The European Union’s top court has delivered a historic victory for LGBTQ+ rights, ruling that all member states must recognize same-sex marriages lawfully performed in any EU country. In a decision announced on November 25, 2025, the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) held that refusing to acknowledge such marriages is “contrary to EU law” because it infringes fundamental rights – specifically the freedom of movement and the right to respect for private and family life.

Locals in Riga like to pose a trivia question: What was the biggest city in the 17th-century Swedish Empire? The answer, surprisingly, is Riga. This stately Hanseatic port on the Baltic Sea once outshone Stockholm itself. Yet today, Riga is a relatively modest Baltic capital, eclipsed by Nordic powerhouses like Stockholm and Copenhagen. How did a city that was once the Swedish Empire’s largest fail to become the dominant metropolis of the Baltic?

Imagine riding a subway under the snow-dusted streets of Scandinavia, surrounded by art-covered tunnel walls or gliding driverless through a sleek station. The Nordic countries boast a handful of metro systems – in Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, and Copenhagen – each reflecting the era and ethos in which it was built. Meanwhile, across the Baltic Sea, ambitious subway plans once flickered in Soviet times, only to be halted by history.

For a country often celebrated for its digital statecraft and quietly radical governance, Estonia has now achieved something even more improbable. According to a new analysis of global citation data, this nation of just 1.3 million people has become the world’s third most “scientifically wealthy” country, ranked behind only Iceland and Singapore – and notably ahead of its Nordic mentors, Finland and Sweden.

The Estonian Relief Committee in Canada (ERC) marks 75 years since post-war refugees built a new home and community in Canada. From the “Viking boat” arrivals of the 1940s to today’s 23,000 Canadians of Estonian heritage, the ERC has preserved culture and supported generations. The 2026 Let’s Celebrate fundraiser in Toronto will honor this legacy with food, music, and shared memories, highlighting resilience and the enduring spirit of Estonian-Canadians.

Next week, New York City will unveil Ernst Jaakson Way—a newly named section of East 34th Street honoring the legendary Estonian diplomat who kept his nation’s independence alive through half a century of Soviet occupation. The dedication, coinciding with Jaakson’s 120th birthday, celebrates not only the world’s longest-serving diplomat but also a man who turned a modest consulate office in Rockefeller Center into a beacon of freedom for Estonians worldwide.

In the summer of 1944, a young Estonian patriot named Endel Vaher fled his war-torn homeland with little more than faith and determination. Decades later – now known as Father Vello Salo – he would be revered as a quiet hero among Estonians abroad for keeping their culture and hope alive through the darkest years. From battlefields in Europe to classrooms in Toronto, and from Vatican City to remote Canadian forests, Salo’s life became a remarkable odyssey of service to his scattered nation.

Kicks Off Tomorrow with U.S. Premieres, Oscar Contenders & Baltic Filmmakers

Estonia is celebrating a historic achievement in the Eurovision world: Gert Kark, a veteran television producer from Tallinn, has been appointed as the Executive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest – one of the highest roles in contest organization. This marks the first time an Estonian (and indeed, a Baltic native) will help lead the production of Europe’s biggest music event at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) level.

Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium resounded with a proud moment in Estonian music history on October 23, 2025. In a sold-out concert that marked the Estonian Festival Orchestra’s North American debut, conductor Paavo Järvi led his ensemble in an all–Arvo Pärt program – a high-profile tribute to the beloved Estonian composer’s 90th birthday. Learn more about the composer, listen to the live recording and get first impressions below.