Estonia does not need a president who can be everything at once, but an institution that helps keep our constitutional order in balance when the world around us is not, Mari-Liis Jakobson writes.

In what officials say is a first for Estonia, a Tallinn court fined plaintiffs over false academic references generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in a legal filing.

Estonia's rising debt burden reflects years of decisions by every major ruling party, not just the current coalition, says Bank of Estonia economist Kaspar Oja.

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.

In what officials say is a first for Estonia, a Tallinn court fined plaintiffs over false academic references generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in a legal filing.

Estonia has more than 400 churches, and at least 50 of them will need roof repairs in the coming years.

G-alagrupi viimases voorus algab laupäeva hommikul Eesti aja järgi kell 6 mäng Uus-Meremaa – Belgia. Kohtumise kulgu on võimalik jälgida käesolevas uudises.

G-alagrupi viimases voorus algab laupäeva hommikul Eesti aja järgi kell 6 mäng Egiptus – Iraan. Kohtumise kulgu on võimalik jälgida käesolevas uudises.

Germany's highest ever temperature of 41.3C is recorded provisionally in Saarbrücken, over the border from France.

A nine-year-old and five women were killed when Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen drove into the market in 2024.

The US president says "Numerous European countries" have been discussing bringing in such a levy.

King Charles paid £12.9m in tax for 2024-2025 - here's what we know about his unique tax situation.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened a 100 percent tariff on European countries that impose digital service taxes on American corporations. In a post to social media, the president said “numerous European countries“ are discussing or “close to actually doing this.” “Please let this statement serve to represent that any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the United States of America,” Trump said. “This TARIFF will supersede Trade Deals made with the Country, whether implemented, signed, or not. Additionally, the 100% TARIFF will be immediately imposed, if they proceed.” Taxes on online services are frequently imposed to combat the outside influence of Big Tech and frequently target large U.S. companies such as Apple, Amazon and Meta. Trump’s promise to raise tariffs threatens to complicate trade talks with the European Union. Trump’s threat comes one day after EU member states approved an agreement that would slash tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and some agricultural products. In return, the U.S. would cap most tariffs on the European Union at 15 percent. Outside of proposed taxes, the EU has in place various measures designed to crack down on outsized influence from big tech companies, such as the Digital Markets Act, which allows regulators to set strict operating rules and fine large platforms. Several countries — including many outside of the European Union — have also imposed digital services taxes and the Trump administration has repeatedly used tariff threats to pressure them to change their behavior. Last year, Canada walked back its digital service tax over threats made by the president. And more recently, it signaled it could revise its decision to demand online streaming giants pay 15 percent of their Canadian revenues towards supporting regional content. Trump has previously threatened action against countries who implement digital taxes, arguing they unfairly target U.S. tech companies. Earlier this week, the U.K. government defended its use of such taxes.

LONDON — Labour MPs and climate campaigners are abandoning resistance to a controversial new North Sea gas field ahead of Andy Burnham’s expected entry into Downing Street next month — but they say they’ll carry on fighting over a second, even more contentious, oil field.   Burnham, who is on a path to becoming Labour leader and U.K. prime minister within weeks, is under pressure from the party’s union backers to approve Jackdaw, a major new gas development 150 miles east of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, as well as Rosebank, an oil and gas field 80 miles off the Shetland coast.   The twin projects are bêtes noires for British climate campaigners and have been held up for years by legal challenges. A final decision from regulators is expected soon and then the last sign-off must come from the U.K. government.  Bill Esterson, a Labour MP and chair of the House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, said: “My assumption is that both Jackdaw and Rosebank will go ahead.”  There is now a widespread expectation that Jackdaw at least will be approved, with even ardent climate campaigners in Labour ranks resigned to it.   “It’s important to show that we understand that people’s jobs are on the line and that’s not a secondary concern,” said one Labour MP, a leading backbench climate advocate, granted anonymity to discuss their lobbying strategy. “I think there needs to be a pragmatic approach — so I’m picking the battle of Rosebank.”  If one or both projects do get the greenlight, it could represent an early sweetener for Burnham’s relationship with Donald Trump.  The U.S president has taken an intense interest in North Sea oil and gas and repeatedly told incumbent Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take a more liberal approach to drilling. In his first public comments on Burnham earlier this week, Trump immediately pivoted to similar criticisms, saying Burnham is “extremely liberal” so “probably won’t open up the North Sea.”   If Burnham does oversee approval of either or both totemic fossil fuel projects early in his tenure, Trump is unlikely to miss the point of comparison with his predecessor. Big call   The final legal approval on the two projects — which are already far-progressed and could start production as soon as this year — sits with current U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.  A spokesperson for Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “Our priority is to deliver a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good long-term jobs.” Burnham’s team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Labour’s most prominent climate champion, Miliband described the Rosebank project as “climate vandalism” when the party was in opposition. A key ally of Burnham, Miliband is now seen as a leading contender to become his chancellor, the second-most powerful role in government.   However, the Unite union, which represents oil and gas workers, has warned Burnham not to promote Miliband, citing their deep-seated opposition to his policies on the North Sea, which they claim have not done enough to support the workforce. Under Miliband, the Labour government has banned new exploration for oil and gas (Rosebank and Jackdaw are already progressed far beyond this phase) and has increased a windfall tax on drillers. Burnham, when pressed on the issue, has said only that he has “no fixed position.” While the decisions on Rosebank and Jackdaw are “quasi-judicial” ones for the energy secretary on the advice of regulators, Miliband has faced public pressure from Cabinet colleagues — and from potential rivals for the role of chancellor in the new administration.    Incumbent Chancellor Rachel Reeves reminded business leaders on Thursday that the Labour 2024 election manifesto had pledged to “honor existing licenses” such as Rosebank and Jackdaw. “I hope that we do,” she added.  Meanwhile Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, who had been expected to challenge for the Labour leadership but now backs Burnham, has also called for Rosebank and Jackdaw to be approved.   Some green campaigners are starting to move their focus, too. The anti-fossil fuel group Uplift was campaigning jointly against Jackdaw and Rosebank as recently as March. But asked on Friday whether the group would challenge approval of Jackdaw, Uplift’s Executive Director Tessa Khan made no reference to that gas field — focusing on the oil field instead. “Rosebank is the test of this government’s credibility on climate,” she said. On your right Political pressure is also coming from the right-wing Reform and Conservative parties, who both back maximum exploitation of the North Sea’s remaining oil and gas reserves. The basin is in decline, with production peaking in 1999.   Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives won a by-election in Aberdeen last week — Britain’s oil and gas capital — with a campaign tightly focused on promoting more North Sea production and protecting jobs. Andrew Bowie, the party’s shadow energy minister, said that while it was a pertinent issue for a local election, it could hold the seeds of a national strategy. “Everyone cares about security. If you take oil and gas and make it a model for energy, security and jobs, and if we can communicate that in every election, we can win again,” he said.   But overseeing approval of Rosebank or Jackdaw could bring political costs to Burnham. On his left flank, Green Party leader Zack Polanski has already said that any “backsliding on climate action would be a moral and political failure for Burnham” — one the Greens hope would help them make inroads with environmentally-minded would-be Labour voters. This story was updated to include comment from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The US has struck Iran in retaliation for what it says was an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's IRGC says it targeted US military in region after Trump administration launched attack on the country.

European residents and tourists voiced their concerns over soaring temperatures as the continent continues to grapple with 'the most severe and widespread' heatwave ever. In summer 2022, more than 60,000 people died due to heat in Europe, and the current heatwave is already disrupting lives and livelihoodsEuropean heatwave is worst ever and impossible without climate crisis, scientists say Continue reading...

The earthquake in Venezuela, a brutal heatwave in Europe, the resignation of Keir Starmer and the World Cup – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalistsWarning: this gallery contains images some readers may find distressing Continue reading...

US president says levy would supersede any trade deals Washington has with other capitals

Carmaker’s move will ratchet up the pressure on European policymakers to slap restrictions and trade barriers on China