PISA 2012 - Estonia is the highest achiever in all categories

The Pisa study and the commission's own findings indicate that Estonia is the highest achiever in all categories, with scores in reading (9.1%) , maths (10.5%) and science (5%) already well under the 15 percent benchmark.

http://euobserver.com/education/122336

Estonia - one of the hardest working country in the world.

Buiness insider lined up the 5 hardest working countries on the planet and Estonia was one of them:

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-5-hardest-working-countries-on-the-planet-2013-7 .

UK gov visiting Estonia: I knew they were digitally sophisticated. But I wasn’t remotely prepared for what I learned

‘Government as a data model’ : what I learned in Estonia
by Pete Herlihy:

"I knew they were digitally sophisticated. But even so, I wasn’t remotely prepared for what I learned.":

http://digital.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/2013/10/31/government-as-a-data-model-what-i-learned-in-estonia/

Why do sign documents digitally?

Why do sign documents digitally?

What are Estonians like?

A dozen questions about Estonians:
http://www.estinst.ee/publications/12/

Robbie Williams in Estonia

Robbie Willams had his live concert recorded in Estonia. Soon it will be publicly available, but right now you can already enjoy the intro video:

Intro video to Robbie Williams Live Concert in Tallinn, Estonia. Produced by: Factory.

Estonia tops the list of best E-Health Implementors in Europe

According to a recent report by OECD and European Commission, Estonia is top of the list of 30 countries in implementing e-health services.

Read more:
https://htcluster.eu/?q=node%2F2259

Estonian first satellite

I'm proud to announce that Estonia has got now a satellite! It is called ESTCube-1 and it is about to start testing revolutionary solar sail.

Image from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ESTCube-1_illustration.jpg

Read more about the cube from here:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23498-new-satellite-sail-is-propelled-by-solar-protons.html

Estonian Moments

When Estonian wins hundred million in lottery

Find more from

http://estonianmoments.tumblr.com

Estonia in "Family Guy"

Representative of Estonia giving a speech in front of the NATO and Peter Griffin commentating the speech in the teaser of the new episode of "Family Guy".

Check out the clip here:

Panoramic view of Estonia

Some nice panoramic views in Estonia:

http://www.tourwrist.com/panos/839

A must-see film about e-Estonia

A must see full film about Estonia and its technological improvements in a networked society.

Estonian has three degrees of length

Top Gear in Estonia!

Top Gear came to Estonia to test electrical car on the ice road.

"Which is why we're currently in Estonia, a country enjoying uncharacteristically balmy winter temperatures of minus 14 degrees Celsius. And seeing as water and electricity make such a stimulating combination, we thought we'd take in some Baltic ice roads, which amount to six floating motorways between 4 and 10 km long, allowing residents of the islands that pockmark Estonia's coast to travel to the mainland more quickly than ferries allow."

Read more here: http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/Driving-across-the-sea-in-an-Ampera-2013-03-01

Arvo Pärt tops list as the most performed living composer

A London-based classical music review website has, for the second year running, named Arvo Pärt the year’s most-performed living composer.

Read more here:
http://estonianworld.com/culture/arvo-part-tops-list-as-the-most-performed-living-composer-video/

Most popular names in Estonia

Which are the most common first names in Estonia?

Following link shows you the most common Estonian names for men:

http://stat24.ee/nimed/postrid/mehed.pdf

Similar link for women:

http://stat24.ee/nimed/postrid/naised.pdf

For more information go to webpage: http://stat24.ee/nimed/

Estonia goes electric with new car charger network

"Estonia has become the first country in the world to install a nationwide system of fast chargers for electrical vehicles, the manager of the new system said, as part of European efforts to reduce carbon emissions."

Read more from the reuters webpage: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/20/estonia-environment-cars-idINL6N0BKAKC20130220

Source of the picture: http://g1.nh.ee/images/pix/900x585/f0da9382/elekter-elektriautod-keskkonnasaastlik-kiirlaadimisvork-saastlik-soit-65709148.jpg 

First country ready for completely new kind of maths education: it's Estonia.

Mathematician Conrad Wolfram announced:
"I'm very excited to announce that computerbasedmath.org has found the first country ready for our completely new kind of maths education: it's Estonia."

Read about the announcment from here:
http://www.conradwolfram.com/home/announcement-our-first-cbm-country.html

Conrad Wolfram

Source of the picture: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6667942571_f5335eb5c9.jpg.

Five great winter holiday destinations: the colder the better

Tallinn, Estonia

"With its Gothic spires and conical snowy roofs, cosy beer halls and vintage-look bars, Tallinn is one of the ultimate winter cities. After strolling the old town, seeing the atmospheric Dominican monastery and the castle on Toompea hill, visitors can duck into a cool coffee shop (see tourism.tallinn.ee). The skating rink on Harju street is next to St Nicholas' church, and there are illuminated cross-country ski trails at the Pirita Health Track (piritaspordikeskus.ee), 15 minutes outside the city. 

• Ryanair flies from Luton, Stansted and Manchester, Brussels Airlines from Edinburgh and Brsitol, FlyBe from East Midlands and easyJet from Gatwick. Returns in February from about £85. Hotel St Petersbourg (+372 6, 286500, hotelstpetersbourg.com, doubles from €110) has fine vodkas and a dining area decked with tapesteries. OldHouse Guesthouse (+372 6 411464, hostels.ee/oldhouse , doubles €30) is cheap and cute"

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2013/feb/08/winter-holiday-destinations-estonia-florence-germany-utah

The Estonian Cyber President: I'll be back

"You might have seen him on the NATO CCDCOE Conference in Tallinn or you might know him as Toomas Hendrik Ilves the current President of Estonia.  Estonia had a rough year in 2007 when Estonia got hit by an cyber attack. 

The attack was stopped in two weeks and that was when Estonia said we are going to spend our attention on cyber security and our understanding of cyber security."

An article about Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and his speech about cyber security:

http://cyberwarzone.com/estonian-cyber-president-ill-be-back

Source of the picture: http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/Technology/files/multi/2010-06/100616_ilves_cyber.jpg

Estonia- country with the cleanest air in the world!

Tallinn- the capital city of Estonia.

"In recent days, Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Henan and Jiangxi have suffered very serious air pollution and Beijing is choked in the densest smog than ever. Many residents have closed windows and doors to avoid breathing the polluted air. The government also asks the citizens to stay home and wear masks when going out.

In 2012, the World Health Organization issued a global air quality ranking and Estonia, Mauritius and Canada rank the top three. According to statistics, these countries are benefited from their low population density, superior climate conditions and strict control measures on air pollution. 

Top 1 Estonia 

Estonia lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. Its capital is Tallinn. According to the global air quality ranking issued by the WHO, Estonia enjoys the cleanest air in the world. Estonia, with 47 percent of its territory covered by forests, has numerous fantastic gulfs, straits, islands, lakes and marshes. 

Because of its outstanding air quality, Estonia attracts many health-minded tourists from all over the world."

Source:
People's Daily Online, http://english.people.com.cn/90777/8091863.html

AFAR's 13 Top Picks For Places To Go In 2013

Estonia made it in AFAR's 13 Top Picks For Places To Go In 2013!

"Tiny Estonia offers something for everyone, as exemplified by the capital, Tallinn, with its traditional cobblestoned old town, bustling cultural scene, lively nightlife, and expanding tech sector. Get out of the city--try one of the bicycling tours into the lush countryside and along the coast. On the islands of Muhumaa and Saaremaa you'll find gorgeous natural scenery, extensive medieval remains, and bucolic country towns. Tartu, a city along the banks of the Emajõgi River, is known as Estonia's spiritual capital."

Photo of Tallinn from Facebook page "Amazing Things in the World":
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=432878100099243&set=a.342434892476898.89335.338077742912613&type=1&theater