A several kilometer long line of trucks waiting to enter Russia from Latvia has built up at the Terehova border crossing point, reports news agency LETA. One driver said that in five days, he has only moved about 300 meters closer to the border checkpoint. Representatives of the State Border Guard say that their Russian colleagues at the Terehova border crossing point have explained that they have recently started using new computer software for registering the trucks, and adjusting to the new system has caused slower checking of the vehicles at the border. Truck drivers heading for Russia are in a difficult situation - they did not expect that the wait would be so long, and most have not taken food with them. The cafe on the Latvian-Russian border does not have the capacity to serve all the hungry drivers. There have been no problems however at the crossing point. The record number of trucks clogged at the Terehova border was 1,700, this on August 16, 2007.
The average gross monthly salary in Latvia was 469 lats (670 euros) in the first quarter of this year, according to the Central Statistics Bureau, reports news agency LETA. This was 16 lats higher than the first quarter in 2008. Average public sector wages were 512 lats before taxes. The highest salaries in Latvia are seen with those working in finance and insurance, at 1,035 lats per month in the private sector, and 1,190 lats in the public sector. The second highest salaries are earned in information and communications jobs, at 789 lats for private sector employees, 942 lats for public. Next come jobs in energy, natural gas supply, heating and air conditioning work, with earnings of 700 lats for the private sector before taxes, and 556 lats for public sector. The lowest average gross monthly wages in the private sector are in the lodging and catering industries, 279 lats per month. The bottom rung earnings for public sector workers are 394 lats, this if working in the arts, entertainment and recreation.
The first chartered Japan Airlines flight touched down on August 3 at Riga International Airport bringing 283 tourists and representatives from the Japanese tourism industry to Latvia, reports news agency LETA. This chartered flight is an 'experiment' that is expected to raise Japanese tourists' interests about Latvia, as an appealing travel destination, said Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Yoshiaki Hompo. The Boeing 747 aircraft was received with a 'water christening' ceremony as the guests were greeted with a traditional Latvian welcoming. Hompo pointed out that Latvia is a competitive tourism destination and he highlighted the possibility that Riga's Old Town and Rundale Palace could be among the principal tourist attractions for Japanese coming to Latvia. Chairman of the board of Japan Association of Travel Agents Akira Kanai underlined the importance of simple contacts between people that are the basis for cooperation, in economic, cultural, educational and other sectors. He called this first charter flight 'a legendary event'. "We have discussed creating direct air traffic links between Riga and Japan, with the Japanese party. These chartered flights are the first step in the process and it is our duty to prove that we are reliable partners. If we manage to fulfill this task, and I am sure we will, the cooperation will result in regular chartered flights, or even launching direct flight routes, to Japan," said member of the board at the Riga International Airport Janis Balkens.
