Mike Collier

eng.LSM.LV

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Author's articles
AS IT HAPPENED: Eurovision Semi-Final
AS IT HAPPENED: Eurovision Semi-Final

It's Eurovision. Triana Park is (are?) competing on behalf of Latvia. It's happening in Kyiv, capital of Ukraine, under the slogan "Celebrate Diversity". Let's see if they do and more importantly whether Triana Park makes it to the final!

(Most recent post at the top of the list below. You may need to press refresh every so often)

British newspaper hallucinates about Latvian penis
British newspaper hallucinates about Latvian penis

The use of a question as a headline is usually an indicator that the writer lacks the courage of their conviction, and that appears to be the case in a report in the UK press about the possible presence of a phantom penis on stage during Latvia's Eurovision song contest rehearsal.

Listen: Baiba Rubesa and Siim Kallas on Rail Baltica
Listen: Baiba Rubesa and Siim Kallas on Rail Baltica

At the Rail Baltica Global Forum taking place in Riga April 24-25, LSM tracked down two of the best-known figures in attendance, RB Rail chairwoman and CEO Baiba Rubess and former European Union Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas from Estonia. 

Rail Baltica predicted to bring €16 billion benefit
Rail Baltica predicted to bring €16 billion benefit

A two-day "global forum" on the major Rail Baltica infrastructure project began in Riga April 24 with organizers and officials claiming it would bring a huge range of economic and other benefits to the region.

Latvia streaks toward space!
Latvia streaks toward space!

Latvia took its first small but significant step towards conquering the cosmos April 20 with the launch of a small rocket from an airfield near Cesis.

Story of Jewish Rēzekne told in new book
Story of Jewish Rēzekne told in new book

A year after a landmark conference on the subject, Jewish life in Latvia's eastern city of Rēzekne has been brought vividly back to life in a new book.

Mairis Briedis - champion of the world!
Mairis Briedis - champion of the world!

Mairis Briedis has become Latvia's first ever world boxing champion. Briedis won the prestigious WBC and the IBO Cruiserweight titles with an outstanding display in Germany against local favorite Marco Huck.

Trump praises Latvian-made golf glove
Trump praises Latvian-made golf glove

US President Donald Trump lavished praise April 1 on a Latvia-made golf glove, crediting the five-fingered leather accessory with improving his handicap.

Viewpoint: Genius wanted - apply here!
Viewpoint: Genius wanted - apply here!

Are you a Latvian genius? Do you know a Latvian genius? Would you like to be a Latvian genius? If you can answer "Yes" to any of these questions, or ideally all of them, you are just the person we are looking for!

LIVEBLOG: Latvia at the London Book Fair
(update)
LIVEBLOG: Latvia at the London Book Fair (update)

The Baltic states are joining forces at the London Book Fair being held March 14-16 to promote the region's writers and writing. LSM is along for the ride and will update you on all the latest literary happenings.

Viewpoint: Here is the #FAKENEWS!
Viewpoint: Here is the #FAKENEWS!

I should warn you in advance that what you are about to read constitutes "fake news". Apologies: that should of course read "#FAKENEWS!"

AS IT HAPPENED: Supernova 2017 Final!
AS IT HAPPENED: Supernova 2017 Final!

It's finally here. No use ignoring it. Face facts. It's the final of Supernova, Latvia's competition to decide who it is going to send to the Eurovision finals in Kyiv, Ukraine this May. Updates below.

LSM's internet audit: Rail Baltica
LSM's internet audit: Rail Baltica

Rail Baltica is one of the most important and expensive projects ever undertaken by the Baltic states. It has been talked about for more than a decade and will take the best part of another decade to build.

Liveblog: TechChill 2017
Liveblog: TechChill 2017

TechChill is Latvia's premier startup and entrepreneurship festival and this year's event is taking place February 9 and 10 in Riga. LSM is staking it out on your behalf.

The official TechChill website is HERE.

You can also follow the #TechChill hashtag on Twitter HERE.

«What's the latest BUZZREP out of Vilnius?»
«What's the latest BUZZREP out of Vilnius?»

Prepare to be stunned, shocked and concerned; not by the prospect of a depleted NATO fighting a desperate war in the Baltic states, but by possibly the worst prose style you will ever encounter. 

Viewpoint: Lingua Franca
Viewpoint: Lingua Franca

There is a lot of talk at the moment about the possibility of using English in a semi-official capacity at state institutions in Latvia. As editor of LSM's English-language service, you might expect me to be all for this. But to tell the truth, I'm not so sure this is a good idea.