16.10.26 NEWS ... Energy minister Erkki Keldo (Reform) wants to work with Latvia to permanently stop Russian gas transit through the Baltics, with other options on the table if talks fail.

16.10.26 NEWS ... While Donald Trump's unpredictable behavior and disruptions to Starlink are complicating the situation in Ukraine, the U.S. president does not have the power to force Ukraine to surrender, security expert Ilmar Raag finds.

16.10.26 NEWS ... Many food couriers and ride-hailing drivers in Estonia work exhausting hours that put their health and road safety at risk, but the government has no plans to intervene.

16.10.26 NEWS ... A cyberattack on French grocery stores Sunday that resulted in large quantities of food being destroyed is also a warning sign for Estonia, cybersecurity experts say.

16.10.26 NEWS ... The European Commission has given preliminary approval for nearly €32 million toward Estonia's eastern border drone surveillance system, a project already partly built.

16.10.26 NEWS ... Swimmer Ralf Tribuntsov set a new domestic record in the 100-meter backstroke at the World Cup stage in Astana, Kazakhstan, finishing third in 49.88 seconds.

16.10.26 NEWS ... Museums are concerned that the loss of research funding will jeopardize their projects and hope the decision will be reversed.

16.10.26 NEWS ... The Interior Ministry plans to redesign Estonian passports and add new security features, with blue covers returning for citizen passports from 2030.

16.10.26 NEWS ... The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Estonia submitted a formal diplomatic note to the Riigikogu over lawmakers' attendance at an event celebrating Taiwan's National Day in Tallinn.

16.10.26 NEWS ... The Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to provide grants to regional tourism organizations to encourage tourists to visit parts of Estonia outside Tallinn.

16.10.26 NEWS ... "Lihtsad uudised," meaning easy or simple news, is for anyone who wants to improve their Estonian language skills. Read a selection of this week's news stories below.

16.10.26 NEWS ... A scale model of Estonia's planned €49.93 million electric ferry has passed its first tests in Germany, reaching 14 knots where the contract requires 12.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Phone operator Elisa is to shut down its 2G mobile network in 2028, Sakala reported.

15.10.26 NEWS ... The coalition parties want to allow Estonian citizens by birth to hold dual citizenship. The opposition questions what problem the change is intended to solve.

15.10.26 NEWS ... A former Estonian Defense Forces member is currently in a Russian prison, accused by the FSB of planning to fight for Ukraine — a charge his family says was forced out of him.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Tartu Prison Director Merle Ulst acknowledged that renting out prison space is a new situation for all parties involved, requiring both the Estonian Prison Service and the inmates brought to Estonia to adapt.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Eesti 200 chair Kristina Kallas is to propose at Sunday's party board meeting that the party run alongside the Greens in the March 2027 Riigikogu elections.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Estonia's decision to keep a Russian supplier to Silmet off the EU sanctions list was necessary to protect European industry, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said, but stressed that the company must end its dependence on Russian raw materials or face further sanctions.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Estonia's trade with Russia has dwindled since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but imports of food products have continued alongside rare earth metals.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Cross-border vehicle traffic has come to a standstill and the city-owned company is struggling to make ends meet. City officials have not ruled out suspending the company's operations.

15.10.26 NEWS ... German technology group Siemens is investing at least €100 million in Estonian company Skeleton Technologies, raising its valuation to €1 billion.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Ida-Viru County's only psychiatric hospital specializing in mental health treatment is closing due to a shortage of specialists.

15.10.26 NEWS ... A Tallinn tram department employee says drivers aren't given enough training or information about serious incidents, contradicting the transport company's public position.

15.10.26 NEWS ... The European Public Prosecutor's Office said it would not comment on the ongoing investigation involving Datasel to the Riigikogu's Anti-Corruption Select Committee.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Estonia plans to work with other European Union countries to amend legislation to allow assets obtained through criminal activity to be confiscated even without a criminal conviction.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Minister of Culture Heidy Purga told Kuku Radio that a previously planned cut in state funding for public libraries next year has now been scrapped.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Newly inaugurated Estonian President Ülle Madise met Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki on Wednesday to discuss European security and Nordic-Baltic cooperation.

15.10.26 NEWS ... The Tallinn French Lyceum's sports hall began leaking even before it opened, but the leak has now become so severe that the school has suspended use of the building for several days.

15.10.26 NEWS ... The Riigikogu has passed a law allowing young people to vote in European Parliament elections from the age of 16 and stand as candidates from the age of 18, starting in 2029.

15.10.26 NEWS ... The XXIX Open Society Forum took place October 15 at the Nordic Hotel Forum in Tallinn.

15.10.26 NEWS ... The state handed over more than 43,776 canned wild boar to a food bank this week, to be distributed to those in need, Maaleht reported.

15.10.26 NEWS ... The Rescue Board tested the nationwide EE-ALARM warning system again on Wednesday, setting a delivery record but finding many residents still don't know what the sirens mean.

14.10.26 NEWS ... NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) there are no signs of Russian preparations for an imminent confrontation with NATO, Tsahkna said Wednesday.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas (Eesti 200) has appointed Martin Eessalu as director general of the Language Board.

14.10.26 NEWS ... The Estonian Publishers' Association has issued an open letter urging the state and local governments to pay greater attention to libraries and literature as pillars of education, culture and mental well-being.

14.10.26 NEWS ... NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Estonia does not merely meet the alliance's defense spending requirements — it sets the standard on it and other contributions.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Estonia should consider acquiring light fighter jets to counter Russia's increasingly fast and sophisticated long-range attack drones, Defense Minister Martin Herem told Postimees in an interview.

14.10.26 NEWS ... An unannounced inspection of Tartu Prison by the chancellor of justice's advisers has revealed concerns among Swedish inmates over detention conditions.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Russia aims to make the coming winter unbearable for Ukrainians, and while there is no risk of famine, people are prepared for a difficult winter, Estonia's new ambassador to Ukraine said.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Tallinn's Old Town now boasts a working historic freight hoist.

14.10.26 NEWS ... The opposition Social Democrats (SDE) will not be joining a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Kristen Michal's government before a clear plan is unveiled.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Tartu plans to invest €5 million in establishing a new municipal street cleaning agency. Businesses say the city's plan makes little sense and it remains unclear how good a service the city can provide on its own.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Estonian rare earth metals producer Silmet plans to end its reliance on Russian raw materials by the end of the year, a move that will involve reduced production and temporary shutdowns at its existing facility.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Several roadworks in Tallinn are running longer than planned this year, with some set to continue into mid-November and closures causing significant congestion.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Estonia is keeping operational a gas pipeline running through Võru County, allowing Russia to use it to supply its exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast, Eesti Ekspress reported Wednesday.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Support for Isamaa has risen slightly over the past four weeks, widening its lead over the Center Party, according to the weekly Norstat AS poll.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Center Party Chairman Mihhail Kõlvart has knocked Isamaa leader Urmas Reinsalu off the top spot in the Delfi and Turu-uuringute AS poll on preferred prime minister candidates.

14.10.26 OPINION ... From the perspective of security of supply and energy security, it makes sense to have a diversified electricity generation mix that uses different production technologies, writes Arvi Hamburg.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Estonia should publicly express dissatisfaction with US President Donald Trump's remarks and actions if it disagrees with them, the new Estonian president's security adviser said.

14.10.26 NEWS ... Since warning signs became mandatory for mobile speed cameras, the number of fines issued has fallen by nearly 90 percent, while revenue from fines dropped by almost €1 million in September.