Inspired by Skype, ambitious entrepreneurs have the confidence to believe their dreams can come true, writes Henry Muller in technologist.eu.

On the photo: Priit Potter, (age 34), Tallinn University of Technology, PLUMBR (2011), Funds raised €1,500,000, Employees 20

What Apple is to America, Skype is to Estonia – a symbol of the best in creative energy and entrepreneurial savvy.

The current cast of Estonian entrepreneurs includes a number of engineers who got their start at Skype, where they learned first-hand that an idea from a small country can go around the world if it is good enough and well executed.

“There’s no magic, nothing to be afraid of,” says Henn Ruukel, who worked at Skype for seven years before launching his own company. “You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to build something global.”

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Published: October 22 2015

In the beginning of October, an international special intervention units anti-terrorism simulation ATHOS 2015 (Allied Terrorism Hindering Operation Simulation) was held in Southern Estonia to practice cooperation and exchange tactical experiences in solving a large-scale hostage crisis.

Estonian Minister of the Interior Hanno Pevkur said that international cooperation increases the capability of Estonia to react to terrorist threats at any moment.

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Published: October 13 2015

Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus.   Photo by T.Blaat / delfi.ee

TransferWise co-founders, Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann, have been named Ernst and Young UK Entrepreneurs of the Year 2015.

The award recognizes leaders of a young company that fit specific judging criteria: innovation, strategic direction, entrepreneurial vision, financial performance, passion and social impact.

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Published: October 13 2015

Broadcasting history was made on Monday, when ETV+, Estonian Public Broadcasting’s (ERR) first Russian-language TV-channel, finally launched.

Darja Saar, the editor-in-chief of the new channel – almost a year in the making - told ERR that ETV+’s program is set for now, but may see some adjustments later on, once the channel is more familiar with its audience and its expectations.

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Published: October 13 2015

According to Statistics Estonia, the number of suicides committed by young and middle-aged men in Estonia underwent a sharp rise last year. International studies suggest this is a delayed impact of the financial crisis.

The number of suicides in Estonia reached a low in 2013, but 2014 was not as positive.

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Published: October 13 2015

Photos by Tõnu Tunnel

On September 18th, an installation of three gigantic wooden megaphones built by a team of Estonian Academy of Arts interior architecture students opened for all forest dwellers for resting, contemplation and above all – listening to the sounds of nature and forests around them.

According to interior architect Hannes Praks, who leads the Interior Architecture Department of the school that initiated the installation project, the three-metre diameter megaphones will operate as a “bandstand” for the forest around the installation, amplifying the sounds of nature.

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Published: October 07 2015

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves gave a speech at the General Debate of the 70th United Nations General Assembly, focusing on human rights, personal freedoms and the refugee issue.

Ilves started his speech by expressing hope that the historic agreement on the Iran nuclear program will pave the way toward more stability in the broader Middle East.

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Published: October 07 2015

On Sept. 23, the day of the autumnal equinox or sügisene pööri/päev at 11.21 Eastern European Summer Time, the place to be was on the corner of Suve and Sügise Streets in Tallinn, or literally on the spot where summer and fall meet.

Like virtually all place names in Estonian, these street names too, are in the possessive or genitive case. Summer is suvi, possessive suve and fall is sügis, poss. sügise, or the street belonging to sügis.

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Published: September 29 2015