European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will launch negotiations on a security and defence partnership with Iceland, marking a significant deepening of ties between the Nordic nation and the European Union. Standing alongside Iceland’s new Prime Minister, Kristrún Frostadóttir, at a press conference in Keflavík, von der Leyen outlined plans for closer cooperation on emerging security challenges. “We will cooperate more closely on hybrid threat response, civil protection and secure communications,” she said, emphasizing joint efforts against cyber and other non-traditional threats.

The Nordic region is witnessing a remarkable boom in artificial intelligence startups, with Sweden at the forefront. Stockholm-based Lovable has just become Sweden’s latest tech unicorn, highlighting a wave of innovative AI companies emerging across Sweden and its Nordic neighbors.

At the turn of the 20th century, Riga – now Latvia’s capital – was booming. Railway lines, shipyards and factories had made it one of the Russian Empire’s richest cities, with its population surging by 88% between 1897 and 1913 (to about 530,000). Much of Latvia in this era was an industrial heartland serving the vast empire, and Riga’s harbor and machine works funneled enormous wealth into the city. This prosperity spawned a building boom: from 1910–1913 some 300–500 new buildings per year rose in Riga, mostly in the then-fashionable Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) style.

Estonia’s journey to reclaim independence in 1991 – after half a century under Soviet rule – is often remembered for the courage and unity of the Estonian people. Mass singing demonstrations, human chains across the Baltics, and shrewd political moves defined this “Singing Revolution.” Less known, however, is the covert but crucial support from neighboring Finland. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Finland acted as a supportive “big brother,” quietly funneling financial aid, training, and resources to help Estonia rebuild its state – all while maintaining a delicate balance with the Soviet Union.

Every five years, Estonia’s Laulupidu and Tantsupidu turn Tallinn into a sea of song and swirling folk costumes—but the chorus echoing across the city is only part of a larger Baltic story. From 19th‑century national awakenings through the peaceful “Singing Revolution” that toppled Soviet rule, mass choral and dance festivals in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have kept language, identity, and freedom alive. This richly reported feature dives into that shared heritage, showing how three small nations still unite hundreds of thousands of voices—and remind the world that a people who can sing together can also change their destiny.

Nordic and Baltic leaders have become among the most vocal and active supporters of Ukraine’s fight against Russia. In a February 2025 joint statement, the eight countries (Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland plus Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) vowed to “further increase” support for Ukraine, emphasizing that “Ukraine must be able to prevail against Russia’s war of aggression, to ensure a just and lasting peace”.

As a celebrity makeup artist working with red carpet clients, editorial shoots, and high-definition film, skin is truly the canvas that makes or breaks any look. Great makeup begins with great skin—radiance can’t be faked under the unforgiving lens of a camera.

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# neil young live in sweden review: the chrome hearts kick off european tour with mercurial brilliance **by mark golley** *updated on june 19, 2025, at 3:52 pm* in an impressive start to their european tour, neil young and his new band, the chrome hearts, performed at the stunning dalhalla venue in rättvik, sweden, on june 18, 2025

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In an era where global security dynamics are continuously shifting, Estonia is taking significant steps to bolster its national defense

# 2025 world cup kicks off strongly in sweden the 2025 orienteering world cup commenced successfully in sweden, attracting over 300 participants to compete in the first round of the year

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