Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas is facing domestic political challenges as her popularity declines due to proposed tax rises and her perceived hypocrisy regarding sanctions against Moscow. The far-right EKRE party and Kallas' former allies, the rightwing Isamaa party, are rallying against her, with talks of a no-confidence motion. Despite her strong international reputation for supporting Ukraine and advocating for tough stances against Russia, her domestic standing has weakened, with her Reform Party falling behind in popularity. The Estonian economy is struggling with recession and high inflation, and the government's fiscal policies are under scrutiny. Some believe the government's approach to the budget deficit is necessary, while others criticize the lack of intervention during the energy crisis and the impact of tax rises on lower-income families.

Finnish and Estonian authorities are investigating damage to infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, potentially caused by sabotage. The Finnish police suspect mechanical impact rather than an explosion damaged the Balticconnector gas pipeline and a subsea cable. Ships, including a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship and two Russian ships, are under scrutiny. Estonia confirmed human action caused damage to a Finnish company's telecommunications cable. Sweden also reported similar damage. Russia denies involvement, while NATO discussed increasing Baltic Sea patrols. No direct accusations have been made against Russia, but suspicions persist.

Ukraine is set to expedite grain and farm product exports through a new deal that moves some border checks from the Poland frontier to Lithuania's Klaipeda port. This change, which will see veterinary and sanitary checks conducted at Klaipeda, aims to hasten transit through Poland. Despite this development, Ukraine continues to seek alternative export routes due to the blockade of its Black Sea ports since Russia's invasion. The war has significantly impacted Ukraine's export capabilities, with a recent drop in food exports and grain shipments. The Ukrainian agriculture ministry announced the agreement after discussions with Polish and Lithuanian ministers, amidst strained relations with Warsaw over Polish import restrictions.

Poland will deploy 10,000 troops to its border with Belarus to support the Border Guard, with 4,000 directly assisting and 6,000 in reserve, as announced by Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak. This move aims to deter potential aggression from Belarus, which has seen an influx of Wagner Group mercenaries. Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wąsik previously stated that 2,000 additional troops would be sent to the border. The deployment follows increased illegal border crossings from Belarus, primarily by migrants from the Middle East and Africa. Belarus continues military exercises near the border, with President Alexander Lukashenko claiming to restrain Wagner fighters from attacking Poland.

Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, has implemented extensive security measures ahead of a NATO summit, resulting in it becoming the world's safest yet emptiest capital. The city is hosting 48 foreign delegations, including US President Joe Biden, and has deployed up to 12,000 personnel for security. Residents are avoiding the city center due to restrictions, and local businesses are impacted, with some closing and others preparing for the influx of guests. The Lithuanian government faces criticism for the high costs of services for the summit, with some contracts significantly exceeding service providers' annual incomes. Despite this, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda believes the investment will enhance Lithuania's international image and attract future tourism.

Amnesty International released a report accusing Lithuania of detaining thousands of migrants in militarized centres under inhumane conditions, including torture and ill-treatment, with the aim of coercing 'voluntary' returns. The report contrasts the treatment of migrants from Africa and the Middle East with the welcoming of Ukrainian refugees, suggesting institutional racism. It details allegations of racism, violent pushbacks, and sexual violence, and criticizes the legal aid system as conflicted. Lithuania's pushback policy and the EU's response, ranging from praise to tacit endorsement, were also condemned. Amnesty recommends halting pushbacks, releasing detainees, and providing proper healthcare and legal support. The Lithuanian government offers migrants €1,000 to return home and considers allowing rejected asylum seekers to work within the country.

Meduza.io, an independent Russian and English language news website based in Riga since 2014, has faced significant challenges after being labeled a foreign agent by Russian authorities and the onset of the war in Ukraine. The designation severely impacted their business model, leading to an 80% loss in income. Meduza.io responded by launching successful crowdfunding campaigns, both within Russia and internationally, allowing them to continue operations despite having to evacuate staff and cut expenses. They have not experienced harassment in Riga, but remain cautious due to the presence of Russian opposition media and potential threats to their associates in Russia. Meduza.io's readership has shifted due to the block in Russia, with increased importance on their English language version. Katerina Abramova, head of Meduza.io Communications, reflects on the sensitive topic of Soviet-era monuments in Latvia and the travel ban for Russian citizens, expressing a nuanced view on the impact of these measures. Despite personal longing for home, Abramova is skeptical about a quick regime change in Russia and does not foresee Meduza.io returning to Russia soon.

Poland has dispatched additional troops to the Belarusian border following an airspace violation by two Belarusian military helicopters. The incident occurred during Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to a border village. The Polish Defence Ministry summoned the Belarusian charge d'affaires for an explanation, while the Belarusian Defence Ministry denied the violation, calling it a fabrication by Poland to justify a military buildup. Lithuania's Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has chosen not to disclose the country's border security measures.

Lithuania has implemented EU sanctions on transit trade between Russia and its exclave of Kaliningrad, leading to a ban on the transport of certain goods. Russia views this as a violation of a 2002 agreement, while Lithuania and the EU consider the sanctions to supersede prior agreements due to Russia's war against Ukraine. Moscow has threatened a non-diplomatic response, and the EU and NATO are expected to discuss the situation and reaffirm support for Lithuania. The United States has also expressed firm support. Security analysts doubt a full-scale military response from Russia, suggesting a prolonged spat instead. Lithuania has prepared for potential retaliatory actions such as being cut from the regional power grid. The Kaliningrad region estimates that 40%-50% of transit cargoes are banned, affecting various goods. Lithuania maintains that transit has not been blocked and that non-sanctioned goods continue to be transported. The EU is reviewing the list of prohibited goods to ensure accuracy. Lithuania faces domestic criticism for its handling of the situation and its strategic communications.

Billions of euros from suspicious sources have been moved through Baltic branches of Nordic banks Nordea and Norway's DNB, with ties to money laundering. Leaked internal investigation reports implicate Nordea branches in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Luminor Bank, established by Nordea and DNB. Luminor, now controlled by Blackstone, had suspicions of employee involvement in money laundering. Nordea and DNB have not commented on specifics, while Nordea confirmed conducting two audits with no shortcomings found. In 2018, Nordea's then CEO Caspar von Koskull reported no money laundering issues in the Baltics.

Estonia is poised to form a new government led by the Reform Party after Isamaa indicated it would join negotiations with Reform and the Social Democrats, rather than with the Centre Party. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas had ousted the Centre Party from the ruling coalition over disagreements on a family benefits bill. Isamaa's chairman, Helir-Valdor Seeder, stated that while Isamaa supports the family benefits bill and suggests freezing the Estonian-Russian border agreement, they have not committed to forming a government yet but hope the negotiations will be fruitful. Kallas welcomed Isamaa's decision to negotiate, emphasizing the need for a government that can navigate crises and ensure security and economic stability. Meanwhile, Jaanus Karilaid of the Centre Party suggested that the Reform Party might agree with Isamaa's family benefits bill and predicted a shift in Estonian politics.

The article discusses the rise of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending in Europe, focusing on the Latvian company TWINO. Founded in 2009, TWINO has become a significant player in the P2P lending market, connecting investors with borrowers through its platforms. Jevgeņijs Kazaņins, TWINO Investment Platform lead, highlights the company's success, its innovative approach to lending, and the high returns offered to investors. TWINO's competitive edge includes investor protection guarantees and the ability to operate in multiple markets, including Russia. Despite the lack of regulatory measures for P2P lending in Latvia, TWINO has managed to thrive and is looking forward to further growth in a market that is still small compared to traditional banking.

The article discusses the rise of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending in Europe, focusing on the Latvian company TWINO. Founded in 2009, TWINO has become a significant player in the P2P lending market, connecting investors with borrowers through its platforms. Jevgeņijs Kazaņins, TWINO Investment Platform lead, highlights the company's success, its innovative approach to lending, and the high returns offered to investors. TWINO's competitive edge includes investor protection guarantees and the ability to operate in multiple markets, including Russia. Despite the lack of regulatory measures for P2P lending in Latvia, TWINO has managed to thrive and is looking forward to further growth in a market that is still small compared to traditional banking.

The article discusses Estonia's pioneering digital transformation, focusing on its e-Residency program. Taavi Kotka, Estonia's former Chief Information Officer and co-founder of the e-Residency project, explains that e-Residency provides a digital identity to anyone globally, allowing them to run a location-independent business online. The program offers numerous benefits, such as the ability to digitally sign documents and access secure services. With over 18,000 e-Residents, mostly non-EU, the program aims to expand Estonia's digital population and business connections. Kotka addresses skepticism about the program's financial benefits, emphasizing its success in attracting businesses and increasing tax revenue. The article also touches on Estonia's no-legacy policy in IT systems and Kotka's current endeavors post-government.