20.10.19 ... According to a directive of Minister of the Interior Mart Helme (EKRE), Estonia's national contact point for the European Migration Network (EMN), which is within the area of administration of the Ministry of the Interior, is to start work at the Institute of Internal Security of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences on Jan. 1, 2020.

20.10.19 ... Estonia is to allocate €185,000 in support of democracy in Eastern European and Central Asian countries.

20.10.19 ... Ahead of a vote in the British Parliament on Saturday which ultimately did not support Prime Minister Boris Johnson's new Brexit deal, MEP Urmas Paet (Reform/Renew) said that the U.K. should hold a new referendum over the country's withdrawal from the EU.

19.10.19 ... The Information System Authority (RIA) registered 275 cyber incidents in September, which is slightly above the annual average in Estonia but nonetheless lower on year.

19.10.19 ... The working draft of the new national kindergarten curriculum drawn up by the Ministry of Education and Research has led to an outcry among kindergarten teachers. Kindergarten directors and teachers alike find that the new curriculum degrades them as well as children, and in it they see not a forward-looking curriculum, but rather a step backward. The ministry stressed, however, that this is an initial working draft, and that it welcomes all proposals for changes.

19.10.19 ... The number of births this September exceeded the number deaths that month as well as the number of births last September. Analysts find, however, that this does not yet indicate that Estonia has truly achieved the point of natural population increase, a point which may take decades to reach, according to experts.

19.10.19 ... Estonia is allocating a total of €675,000 to support the activities of international humanitarian organizations this year.

19.10.19 ... Trains belonging to Estonian state-owned passenger train operator Eesti Liinirongid (Elron) registered over 728,000 boardings in September, marking a new all-time record number of passengers.

18.10.19 ... Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas (Centre) has sent Estonia's National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) through 2030 for an interministerial round of approvals.

18.10.19 ... Representatives of NATO Multinational Corps Northeast (MNC NE) visited the reservist snap exercise Okas 2019 currently underway in Estonia.

18.10.19 ... Speaking at a discussion regarding the strategic work plan, long-term budget and climate issues held during a meeting of EU heads of state and government leaders on Friday, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Centre) said that the EU's objectives must be the welfare of Europeans, opportunities for entrepreneurs and a clean environment.

18.10.19 ... The Ministry of Justice has agreed to courts' request to partially postpone switching to paperless administration of justice. Courts find paper files could be replaced with digital ones once the information system becomes superior to paper.

18.10.19 ... In an appearance on ETV program Esimene stuudio on Thursday evening, Social Democratic Party (SDE) board member Marju Lauristin confirmed that the party is not languishing, but does need to find a new point to focus on.

18.10.19 ... Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said on Friday that he regrets the outcome of European Union accession talks which saw Albania and North Macedonia's path to membership stalled once again.

18.10.19 ... Janek Mäggi stepped down from the Center Party board on Friday, a spokesman said and will be replaced by Erki Savisaar, a member of the Riigikogu.

18.10.19 ... The money laundering data bureau is inspecting real estate brokers as real estate is one way to launder criminal proceeds, head of the bureau Madis Reimand said. Member of the board of Domus Kinnisvara Ingver Allekand said those who really want to launder money are unlikely to use real estate firms.

18.10.19 ... The Turkish Embassy in Tallinn has an increased police presence in connection with the armed conflict in Syria, which the embassy says is a preventive measure.

18.10.19 ... While the opposition Reform Party continues to firmly maintain its position as Estonia's most popular party, support for the non-parliamentary Estonia 200, which fell just short of the 5 percent election threshold in the March 3 general election, is gaining on the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDE), according to the results of the latest survey commissioned by daily Postimees and BNS and conducted by Kantar Emor.

18.10.19 ... Elering, the national system operator, will increase the price of the natural gas transmission network service in Estonia from January 2020.

18.10.19 ... The EU and the U.K. have reached a new Brexit deal, and European government leaders have already given the deal their approval. Support may prove to be harder to win in the U.K. Parliament, however, as Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have announced their opposition to the deal.

18.10.19 ... In 2019, there has been an increase in people trafficking to Estonia and to coincide with the EU's Anti-Trafficking Day, a round table discussion will be held by the Ministry of Justice to combat the crime on Friday.

18.10.19 ... In an exercise dubbed HotSpot 2019, the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) rehearsed the mass intake of thousands of refugees at once at the border checkpoint located in Koidula, Southeastern Estonia on Thursday.

18.10.19 ... Statistics Estonia and the Government Office presented a new web application on Thursday, to show important national indicators and give a simple and objective picture of how the country is doing.

18.10.19 ... The Economic Committee of the Riigikogu decided on Thursday the use of seat belts in children's excursion buses should be made mandatory by law.

18.10.19 ... Estonia's first piece of asphalt made from plastic was laid on Wednesday in Tallinn, an innovation that was made in Scotland but inspired by a trip to India.

17.10.19 ... The Finance Committee of the Riigikogu has decided to initiate a bill of amendments to the Bank of Estonia Act with which it wants to clarify the rules regarding the nomination of members of the central bank's supervisory board.

17.10.19 ... Minister of the Interior and chairman of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) Mart Helme said on Thursday that discord over the allocation of support to the Estonian LGBT Association will not split up the coalition.

17.10.19 ... Kaia Kanepi lost to Dutch player Kiki Bertens on Thursday after three sets in Moscow at the WTA Tennis tournament's Kremlin Cup 2019.

17.10.19 ... Tallinn City Government will turn to the police after problems emerged from an internal audit for Tallinn City Transport Ltd which could point towards possible violations of the law.

17.10.19 ... Minister of the Interior Mart Helme (EKRE) said the Ministry of Education's plan to abolish basic school exams will not pass and the decision has already been agreed in principle by the coalition, Postimees reported.

17.10.19 ... Speaking at the Estonian Defence Forces' (EDF) Central Training Area on Thursday morning, President Kersti Kaljulaid said that the snap exercise Okas 2019 has once again demonstrated the efficiency and combat readiness of Estonia's reserve forces.

17.10.19 ... The Supreme Court of Estonia rejected a claim filed by Oliver Nääs and Marko Kairjak, the defense lawyers of former longtime Centre Party chairman and Tallinn ex-mayor Edgar Savisaar freed from trial on corruption charges due to his poor health, in which they sought for their client to be compensated for the procedural expenses incurred in connection with the case.

17.10.19 ... The US withdrawal from Syria and Turkey launching a military campaign there means NATO is currently paralyzed, Minister of the Interior Mart Helme said.

17.10.19 ... Former Supreme Court Judge Rait Maruste (Reform Party), in a Postimees editorial, suggests how the president's election process could be changed, including proposing a one-time seven-year term of office and fewer benefits.

17.10.19 ... Russian units located between Turkish forces that have invaded Syria and the Kurds there affect the geopolitical situation with their presence alone, just as the Americans did before leaving the area in a surprise move recently, Minister of Defense Jüri Luik, to conclude a visit to Iraq today, says in an interview.

17.10.19 ... Athlete and javelin thrower Magnus Kirt, who was injured in the Doha World Championships, will undergo surgery in Estonia at the end of the week.

17.10.19 ... Tallinn's 17th Fashion Week started on Wednesday with the Gold and Siver Needle prizes being awarded to the best Estonian designers.

17.10.19 ... A textile visitors' center project planned for Varesesari Island in Narva will be built in the next year and will be the first permanent tourist attraction in the historic Kreenholm Textile Factory.

17.10.19 ... Although the inquiry committee convened to investigate alleged irregularities at the Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance (RND) at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) found no evidence of fraud, a criminal investigation into the matter is nonetheless to continue.

17.10.19 ... Two young men have been charged with murdering a homeless man on Aug.20 in Tallinn's Õismäe and accused of physical assault, the prosecution service announced on Wednesday.

17.10.19 ... Lithuania's CityBee wrapped up its first season of electric scooter rentals on Wednesday, but plans on being back next season. The Estonian-owned Bolt, however, intends to continue offering scooter rentals in Tallinn for as long as the weather permits.

17.10.19 ... The Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) have introduced mandatory Estonian language classes to teach recruits who need to improve their speaking and grammar skills.

17.10.19 ... Compared with the previous month, the ratings of Estonia's major political parties saw no significant changes. Compared with the results of the March 3 general election, however, the opposition Reform Party has seen a significant increase in support, while the coalition Isamaa has seen a significant decrease.

17.10.19 ... Inmates in Estonian prisons may soon be able to do their shopping online as the Center of Registers and Information Systems (RIK) is mulling the idea of opening e-shops to cut bureaucracy.

16.10.19 ... President Kersti Kaljulaid dismissed Tartu County Court judge and Võru Courthouse director Heiki Kolk following the latter's voluntary resignation, it appears from the homepage of the President of the Republic.

16.10.19 ... Interior Minister Mart Helme thanked police officers for their speedy reactions when they detained a man with an explosive device at Mustamäe shopping center on Monday, awarding them €1000.

16.10.19 ... Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik told ERR's Otse uudistemajast webcast that fundamental agreements are in place for the pension reform in the government, while details still need to be hammered out. The coalition aims to pass the reform this year for its successful launch in 2021.

16.10.19 ... Conservationists and the National Heritage Board investigated the condition of the country's largest tapestry on Wednesday.

16.10.19 ... Responding to MPs' questions at her first Question Time at the Riigikogu, Minister of Foreign Trade and IT Kert Kingo (EKRE) said the effects of the U.S.-Chinese trade war have not yet reached Estonia, and that mail and periodicals will continue to be delivered to mailboxes in Estonia for so long as people continue to write and subscribe.

16.10.19 ... Pharmacy services should clearly be aimed at healthcare and not business, and, considering sums on the pharmaceuticals market, state control, supervision and counseling should be more thorough, Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik said in an interview to ERR's Otse uudistemajast webcast.