Estonia

Streaming services have been getting more expensive, and Spotify is next in line.

Starting in February, the price of ad-free individual plans will rise by $1 to $12.99 per month, the company said Thursday. The last time the price was raised was in June 2024, when premium plans were bumped from $10.99 to $11.99.

“Occasional updates to pricing across our markets reflect the value that Spotify delivers, enabling us to continue offering the best possible experience and benefit artists,” wrote the company in a release.

The higher price will take effect in the U.S., Estonia and Latvia.

This new rate comes after a hallmark week for the streaming service. Leading up to the Golden Globes, Spotify announced an expansion of its podcasting efforts. The company unveiled a new “video first” podcasting studio in Hollywood and is growing its creator program by making it easier for podcasters to make money on the platform.

The night of the awards show, the Spotify-produced podcast, Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang,” brought home the inaugural podcast award. After the ceremony, the company also premiered its first-ever video podcast, available for streaming on Netflix. Last fall, the streamers first announced the partnership between the Ringer and Netflix, which makes Spotify’s video podcasts just as accessible as Netflix’s TV shows and movies.

At the top of the year, founder Daniel Ek also moved from his CEO position to executive chairman. Spotify named two co-CEOs, Gustav Söderström and Alex Norström.

Founded in 2006, Spotify has become the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with more than 713 million users. The streamer, based in Sweden, is available in more than 180 markets and has a library of over 100 million tracks, podcasts and audiobooks. Spotify shares were down roughly 21% early Thursday at about $508.

Spotify’s main competitor, Apple Music, currently offers a similar ad-free individual plan at $10.99 a month.

This small European country is made up of over 2,000 islands and is under a three-hour flight from the UK. It might not be as popular with tourists as some other European destinations, but it has a lot to offer

A petite European nation, comprising 2,000 islands and a relatively short jaunt from the UK, Estonia is an under-the-radar gem that sees a modest number of visitors.

If you’re yearning for a change of scenery and fancy venturing off the beaten track this year, then Estonia might just tickle your fancy. According to ETIAS, this Northern European jewel lured 70,000 Brits in 2024, a stark contrast to the whopping 17.8 million who flocked to Spain.

That’s 254 times more Brits jetting off to Spain than the former Soviet state. While it may not offer the same allure of sangria, guaranteed sun and Full English breakfasts, Estonia has plenty of other charms up its sleeve. For starters, it’s a haven of natural beauty.

Over half of Estonia is blanketed by forests and peat bogs, and the country boasts over 2,000 islands, reports the Express.

READ MORE: Beautiful seaside town now ‘dying a death’ and ‘depressing’ as 1 in 4 shops lie empty

OPINION

Milo Boyd

Among these is Naissaar, home to the remnants of deserted Soviet military bases. Nestled just off the coast of the capital, Tallinn, it takes on a desolate, somewhat forgotten aura during the winter months.

Another gem is Hiiumaa, renowned for its lighthouses, unspoilt beaches and forests. It exudes tranquillity and a slightly mystical vibe, making it an ideal spot for cycling, birdwatching and escaping the hustle and bustle.

The Mirror’s Ines Santos explored one of Estonia’s most renowned islands last summer. “As I stepped off the ferry onto Estonia’s largest island, Hiiumaa, all I could hear were birds. All I could see were trees. No big buildings, no tourist attractions – just space to breathe and land untouched by mass tourism. It felt like a place still undiscovered. (And with the third fewest visitors in Europe, it kind of is),” she penned.

Ines was instantly captivated by the nation, embracing its unhurried rhythm and the mindset of its residents. “Estonian life is relaxed. There’s no ‘hustle culture,’ so people have time for hobbies, and visitors like me get to join in,” she observed.

“Sauna culture in Estonia is woven into daily life much like in Scandinavia. In fact, the country feels like the laid-back cousin of the Nordics, with similar design, a love for nature, and a fish-rich diet – but shaped by a very different history.

“Tallinn’s Old Town is full of cobbled streets and medieval buildings that still echo traces of both German and Soviet rule. Estonia only became independent in 1991, and it still wears its freedom with quiet pride. The next morning, I ferried to Estonia’s biggest islands: Hiiumaa and Saaremaa. That’s where the true beauty of the country lies. The ferries here are spacious, modern, and spotless – they feel more like floating lounges than basic transport. There’s many indoor and outdoor viewing decks, a café, and even a convenience store onboard.

“My first activity in Hiiumaa ended up being a favourite: horse riding along Käina Bay, a seaside bird paradise in the Kassari Landscape Reserve. I rode a horse named Custiv through wetlands and woodlands, and he was the best – he did not go off track and followed all my instructions!”.

Tallinn manages to squeeze an extraordinary amount into its modest footprint, seamlessly merging medieval character with contemporary flair. The simplest starting point is Tallinn Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where cobblestone lanes, historic merchant buildings and ancient towers guide visitors towards Toompea Hill for sweeping vistas across the city.

For those seeking culture, make your way to Kadriorg Park, a verdant space commissioned by Peter the Great, and explore the refined Kadriorg Art Museum. Close by, the Seaplane Harbour Museum presents one of Europe’s most captivating maritime displays.

To experience contemporary Tallinn, discover the Telliskivi Creative City, brimming with street art, coffee shops and boutique retailers, or wander along the rejuvenated Noblessner waterfront. Rummu Quarry, one of Estonia’s most captivating and unique attractions, offers a blend of raw natural splendour and eerie history.

Once a limestone quarry and Soviet-era prison labour camp, it was deserted in the 1990s and slowly filled with water, submerging buildings and machinery beneath the pristine turquoise depths. Nowadays, it draws visitors for swimming, snorkelling and diving, as well as hiking the surrounding ash hills for sweeping views.

The stark contrast between the vibrant water, stark white limestone and semi-submerged ruins lends Rummu Quarry an otherworldly feel.

The most budget-friendly time to visit Estonia is from January to March, but if you’re after warmer climes, May is your best bet. Car hire in the capital can be as cheap as £6 per day, and accommodation at Dream Stay – Mere Residence Apartments starts from £51 per night (for two people).

Estonia recently made it onto DiscoverCars. com’s list of must-visit destinations.

Flights from London clock in just under three hours and are going for £17 this month.

New telecommunications cable damage discovered in Finland’s exclusive economic zone.

Finnish authorities have seized a vessel suspected of intentionally severing undersea telecommunications cables amid fears of Russian sabotage in the Gulf of Finland.

The seized cargo vessel Fitburg was en route from the Russian port of St Petersburg ⁠to Israel at the time of the incident on Wednesday, Finnish Border Guard officials said at a news conference in Helsinki.

The Fitburg was dragging its anchor in ‌the sea and was directed to Finnish territorial waters, the police and Border Guard said.

Helsinki police opened an investigation into potential aggravated criminal damage and aggravated interference with telecommunications.

The Fitburg’s 14 crew members were from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and were all detained by Finnish police, investigators said. The ship sailed under the flag of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Finland is prepared for security challenges of various kinds, and we respond to them as necessary,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb said in a statement.

Part of the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Finland is bordered by Estonia, Finland and Russia. The area has been hit by a string of similar incidents in recent years.

The undersea cable belongs to telecommunications service provider Elisa and is considered to be critical underwater infrastructure for Finland.

The company said in a statement the cable damage has “not affected the functionality of Elisa’s services in any way”, noting services have been rerouted. Earlier, Elisa said it had detected a fault in its cable and reported it to Finnish authorities.

NATO has boosted its presence in the Baltic with frigates, aircraft and naval drones in recent years.

“We remain in contact with the Finnish authorities through exchange of information via the NATO shipping centre located at our Allied Maritime Command in Northwood, UK,” an official at the military alliance said.

A deliberate act?

Estonia’s Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs said a second telecoms cable connecting ‌the country to Finland also suffered an outage on Wednesday. It’s unclear whether the incidents are related.

“I’m concerned about the reported damage. … Hopefully it was not a deliberate act, but the investigation will clarify,” Estonian President Alar Karis said on X.

Energy and communications infrastructure, including underwater cables and pipelines, have been damaged in the Baltic Sea in recent years.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, many security analysts and political leaders have viewed cable sabotage as part of a “hybrid war” carried out by Russia against NATO countries and their allies.

On Christmas Day 2024, the Cook Islands-registered oil tanker Eagle S cut five cables in the Gulf of Finland after dragging its anchor on the seabed for 90km (56 miles).

In October, Helsinki’s District Court ruled it did not have jurisdiction to hear a case against the ship’s three senior officers. It said it was up to the vessel’s flag state or the defendants’ home countries – Georgia and India – to try them

Finnish prosecutors have appealed the ruling.