In case you missed it: August 29-September 4
With readers often having hectic lifestyles, it can be easy to miss what's been going on in Estonia this week. Here's a snapshot of some of the highlights.
B-52 flies over Estonia in NATO show of solidarity
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber made an overflight of Estonia last Friday evening as part of a pan-NATO exercise which saw similar flights over all 30 member states
September 1 was the traditional first day back at school, and saw over 14,000 first graders starting their school careers nationwide, around 4,000 of them in Tallinn. For many of those returning to school it would have been the first time they had seen the inside of a class room in many months, after coronavirus restrictions made class learning distance-only from March to the end of the 2019-2020 school year.
Gallery: €410,000 collected at Sunday's charity Duck Race
A charity duck race held annually at Kadriorg Park this year raised a record sum, €410,000 soon after the event and several thousand euros more than that at the time of writing. The race involves floating numbered rubber ducks along the park's canal; each duck is assigned to a racer whose entry fee went to a charity aimed at helping children with cancer and their families.
Estonia bars entry to Belarusian president, 29 other high-ranking officials
Estonia barred entry to 30 individuals from the Belarusian leadership, including President Alexander Lukashenko, in connection with August's presidential elections in that country, widely condemned as rigged, and the violent crackdown on protestors afterwards. Latvia and Lithuania issued similar lists; Belarus soon issued a response of its own.
'Tenet' sets opening weekend box office record
The long-awaited Christopher Nolan-directed thriller "Tenet" made its debut as soon as possible on August 26, with cinemas opening just a couple of minutes after midnight in some cases. Over the course of the following weekend, "Tenet" usurped last year's "Truth and Justice" as an Estonian box office record both in terms of receipts and numbers of cinema-goers.
Coronavirus testing starts at Tallinn airport, ferry port Tuesday
Coronavirus testing facilities have been put in place in Tallinn Airport and in the capital's ferry port. Tests are optional, but free to residents of Estonia. Returning negative eases many quarantine restrictions for those returning from "at risk" states; taking another within a week and passing negative lifts all the restrictions.
Gallery: Germany starts NATO Baltic air policing duties at Ämari
The German Air Force started the first of two back-to-back NATO Baltic air policing stints, replacing the Mirages of the French Air Force, meaning the Luftwaffe and their Eurofighter Typhoons will be flying out of Ämari for the next eight months.
Prime Minister Jüri Ratas undergoes surgery for intestinal inflammation
The prime minister was briefly hospitalized Tuesday for surgery following an inflammation in the intestinal area. He is released from hospital the next day, and is already back at work.
Estonia agrees not to buy electricity from Belarus
Following a long period of discussion on the issue and a split between Estonia and Latvia on the one side, and Lithuania on the other, the state agrees to discontinue purchasing Belarusian-generated electricity ahead of 2024's full synchronization with the European grid, and in the aftermath of the controversial presidential elections in Belarus.
Seven Nõmme Kalju footballers test positive for coronavirus
A Tallinn football team which had already seen its Europa League encounter with a visiting Slovenian team cancelled due to coronavirus fears was at the center of an almost Macbeth-like self-fulfilling prophecy, after seven of its players have indeed tested positive for COVID-19.
Anett Kontaveit advances to third round of US Open
Estonia's principal tennis star is through to round three at the Billie Jean King International Tennis Center in New York, after dispatching Slovenian Kaja Juvan in straight sets, 6:4, 6:1.
WRC Rally Estonia: Tänak fastest through shakedown test stage
Rally Estonia and the return to the full WRC calendar following the coronavirus hiatus has finally got underway in South Estonia, with local hero and reigning champion Ott Tänak fastest in the initial shakedown test in the Hyundai i20. The event runs through to Sunday afternoon.
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Editor: Andrew Whyte
