Новости за 10.05.2024

On May 10, the Estonian resident who was on board the ship seized in the Strait of Hormuz for nearly four weeks, returned to Estonia and was welcomed by his family and Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200).

The Harju County Court found guilty Allan Hantsom, a Koos party member, guilty of anti-Estonian espionage.

Schools across Estonia will begin switching to Estonian-language education this fall, and some parents are worried that helping large numbers of kids with other native languages catch up on their Estonian will negatively impact the quality of native Estonian-speaking children's education. Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise, however, finds that this does not violate the latter kids' rights.

This summer, the men's European Football Championship Finals (Euro 2024) take place in Germany. Football fans in Estonia will be able to watch all the live action from the tournament free via ERR's TV channels and TV3.

The Estonian Air Force asks Estonians to use the mobile app "Be prepared!" (Estonian: "Ole Valmis!") to take photos of flying objects and report them to the Defense Forces. This will create an air defense mechanism to deter enemy air strikes in wartime.

President Alar Karis met with Arnold Rüütel in Kadriorg on Friday to wish the former Estonian president a happy 96th birthday.

Aivar Mäe is to remain as director of the Vanemuine Theater in Tartu.

On January 1 this year, the Estonian Maritime Museum's Seaplane Harbor closed its doors to visitors in order to undergo major renovations. With the new permanent exhibition now complete, from May 12, the Seaplane Harbor is opening its doors to the public once again.

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson (Center) said on the "Esimene Stuudio" program that she expects the current Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to go to the European Council after the European elections to negotiate a job in Brussels.

English dance legends Faithless are set to perform a live show at Tallinn's Unibet Arena on September 1.

State-owned airline Nordica is currently focused on reducing company costs and improving the profitability of existing contracts in order to facilitate privatization, a senior official at the climate ministry says.

Summer's most common medical traumas include falling from heights, traffic injuries and knife injuries. In an appearance on ETV's "Terevisioon" morning show on Friday, Estonian surgeon Sten Saar said that all of these are very easy to prevent.

The Ministry of Finance on Friday introduced a new version of the car tax, which will require a one-time registration fee on the sale of vehicles already on the Estonian road register, but a broader tax base will allow the registration fee rates to be lowered. At the same time, the registration fee will increase over time.

The developer behind the planned Paldiski pumped hydroelectricity storage (PHS) plant, which would help reduce fluctuations in electricity prices, hopes to complete the plant in 2031. On a smaller scale, however, it could start storing electricity two years earlier already.

A binturong cub whose birth at Tallinn Zoo back in February was cause for much excitement has sadly died, the zoo said.

While originally, the job advertisement for the role of Estonia's undersecretary for digital development at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications specified the need for candidates to have a Master's degree or equivalent, Minister of Economic Affairs and IT Tiit Riisalo (Eesti 200) wants to lower that requirement to a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

Exports of goods from Estonia fell on year by 16 percent, while imports fell by 15 percent over the same time frame, state agency Statistics Estonia reports.

A roundup of Estonian news and events taking place around the world from May 8-15.

Thursday saw the first consecration of a bishop in Saaremaa since the sixteenth century as Anti Toplaan was installed as the bishop of the new Saare-Lääne diocese.

Due to inconsistencies in enforcing Estonian language requirements for taxi drivers, the situation varies across municipalities: while Tallinn calls service card applicants for an interview, many municipalities issue permits without verifying language skills.

Estonia is through to the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Malmö, Sweden, after this year's entry, 5miinust ja Puuluup, picked up enough points to qualify at Thursday night's semi-final.

Thursday's Europe Day celebrations culminated in a grand concert held at Vabduse väljak (Freedom square) in central Tallinn.