24.10.26 NEWS ... The Social Democrats' recent rise in the polls may reflect voters growing disillusioned with their preferred parties, while Isamaa's declining support could be linked to a lack of fresh ideas, a political analyst says.

23.10.26 NEWS ... Defense Minister Martin Herem says the threat from Russia will increase dramatically once its war in Ukraine ends, making it essential for Estonia to accelerate defense preparations, strengthen air defenses and ensure the public understands the risks and how to respond.

23.10.26 NEWS ... Foreign Ministry Secretary General Jonatan Vseviov, who is joining the Social Democratic Party (SDE), says Estonia is capable of achieving more in foreign policy and deserves better.

22.10.26 NEWS ... In an interview with ERR, Maris Lauri reflects on the Reform Party's electoral prospects, the challenges of coalition government and the importance of avoiding costly election promises.

19.10.26 NEWS ... U.S. President Donald Trump's latest decisions are harming Ukraine in echoing Russian President Vladimir Putin's narratives, said security expert Marek Kohv.

15.10.26 NEWS ... Estonia's decision to keep a Russian supplier to Silmet off the EU sanctions list was necessary to protect European industry, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said, but stressed that the company must end its dependence on Russian raw materials or face further sanctions.

11.10.26 NEWS ... Reflecting on his five years in office, President Alar Karis defends his decisions to veto legislation and his approach to foreign policy, arguing that the president should have a greater role in shaping Estonia's foreign policy.

09.10.26 NEWS ... The retirement age in Estonia must rise together with life expectancy so that the pension system remains sustainable and different generations spend roughly the same amount of time in retirement, says Lauri Leppik, professor of social and population policy at Tallinn University.

06.10.26 NEWS ... President Alar Karis tells ERR in an interview that while he plans to take some time to reflect after leaving office, his calendar is already beginning to fill up and he intends to continue working on issues related to AI and technology.

05.10.26 NEWS ... Russia's escalating attacks on Ukraine and threats against the West are signs of its failure to achieve a breakthrough on the battlefield, former ambassador to NATO Jüri Luik tells ERR in an interview.

03.10.26 NEWS ... Actor and director Elmo Nüganen, who in recent years has been closely involved with Südalinna Teater (formerly the Russian Theater in Tallinn), says he understands those who do not wish to consume Russian‑language culture — but avoiding Russian‑language culture will not destroy what Russia as a state is.

01.10.26 NEWS ... Artificial intelligence is giving cybercriminals increasingly powerful tools, but fears that AI agents are acting independently and escaping human control are overstated, Juhan Lepassaar, head of the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, says.

29.09.26 NEWS ... Ukraine faces a difficult winter as Russian air attacks intensify and shortages of Patriot interceptor missiles leave it struggling to protect civilian infrastructure, Marko Mihkelson tells ERR in an interview.

24.09.26 NEWS ... MP Liina Kersna (Reform Party) says the upcoming elections will be held with current Prime Minister Kristen Michal at the helm, and that a strong result for the party would be at least 20 seats.

24.09.26 NEWS ... According to President Alar Karis, the world is currently at a turning point where the existing international order no longer fully functions, but a new one has yet to emerge.

22.09.26 NEWS ... Opposition parties in the Riigikogu have shown they can work together on key issues despite ideological differences and could continue doing so in the run-up to the elections, according to SDE head Lauri Läänemets.

21.09.26 NEWS ... The main purpose of Russia's elections is to demonstrate public support for the war. While the regime will ensure it gets the desired result on paper, a struggle over dwindling resources and the redistribution of assets is taking place behind closed doors, economic expert Raivo Vare told ERR.

18.09.26 NEWS ... In an interview with ERR, newly appointed Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Liina Vahtras discusses allegations of a conflict of interest, Estonia's economic outlook, rising costs, business support and her turbulent first days in office.

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.