LIFE NEWS
A donkey in China’s Shandong Province has become an internet sensation after being painted with black stripes to resemble a zebra. Visitors spotted the animal at Qingyun Mountain Folk Custom Amusement Park in Anqiu, Weifang.
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has opened applications for a wide range of vacancies to work at its research stations in Antarctica and sub-Antarctic regions in 2026, with contracts ranging from 6 to 18 months. BAS publishes current vacancies on its official "Current Vacancies" page, with application deadlines ranging from March 1 to March 29 and April 26, 2026, depending on the position. On its official portal, there are dozens of vacancies—from technical and service professions to scientific and operational roles. Projects cover BAS stations, including Halley VI and Rothera Research Station (founded in 1975 and operated by BAS on Adelaide Island in Antarctica).
Daugavpils Regional Hospital (Daugavpils Reģionālā Slimnīca) has terminated employment relations with 49 employees holding citizenship of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus due to requirements of the Latvian Law on National Security prohibiting employment in critical infrastructure, Nashaniva.com reported, citing the hospital's press service and the LETA agency.
Starting February 24, Estonia will suspend nighttime traffic through the Luhamaa and Koidula border crossing points on the Russian border for a period of three months. The checkpoints will remain open for only 12 hours a day. The government made this decision citing Russia’s "irrational behavior" at the border and the need to redistribute security resources, while maintaining full customs controls.
The reconstruction of the Ivangorod Multilateral Automobile Checkpoint (MAPP) on the Russian-Estonian border, which has been closed to transport since February 1, 2024, is scheduled for completion at the end of 2026. This update was provided by Sergey Senko, First Deputy Head of the North-West Customs Administration.
Estonian President Alar Karis stated in an interview with NBC that Ukraine may face the necessity of temporarily ceding part of its territory for the sake of peace in the future. However, he emphasized that such a decision must be made exclusively by Ukraine itself.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Estonian President Alar Karis, in separate interviews with Euronews at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, advocated for the appointment of a special EU envoy to participate in negotiations with Russia regarding Ukraine. They suggested that the diplomat should be a "consensus figure" and work based on consultations with Ukraine.
The American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla registered a subsidiary, Tesla Estonia OÜ, on December 16, 2025, with a share capital of €2,500 and immediately posted vacancies for a store manager and a sales advisor in Tallinn – the first step toward an official entry into the Estonian automotive market after a long absence of representation.
On January 6, a 25-year-old Israeli citizen was barred from entering Estonia at the Narva-1 international checkpoint after attempting to cross the border from Russia with an item prohibited under EU sanctions. The traveler was sent back to Russia following the seizure of the goods.
The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has banned 261 individuals involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine from entering the country. The decision, which took effect last week, targets Russian citizens with combat experience whom authorities deem a direct security threat. Tallinn insists this is only the beginning and that the list will expand. The primary objective is to persuade all Schengen Area member states to establish a shared database of Russian military personnel and prohibit their entry into the EU.
In the Gulf of Finland, near the “Dunes” beach, a woman on an inflatable mattress drifted into open waters while engrossed in a phone call. She was rescued thanks to a group of passing fishermen.