Estonia’s Song and Dance Festival is a celebration of national identity
By Elisabeth Braw
(Politico Europe)
“The Song and Dance Festival is a perfect reminder that countries can have a strong national identity and collectively nurture it, and that they can do so entirely peacefully. It also demonstrates that a nation can be strong and resolute while posing no threat.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/estonia-song-dance-festival-celebration-national-identity/
“Presidents of all 3 Baltic states attend Estonian Song Celebration.” - The Baltic Times
“Live Not By Lies and Estonia’s Singing Revolution.” - European Conservative
“Teadlased vastavad: miks on meie suvi sel aastal nii heitlik? - Novaator
“Estonian fan from China: Song Festival a celebration for everyone in Estonia.” - ERR
“How much rain fell during Estonia's 2025 Song Festival?” - ERR
“Editorial: Our very own celebration of kinship.” - Postimees
“Video: 'Iseoma' XXVIII Song Festival main concert.” - ERR
“Thousands of voices unite in song.” - Washington Post
Tallinna Raekoja platsil asunud Vaekoja lugu: 1554 kuni 1944 a.
(Forte - 2016 a.)
“Tallinna Raekoja platsil asunud vaekoda oli omal ajal üks vanalinna olulisemaid hooneid. Hoone rajati aastail 1554-55 uusehitisena turuplatsi loodenurka, nimetati Suureks ehk Uueks vaekojaks (vanem väike kaalukoda paiknes Raekoja plats 11 raeapteegi lääne-poolses osas).”
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“1930. aastatel täielikult juurdeehitistest vabastatud ja mõneti korrastatud vaekoda süttis 1944. aasta märtsipommitamise ööl Harju tänava tulemerest pärit sädemeist. Varemed lammutati kaks aastat hiljem. Koos vaekojaga kadus ka selle taga asunud lühike kitsas Teenri tänav. Kõrgreljeefsed medaljonid ja osa maalingutega paetahvleid on hoiul linnamuuseumi kogudes. Hoone kuju on sillutises ka täna parkettkividega markeeritud. See on aga kohati vigane ja raskesti eristatav ülejäänud tänavasillutisest.”
Cover art:
https://www.muis.ee/museaalview/3057355
Report: Army Europe chief unveils NATO eastern flank defense plan
(Defense News)
“Regional plans have been coming together for some time, but the Army, along with NATO, is first focusing on the Baltic states “to try to get to how do you actually make it so that industry and the nations know exactly what the requirements are — ultimately that is now known as the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line,’ Gen. Christopher Donahue said. We know what we have to develop and the use case that we’re using is you have to deter from the ground,” he said. “The land domain is not becoming less important, it’s becoming more important.
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“For example, Donahue noted that Kaliningrad is roughly 47 miles wide and surrounded by NATO on all sides and the Army and its allies now have the capability to “take that down from the ground in a timeframe that is unheard of and faster than we’ve ever been able to do. We’ve already planned that and we’ve already developed it. The mass and momentum problem that Russia poses to us … we’ve developed the capability to make sure that we can stop that mass and momentum problem.”
Estonia launches a state app to bring the government to your phone
By Silver Tambur
(Estonian World)
“The Eesti.ee app, unveiled jointly by the Estonian Information System Authority and the justice ministry, allows users to securely access government services, view their personal data, and – starting this month – verify their identity using their smartphone.”
https://estonianworld.com/technology/estonia-launches-state-app-to-bring-government-to-your-phone/
“ERR-i eksperiment: baarid-poed suhtuvad telefoniga isikutõendamisse skepsisega.” - ERR
“Eesti äpp sai 7. juulil isikusamasuse tõendamise funktsiooni.” - ERR
Eesti ee for iPhone in the Apple App Store
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EstoNews Runs on Coffee
and Vana Tallinn
(EstoNews)
If you find the geopolitical news from Estonia and the Baltic Sea region helpful and informative, consider buying me a cup of coffee or a shot of Vana Tallinn every once in a while to keep me going - visit the PayPal link below. Tänan!
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/EstoNews100
EstoNews On-Line:
https://estonewsoftheweek.blogspot.com/
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Narva jõel avati veehoidla väravad ja äratati ellu kosed
(ERR)
“Tänu vihmasele suvele on Narva jões nii palju vett, et seda jätkub nii elektri tootmiseks kui ka vana jõesängi täitmiseks. Narva muuseum korraldab lisaekskursioone, et kõik soovijad saaksid Narva koski vaadata. Narva veehoidla paisuga suunatakse vett hüdroelektrijaama. Kui aga vett on liiga palju, tuleb paisu väravad avada ja nõnda pääsebki Narva jõgi oma ajaloolisesse sängi.”
https://www.err.ee/1609748985/narva-joel-avati-veehoidla-varavad-ja-aratati-ellu-kosed
Estonian President Alar Karis rejects religious legislation
(Church Times)
“President Karis has defended his repeated refusal to sign the legislation with the assertion that — despite the changes made to the text after the first vote in the unicarmeral Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu — it still conflicts with the Constitution and ‘disproportionately restricts freedom of association and freedom of religion’. He said that, according to the explanatory memorandum to the law, the legislation not only addressed administrative relationships, but also sought to regulate church teachings and religious rites.”
Kaitsevägi on hakanud droonisõda tõsiselt võtma, pall on poliitikute väravas
Meelis Oidsalu
(Postimees Arvamus)
“Ukraina sõja kogemus näitab, et lisaks relvastumisele on vaja muuta riigikaitse hanke- ja arenduspraktikaid ning et järgmise sõja võidab mitte see, kellel on kallimad mänguasjad, vaid kes suudab kiiremini katsetada, eksida – ja õppida, kirjutab Fookuse «Võimu ja julgeoleku» toimetaja Meelis Oidsalu.”
NATO Tested Methods to Counter Fiber-Optic Drones in Estonia
(Baltic Sentinel)
“Traditional drones are controlled via radio signals, making them easy targets for electronic warfare (EW) systems. However, Russians have begun using fiber-optic drones connected to operators through ultra-thin fiber-optic cables. These cables act like invisible threads, granting the drones immunity to radio-wave interference and making detection nearly impossible. … To counter this new and complex threat, Ukraine and NATO planned their first tests of drones and other technologies specifically designed against Russian fiber-optic UAVs. The trials took place on June 20 in Estonia, organized by NATO and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center.”
https://balticsentinel.eu/8278933/nato-tests-methods-to-counter-fiber-optic-drones-in-estonia
“‘A Revolution in Drone Warfare’: As Russian Fiber-Optic Drones Flood the Battlefield.” - The Moscow Times
Estonia ending its contribution to US-led Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq
(ERR)
“Operation Inherent Resolve is currently Estonia's largest foreign military operation, with up to 110 troops participating under a mandate from the Riigikogu, but Estonia will end its participation in the operation by this September. The move is not the end of the EDF's contribution to Iraqi security overall, however; Estonia will continue contributing to the NATO NMI training mission based in Baghdad.”
Estonia ready to host NATO jets carrying nuclear weapons, says defense minister
(ERR)
“Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur (Reform) said Estonia would be prepared to host allied fighter jets with nuclear capabilities in the future after the UK said it would buy new F-35 jets that can carry nuclear bombs. … The new F-35A jets can still carry conventional weapons, but have the option of being equipped with US-made nuclear bombs.”
“Moscow upset if Estonia hosts nuclear-capable UK jets.” - Newsweek
“Kremlin says Estonia's readiness to host nuclear-capable NATO jets threatens Russia.” - Reuters
First HIMARS launch by Estonia marks milestone in Baltic defense
(Stars and Stripes | DVIDS)
“Years of joint training with U.S. soldiers on a highly sought-after precision strike weapon came to the crowning achievement for Estonia in recent days, with its forces’ inaugural launch of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. Friday’s live-fire exercise on the Baltic Sea island of Saaremaa marks a milestone for Estonia and the broader region, which has worked to deepen military ties with the United States amid the Russia-Ukraine war. A video posted on X by Estonia’s Defense Ministry shows several HIMARS launchers firing projectiles toward the sea, along with the caption “Yup, they work!”
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2025-07-14/estonia-himars-first-fire-18437371.html
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https://www.dvidshub.net/news/542673/first-himars-live-fire-marks-milestone-estonia
“Russia Labels Estonia’s First HIMARS Exercises a ‘Provocation’.” - Militarnyi
“Russia vows to 'firmly defend' interests in Baltic after Estonia HIMARS test.” - Kyiv Independent
Estonia Plans to Deploy Armed Robot Ships to Patrol Eastern Waters Along Russian Border
(ERR | Baltic Sentinel)
“… including the Narva River and Lake Peipus.”
“Never send a human to do a machine’s job.” - Baltic Sentinel
“Denmark Deploys Sea Drones to Patrol the Baltic Sea.” - Baltic Sentinel
Narva mayor satisified with planned location of new EDF base
(ERR)
“The planned Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) base, which will cost around €15 million and accommodate up to 1,000 soldiers, will be located in the Kadastiku industrial area on the outskirts of Narva.”
Estonia’s President Alar Karis on AI in schools
(Euronews)
“The whole school system is probably going to be upside down in the coming years,” Karis tells Euronews Next. Schools may be closed for the summer holidays, but Estonia’s teachers will be spending the break learning how to use artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to prepare a new generation to use the technology. … AI could help teachers plan their lessons and give more personalised feedback to children, Karis said, but the technology, which is developing fast as competition among AI companies is fierce, also poses many ethical questions.”
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“The whole school system is probably going to be upside down in the coming years. But it's in a very early stage. And how and where it develops, it's very difficult to say,” he said. “With AI, it's not the problem with technology itself, but just the speed [of development] and then people get very anxious because of the speed rather than technology.”
“Estonia Debuts AI Chatbots for High School Classrooms.” - IEEE
“How Estonia outpaced the rest of Europe at digitalization.” - Deutsche Welle
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“Analysis: High food prices in Estonia here to stay.” - ERR
“Vihma tõttu kerkinud Reiu jõgi uputab Surju kanti.” - ERR
“PPA warn tourists who visit Estonian-Russian border at Saatse.” - ERR
“Estonian guards urge tourists not to stop on unusual Russian border road.” - TVP
“Increasing number of young people keen to voluntarily enter conscript service.” - The Baltic Times
“Estonia has 7 golf courses, a 5-month season and a 20-year-old amateur at the British Open.” - Times Union
“Meet the Estonian amateur who started golf by accident and qualified for the British Open.” - The Guardioan
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Around the Baltic Sea
Who were Uralic people? Researchers solve an ancient mystery
By Fred Schwaller
(Deutsche Welle)
“Genetic research traced the ancestral homeland of Uralic people, whose descendants live in Russia, Hungary, Finland and Estonia.”
https://www.dw.com/en/who-were-uralic-people-researchers-solve-an-ancient-mystery/a-73136278
“The origins of the Finnish, Estonian, and Hungarian languages lie thousands of kilometres east of what scholars once believed.” - Helsinki Times
Tallinn-Rīga-Vilnius train link enjoys high demand and exceeds expectations
(ERR | LSM)
“A trainline launched between the capitals of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in January has exceeded expectations and sales of bus tickets on the same route have dropped by more than 25 %.”
https://news.err.ee/1609745033/tallinn-vilnius-train-connection-exceeds-expectations
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https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/transport/14.07.2025-tallinn-riga-vilnius-train-link-enjoys-high-demand.a606692/
Moscow Launches New Propaganda Campaign Against NATO Use of Denmark’s Bornholm
By Paul Goble
“… Russian commentators have focused their attention on islands in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic as possible targets for Russian attack if the countries to which they belong adopt a stronger defense strategy there. Until now, Denmark’s Bornholm has attracted the least Russian attention …”
https://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2025/07/moscow-launches-new-propaganda-campaign.html
Combat Medicine: A New Era in Ukraine
By David Kirichenko
(CEPA)
“As with so much in the war against Ukraine, there are valuable lessons to be learned by the militaries of NATO armies, because the new environment is radically different from anything seen before. Western doctors should be taking notes. … “Medics out here are forced to learn on the fly because we have no other choice. And nine times out of 10, it’s not just one or two wounded, it’s a full-blown mass casualty situation. “Almost all the injuries we see now are drone-related injuries,” says Colonel Kostiantyn Humeniuk, Chief Surgeon of the Medical Forces of Ukraine.”
https://cepa.org/article/combat-medicine-a-new-era-in-ukraine/
Heatwave in Finnish Lapland
(Yle | Helsinki Times)
“A period of unusually high temperatures across Finland Lapland, where the mercury rose above 30 degrees Celsius [86 F] on Tuesday, has been making headlines around the world. News agency Reuters noted that summer temps in northern Finland usually reach around 20 degrees Celsius, [68 F] but rare hotter weather is becoming more common".
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Finnair ranked Europe’s worst airline
(Helsinki Times | Euronews)
“… by a new consumer index after months of flight cancellations, delays, and customer complaints. The company is also facing a financial hit of up to €100 million and a severe decline in public trust. … “Finnair is traditionally seen as a premium airline, yet it landed at the bottom with budget carriers,” Flightright’s Feyza Türkön told Bild. … The damage to Finnair’s reputation could be long-lasting.”
—
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“What we know about Ukraine's government reshuffle.” - France24
“Blue-green algae rises slightly in the Baltic Seas.” - Daily Finland
“Unemployment in Sweden has risen to 6.9%.” - Radio Sweden
“Lithuania: Border guards intercept UAV from Belarus.” - Delfi
“Finland in discussions to send prisoners to Estonian jails.” - TVP
“Estonia could make 600 places available to convicts from Sweden.” - Daily
“Kliimaministeerium: Euroopa eelarvekava on Rail Balticule positiivne.” - ERR
“Chiefs of the Defense Staffs of Finland and Estonia met in Estonia.” - Finnish Defense Command press release
“Finnish and Estonian defence chiefs agree on new steps in regional cooperation.” - Helsinki Times
“Lithuania tests bunkers in simulation of Russian artillery strikes.” - LRT
“The Corner House: Latvia's KGB Headquarters.” - Places / YouTube
“Russia to close Polish consulate in Kaliningrad.” - Polska Agencja Prasowa
“Russian UAV crashed in Lithuania last week.” - New Voice of Ukraine
“Stubb welcomes Trump plan to send more weapons to Ukraine.” - Yle
“The Baltic ringed seal population has increased fivefold since the 1970s.” - Yle
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Russia’s Forever War
Russia’s increasing use of chemical weapons in Ukraine ‘unbearable,’ says Kaja Kallas
(Politico Europe | The Guardian)
“Moscow is using banned chemical weapons to inflict as “much pain and suffering” as possible to force Ukraine to surrender.”
—
“Weapons will be Europe’s support to Ukraine – not Trump’s.”
—
“EL pitsitab uue sanktsioonipaketiga Vene energiaeksporti.” - Postimees
Political prisoners in Russia call for prisoner exchanges
(Novaya Gazeta)
“… and urgent medical aid amid a growing humanitarian crisis. Russia’s prison system is teetering on the brink of collapse.”
https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/07/17/due-negligence-en
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Putin Health Rumors: Fact or Fiction?
(National Interest)
“Western media outlets, Ukrainian officials, and some intelligence leaks have repeatedly suggested the Russian president may be battling serious illnesses like terminal cancer or Parkinson’s disease. Still, no credible medical source has confirmed any diagnosis.”
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/could-putin-really-have-cancer-209233
Putin’s regime is beginning to come apart
(The Telegraph - Opinion)
“Many surmise that Europe is at its 1939 moment again. … But as likely, perhaps, is that Russia is at its 1934 moment. On December 1 1934, Sergei Kirov, the Soviet politician and Bolshevik revolutionary, was shot and killed by Leonid Nikolaev. Nikolaev and several alleged accomplices were convicted in a show trial and executed less than 30 days later. Kirov’s assassination was used by Stalin as a reason for starting the Moscow trials and the Great Purge; he accused Grigory Zinoviev, Lev Kamenev and others of being part of a wider conspiracy to undermine the Soviet Union.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/08/putins-regime-is-beginning-to-come-apart/
Russia’s military running out of tanks
(Novaya Gazeta)
“Citing data collected by the Warspotting project, an open-source monitor of Russian military losses, Dialog.ua noted that the number of Russian tanks lost in the war zone hit an all-time low in May 2025, not because they were “being better protected”, but because ‘they simply no longer exist’.”
—
“The Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) noted that 1960s-era T-62 tanks were being readied for combat at a repair plant in Russia’s far eastern Zabaykalsky region, before being deployed to western Russia from the Eastern Military District. The technical condition of most of these vehicles, according to the GUR, was “unsatisfactory” as they “had been stored outdoors for decades”, without ever being serviced.”
https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2025/07/11/running-on-empty-en
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“Russian lawmaker says WhatsApp should ‘prepare to leave’ the country.” - Meduza
“Un-orthodox intelligence operations: How Russia is using its churches abroad.” - Euronews
“Russia’s Only Aircraft Carrier Under Repair Since 2017 May Finally Be Scrapped.” - Paul Goble
“Estonian PM: only force can stop Putin, and even Trump agrees now.” - Ukrainska Pravda
“Sales of New-Build Homes Plummet in Russia as Mortgage Subsidy Ends.” - The Moscow Times
“State-owned Russian Railways is at a crisis point.” - Novaya Gazeta
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