EU Set to Open Borders to Fully Vaccinated Travelers

On Wednesday, May 19 European Union member states agreed to open borders to travelers who are completely vaccinated against the coronavirus, sources in Brussels said.

At the meeting in Brussels, diplomats also agreed to raising the level to which the infection could rise in a country before declaring travel unsafe.

This means that the EU's borders may be open to travelers from more countries.

Individual EU countries can set additional restrictions.

They also can decide what official documentation will be accepted to attest that somebody has been vaccinated.

Meanwhile startups, governments and nonprofits are racing to create “vaccine passports,” or digital health passes aimed at helping people travel safely. (Pg 1)

Bass Ain Anger to Perform at Metropolitan Opera

Estonia's most famous operatic bass Ain Anger, who won the Estonian Cultural Endowment 's main prize this year in the field of sound art, will perform at the New York Metropolitan Opera in the autumn.

The native of Kihelkonna Saaremaa will perform the role of Pemin in Boris Godunov and Gremin in the opera Eugene Onegin. (Pg 1)

Tartu Will Stop Mowing Lawns in the City Center

Under the leadership of the Curated Biodiversity (Kureeritud Elurikkuse) Project, there will be an increase of areas where grass will be allowed to grow tall will in several parks in central Tartu this summer.

With the help of new maintenance methods, an urban space will be created which will offer  more valuable, diverse environments for wildlife, as well as for people. (Pg 6)

Tallink Ship to House 1,000 UK Police Officers During G7 summit

Tallink cruise ship the MS Silja Europa will be put to unusual use as the temporary home of about a thousand British police officers during next month's G7 summit to be held in Cornwall. (Pg 6)