Alexander Welscher

Alexander Welscher

Freelance Contributor


View author's articles: English

Ārpus ētera
Celebrating Johann Gottfried Herder in Rīga
Celebrating Johann Gottfried Herder in Rīga
Happy birthday, Herder! Rīga marked the 280th anniversary of one of its most famous former short term residents with a public commemoration. But who exactly was Johann Gottfried Herder and what is the nature of his association with the city that bears his name on one of its squares?
A very special link: Immanuel Kant and Latvia
A very special link: Immanuel Kant and Latvia
Immanuel Kant is regarded as one of Europe’s most important philosophers and greatest thinkers. Spending all his life in Königsberg, the German philosopher from Prussia changed the world without having seen much of it first-hand. With events happening around the globe to mark 300 years since his birth, Latvia has more reason to celebrate than most places as, interestingly, his life and work were closely related to Rīga and what today is Latvia.
The Bundesbank's man in the Baltics
The Bundesbank's man in the Baltics
As previously reported by LSM, the Deutsche Bundesbank has taken a new focus on the Baltic States – and posted Nikola Marcinko as its special representative in Rīga with responsibility for Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in an initiative to deepen ties with the Baltic central banks.
Rīga and Bremen talk up their twin hopes for the future
Rīga and Bremen talk up their twin hopes for the future
Rīga and Bremen are not only connected by a common Hanseatic history and similarities in terms of urban development, but also an official city partnership. Bremen's new parliament speaker Antje Grotheer wants to make the most out of it and work more closely together – to mutual benefit.
Keeping watch along Latvia's border with Belarus
Keeping watch along Latvia's border with Belarus
Largely snow-covered with picture-postcard scenes of snowy fields and solitary forests: the countryside near the small village of Silene in the very southeast of Latvia is extremely beautiful in the winter.
Furrowed brows at the World Ploughing Championships in Latvia
Furrowed brows at the World Ploughing Championships in Latvia
It's much more than a simple agricultural necessity: ploughing has become a source of both entertainment and sporting rivalry between farmers. This could be seen at the World Ploughing Championships 2023 in Kuldīga where ploughmen turned Latvian soil over two days.
Rīga return for Anatole Lapine, visionary Latvian automotive designer
Rīga return for Anatole Lapine, visionary Latvian automotive designer
Some designers and their works are trendy for a short while before being forgotten, while others like Anatole Lapine (1930-2012) set timeless trends. The native-born Latvian left a remarkable mark in the automotive industry – as chef designer of an iconic German premium sportscar brand.
Liepāja 2027: creative rest and unrest
Liepāja 2027: creative rest and unrest
Rīga’s stint as European Capital of Culture back in 2014 was a success. In a few years, a second Latvian city will be given the honour to present itself as a cultural hotspot: Liepāja. Both the city and the cultural program are ready to go – and there is a lot to expect.
Latvia and Germany singing together in the same choir
Latvia and Germany singing together in the same choir
Enjoying the power of song, the German Bundestag President Bärbel Bas recently attended the Latvian Song Festival anniversary celebrations. While visiting Riga, she also held political talks with five other speakers of parliaments, congratulated the newly inaugurated Latvian president and found a moment to talk to LSM.
The old, new voice from the West returns to Rīga
The old, new voice from the West returns to Rīga
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) was forced to suspend its operations in Russia – and has relocated to Latvia. The US-broadcaster has big plans with its new office in Rīga that marks the return of a Cold War-era
mass media outlet whose mission is still considered relevant.
Germany's Deutsche Welle relocates Moscow office to Rīga
Germany's Deutsche Welle relocates Moscow office to Rīga
German broadcaster Deutsche Welle was forced to cease its operations in Russia – and has relocated to Latvia. A brand new exile office of the German international broadcaster is based in Rīga and is unconcerned about the recent furore concerning the local media watchdog's recent dealings with another media channel that relocated from Russia, 'Dozhd' (TV Rain).
Wooden wonders of Rīga and Latvia
Wooden wonders of Rīga and Latvia
Latvia has a long tradition of building houses from natural resources. Wooden architecture is preserved in abundance in Riga, but also elsewhere in the Baltic State it has withstood hard times. Many beautiful wooden houses can still be admired in their original setting, writes Alexander Welscher, in this feature from Baltic Business Quarterly magazine which is published by the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK) and is reproduced here with permission.
Home Alone with Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš
Home Alone with Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš
Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš had to spend two weeks in self-quarantine at the start of the coronavirus crisis, and has since been leading a government remotely from a home office in times of social distancing. Alexander Welscher asks how it all works in this feature from Baltic Business Quarterly magazine which is published by the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK) and is reproduced here with permission from a special COVID-19 edition.

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