The Center Party officially backed President Alar Karis for a second term on Saturday but also called for direct elections where the head of state is chosen by the people, not the Riigikogu.

The Estonian government unveiled a drone roadmap aimed at expanding counter-drone capabilities, easing testing rules and speeding up adoption across defense and the economy.

At the Sõru Maritime School on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa, children gain their first knowledge of sailing, behavior at sea, and safety. Around 20 students are currently enrolled, but interest in the school is high, with more applicants than places available.

Estonia's opposition parties are likely headed for an easy win in the next elections, but the price of that easy victory may be that governing later becomes difficult, notes Martin Mölder.

An agreement has been signed which will advance the Sovereign Military Order of Malta's (SMOM) hospitaller and healthcare activities in Estonia.

The purchasing power of pensions has increased significantly over time and will continue to grow, but the main challenge will be whether pensions can keep up with the living standards of working-age people and how many risks we leave to be borne by a single pillar, write Uku Varblane and Magnus Piirits.

City officials have drafted a strategy to shape Tartu's evening and nighttime economy through 2035, aiming to balance vibrant urban life with business interests and residents' quality of life.

Eesti 200 leader Kristina Kallas said that the party does not agree with the governing coalition backing away from the goal of making family benefits means-tested and thereby saving €100 million annually.

Despite enormous efforts and losses, Russia has failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives over five years of the war in Ukraine, the Estonian Defense Forces' Intelligence Center wrote in its overview of the situation in Ukraine.

If we want to reduce Russia's ability to continue its aggression against Ukraine, we must close all loopholes that allow its war industry to access the materials it needs, writes Margus Tsahkna.

Estonian pole vaulter Marleen Mülla finished 12th in the women's pole vault at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska officially inaugurated a Ukrainian-language audio guide at the Museum of Occupations and Freedom (Vabamu) in Tallinn on Wednesday.

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

Next week, the Riigikogu will hold the second and third readings of amendments to the Prosecutor's Office Act that, among other changes, would limit the prosecutor general's term in office to a single consecutive seven-year period.

The sale of the assets of bankrupt dairy company E-Piim Tootmine began on Wednesday, with the company's production units in Paide, Põltsamaa and Järva-Jaani set to go up for public auction in August.

Due to upcoming renovation work, the City of Tallinn will move the Estonian and Ukrainian flags displayed on the building at Freedom Square 10 onto scaffolding. If the war has not ended by the time the renovations are completed, the flags will be returned to the building's façade.

Tallinn on Thursday installed a modular shelter in the green area at Juhkentali 10, the first shelter of its kind to be placed in public urban space in Estonia.

In a remote lake in Southern Estonia's Emajõe-Suursooo marshland, a small bog island is covered in blooming Siberian irises, rewarding visitors up for making the watery trek.

Last week, two Ukrainian rescue vessels built at the Baltic Workboats shipyard were hit in the Black Sea while taking part in securing Ukraine's so-called grain corridor, Saarte Hääl reports.

In a sector where Chinese-made equipment is prevalent, a new battery energy storage system (BESS) plant planned for Valga County will use only European-made core technologies.

The Complaints Choir project is back in Estonia, debuting a seven-minute collaborative lament led by alternative artist Florian Wahl at Tallinn's Balti jaama turg on Friday.

Fresh off the passage of Estonia's consent law, Social Democrats (SDE) are pushing to criminalize the nonconsensual creation and spread of sexually explicit deepfake images.

Estonia has made it to the Star Sailors League (SSL) Gold Cup 2026 finals in Rio de Janeiro after winning their European qualification group.

As Estonia heads into a busy summer event season, consumer protection officials are reminding ticket holders of their rights if an event is canceled or postponed.

Eighteen cattle recently died in a bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) outbreak on a Pärnu County farm, Pärnu Postimees reported.

Two people were killed in a collision between a truck and a passenger vehicle in Kehtna, Rapla County, on Friday afternoon.

Studying controversial topics can help schoolchildren separate facts from propaganda, two education experts said.

Fast-moving thunderstorms brought heavy rain, lightning and strong winds to Southern Estonia Thursday evening, with unconfirmed reports of a possible tornado in Võru County.

Estonia is shifting periodical home delivery to a cost-based pricing model from 2029, changing how print distribution is funded.

The Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS) is seeking a partner to develop its digital services and self-service platform, with up to €4.6 million earmarked over three years.

According to data from Statistics Estonia, residents of Estonia entered into 5,998 marriages in 2025, 363 fewer than in 2024. This included 139 marriages between same-sex couples.

The City of Tallinn is commissioning street art to transform an underpass on Pärnu maantee, with a committee set to review designs for the large-scale project.

The many opinions expressed about Alma Ostra-Oinas' equestrian monument provide an opportunity for a broader discussion about what we remember from our history and how we talk about it, writes Piret Karro-Arrak.

The Tallinn City Council's final regular session before the summer recess lasted 14 hours and 17 minutes, likely making it the longest session in the council's history.

In legal disputes, platform couriers and ride-hailing drivers in Estonia would likely be classified as employees, according to a new Foresight Center-commissioned analysis.

A failed bid by EKRE chair Martin Helme to appoint a political ally to a key post in Viljandi may cost a deputy mayor in that town her job, Sakala reported.

Scientists from Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) recently tested a micro-autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in the Baltic Sea for the first time, reaching areas inaccessible to conventional instruments.

Opposition MPs from Isamaa have sent a letter to Interior Minister Igor Taro seeking clarification on how oversight of surveillance agencies is organized. Coalition MP Kalle Laanet also joined the inquiry.

The start of spring in Estonia has shifted noticeably earlier over the past half-century, but estimates of the extent of the change depend significantly on the climate norm used. As a result, a single trend may not accurately capture the full picture, according to a study.

The Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs has circulated a proposal to amend the Code of Enforcement Procedure that would allow debtors to keep more of their income than they do currently, thereby encouraging them to work in the formal economy.

The Estonian Ingrian Finns' Union held its 34th Song and Dance Festival in Paide, central Estonia, on Saturday.

Banks in Estonia are rolling out a more secure version of the Smart-ID authentication system designed to better block common scam tactics with small extra steps for users.

U.S. plans to slash military assets in Europe could create critical capability gaps, defense experts say, even as officials stress NATO plans remain intact.

Estonian officials removed hundreds of abandoned fishing nets from Lake Peipus during a four-day cleanup effort aimed at clearing long-lost and illegal gear.

A hazardous waste incineration plant in Tartu has expanded its capacity up to tenfold, aiming to handle up to 20,000 tons annually and address a national shortfall in disposal options.

Berlin-based Ukrainian artist Yeva Sihachova opened a new exhibition at Tallinn's Okapi Gallery on Thursday, exploring how violence seeps into everyday life.

Despite a new law requiring local governments to provide kindergarten placements before a parent returns to work, some Estonian families have still been left waiting.

Estonia's rising public debt is clouding its economic outlook, but experts say boosting investment in R&D‑intensive businesses — along with greater openness from officials to innovation — could help restore growth.

Mining and quarrying phosphorite in Estonia is not economically viable at any time in the near future, the Ministry of Climate said.

The initiative by Europe's major powers — the so-called E3 of the United Kingdom, France and Germany — to open a political dialogue with Russia should make us very cautious, despite the fact that it is also supported by Finland and Ukraine, Raimond Kaljulaid writes.

Nearly one million loans, leases and debts will be consolidated into a single national credit register by 2029, allowing lenders to review applicants' financial obligations — but officials say the data will only be accessible when a formal loan application is made.

In this background piece, history and the present are examined with the help of Odd Arne Westad. One alarming similarity to a hundred years ago is the accumulation of mutual accusations among great powers — particularly in relations between the United States and China, Harri Tiido notes.

A new drone testing area in Tartu will bring a safe space for flying, development and experimentation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

A wave of spa and spa hotel projects is spreading across Estonia's tourism and hospitality sectors as developers respond to cautious consumers and changing travel habits.

Estonia has once again called for a full ban on alumina exports from the European Union to Russia, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said.

Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) has proposed terminating its contract with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MKM) to develop online courses for occupational health and safety specialists, citing significant differences between the parties' views on the scope and methodology of the courses.

The fate of several Russian influencers shows that, in Russia, even loyalty to the country's imperialist ideology and sharing the Kremlin's contempt for the West and Ukraine does not protect bloggers from repression, writes Argo Ideon.

The Riigikogu has approved legislation establishing a nationwide credit register aimed at giving lenders a clearer view of borrowers' loans.

Estonia's number one tennis player Mark Lajal came from a set down to win his round one encounter with Michael Zheng (U.S.) at the ATP Challenger 125 tournament in Ilkley, England, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

An exercise in Paldiski on Wednesday involved around 600 personnel, rehearsing responses to a mass civil unrest scenario.