Tallinn Christmas Market: Tallinn’s Town Hall Square Christmas market will be run again in 2026 by long-time operator 5+ Capital, after winning a tender as the sole bidder; the city pays €55,000 for site use, and the market will run until Jan. 6, with a one-year contract and two non-commercial “activity” huts planned. EU Sports Funding Pressure: Nine EU countries including Estonia are urging the EU to cut funding to sports bodies such as the IOC and others that have allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes back, setting up a clash ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Communications Data Rules: Estonia is weighing limits on bulk communications-data retention, aiming to end large-scale state retention while allowing narrower use for specific crimes and “quick freeze” needs, with extreme cases requiring government and Riigikogu involvement. Tallinn Transport & Costs: Elron will raise single-ticket prices within Tallinn and on suburban routes by 5–10 cents from Aug. 1, while Tallinn residents keep free travel rights. Tallinn Real Estate: A 340-square-metre apartment at Volta Skai sold for €4 million, reported as Estonia’s most expensive real estate deal. Russia-Estonia Border Tensions: Russia carried out a live-fire exercise on Lake Peipus near Estonia’s border without notifying Estonian authorities. Digital Euro Pilot: The ECB has selected 36 payment providers for the digital euro pilot starting in late 2027. Streaming Rules Debate: Estonia’s proposed 5% audiovisual investment requirement for streaming services is drawing pushback from Go3, which warns it could deter investment and hurt the market.