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The Reform Party held its general meeting on May 17, 2026 at the Lillepaviljon in Tallinn.

Reform chairman criticizes conservative parties' 'fear and hatred'

SDE chair Lauri Läänemets (left) and Isamaa chair Urmas Reinsalu (right).

'Project Fear:' Opposition accuses Reform Party of fearmongering

Eesti 200 board meeting on May 17, 2026.

Eesti 200: Estonia needs radical changes

Kaja Kallas.

Kaja Kallas rules out running for president of Estonia

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braze and Minister of Defense of Estonia Hanno Pevkur.

Estonia, Latvia say Europe is moving too slowly towards combat readiness

President of Moldova Maia Sandu met with President Alar Karis in Kadriorg.

President: Moldova's membership in the EU is important for all of Europe

President Alar Karis met Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Kadriorg on Saturday and stressed that Moldova belongs in the European Union.

Judge's gavel (photo is illustrative).

Former teacher sentenced to seven years' prison time over pedophilia offenses

Mariana Betsa

Ukraine wants US-led peace talks to continue, says deputy foreign minister

Garry Kasparov.

Kasparov: Many Russian emigrants are against the war, but not all support Ukraine

Handover ceremony involving US soldiers at Camp Reedo in Võru (Photo taken 2025).

Minister: Unclear if canceled US troop deployment to Poland to affect personnel in Estonia

The US has not stated if the last-minute cancellation of deploying 4,000 troops to Poland might affect its deployment in Estonia, Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur (Reform) said.

most read stories of the week

Sipsik on the new 2-euro coin.

Bank of Estonia to issue 2-euro Sipsik coin

First Eurovision semi-final in Vienna, Austria on May 12, 2026.

Estonia fails to qualify for Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final

Tallinn Airport plans to tear down the former passenger terminal to make way for the airport's €75 million expansion.

Tallinn Airport plans to demolish former passenger terminal building

New EDF conscripts making up their bunks.

Estonia passes conscripts' B1 language proficiency requirement

A child playing (illustrative).

Children must be told they're adopted in Estonia's new Family Law Act

A drone (picture is illustrative).

Colonel: No warning needed in Estonia over Finland, Latvia overnight drone incursions

latest news

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Tallinn and met with President Alar Karis on May 15, 2026.

President: Balkan accession to the EU must be stepped up

EDF personnel on a river crossing.

Spring Storm 2026 draws on civilian tech, civil engineering expertise

Alar Karis at the Lennart Meri Conference 2026.

Alar Karis: Putin must not be given any lifeline or ray of hope

nubly and band in concert on the Tallinn City Council building balcony, Friday, May 15, 2026.

Photos: Rapper nublu gives Tallinn City Council balcony concert

Young people in Tartu.

Young people struggling to find work in Estonia despite being proactive

The weather radar on Saaremaa is the third of its kind in Estonia.

Photos: Long-range weather radar installed on Saaremaa

russia's war in ukraine: latest from estonia

Gert Kaju at a Ministry of Defense press conference.

Estonian MOD official: Ukraine's focus on attacking Russia's rear

Matti Maasikas (left).

Diplomat: EU sanctions against Russia are working

Rainer Saks

Expert: Asking for a ceasefire was a clear sign of Russia's weakness

Margus Tsahkna.

Margus Tsahkna: Pressure is working and even the Kremlin can no longer hide it

Damage to a smokestack at Auvere Power Plant after it was struck by a drone later identified as Ukrainian. March 25, 2026.

Ukraine weighs sending security experts to Baltics over drone incidents

politics

Facade of Toompea Castle, home of the Riigikogu.

Estonian parliament now has more unaffiliated MPs than at any point this century

Rene Kokk.

EKRE MP on alleged row with Varro Vooglaid: It is pure fiction

Marko Mihkelson and Hanno Pevkur.

Pevkur and Mihkelson become longest-serving minister and MP

President Alar Karis shaking hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the funeral of Pope Francis.

President Karis goes on 28 foreign visits in 2025, 10 so far this year

Varro Vooglaid.

Varro Vooglaid quits EKRE Riigikogu group

presidential election 2026

Alar Karis at the second round of voting in the 2021 presidential election on August 31, 2021.

Incumbent Alar Karis most popular choice for president in public poll

Estonian presidents from 1992 to today. Clockwise from top left: Kersti Kaljulaid, Lennart Meri, Arnold Rüütel, Alar Karis, Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

Overview: How have Estonian presidents' approval ratings changed while in office

Jevgeni Ossinovski.

Politician: Isamaa, Center turning presidential election into anti-government campaign

Kersti Kaljulaid and Kristen Michal at the recognition event for athletes of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Reform Party MPs doubt Kaljulaid's election as President

Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform).

PM floats Kersti Kaljulaid for presidential comeback

economy

RKAS.

RKAS sold €15 million worth of state real estate in 2025

Ampler electric bike.

Estonian electric bicycle maker Ampler Bikes files for bankruptcy

Artist's rendition of the sports arena complex in Pärnu.

Pärnu, Tallinn and Tartu all still in the running for planned new sports arena

Road construction worker (Photo is illustrative).

Unemployment rate 7.1% in Q1 in slight recovery from 2025

Passengers boarding a county bus.

Rural bus operators say business stifled by red tape

Defense and security

Luhamaa border crossing in southeastern Estonia.

Estonia extends nighttime border crossing closures in Narva, southeast

Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.

Minister awaiting EDF recommendations for Estonia's Strait of Hormuz participation

Defense Forces.

EDF, Defense League granted more powers to detain and inspect people

Emergency alerts. March 31, 2026.

Estonia targets 2027 smartphone updates for new emergency alert system

Reservists from the EDF’s 2nd Infantry Brigade, 22nd Infantry Battalion turning to at Spring Storm muster points..

Nearly 1,000 reservists gather for Estonia's Spring Storm 2026 exercise

society

School (illustrative).

Union head: Teachers demand minimum salary set at €2,300

Pet dogs, cats and also ferrets must in future be microchipped.

Microchipping dogs and cats made mandatory in Estonia

Ivan Turõgin and Sergei Potapenko.

US prosecutors will not challenge Estonian crypto millionaires' conviction

Tallinn Urban Space Festival 2024.

Expert: Young people need a welcoming urban space with no pressure to spend money

The Wrangö.

Investigation launched over numerous issues of mainland–Prangli ferry

opinion

Mari-Liis Jakobson.

Mari-Liis Jakobson: Ideological positions in Estonian politics

Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta (Eesti 200). April 2026.

Liisa Pakosta: A solution to the communications data retention stalemate

Hans Väre.

Hans Väre: How sustainable is sustainable decline?

Peeter Kaldre.

Peeter Kaldre: To die for Bornholm

Ardo Hansson.

Ardo Hansson: When the 'everything is terrible' narrative no longer convinces

sports

Gregor Jeets.

Gregor Jeets racing in McLaren Trophy Europe

Henri Veesaar.

Estonian basketball star Henri Veesaar gearing up for NBA draft

Delegates at April's EOK general assembly which saw Kersti Kaljulaid voted out of office as the organization's president.

Center Party leader: Prime minister EOK remarks 'insulting'

Mark Lajal

Mark Lajal comes from behind to reach ATP semifinals in China

Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka.

Estonian Olympic Committee hits out at IOC Belarus decision

foreign affairs

Europe Day was marked with a free concert on Tallinn's Freedom Square.

Former EU commissioner: Kaja Kallas not up to EU-Russia negotiator role

Power lines.

4th Estonian-Latvian electricity connection postponed to at least 2038

Kristi Raik.

ICDS head: China plays a major role in ending the war in Iran

Jonatan Vseviov.

MFA official: Moscow's May 9 parade wilted

Col. Ants Kiviselg, director of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) Military Intelligence Center.

EDF Military Intelligence: Ukraine is capable of carrying out deep strikes as far as the Urals

science and research

The number of defended doctoral degrees rose sharply in the 2024/25 academic year, though the increase was driven primarily by a growing number of foreign doctoral graduates.

Foreign students behind surge in popularity of PhD studies in Estonia

All universities will continue to be responsible for shaping study volumes and curriculum content based on OSKA analyses and forecasts.

Universities and the government agree on more study places in key specialties

Kids in a classroom on the first day of school in Tallinn. Photo is illustrative.

Tallinn boosts annual back-to-school benefits for city kids

Exam in progress.

Teachers, principals unhappy with earlier basic school final exams

Mosquito.

Entomologist: Estonia looking at a summer with few mosquitoes, loads of ticks

culture

Breakdancers to take over Tartu's Kammivabrik center on Saturday

Last year's Eurovision winner JJ.

WATCH LIVE: Eurovision Song Contest grand final on ETV

The exhibition is now open at the People's Museum of Tallinn .

Expat women in Estonia share experiences through museum exhibition

Opening of Merike Estna's exhibition at the Venice Biennale 2026. The event has been dogged by controversy due to the participation of Russia, and also of Israel and the U.S.

Estonia boycotts Venice Art Biennale vote over Russia participation

Orchestral Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's Andy McCluskey (right) and Paul Humphreys.

OMD's Andy McCluskey on the band's early days, Kraftwerk and returning to Tallinn

features and interviews

The arrival of summer means the arrival of outdoor concerts and festivals, including some very big names coming to Estonia, some for the first time ever.

Summer brings stacked schedule of live music events in Estonia

Kastani tänav in Tartu.

How will Estonia's declining population affect the property market?

View of the Tallinn Service House. 1975.

Young and old people interested in different aspects of Soviet nostalgia

University of Tartu junior research fellow Bogáta Timár.

Hungarian researcher stays in Estonia as others consider returning home

Andres Vosman.

Ambassador: There are things Estonia could learn from Israel

watch again

This year's LMC takes place September 3-5 (photo from the 2019 event).

Lennart Meri Defense and Security Conference 2026

Interview with Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland.

Finland's President Stubb: We were too soft on Russia before 2022

Arseniy Yatsenyuk speaking to ETV's "Esimene stuudio."

Former Ukrainian PM: The only way to get real peace is to fight like hell

Europe Day in Narva, May 9, 2026.

Europe Day celebrations in Narva

Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers landed in Saaremaa on April 29, 2026 for the NB8 foreign ministers meeting.

NB8 foreign ministers' press conference in Saaremaa

tallinn

The section of Narva maantee, from which you can reach both Weizenberg and Koidula streets.

Tallinn drops plan to close off right turn from Narva maantee to Kadriorg

The fire service were called to put out a fire at two hangars in Iru, close to Tallinn, on May 12, 2026.

Fire services put out blaze at hangars close to Tallinn

A rendering of the new spa and sauna center in Lasnamäe.

New spa and sauna center under development in Tallinn's Lasnamäe

Popular outdoor dining options in Tallinn's Town Hall Square.

Seasonal jobs filling fast as summer hiring ramps up

Members of the public laying flowers at Tallinn's 'Bronze Soldier' statue, May 9, 2026.

Police: May 9 passes mostly peacefully in Tallinn

tartu

The newly pedestrianized Kompanii tänav in Tartu.

Photos: Tartu's Kompanii tänav gets pedestrian-friendly summer makeover

More archaeological finds from the excavated site of the future Siuru Cultural Center in Central Tartu. May 2026.

Old concrete cellar, 'miracle essence' bottle found in Central Tartu dig

City bus in Tartu.

Tartu public transport fares to rise July 1

Tartu's Town Hall Square (Raekoja plats).

Tartu to celebrate Europe Day

Kindergarteners drawing.

Almost 4,000 fewer children starting kindergarten in 2026

narva

Florian Wahl's silent disco on the Narva River promende..

Bubbles and a silent disco: Counter-propaganda concert held on Narva riverbank

May 9 saw the unfurling of the Putin as war criminal banner again, while a propaganda concert featuring a screen pointed across the river is taking place in Ivangorod.

Estonia's border city hangs Putin 'war criminal' banner to combat Russia's propaganda

Narva Center School.

Narva launches recruitment drive for 175 education workers

Drone (photo is illustrative).

GPS jamming in Ida-Viru County hampering firefighting work

Authoritires in Russian Ivangorod are preparing for the May 9

Russia preparing for May 9 'propaganda concert' on Estonia's border

galleries

Suur Taevaskoda after the partial outcrop collapse in Põlva County.

'Wonderful' sandstone sediment revealed after Suur Taevaskoda outcrop collapses

Over 200,000 tulip bulbs have been planted in the Kirna Manor Park.

Kirna Manor tulip festival back in bloom with 150 varieties this spring

Europe Day was marked with a free concert on Tallinn's Freedom Square.

Watch again: Europe Day concert on Tallinn's Freedom Square

Vanilla Ninja's first Eurovision stage rehearsal in Vienna. May 2026.

Estonia's Vanilla Ninja dive into Eurovision rehearsals in Vienna

The Udeva daffodils are coming into full bloom.

Järva County daffodil fields in full bloom with the warm weather

news in simple Estonian

Lihtsad uudised

Lihtsad uudised 15. mail

Lihtsad uudised.

Lihtsad uudised 8. mail

Lihtsad uudised.

Lihtsad uudised 24. aprillil

Lihtsad uudised

Lihtsad uudised 17. aprillil

Lihtsad uudised.

Lihtsad uudised 10. aprillil

podcasts

Ari Matti Mustonen has appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience and been warm up act at his live show as well.

Feature | Estonia's English-language podcasts, all in the one place

Tallinn Airport.

Estonia Explained part seven: Why are you here?

Maarja Merivoo-Parro.

Estonia Explained part six: The language has issues

Estonia Explained part five: What is with the sauna?

Maarja Merivoo-Parro.

Estonia Explained part four: A Thousand Years of Multi-culti

Hea lugeja, näeme et kasutate vanemat brauseri versiooni või vähelevinud brauserit.

Parema ja terviklikuma kasutajakogemuse tagamiseks soovitame alla laadida uusim versioon mõnest meie toetatud brauserist:

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