13.12.24 NEWS ... According to Ukrainian law enforcement, €411,000 may have been embezzled from the Estonian NGO Slava Ukraini, with the primary suspect being Hennadi Vaskiv, head of the organization's partner group All for Victory. Vaskiv has reportedly left Ukraine and is now a wanted individual, as revealed by documents from the Kyiv Pechersk District Court.

13.12.24 NEWS ... The Riigikogu European Union Affairs Committee (ELAK) held a public session to discuss Estonia's positions on the European Union's 2040 climate target communication. The committee decided to proceed with negotiations, supporting the government's stance while also taking into account the opinions of the Riigikogu Economic Affairs Committee, Environment Committee and Rural Affairs Committee.

13.12.24 NEWS ... The case of two underage boys who beat a 59-year-old man to death in Pärnu County has been brought to court.

13.12.24 NEWS ... The number of thefts in Estonia has increased, driven by various factors. However, the rise in fraud has a significantly greater impact on the population. Fraud has reached a level where, on average, two Estonians lose all their savings every day, Egert Belitšev, director general of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), said on the talk show "Esimene stuudio."

13.12.24 NEWS ... A data protection court case went against the Internal Security Service (ISS) and the Prosecutor's Office and in favor of two businesspeople, Postimees reported.

12.12.24 NEWS ... With approval from the Ministry of Education, the Tallinn Education Department will be testing out virtual teaching for math classes across several schools simultaneously. Veteran educators, however, are skeptical of the plan.

12.12.24 NEWS ... Tallinn is launching a pilot project to provide nightlife venues with GHB rapid tests to promote safer nightlife to prevent drink tampering and assault. Around 2,000 tests will be distributed.

12.12.24 NEWS ... Viimsi Council has initiated a detailed plan for the center of Viimsi, aiming to create an attractive area at the heart of the municipality.

12.12.24 NEWS ... Several local governments in Estonia are planning on offering free or significantly reduced-priced breakfast porridge in schools starting next year.

12.12.24 NEWS ... After the 2025 Song and Dance Festival, the next Estonian Song and Dance Festival will be held in 2028, merging the youth and all-ages festivals into a single, two-week-long event.

12.12.24 NEWS ... The Ministry of Economic Affairs has abandoned its plan to make decisions by the Consumer Disputes Committee, operating under the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) , legally binding. According to the Estonian Homeowners' Association, which represents consumers, the bill submitted to the government earlier this week is merely a symbolic measure that fails to improve the actual situation for consumers.

12.12.24 NEWS ... The Riigikogu on Wednesday passed a new public health law which will ban solarium and tattoo services to minors and also lay the groundwork for addressing pseudoscience and misinformation in the health and wellbeing arena.

11.12.24 NEWS ... Trains between Tallinn and Tartu have been temporarily suspended on Wednesday afternoon after a cable was damaged during construction work.

11.12.24 NEWS ... Courts may stop processing divorces to save money and reduce workloads, Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta (Eesti 200) told ERR.

11.12.24 NEWS ... Prosecutor General Andres Parmas decided against extending his term for two more years after a disagreement over fundamental issues – including budget cuts – with Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta (Eesti 200).

11.12.24 NEWS ... Construction company Merko and design firm Projekt Kuubis, responsible for renovating Kuressaare's central square (Keskväljak).

11.12.24 NEWS ... Next year, 2025, will bring several key tax changes in Estonia, including income tax and VAT rate rises, the introduction of a new car tax, and hikes in excise duties.

10.12.24 NEWS ... At the start of 2025, Tallinn Children's Hospital is set to launch a pilot project introducing an on-call doctor service. The service aims to improve access to primary healthcare for more children and alleviate the workload of the hospital's emergency department.

10.12.24 NEWS ... The functional literacy, mathematical literacy and problem-solving skills of Estonian adults surpass the average of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). At the same time, educational, age-related and socioeconomic disparities are deepening and people are unable to find jobs on the labor market that correspond to their level of education and skills.

10.12.24 NEWS ... Responding to residents' wishes, Tallinn will offer married couples the opportunity to renew their wedding vows at the so-called Õnnepalee (Happiness Palace) starting next year.

10.12.24 NEWS ... The Ministry of Education and Research will abolish doctoral performance-based bonuses by 2026, but instead increase operational support for universities. While Tallinn University agrees with the solution, the University of Tartu considers it a poor decision.

10.12.24 NEWS ... Estonia is not planning to change or suspend asylum applications from Syrians, as some European Union member states have already done, following the fall of the regime this weekend.

10.12.24 NEWS ... Estonia should carefully consider whether the Riigikogu is prepared to implement the necessary restrictions on fundamental rights and whether it will be possible to adhere to these restrictions before taking on new, significant climate commitments, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise wrote in a letter sent to parliamentary committees.

10.12.24 NEWS ... Two Estonians who have been planning and preparing for a trail-blazing trans-Atlantic rowing trip have set off on their voyage.

10.12.24 NEWS ... The Ministry of Education has sold real estate in its portfolio this year as part of a cost-saving policy. By the end of the year, the Kloogaranna camp complex had new owners, and the ministry itself, along with the Education and Youth Board (Harno), is relocating to more affordable premises.

10.12.24 NEWS ... Estonia's equality commissioner (Võrdõigusvolinik) has highlighted in a special report the issue non-white people in Estonia often face, which range from exclusion, through to insults, instances of "micro-racism," and discrimination in public spaces, workplaces and even state, public and local government institutions.

09.12.24 NEWS ... The draft of next year's state budget, sent to its third reading in the Riigikogu Finance Committee last week, reveals that administrative expenses are not decreasing but are instead set to rise, according to Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa), chair of the Riigikogu's special committee for state budget oversight. However, the Ministry of Finance holds a different view, as it calculates the scale of expenditures using a different methodology.

09.12.24 NEWS ... Education workers, union representatives and local government officials signed a long-discussed education agreement on Monday.

09.12.24 NEWS ... Starting Monday, the Estonian Information System Authority (RIA) has launched a mobile app for the eesti.ee state portal, enabling users to access the portal's most popular services directly on their mobile phones. However, the app's functionality as an alternative to physical identification documents is still pending a legislative amendment.

09.12.24 NEWS ... The majority of Estonian residents believe human rights are upheld in Estonia. However, the number of people saying the Constitution does not protect their rights has risen.

09.12.24 NEWS ... President Alar Karis was in Paris on Saturday for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral along with dozens of world leaders. The landmark was damaged by a fire in 2019.

08.12.24 NEWS ... Extending compulsory school attendance in Estonia to age 18 may lead to a shortage of specialists who work with youth, local governments warn. Minister of Education Kristina Kallas (Eesti 200) disagrees, downplaying the concern.

08.12.24 NEWS ... Tallinn and Tartu will not be joining the education agreement, citing insufficient resources. Critics say the agreement in question was weaponized politically.

08.12.24 NEWS ... The City of Narva is seeking heritage protection from the National Heritage Board for the smokestacks at Baltic Power Plant, citing their cultural value. Maintaining these inactive structures, however, would entail significant costs for the owner of the plant.

08.12.24 NEWS ... Estonia's new car tax steps into effect on January 1. A key factor driving the spike in demand for Transport Administration services before the end of the year is import vehicles needing pre-purchase inspections.

08.12.24 NEWS ... Despite growing EU concerns and the U.S. moving forward with its TikTok ban, analysts find it wouldn't be sensible for Estonia to take similar action against the Chinese-owned social media platform on its own.

07.12.24 NEWS ... The Health Board (Terviseamet) has warned Tallinn hospitals of a need to reorganize their operations in a way which would prevent ambulances from waiting up to several hours before handing over patients, "Aktuaalne kaamera" reported.

07.12.24 NEWS ... A woman who got lost while out running with her dog in the forest in Võru County was rescued unharmed thanks to a novel use of a police patrol car siren, which alerted her to which direction she needed to walk, regional daily Võrumaa Teataja reported.

06.12.24 NEWS ... The Tallinn regional board of the Isamaa party convened on Thursday to discuss the education agreement and decided to recommend that the Tallinn city government not join the agreement, citing its content as being, in their view, untrustworthy.

06.12.24 NEWS ... Radio 2 is broadcasting a new Christmas music channel, R2 Jõulud, which plays holiday music 24/7 until the end of the festive season.

06.12.24 NEWS ... Historians believe politicians have arbitrarily altered the colors of Narva's flag over time, and to restore historical continuity, the flag's original hues should be reinstated. However, this change would make Narva's flag even more similar to Ukraine's.

06.12.24 NEWS ... Trade unions are calling for a halt to the legislative process on the draft Employment Contracts Act and for negotiations with social partners to begin in order to reach compromises. They argue that planned changes, such as variable-hour contracts and reduced rest periods, leave employees unprotected against potential employer abuses.

06.12.24 NEWS ... Tallinn City Government's social media policy includes using Chinese-owned app TikTok, despite risks raised by Estonia's intelligence agencies about data security.

06.12.24 NEWS ... Lifestyle magazines Kodu & Aed and Kodukiri recently announced the winners of the "Beautiful Home" competition, doing so on ETV current affairs show "Ringvaade."

05.12.24 NEWS ... Proponents of having a private sector-operated air ambulance serice in Estonia say it could save money and, more importantly, lives.

05.12.24 NEWS ... The state has not followed the law requiring the initiation of proceedings to protect forest habitats or to tighten their current protection measures, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise said.

05.12.24 NEWS ... With the new year and the introduction of the car tax fast approaching, Estonia's Transport Administration will be offering services by appointment at its Tallinn, Jõhvi and Pärnu service offices this Saturday, December 7.

05.12.24 NEWS ... Discussions over medical workers' salary rises will move to the national conciliator in January to find a compromise to a four-year pay freeze. Health workers submitted a compromise proposal with a lower salary increase.

04.12.24 NEWS ... This year's nominees have been announced for the Cultural Endowment of Estonia's annual architecture awards, the winners of which will be revealed on January 23.

04.12.24 NEWS ... Christmas and New Year's celebrations are just around the corner, enticing people with delicious but often unhealthy treats. Tagli Pitsi, a nutrition and physical activity expert at the National Institute of Health Development, said overeating can be avoided by carefully planning meals.