17.09.26 NEWS ... The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, said that Russia's increasing hybrid attacks, acts of sabotage, and stray drones are aimed at frightening the residents of European countries and deterring them from supporting Ukraine.

14.09.26 NEWS ... Incoming Defense Minister Martin Herem tells ERR in an interview that he will lead the Ministry of Defense as a politician, not meddle in the work of the EDF commander and terminate any private sector contracts that could pose a conflict of interest.

14.09.26 NEWS ... Former President Kersti Kaljulaid told ERR that defense industry representatives say there is currently not enough air defense equipment in the entire world to meet Ukraine's needs and the situation for Ukrainians has deteriorated.

12.09.26 NEWS ... In an interview with ERR, writer, theater director and game developer Jim Ashilevi discusses grief and writing, the turbulent realities of the video game industry, the legacy of "Disco Elysium" and what living abroad taught him about Estonia.

11.09.26 NEWS ... The government's move to dismiss Defense Ministry Permanent Secretary Kaimo Kuusk before the new minister takes office should not become a precedent, said longtime secretary general Marika Priske, who warned the rule is meant to shield the civil service from politicization.

10.09.26 NEWS ... Recent personnel changes at the Ministry of Defense reflect a long-running conflict between two camps within Estonia's defense establishment, says Madis Hindre.

04.09.26 NEWS ... Estonia should look to the United States for inspiration when building its economic environment, says Ain Hanschmidt, president of the Estonian Employers' Confederation.

03.09.26 NEWS ... Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur tells ERR in an interview the ammunition delivered under a controversial deal signed by the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (RKIK) was not useless, but was of insufficient quality and incomplete.

02.09.26 NEWS ... The director general of the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (RKIK), Elmar Vaher, told ERR in an interview that former RKIK head Magnus-Valdemar Saar is responsible for the failed €70 million shell deal. RKIK employees failed to follow the necessary financial management principles, he believes.

01.09.26 NEWS ... The flood of information unleashed by social media and AI is making human attention an increasingly scarce resource, but Joel Volkov believes people will ultimately adapt — with the ability to focus, write, curate and exercise good judgment becoming more valuable than ever.

01.09.26 NEWS ... Estonia's presidential election process lacks transparency and should give the public more time to scrutinize candidates, potential presidential contender Hannes Hanso tells ERR in an interview

29.08.26 NEWS ... The Ministry of Defense will follow the National Audit Office's recommendation to temporarily transfer management of the Estonian Defense Forces' assets to the Ministry of Defense, Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

27.08.26 NEWS ... Presidential candidate Ülle Madise said on ETV's "Esimene stuudio" talk show that she is a conscientious and resolute leader in times of crisis who, like a ship's captain, would not abandon ship when difficulties arise.

26.08.26 NEWS ... The government will revisit the online casino tax reduction introduced earlier this year during state budget and fiscal strategy talks, Prime Minister Kristen Michal said. He noted that if the measure does not bring additional revenue, there is no reason to continue lowering the tax.

20.08.26 NEWS ... Although the first decision to transition to Estonian-language education was made as early as 1993, deadlines were repeatedly postponed and substantive change, including at the legal level, did not come until decades later, Language Board Director Ilmar Tomusk tells ERR.

19.08.26 NEWS ... Sander Etverk, a rescuer from the Tallinn's Nõmme station who helped extinguish forest and landscape fires in Sardinia, said that Italy uses backburning to fight large fires, and two helicopters are constantly in operation, with Estonians also among the crew. The hardest part was coping with the extreme heat, he added.

19.08.26 NEWS ... Estonia must look after its own interests and do what benefits the country while remaining a valuable partner to its allies, presidential candidate Ülle Madise tells ERR in an interview.

17.08.26 NEWS ... Legendary Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen says Estonia's music scene is particularly lively, one of the most interesting countries at present.

14.08.26 NEWS ... The Nebius AI plant being built in Hüüru has drawn attention because of the company's historical ties to the Russian technology firm Yandex and the potential implications for Estonia's security. Nebius spokesperson Tom Blackwell told ERR that the company is a new enterprise with no connections to Russia and that Nebius is one of the most thoroughly vetted companies in the world.

13.08.26 NEWS ... US musician and songwriter Moby gave a wide-ranging interview to ERR while in Estonia as part of a recent tour.

06.08.26 NEWS ... Ilmar Tomusk, who has headed Estonia's Language Board for 30 years, tells ERR in an interview he considers one of the agency's greatest achievements to be helping Estonia avoid any major language-based conflicts.

31.07.26 NEWS ... Fresh out of Boston's Berklee College of Music, Estonian composer Ingmar Kiviloo says four years in America reshaped him as an artist and person. His next stop: Toronto.

29.07.26 NEWS ... Newly elected Narva Mayor Jaan Toots said the 21‑kilometer heating pipeline being built between the city and the Auvere power plant will cut heating prices for Narva residents by nearly half. He said the biggest problem is unemployment.

16.07.26 NEWS ... Estonia must continue cuts as real talks over budget begin in late summer, despite competing spending demands, Prime Minister Kristen Michal (Reform Party) said in an interview.

08.07.26 NEWS ... At the NATO summit in Ankara, allied leaders agreed to transform NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission into an air defense mission. The decision will make the chain of command clearer, former Air Force head Jaak Tarien tells ERR.

06.07.26 NEWS ... Tiit Meren argues that concentrating healthcare in large hospitals is no longer a sensible approach for Estonia and that today's enemies don't observe the traditional principle of sparing military medics, evacuation teams and hospitals from attack.

30.06.26 NEWS ... The recently renamed Free Party has not yet decided whether it can afford to compete in the next Riigikogu election and will make that decision as circumstances develop, party leader Märt Meesak tells ERR.

29.06.26 NEWS ... In a small country you must think big and take risks, otherwise you remain someone's backyard, entrepreneur Kaidi Ruusalepp says.

25.06.26 NEWS ... Former Reform Party leader Siim Kallas says the party needs a fresh direction and a clear platform ahead of the upcoming election and that the coalition will reach a consensus and elect Estonia's next president in the Riigikogu in early September.

17.06.26 NEWS ... Pioneer of quantitative political science Rein Taagepera says humanity has entered a transitional era in which consumerism is colliding with the planet's limits, AI is racing into the unknown and the nation-state may eventually give way to new global power networks.

16.06.26 NEWS ... NATO's Vigorous Warrior medical exercise takes place in Estonia this year for the first time in more than 20 years. ERR News spoke to the Surgeon General of the Estonian Defense Forces, Lt. Col. Indrek Olveti, about how medics have become targets and why they can't expect "any luxury" in the future.

10.06.26 NEWS ... A survey of students found that young people see significant potential in ITI, an artificial intelligence-based learning application developed specifically for Estonia's education system, but also find it "really annoying," AI Leap program head Ivo Visak tells ERR in an interview.

07.06.26 NEWS ... Veteran war-zone cameraman and documentary filmmaker Ivar Heinmaa, who has spent decades reporting from conflict zones around the world, tells ERR in an interview that no shot is worth dying for, though he has never truly felt fear during his career.

07.06.26 NEWS ... Despite signals from both the Russian and Ukrainian presidents that an end to hostilities may be possible in the near future, the war continues and peace talks have stalled. In an interview with ERR, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa discusses Ukraine's current hopes, priorities and objectives.

05.06.26 NEWS ... According to Ivo Lille, the new director of Tallinn University's Baltic Film, Media and Arts School (BFM), AI must be integrated in a way that preserves creativity and critical thinking. Curricula should be reviewed with that goal in mind in the near future.

04.06.26 NEWS ... The Ministry of Social Affairs will request an additional €200 million over the next four years in this fall's state budget negotiations to create new special care service places and raise wages for employees working in special care homes, Secretary General Maarjo Mändmaa tells ERR.

02.06.26 NEWS ... Sweden's decision to donate to Ukraine JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets equipped with Meteor missiles will help keep Russian bombers away from the front lines, former Air Force commander Jaak Tarien tells ERR.

29.05.26 NEWS ... The updated Law Enforcement Act brings existing investigative practices up to date by giving police a clear legal basis to ask people for their personal photo and video files to help resolve public order offenses.

27.05.26 NEWS ... Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi said his main challenge at the moment is drafting the next state budget, as many politicians are looking to use taxpayer money to offer pre-election giveaways to voters. Estonian parliamentary elections will take place in March 2027.

27.05.26 NEWS ... In a few months, the Art Museum of Estonia will conduct drills on how to quickly move artworks valuable to Estonia to safety. Russia is destroying Ukraine's national identity and cultural sites are being deliberately targeted as well, Ministry of Culture Secretary General Merilin Piipuu tells ERR in an interview.

26.05.26 NEWS ... An Estonian security analyst said that trips to Beijing by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin illustrate the extent of China's growing role and influence in global affairs.

22.05.26 NEWS ... Mass surveillance is neither right nor good for society, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise says, noting that there's a valid reason why files on some Estonian MPs must exist.

21.05.26 NEWS ... Banker Rain Lõhmus recently stirred up a media storm when he declared that, in order to improve efficiency, ten percent of the weakest employees should be replaced every year. In the interview, the prominent capitalist discusses that controversial statement, but also why he believes Estonia as a whole should take a critical look in the mirror.

21.05.26 NEWS ... The recent meeting between the Russian and Chinese heads of state offered the public few concrete agreements, as the event's main purpose was to counterbalance U.S. influence and present Beijing as the place where global affairs are discussed, Rainer Saks said.

20.05.26 NEWS ... Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that although the drone shot down in Põltsamaa Municipality crashed a few hundred meters from a residential building, risks on the ground always remain when bringing down a drone.

13.05.26 NEWS ... Estonia's efforts to keep the international community focused on the danger posed by Russia directly undermine attempts to attract foreign investment to Estonia, Ahti Kuningas, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications secretary general, said.

12.05.26 NEWS ... China, which holds significant leverage over Iran, is playing a major role in efforts to bring the conflict in the Middle East to a close as Donald Trump travels to Beijing this week, ICDS Director Kristi Raik tells ERR in an interview.

09.05.26 NEWS ... The United Kingdom's Ambassador to Estonia, Ross Allen, will be leaving in July after a five-year stint.

07.05.26 NEWS ... EKRE vice chairman Mart Helme says that Estonia's next president will be chosen by a so‑called cartel consisting of all parties except EKRE.

06.05.26 NEWS ... Estonian artist Merike Estna, selected in the fall of 2024 to represent Estonia at the 61st Venice Art Biennale, discusses her upcoming monumental exhibition, her pursuit of painting and parenthood.