Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Proposed changes to EU deforestation law will boost illegal Russia timber trade, NGO warns
Proposed changes to the EU deforestation law supported by a majority of member states will boost the potential for illegal trade of Russian and Belarusian timber, according to an NGO which has conducted an investigation into the trade. In May 18...

Experts believe US-EU trade deal will have modest implications for Estonia
Estonian experts do not expect the 15-percent trade agreement between the European Union and the United States to have a significant impact on Estonia. The tariff is more likely to have an indirect effect, for example through the German economy....

Finora Bank Increased Its Loan Portfolio by 111% in the First Half of 2025
In the first half of 2025, Finora Bank’s business loan portfolio grew by 111%, reaching €59 million. Deposit volumes rose by 135%, totaling €65 million. Revenue also saw a sharp increase of 74% compared to the same period last year, driven by...

Estonia's largest animal feed plant completed in Jõgeva County
Estonia's largest feed producer, the domestically owned Pro Grupp Invest OÜ, has opened a new feed plant in Kantküla, Jõgeva County — now the largest of its kind in Estonia and one of the first of its scale in the Baltics. "Our first feed plant...

Estonian comedians bring Baltic grit to Edinburgh Fringe
They come armed with deadpan delivery, existential punchlines and jokes forged in the long Baltic winter; four comedians with Estonian roots are bringing their off-kilter humour to the Edinburgh Fringe – and they’re not here to make you...

ESTONIA WILL ALLOCATE 550 THOUSAND EURO TO SUPPORT MOLDOVA'S DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
The Estonian government has approved the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allocate 550,000 euros from the reserve to support democratic institutions and civil society in Moldova. As the INFOTAG agency reports with reference to the...

Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications : Spotlight
Despite only having a population of around 1.37 million, Estonia ranks amongst the world’s most advanced digital societies. ESTONIA DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT The rise of Estonia into a digital powerhouse has been made possible by the pioneering...

Former EDF chief urges Estonia to procure drones
Gen. Martin Herem, former head of the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF), said that Estonia should adopt defensive drone warfare as soon as possible, which he believes is simply a matter of wanting to. "If desired, we could in principle start using...

Economist: No certainty VAT reduction on food would be effective
Although there are examples within the EU of value-added tax on food being reduced, there is still no clear evidence as to whether such a measure would actually lower food prices, said Rasmus Kattai, economist at the Bank of Estonia. A citizen...

Reform Party picks Maris Lauri as its candidate for Tallinn mayor
On Monday, the Reform Party decided to nominate deputy party chair and member of the Riigikogu Maris Lauri as its new mayoral candidate for the capital. However, Lauri admitted that she had to be persuaded at length before agreeing to the board...

Repsol invests in Estonian electrolyzer manufacturer Stargate Hydrogen Solutions
July 28, 2025 | By Mary Bailey Alkaline electrolyzer firm Stargate Hydrogen Solutions OÜ (Tallinn, Estonia) has entered into an alliance with Repsol S.A. (Madrid, Spain). The transaction, in which Repsol’s Corporate Venture arm acquired a minority...

Estonian restaurants say no escaping price hikes in the autumn
The rise in value-added tax that took effect in July has made many goods and services more expensive. Eateries are trying to avoid mid-season price hikes, but they acknowledge that customers have indeed become more price-sensitive in the current...

EU capitals ask Brussels for nearly €130B to spend on defense
The Commission wrote in a statement on Wednesday that the following countries expressed an interest in taking the loans: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, Finland, Hungary and Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia, Croatia, Poland,...

Estonian space psychologist studies the human psyche in extreme conditions
There are few space psychologists in the world. "Even in the United States, where I live and work, there are maybe only 10 to fifteen people fully dedicated to this field," Käosaar told "Vikerhommik." The field studies teamwork under extreme...

Eurozone growth slows: Spain leads and Germany contracts
Published on 30/07/2025 - 12:32 GMT+2 After a strong start to the year, the eurozone economy lost some steam in the second quarter of 2025, with fresh data showing a clear slowdown. Germany, the bloc’s economic powerhouse, fell back into...

Ukraine’s cyber alliance grows: Norway joins the Tallinn Mechanism
As Ukraine defends itself on multiple fronts, its digital battlefield just gained a powerful new ally. Norway has officially joined the Tallinn Mechanism — an international coalition supporting Ukraine’s cybersecurity and long-term digital...

Turkmenistan Launches Data Exchange System With UNDP And Estonian Backing
(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 28. Turkmenistan has officially launched an interdepartmental electronic data exchange system based on Estonia's X-Road platform as part of its broader efforts to advance the country's...

Shareholders of UK fintech Wise vote to move main stock market listing to US
The UK online payments company Wise is to move its main share listing to the US after shareholders approved the move on Monday. Investors in Wise, one of the biggest financial technology businesses in the UK with a market value of around £11bn,...
Economic Watch: Global industry eyes China's high-speed rail for future growth, connectivity
BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Weeks after the conclusion of the 12th International Union of Railways (UIC) World Congress on High-Speed Rail, industry leaders are still taking stock of China's rapid railway development and its expanding global...

Estonia's banks following LHV's claim before taking action
Estonian banks have not yet decided whether to take action after LHV Bank notified the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) claiming that it had gained unlawful access to its data. LHV is claiming €247,000,000 from the FIU over the alleged unlawful...