Estonia
Thu, 15 Apr 2021 11:29:52 +0300EKRE scores and promises to back down
The saga of amending the Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Act (NETS) is coming to a close. While head of the opposition Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) Riigikogu group Henn Põlluaas still said that bill 347 SE will be frozen in parl...
Wed, 14 Apr 2021 11:06:27 +0300Kallas: Opening schools conceivable
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on the “Otse Postimehest” webcast on Tuesday that regionally opening schools is possible and that the government will return to the matter next week.
Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:34:06 +0300ISS chief: Toompea protests not curated from Moscow
There have been attempts to attach all manner of theories to protests in Tallinn that have now lasted for a fortnight, down to the unrest being orchestrated from the Kremlin. Director General of the Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) Arnold Sin...
Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:21:28 +0300«We will recruit retired Defense Forces members for a new country»
Looking for the organizer of the Toompea Hill protests that have lasted for nearly two weeks now, conspiracy theorist William Koval points us to Center Party reject Tanel Gabtšenko – a 32-year-old man with basic education who believes he knows how...
Thu, 08 Apr 2021 17:26:10 +0300Mayeri wrestling with sludge and ecolabel
Well-known Estonian washing and cleaning products manufacturer Mayeri has been caught violating environmental regulations on several occasions in the past year and continues to sell ecolabel products despite a corresponding ban.
Wed, 07 Apr 2021 10:53:54 +0300Opening for an invasion
The situation is becoming increasingly tense on Ukraine’s eastern border. While Ukraine claims Russia has consciously put a strain on the eastern part of the country and troop movements have given rise to rumors of the war picking up again, the Kre...
Tue, 06 Apr 2021 10:31:13 +0300Finance minister: Situation complicated but growth incoming
Minister of Finance Keit Pentus-Rosimannus said that the ministry’s spring economic forecast holds encouraging news on the backdrop of over a year of uncertainty.
Mon, 05 Apr 2021 10:31:47 +0300Helenius to head Eesti 200 economic program
Finnish-Swedish businessman Joakim Helenius went into politics last August after becoming one of the leading figures of the Parempoolsed (Right-wingers) group in Isamaa. Helenius, who is currently in the process of applying for Estonian citizenship, ...
Thu, 01 Apr 2021 10:54:07 +0300Jaani: Police will not abuse authority
Chairman of the opposition Conservative People’s Party (EKRE), Vice President of the Riigikogu Martin Helme and Minister of the Interior Kristian Jaani disagreed on the necessity of amendments to the Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Act...
Wed, 31 Mar 2021 12:35:01 +0300Bank of Estonia betting on new consumption from second pillar withdrawals
The recent economic forecast of the Bank of Estonia concludes that people who have decided to withdraw second pillar pension funds are not the worse off.
Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:43:19 +0300Transfer of hazardous oil products moving to Tallinn Bay
The Ministry of the Environment plans to drop efforts to end the transfer of large quantities of hazardous oil products at sea and to greenlight STS operations near Tallinn without gauging environmental impact.
Mon, 29 Mar 2021 10:57:45 +0300Postponing local elections can be avoided
Opposition leader the Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) and the ruling Reform Party are against postponing local government council elections because of the pandemic, while Reform’s coalition partner the Center Party is willing to consider it. E...
Fri, 26 Mar 2021 11:17:17 +0200Martin Helme: We are the hardest-rocking party in Estonia
Chairman of the Conservative People’s Party (EKRE) Martin Helme is holding his third job in three months having gone from serving as finance minister earlier in the year to EKRE Riigikogu faction chair and recently becoming the second vice presiden...
Thu, 25 Mar 2021 11:49:21 +0200Experts consider summer lockdown messages unsuccessful
First, Director of the Health Board Üllar Lanno threatened to cancel summer, followed a few days later by PM Kaja Kallas suggesting Estonians might have to spend it in lockdown.
Wed, 24 Mar 2021 09:18:58 +0200PM: Estonia to remain on lockdown for entire summer if spread of virus not stopped
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) wrote on social media that Estonia’s coronavirus figures are very poor as the infection rate has grown by 7 percent compared to last week and over 10 percent in the 55-85 age group.
Tue, 23 Mar 2021 10:33:06 +0200Hate speech amendments shelved
Work on draft legislation to introduce tougher punishments for hate speech that was supposed to be completed by April 15 has been suspended in the wake of the coronavirus crisis and will not be reaching the government on time. The ruling Reform Party...
Fri, 19 Mar 2021 11:31:17 +0200Court sentences well-known marine scientist to prison for spying for China
The Tallinn-based Harju County Court sentenced noted marine scientist Tarmo Kouts, a namesake of the former commander of the Estonian defense Forces, to prison for spying for China.
Fri, 19 Mar 2021 11:27:31 +0200Jüri Ratas: EU flag to return to the Toompea White Hall
Newly elected President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas (Center) said on the “Otse Postimehest” webcast that he wants to return two EU flags to the floor. “The White Hall has room for four flags two of which should be our beloved blue, black and w...
Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:45:29 +0200Overdose deaths at their lowest this century
While Estonia topped European drug-related deaths statistics just a few years ago, only 20 drug overdose deaths were registered last year which is the lowest number in the last two decades as the new millennium arrived together with deadly fentanyl.
Wed, 17 Mar 2021 10:22:59 +0200Minister of Justice: Moving around a single value not enough
A scandal broke out last week when former Estonian female footballer going by the name of Mia Belle Trisna told Kanal 2 current affairs show “Õhtu” that (now former) coach of FC Nõmme Kalju Getulio Aurelio Fredo started sexually mistreating her...
Tue, 16 Mar 2021 10:51:37 +0200Google to develop digital skills of thousands of Estonians
Tech giant Google will launch a training program in Estonia the goal of which is to aid coronavirus crisis recovery by complementing the digital skills of at least 4,000 people and companies.
Mon, 15 Mar 2021 11:24:33 +0200Agency: Rapid tests suitable for home use
An Estonian company with around ten people has its employees test themselves for the coronavirus using rapid antigen tests before coming into contact with colleagues every Monday. An employee tested positive 15 weeks after the system was introduced. ...
Fri, 12 Mar 2021 11:25:13 +0200Supplementary budget comes to €700 million, Estonia to borrow
Minister of Finance Keit Pentus-Rosimannus revealed the volume of Estonia’s supplementary state budget and admitted that Estonia will have to put up with a new tax soon.
Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:56:54 +0200New companies claim unequal treatment
Payouts of the next round of the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s salary support measure will start in April, while a lot of companies will not qualify this time around. Their hopes lie with Estonia’s supplementary state budget instead.
Wed, 10 Mar 2021 10:57:15 +0200Liimets: Preparations underway for ratification of border agreement
Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets said on the “Otse Postimehest” webcast on Tuesday that Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine being approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) would change nothing for Estonia in the coming mon...