and the Czech Republic collapsed under accusations of mishandling the economic crisis. (YaleGlobal Online Magazine, CT)
Britain would consider taking Gitmo detainees Apr 28, 2009
Several European nations, including Portugal and Lithuania, have said they will consider taking such detainees. Some nations, such as Germany, are divided on the issue. (MSNBC -- International)
The troubled Baltics: Still afloat in the Baltic, just Apr 14, 2009
5 billion ($10 billion) bail-out led by the International Monetary Fund, is basing its budget on a 13% decline in GDP. Estonia and Lithuania expect a decline of a tenth ... Public protests have been muted and peaceful except for two bust-ups in Lithuania and Latvia ... Lithuania faces a presidential election in which the front-runner is the EU budget commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite. (The Economist)
Prodi Says EU Needs Crisis Budget Reserve to Counter `Fear' of Speculation Mar 5, 2009
My fear is now that one day it will be Lithuania, Latvia outside the euro, then it can be Ireland, then it can be Portugal, then Spain, then Italy, Prodi said in a speech late yesterday at in Oxford, England. Prodis call for a permanent reserve goes further than policy makers including European Central Bank Council member , who said this week that euro-area governments should help out if a member country is in need. (Bloomberg -- Europe)
The Obama-Medvedev turbo shuffle Mar 5, 2009
As reported by RIA Novosti, Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov stressed again on Tuesday, "If the deployment [of a US missile shield] is suspended, we will not start the retaliatory measures we planned." The "measures" mean Moscow deploying Iskander-M missiles to Kaliningrad, right at the border of Poland and Lithuania, both North Atlantic Treaty Organization members. That the Obama presidency's strategy boils down to luring Russia to the anti-Iran train is no secret to anyone. (Asia Times Online)
`New Europe' Longs for Bush as Obama Returns Focus to Old Allies, Russia Mar 3, 2009
Two decades after they began throwing off the yoke of the , Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria are all in the EU and NATO. So are the former Soviet republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and the former Yugoslav republic of Slovenia. The anti-missile system remains a flashpoint. (Bloomberg)
Sweden's `Mr. Fix-It' Bank-Bailout Strategy May Be a Model for U.S., U.K. Mar 2, 2009
and , the two largest lenders in the Baltic states, face soaring loan losses in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as recession looms. Still, central bank governor , another key figure in dragging Sweden out of its 1990s turmoil, said Feb. 26 the banks are strong enough to cope with their Baltic losses. (Bloomberg)
New MegaMatcher Accelerator Boosts Speed for High-Volume Biometric Identification and Database Duplicate Searching Feb 23, 2009
VILNIUS, Lithuania, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurotechnology, a provider of high-precision biometric identification technologies, is now offering MegaMatcher Accelerator, a packaged hardware and software solution for extremely fast 1-to-many (1:N) biometric fingerprint and face matching for high-volume/high-speed applications such as database duplicate searches ... Drawing from years of academic research in the fields of neuroinformatics, image processing and pattern recognition, Neurotechnology... (PR Newswire)
* Latvian prime minister quits amid economic woes Feb 22, 2009
Fellow Baltic states Lithuania and Estonia face similar troubles. Godmanis said his position became untenable when the two largest members of his center-right coalition, the Peoples Party and the Union of Greens and Farmers, failed to respond earlier on Friday to his call to back him. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Rohingya migrants; Wake up America Feb 21, 2009
In my French language class in Geneva, there are students from Ukraine, Russia, Holland, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Brazil, Albania, Cambodia, Lithuania, and a couple of other countries. I am the only American. (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
National Security: Trading Away Missile Defense Feb 18, 2009
" No one, of course, wants to deploy an unworkable system. But missile defense has already proved to be eminently workable and successful. According to the Missile Defense Agency, since 2001 there have been 37 successful hit-to-kill intercepts out of 47 attempts, an 80% success rate. Hoping to exploit his ambivalence, within hours of the election of Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced that Moscow would deploy SS-26 Iskander missiles in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad... (Investors Business Daily)
Nuclear power in the Nordic countries: Recalled to half-life Feb 14, 2009
The Poles are also talking to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia about a joint consortium to build a replacement for Lithuania s outdated Ignalina nuclear-power complex. Only the Danes and, to a lesser extent, the Germans are still anti-nuclear. (The Economist)
Letters for Friday, January 30, 2009 Feb 8, 2009
As a courtesy of the United States of America, France, Germany, Norway, Finland, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Algeria, Morocco, Romania, Kosovo, Panama, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Denmark, Kuwait, Egypt, Montenegro, New Guinea, Indonesia, Thailand, Greece, Russia, Tunisia, Ukraine, Albania, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Libya, Korea, Japan, Iraq, and yes, even Israel, are free countries. Free to vote. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Nato wary of Russian treaty plan Feb 7, 2009
This week Russian military officials seemed to put out an olive branch, linking a suspension of their plans to deploy short-range missiles in Kaliningrad - the Russian enclave between the two Nato states of Poland and Lithuania - with the suggestion that President Obama should at least pause America's plans to deploy a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Yet Russia has also let it be known that it wants to build a naval base for its warships on the Black Sea in Georgia's... (BBC News -- Europe)
