Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta is proposing to replace bankruptcy trustees with civil servants or to cover trustee fees from the state budget in certain proceedings. The state's Insolvency Service said the idea is worthwhile, and one way to fund it could be an insolvency tax.

Politicians across party lines have reacted to diplomat Hannes Hanso's statement that he would run for president if asked, though none have pledged their support for him yet.

Saaremaa Opera Days recorded a 55 percent increase in attendance this year, jumping from just over 9,000 visitors to almost 14,100.

Demolition has begun at Tallinn's former Eesti Näitused expo center, where a new residential development is planned along Pirita tee.

Schools are looking most actively — through public job postings — for mathematics teachers and primary‑class teachers, but English teachers are also in very high demand. The largest number of vacancies is in Tallinn and Harju County, but teachers are frequently missing in Lääne‑Virumaa and Tartu County as well.

Incoming Estonian ambassador to the United States Hannes Hanso has said he would be willing to be a candidate at September's Estonian presidential elections, if asked.

The Government Office has launched a €5 million procurement for Eesti.ai training programs aimed at boosting AI skills among 100,000 working-age Estonian residents by 2027.

Researchers at the University of Tartu have mapped Estonia's social‑media‑based loan market, which operates outside state regulation. The study shows that this uncontrolled market survives thanks to illegal contracts and harsh debt‑collection methods.

Estonia's Interior Ministry wants to extend reduced hours at three road border checkpoints with Russia indefinitely, citing stronger border security and customs enforcement.

A bear repeatedly caught on camera this summer in Saaremaa is drawing attention in the county, where bears are rare visitors.

Experts say there is no threat of people being left without fuel this winter, despite global oil reserves having fallen to their lowest level in decades due to the Iran war, but restocking reserves could take longer than expected.

The volume of loans and leases held by Estonian households surpassed €16 billion this June. Compared with the same period a year earlier, the increase is 8.6 percent, Bank of Estonia said. Corporate loan and lease volumes have grown at a similarly brisk pace.

The Vanemuine Symphony Orchestra's summer concert took place in Kassitoome Valley in Tartu on Sunday, drawing thousands of spectators.

The North Estonia Medical Centre (PERH) set the fee for tick removal at €50, but according to Social Minister Karmen Joller, they could charge €90 — the same price as the procedure costs at a veterinary clinic.

Estonian history teacher and former pro football player Ain Karutoom has turned his Turba backyard into a local weekend pizza spot, dishing up fresh pies over summer break.

Estonia's alternative service leaves many conscripts who seek nonmilitary service for religious or moral reasons on a waiting list.

Young golfer Kristella Sikk won the European Under 16 girls' golf title in Spain, finishing as the only player under par.

Strikes are going ahead Sunday lunchtime on ferries serving two of Estonia's smaller islands after no breakthrough was made on pay negotiations between union and employer.

Around 9,000 people attended day two of the Viljandi Folk Music Festival, which runs until today, Sunday.

British artist Monster Chetwynd's first show in the Baltic states has opened at the Estonian National Museum (ERM) in Tartu. The installation runs to early next year.

Estonia will send additional police and border guard forces to Latvia to strengthen the European Union's external border. The decision came after several dozen illegal migrants who entered the country through Belarus and Latvia were detained in Estonia in recent days.

In infrastructure debates, the focus tends to return again and again to how much a particular road or rail section costs. For some reason, the question of how much more expensive it becomes not to invest in them is not treated with sufficient seriousness, writes Remo Kirss.

Tallinn's Old Town can be revived as a city center, but only by prioritizing local residents, services and businesses over unchecked tourism, writes PhD student Triin Talk.

Estonia's Rescue Services Agency will send firefighters to Italy to support local efforts in putting out wildfires, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) has said.

Apartment building in Estonia is currently sluggish, while infrastructure is booming, says Tarmo Pohlak, board member of the construction company Nordecon.

The Ministry of Regional Affairs has revoked time-limited changes for discounted ferry tickets for Saaremaa and Hiiumaa following strong criticism.

Three lambs born at Värska Farm Museum in July are still nameless as Setomaa Museums invites visitors to suggest traditional Seto names for its newest residents.

Estonia's political parties remain unable to agree on how and whether Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise might run for president in September.

The lengthy post-World War Two peace and growth Western Europe enjoyed left an officer corps unprepared for war, former Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) commander General Martin Herem said.

There has been an increase in the number of gambling advertisements in recent years and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications is seeking to strike a balance between the freedom to conduct business and consumer protection.

Director Ivan Pavljutškov's debut feature film, "Morten," won three awards at the Giffoni Film Festival, held in Italy earlier this month.

The Ministry of Defense does not support a bill in its current form that would expand the options for citizens of other allied countries to participate in Estonia's national defense, but has proposed an alternative Defense League membership.

On August 12, a partial solar eclipse will be visible from Estonia just before sunset, but viewers will need a clear western horizon to catch the event.

Reform Party support climbed in July, placing the prime minister's party alongside EKRE and the Social Democrats as Isamaa held its lead in Emor's latest nationwide survey.

More than 300 Estonian farms and agricultural businesses welcomed visitors for the annual Open Farm Days this weekend, though some sat out to reduce livestock disease risks.

Former Mayor of Tallinn Jevgeni Ossinovski (SDE) believes the taxpayer-funded project to build an Olympic swimming pool in Lasnamäe is being handed over to a single private company, despite the tender announced last week.

Narva City Council ousted Katri Raik as mayor in a no-confidence vote on Sunday, with 16 in favor, 14 opposed and no abstentions.

Supporters of plans to rebuild part of the historic Old Town in Narva would need to face doubts, including from the city's mayor, over funding for the costly project.

The Police and Border Guard Board has stepped up checks at the border and transport hubs to catch illegal border crossers believed to be arriving in Estonia via Latvia.

The City of Tallinn has launched an international public procurement process to find a developer for a planned Olympic-sized swimming pool in the capital.

This Saturday, August 1, sees the start of the "Tartu Sumin" fortnight-long Old Town summer festival in Estonia's second city.

The first traffic collision involving a remotely operated taxi in Tallinn has raised questions about who is responsible when no one is directly behind the wheel.

Several well-known Estonian entrepreneurs have invested tens of millions of euros in Estonia's largest data center, which will now focus on serving artificial intelligence and attracting international customers.

Financial obligations imposed in Estonian criminal cases ended through conditional termination used to have to be paid into the state treasury, but now that money may, through a lottery, end up with NGOs. Last week, two local sports clubs became €6000 richer.

A move away from "nostalgia" for the Soviet era means Ida-Viru County is seeking a rebrand, one local tour guide said.

A 35-year-old man was killed in a road traffic accident in Jõgeva County on Monday. The collision involved a truck and passenger vehicle.

Wins over reigning world champions France and European runners-up Hungary mean Estonia's women's épée foursome have reached the World Championship final in Hong Kong, and will face Italy.

Opposition party Isamaa has been the most popular party in Estonia for over a year, but pollster Emor's Research Director Aivar Voog said supporters are not particularly firm in their preference and could choose an alternative if one emerged.

Interior Minister Igor Taro's call to end the Moscow‑affiliated church's lease for the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral has revived debate over the landmark's future, with proposals ranging from relocating it, demolishing it, turning it into a museum, or integrating it more closely with Estonian culture.

Interest in learning Estonian is growing, and in recent years more and more Estonian speakers have taken to social media to explain their language and culture to others. ERR News spoke to four content creators who are sharing their knowledge and experience online.

Estonia's bogs are among the country's most valuable ecosystems, offering striking landscapes while storing and filtering water, Climate Ministry adviser Hanno Zingel said.

The Estonian government has rejected a proposal to impose a cooling-off period before senior public officials can take jobs in industries they previously oversaw.

The 21st iteration of the Tartu-based film festival, Tartuff, will show a total of 13 feature films and 8 short films from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Australia this year.

When a person's income is already unstable, adding extra financial pressure is unfair. Health insurance is not a tool for the state to make money off its people, Riina Solman writes.

Estonia should take advantage of the European Commission's recent decision to ease the emissions trading system and demand that the current version be sent to the ash heap of history, Jaak Madison writes.

Over 11,000 people visited the annual Viljandi Folk Festival on Saturday to watch Nancy Vieira, Duo Ruut³, Orkesta Mendoza, Oopus and Puuluup.

Close to 400 people turned out to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the pivotal World War Two Battle of the Tannenberg Line in Ida-Viru County.

Three bear cubs were caught on camera strolling around the yard of a Harju County farmhouse last Saturday, seemingly unfazed by the presence of people, Maaleht reported.

The Ministry of Defense has urged the government to reject a bill restoring special pensions for career service personnel, warning it would spur early retirement.

Estonian Formula 1 driver Paul Aron was 19th in Friday's Hungarian Grand Prix free practice for the Alpine team.