Skip to main menu 13.02.25 NEWS ... The Education Ministry and Research has plans to shorten the school Christmas and New Year break from three weeks to two, arguing it will prevent summer delays, ease classroom heat, and better align with student exams and graduation schedules.
13.02.25 NEWS ... Tallinn plans to change the funding conditions for sports clubs and hobby schools so that preference is given to clubs with children of different native languages and where Estonian-language instruction is more prominent.
13.02.25 NEWS ... Opposition politicians find the coalition's energy policy decisions ideological and unable to bring down the cost of electricity.
13.02.25 NEWS ... The latest traffic safety program has failed, and fatalities have risen rather than fallen, Minister of Infrastructure Vladimir Svet (SDE.) A new program must improve both people's traffic behavior and road conditions.
13.02.25 NEWS ... Two businessmen who had been extradited to the United States on crypto fraud, money laundering, and other charges may soon be repatriated to Estonia after authorities in America dropped the bulk of charges against them.
13.02.25 NEWS ... A significant fall in Estonia's driving theory exam pass rates has sounded some alarm bells, with the new questions introduced in December linked to the fall and prompting criticism from driving schools and students alike.
12.02.25 NEWS ... This winter has been snow-poor in southeastern Estonia, but the recent cold temperatures have allowed ski centers to produce artificial snow so that skiers can enjoy at least a few hundred meters of trails.
12.02.25 NEWS ... Estonia is planning to introduce new shelter regulations for new buildings over 1,200 square meters, which if they enter into force would mandate multi-use spaces which can withstand blasts and provide protection in emergency situations.
12.02.25 NEWS ... An Estonian citizen has died of their injuries after a collision between a Lux Express coach and a snowplow in Russia earlier this month.
11.02.25 NEWS ... Girls report having more mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, attention problems and self-harm at school, while behavioral problems are more prevalent among boys, a new survey shows.
11.02.25 NEWS ... Social media giant Meta does not have a privileged position when using Estonia's linguistic corpus data as the conditions are the same for everyone, said Director of the Estonian Language Institute (EKI) Arvi Tavast. However, he noted it is difficult to determine who actually owns the data.
11.02.25 NEWS ... The University of Tartu has terminated the employment contract by mutual agreement of one of its senior staff in the wake of long-term allegations of bullying and harassment.
11.02.25 NEWS ... According to expert assessments commissioned by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), the authority which last fall, impounded a controversial monument to Estonian fallen during World War Two, the memorial steers clear of including any symbols that could incite hostility and aggression.
11.02.25 NEWS ... A relatively unusual stretch of naturally-formed ice has formed on wetlands in southwestern Estonia, attracting skaters and ice hockey players eager to enjoy the pristine conditions.
10.02.25 NEWS ... Tallinn has proposed initiating a new development plan to turn the Linnahall area into a modern event center and open the city to the sea. The space will be divided into four development zones, with the first priority being the conversion of the ice rink into a conference center.
10.02.25 NEWS ... Ahead of Independence Day, "Aktuaalne kaamera" looked into how state decorations handed out by the president to mark the occasion are made. The medals are produced by Saaremaa-based company Sporrong which also makes state awards for Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania.
09.02.25 NEWS ... Severe dog attacks have become more frequent in Estonia, but municipalities are unable to hold owners to account. In future, a fine of €6,400 could be issued to negligent dog owners.
09.02.25 NEWS ... The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has returned a replica of the controversial Lihula monument to its owner after it was confiscated last autumn.
08.02.25 NEWS ... In the event of a widespread power outage, 30 emergency fuel stations (avariitanklad) across Estonia are equipped with autonomous power supplies to keep operating. Despite Tallinn being home to a third of the country's population, the capital officially has only one.
08.02.25 NEWS ... Siiri Vallner, who won the Cultural Endowment of Estonia's top architecture prize for the reconstruction of Vana-Kalamaja tänav, said that when planning streets, priority should first go to pedestrians and cyclists, and only then should space be found for cars — not the other way around.
07.02.25 NEWS ... As of the end of 2024, there were just over 2,700 probationers in Estonia — 15 percent fewer than in 2023. Last year also saw a slight increase in the proportion of individuals who successfully completed their probation.
07.02.25 NEWS ... The Ministry of Justice is declining to share an analysis commissioned from the law firm Sorainen with either the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner or the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. Minister Liisa Pakosta (Eesti 200) says designating the document for internal use only will help prevent public panic.
06.02.25 NEWS ... The Estonian Rescue Board is prepared for the desynchronization of the Estonian energy system from the Russian grid this weekend. Head of crisis preparedness Erkki Põld told ERR that while everything is expected to go smoothly and power cuts are unlikely, it is always important to be prepared.
06.02.25 NEWS ... Estonia's electricity system is ready for Saturday's disconnection from the Russian power grid and Sunday's synchronization with mainland Europe, Elering executives said on Wednesday. The risk level during this transition is low, meaning Estonians should not be concerned about switching from one electrical system to another.
06.02.25 NEWS ... Scammers are using a scheme to defraud people by claiming that their electricity meter needs to be replaced due to the upcoming desynchronization of the Russian electricity grid. The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and energy companies are asking people to be alert.
06.02.25 NEWS ... The number of passengers traveling to St. Petersburg from the Baltics with coach company Lux Express is four times smaller than before the coronavirus pandemic and the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But bosses say there is still a demand as this is one of the only ways to cross the border.
06.02.25 NEWS ... Doubts about the safety of Estonia's e-voting system were raised by a researcher this week. However, the Election Service maintains online voting has always been secure but says improvements can always be made.
05.02.25 NEWS ... Shrove Tuesday (vastlapäev) is still a month away, but across Estonia, a wide selection of lenten buns (vastlakuklid) can already be found in stores and cafes — and despite rising prices, they're still selling like hotcakes.
05.02.25 NEWS ... Vabaduse School, launched three years ago for Ukrainian children, will gradually cease operations in its current form as students transition to other schools and the Estonian-language transition continues.
05.02.25 NEWS ... The 157 state decorations being awarded by President Alar Karis this year represent a "Karis Average," staying on the conservative course taken by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and continued by President Kersti Kaljulaid. A relatively short list also increases the significance of each individual honor.
05.02.25 NEWS ... Ahead of this Independence Day, President Alar Karis will bestow state decorations on 157 people, including both Estonians and Estonia's supporters abroad.
05.02.25 NEWS ... The current nursing home funding model is failing to deliver on the promise of affordable care, the National Audit Office warns. With costs rising and local authorities unable to control prices, securing a spot in a nursing home for the average pension is becoming increasingly unrealistic — raising concerns about the sustainability of Estonia's care reform.
05.02.25 NEWS ... Citing university research, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) leading researcher Ago Samoson wrote that it's possible in one stage of processing e-votes to introduce entirely new ballots to be counted. The State Electoral Office (RVT) maintains that e-voting is verifiable from start to finish.
05.02.25 NEWS ... An Elron train arrived at Riga Central Railway Station for the first time on Tuesday at 5:46 p.m. after a test run on Latvia's railways. The connection is expected to launch this summer.
05.02.25 NEWS ... Eleven volunteer municipal police officers and three instructors were exposed to "dangerous" levels of radiation on Saturday during a training session and required medical assistance, Delfi reported.
05.02.25 NEWS ... Over the past five days, the police have received two reports of arson targeting Ukrainian restaurants. The incidents are being investigated and the authorities do not rule out a possible connection between them or a hate crime motive.
04.02.25 NEWS ... Tallinn city government is preparing to merge the management of Tallinn Creative Hub, Salme Cultural Center and Vene Cultural Center this summer, the city announced Tuesday.
04.02.25 NEWS ... The Office of the Prosecutor General has charged three individuals with large-scale money laundering and a fourth with aiding in money laundering in a case where investigative evidence indicates that more than €35 million, derived from a crime in Ukraine, was funneled into circulation.
04.02.25 NEWS ... The first documented cases of herbicide resistance have been recorded in Estonia. Similar to the rest of the world, the excessive use of broad-spectrum herbicides is driving the development of resistance, which is becoming an increasingly serious problem.
04.02.25 NEWS ... Last spring, the Ministry of Social Affairs announced that dental benefits would cover dentures starting in 2025. However, due to budget cuts, the change was never implemented. Now, Estonian dentists are left clearing up confusion as some patients still believe the policy took effect.
04.02.25 NEWS ... A garage unit in Lääne-Viru County used for storage by a Ukrainian restaurant was set on fire on Monday. The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) said this is the second property belonging to Ukrainian restaurants to be targeted in the last week.
03.02.25 NEWS ... Tallinn's expanding state high schools are set to begin a new wave of teacher recruitment this February. The City of Tallinn has the same plan for its municipal high schools, as they also require new teachers.
03.02.25 NEWS ... The Abbess of Kuremäe Convent Filareta Kalatšova sent an open letter to members of the Riigikogu, claiming that if the amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act, initiated by the Ministry of the Interior, are approved, the convent will effectively be shut down.
03.02.25 NEWS ... The Aviv private Jewish kindergarten in Tallinn's Kesklinn will close later this year due to falling enrollments and lack of funding.
03.02.25 NEWS ... Discussions about end-of-life care – such as do-not-resuscitate orders – are continuing in the Ministry of Social Affairs. Doctors believe patients should have the right to determine their course of treatment, but a draft law is currently in conflict with people's fundamental rights.
03.02.25 NEWS ... Designs for a new tramline in Põhja-Tallinn have been criticized by residents and opposition Center Party politicians. Tallinn says the whole project was launched by the former administration and led by Center.
02.02.25 NEWS ... On the 105th anniversary of the Tartu Peace Treaty, Tallinn schoolchildren, members of the government and city officials remembered the student soldiers who fell during the War of Independence.
02.02.25 NEWS ... Many children's daycare centers and food suppliers are not rushing to change their menus after the National Institute for Health Development (TAI) issued new nutritional guidelines last month. Changes are likely to lead to price increases, they believe.
02.02.25 NEWS ... Pärnu City Government wants to cover the pillars of its newest bridge with murals to prevent them from being covered in graffiti.
02.02.25 NEWS ... Rainy thawing weather has raised the water level from the two witches' wells in Ratva, Alutaguse Parish, by more than a meter in recent days.