- Lithuania’s bestselling writer Gediminas Kulikauskas : “I have the privilege of writing whatever I find interesting”
You know it – some books are so riveting that you savour every word, from the beginning to the very end, a feedback that makes an author feel over the moon.
- Ieva Feldman-Walmsley: living to the fullest and changing Latvia for better
Ieva Feldman-Walmsley is a young political hopeful, working at the Latvian parliament, and already being tipped by some as a future Prime Minister, even before she wins a seat!
- Seymour Ferreira: “There has been a substantial increase in sales of Riga Black Balsam”
In a rare interview, Seymour Ferreira, the Chief Executive Officer of Amber Beverage Group owners of Riga Black Balsam, told The Baltic Times that the brand had a safe and exciting future in Latvia.
- Kristjan Jarvi – “I am just like Ferdinand the Bull – all I want to do is sit and smell the flowers”
In early August, Kristjan Jarvi released an album entirely of his compositions, Nordic Escapes.
- Philosopher Alvydas Jokubaitis: “Even God can be exploited in the world of politics”
Professor Alvydas Jokubaitis, who is a lecturer at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, part of Lithuania’s Vilnius University, and the head of the Institute’s Department of Political Philosophy and History of Ideas, is considered to be one of the most intellectually provocative thinkers in contemporary Lithuania.
- Political scientist Kestutis Girnius: “President Gitanas Nauseda has more pluses than minuses”
While other political scientists are often mindful of “political correctness” when it comes to weighing in on some thorny and/or hot issues or personalities of the political life, Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of political sciences at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University, is straight as an arrow and never beats around the bush.
- The similarity of COVID-19 and the weeks prior to Latvia’s 1990 declaration of independence – the radio
As much as Valdis Birkavs, Latvia’s former Prime Minister and a four-time Foreign affairs minister in 5 different governments, would like these days to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the country’s independence to which he has significantly contributed, the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping everyone on edge, is on Mr Birkavs’, lips, too.
- Peeking into the distant future of humankind where we will live like a single nation
For Justinas Jautzemis, the skies and the stars a million light years ago conjure up other feelings than just marvel and admiration.
- “I am proud to be a Jew, an Israeli, an Ambassador, an Author, a gay and a father”
I have never met a more straightforward, out-spoken and honest ambassador than Yossi Levy, Israel’s new ambassador to Lithuania, who spoke candidly to The Baltic Times Magazine not only about the still unscarred wounds of Lithuanian-Israeli history, but also about his private life.
- Hotels will become increasingly more involved with local communities
The Baltic hotel sector is expanding robustly with some top-tier hotel additions awaited later this year.
- An explorer-pioneer with an open and curious mind and heart – Hamid Ladjevardi
A former Morgan Stanley wealth manager, Hamid Ladjevardi, who is now chairman of American Baltic Investments and a distinguished philanthropist, saw great potential for economic, business, and cultural development in the Baltics during the early 1990s.
- The Holy See’s Apostolic Nuncio: “The Church has persevered but secularism affects Lithuania too”
The Holy See has recently accredited a new Apostolic Nuncio to Lithuania.
- Moldova’s Lithuania Ambassador: “We want to eventually become eligible for EU-membership”
Lithuania looks forward to expanding relations not only with the members of the common bloc it is in, the European Union, but with those outside it too.
- Israel’s new ambassador to Latvia: “I have not encountered anti-Semitism here”
Her Excellency Ms Orli Gil, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Israel to Latvia, has just presented her credentials to the Latvian President, Egils Levits.
- Bank of Latvia cuts growth forecast for 2019 and 2020
The Bank of Latvia has lowered its gross domestic product growth projection for this year from 2.9 percent to 2.5 percent, according to adjusted data, and the growth projection for 2020 from 3.1 percent to 2.6 percent, Bank of Latvia Governor Ilmars Rimsevics told the press September 20.
- New Nordica CEO: as the previous business model did not work, we now need to brainstorm on new ideas
After shaky recent ups and down, Nordica, Estonia’s premier airline, looks for much-needed stability and growth with the company’s new CEO, Mr. Gunnar Kobin, at the helm. The former media executive will take over the rudder starting September 1, 2019. He kindly agreed to answer the questions by The Baltic Times.
- Klaipeda University eyes a spot among world’s top 100 small-sized universities
Klaipeda University (KU) in the Lithuanian seaport of Klaipeda has been beaming as a lighthouse in city’s cultural and scientific life during its 28 year history.
- The biggest challenge is still migration
Where in the world are things likely to blow up next?
- Estonia 100 will be remembered as a great period of Estonian history
In 2018, Estonia embarked on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of its statehood.
- After his mission to Moscow a privileged posting in Riga
For Arti Hilpus, the new Estonian ambassador to Latvia, the job in Riga is a kind of a relief after his diplomatic mission to Moscow, but what he calls a “privileged” relationship between Latvia and Estonia, two neighbours, obligates the need to strive to take full advantage of these close-knit ties.