Phone operator Elisa is to shut down its 2G mobile network in 2028, Sakala reported.

The coalition parties want to allow Estonian citizens by birth to hold dual citizenship. The opposition questions what problem the change is intended to solve.

Eesti 200 chair Kristina Kallas is to propose at Sunday's party board meeting that the party run alongside the Greens in the March 2027 Riigikogu elections.

Newly inaugurated Estonian President Ülle Madise met Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Helsinki on Wednesday to discuss European security and Nordic-Baltic cooperation.

The coalition parties want to allow Estonian citizens by birth to hold dual citizenship. The opposition questions what problem the change is intended to solve.

A former Estonian Defense Forces member is currently in a Russian prison, accused by the FSB of planning to fight for Ukraine — a charge his family says was forced out of him.

Põhja-Prantsusmaal La Manche’i tunneli lähedal põrkasid neljapäeva õhtul kokku kaubarong ja buss, mille tagajärjel sai kohaliku prefektuuri teatel vigastada vähemalt 19 inimest, vahendab Reuters.

2024. aastal raske vigastuse saanud Norra mäesuusataja Aleksander Aamodt Kildet tabas sel nädalal teist korda ebaõnn.

Ukraine's president says a pause on striking energy sites is over following fresh Russian attacks.

A search and rescue operation is under way in the Black Sea after the latest attack in the area.

Senior banking executives have told the BBC they expect to be "on the menu" in the chancellor's Budget tax later this month.

The culture secretary says the deal could affect free expression in the media and the variety of Britain's news landscape.

BRUSSELS ― The EU should consider approving a three or four-year budget instead of trying to plan the bloc’s financial needs for seven years, the president of Cyprus told POLITICO. “We’re discussing the budget in 2034 and now we’re in 2026,” Nikos Christodoulides said in an interview on the sidelines of Thursday’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels. A three or four-year budget might be “easier” for some member countries to swallow, he suggested. “Why not open the political discussion?” “You don’t know what’s going to be the situation in 2030, 2031,” he added. “I mean, look what happened with Covid, with the Ukrainian war … It’s not possible to declare all your priorities today.” The EU’s seven-year, roughly €2 trillion budget has to be agreed by all 27 member countries but has two deeply entrenched camps on either side: The so-called frugals, comprised of Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and others who want a smaller budget, and the friends of cohesion, a loose grouping of 17 countries that do not want major cuts to agriculture and regional funds. An EU official close to the budget negotiations said the idea of a shorter timeframe was weird. EU law allows a budget of “at least five years,” though every budget has been seven years since 1993. The odds of the budget being approved by the end of the year are increasingly slim, with an election in Spain in November, which polls indicate Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will lose to the center-right and far-right, potentially blowing out the timeline for consensus to 2027. “Everybody used to understand that we need to finish … a political agreement by the end of the year,” Christodoulides said. “Now, with the situation in Spain, elections there,” that is less likely to happen. Christodoulides also said he expected the budget to be cut by around a 10th compared to the budget proposed by the European Commission. Last week, the Irish government proposed an 8% cut compared to the Commission’s proposal. “I think we may end up on 10% or 11%,” he said. “Double digits.” Zoya Sheftalovich contributed reporting.

BRUSSELS — There is “no logic” to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent moves to take Russia’s side in the Ukraine war, and he should remember his true allies lie in Europe, Finland’s prime minister said Thursday.  In an exclusive interview with POLITICO, Petteri Orpo summed up the shock and dismay among Ukraine’s allies after Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, and reportedly imposed limits on Kyiv’s access to the military intelligence and technology needed to counter Russian attacks. “My message to him [Trump] is that we are allies,” Orpo said on the sidelines of the European Council summit in Brussels. “We are in NATO. And what is the biggest threat against NATO? It’s Russia — and that is why there is no logic. I don’t have answers. I have many questions.”  Trump alarmed European leaders and horrified Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week by announcing a deal to release Russian diesel onto the market, apparently in an attempt to lower fuel costs for American consumers. Ukraine’s allies fear the move will boost Russia’s revenue from fuel sales, giving it more money to spend on war.  Trump also said Ukraine should stop hitting Russian fossil fuel facilities — as part of what he said was a ceasefire on energy infrastructure — and should replace Zelenskyy.  Finland is an influential voice among Ukraine’s European allies: The country has the EU’s longest land border with Russia, at 1,300 km, and its president, Alexander Stubb — a talented sportsman — won Trump’s respect on the golf course, giving him leeway to try to influence White House policy. Orpo said if he were in Trump’s position “I would not trust Putin.” Zelenskyy has said he fears Ukraine is losing the U.S. to Russia’s side in the war, warning the Americans and their president are on “the wrong side of history”. Orpo said he agreed: “I think he is, and they are.”  Ukraine now faces grave danger, he said. “The sky is open for Russia, there are missiles. They need more military support, air defense,” Orpo said. “Also, the situation is dangerous because of the latest deal between Trump and Putin.” Midterms move One possible reason Trump turned against Ukraine with that diesel deal is the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3. “I think it is because of domestic reasons — elections are coming,” Orpo said. “But we need to get them back.” Nonetheless, he said the amount of Russian diesel that could be sold to the U.S. is too small to make much of a difference for American consumers.  Whatever happens, EU leaders must equip Ukraine with weapons and cash, whether or not they can rely on the U.S., he said. “Today, we need to find a solution [on] how to support Ukraine, how to finance Ukraine in this winter, but also in next year,” Orpo said. “It’s crucial.” Finland and Sweden are among the countries pushing the European Commission to reopen the fractious debate over how to use Russia’s financial assets currently frozen in European banks, especially in Belgium, which blocked a deal to raid the funds last year over legal concerns.  “The best solution would be that we will have a solution on how to use frozen assets,” he said. “We have to try again,” Orpo said.  Finland has asked the Commission “to continue work with Belgium, and the other member states, to find a solution.” He said he hoped to hear an update from the Commission during the summit. “It’s a better solution than using our own money.” Budget blues European leaders are arguing this week over their long-term budget, which Brussels officials want to finalize by the end of the year. Many diplomats do not expect a deal this year, and some leaders say they’re in no hurry.  But others want the budget, worth around €2 trillion, signed off by December because they fear next year’s European elections — especially if far-right leader Marine Le Pen wins the French presidency — will derail negotiations.  The longer budget negotiations last, the “more difficulties we will have,” Orpo said. “So we have to work to find a solution this year. I understand very well that it is difficult, a huge challenge, but I cannot see how it would be easier next year, because in France elections are coming, for example.” Finland also has an election coming up in April 2027. Orpo’s center-right National Coalition Party is struggling in the polls. “This time has been very difficult,” he said. “But, finally, our economy is growing.” Orpo’s Swedish sister party, the Moderates, mounted a late surge in last month’s election. Although that seems unlikely to keep them in office, Sweden’s Moderates still have a slim chance, even though many commentators had written them off long before the vote. “They did excellent campaign work, and in the end of the day, people vote Moderates, not populist or socialist,” Orpo said. “I would like the same in Finland.”

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Judge says Jeffrey Donaldson never apologised to victims as politician seeks to appeal his convictions.

Five people seriously hurt after incident involving vehicle carrying HGV drivers in Calais, say French authoritiesNineteen people have been injured after a minibus was involved in an accident at the loading platform of the Eurotunnel near Calais, French authorities have said.Five people were severely injured though no one’s life appeared to be in danger, the local prefect said in a statement. Continue reading...

UK defence secretary trying to cool tensions and is arguing it is in America’s economic interests to support KyivWes Streeting urged the US to stand by Ukraine on his visit to the American capital and sought to cool tensions between the two countries in the wake of the Starlink row that is threatening to set back Kyiv’s war effort.The British defence secretary, giving a speech before a meeting with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, argued that supporting Ukraine was in the long-term interests of Washington, and a business opportunity. Continue reading...

Paris and Berlin near deal on bloc’s ‘Made in Europe’ subsidy programme and combustion engine phaseout

The EU’s hybrid car deal with Beijing eases tensions but only offers a brief respite