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Articles by Märten Hallismaa
Political scientist: Older politicians are like older drivers
Last week, 80-year-old Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential election, marking the fourth time he has been elected president. In the United States, elderly presidents have followed one another in office, with Donald Trump succeeding Joe Biden. When Trump first took office in 2017, he was 70 years old, making him at the time the third-oldest person to become U.S. president.
Politoloog: eakad poliitikas on nagu eakad liikluses
Eelmisel nädalal võitis Brasiilia valimised 80-aastane Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, kelle jaoks on tegemist neljanda korraga, kui ta riigi presidendiks valiti. USA-s on presidendid üksteise järel olnud eakad Donald Trump ning Joe Biden. Kui Trump 2016. aastal esimest korda ametisse asus, oli ta 70-aastane, millega oli toona kolmas kõige vanem ametisse asunud president.
Teadlane: eakad poliitikas on nagu eakad liikluses
Eelmisel nädalal võitis Brasiilia valimised 80-aastane Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, kelle jaoks on tegemist neljanda korraga, kui ta riigi presidendiks valiti. USA-s on presidendid üksteise järel olnud eakad Donald Trump ning Joe Biden. Kui Trump 2016. aastal esimest korda ametisse asus, oli ta 70-aastane, millega oli toona kolmas kõige vanem ametisse asunud president.
Estonia has a higher education gender gap and few plans to fix it
Education and Research Minister Kristina Kallas (Eesti 200) and Kadri Täht, a professor of work and education sociology at Tallinn University (TLÜ), agree that the gender imbalance is not necessarily a problem in itself. It becomes one, Täht said, when educational choices limit people's future opportunities, reinforcing gender segregation in the labor market.
Noorma: Venemaa satelliitide tegevus on tõenäoliselt hirmutamiskampaania
Otseselt märgiliseks Noorma satelliitide erakordset lähedust ei pea, sest see on lihtsalt tehniline parameeter. Küll aga leidis ta, et juhtumit ei saa kaksipidi mõista – tegemist on deklaratsiooniga. Venemaa üritab Noorma sõnul nii näidata, et neil on tehniline võimekus hävitada NATO radareid. Seda, et reaalseks kosmosesõjaks läheb, ta ei usu.
Teadlane: ühiskonna rasvumist pidurdaks tervisliku toidu käibemaksuvabastus
Briti meditsiiniväljaandes The Lancet avaldatud riskihinnangus toodi esile 17 suurt riski inimeste tervisele, alates tuumasõjast ja lõpetades tehisaru pahatahtliku kasutamisega. Autorite hinnangul on aastatel 2025 kuni 2100 suurimaks inimeste kaotatud eluaastate põhjustajaks rasvumine, hariduse piiratud kättesaadavus ning ebavõrdsus sissetulekutes. Tartu Ülikooli rahvatervishoiu kaasprofessori Taavi Tillmanni sõnul on rasvumine juhtiv tervisekoormat põhjustav tegur.
Ketodieet suurendab hiirtel peensoolekasvaja riski
Näiteks jätavad inimesed ketogeenset dieeti pidades menüüst välja süsivesikud ja asendab need ohtra rasvaga. Nad loodavad, et keha hakkab kasutama see peale energiaallikana süsivesikute kasutama rasva ning kaal kukub. Värskest uuringust selgub aga, et ketodieet võib suurendada kasvajate tekkimise riski peensooles. MIT ehk Massachusettsi Tehnoloogiainstituudi teadlased uurisid soolevähitekkele geneetiliselt vastuvõtlikke hiiri ja jälgisid nende reageerimist erinevatele toidusedelitele.
Prantsusmaa menuki taga kahtlustatakse tehisaru kõrvu
Tõlkija Heli Alliku sõnul räägib Thelyson Orelieni raamat "C'était ça ou mourir" (eesti keeles "Valida oli kas see või surra") Haiti õpetaja põgenemisest kodumaalt, kus möllavad jõugusõjad. "Kogu põgenemise lugu on tänapäevane odüsseia," sõnas ta. Romaan on Alliku sõnul võitnud lugejate südame (raamatut on müüdud üle 35 000 eksemplari) ning see on valitud ükshäälselt kõikide tähtsamate kirjandusauhindade finalistide hulka.
Nuclear physicists: Plant would be Estonia's security guarantee
The world's first nuclear power plants were built in the 1950s. As in other areas of life, this one also witnessed a Cold War-era race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Both considered themselves the winner; in the U.S. state of Idaho, EBR-1 became the first nuclear power plant to produce electricity in 1951, going on to power the nearby town of Arco. Three years later in 1954, the Soviet Union, however, achieved the first in opening a plant which could generate energy at a steady rate.
Teadlased lõid kõhus lahustuva patareid
Ameerika Ühendriikide Massachusettsi tehnoloogiainstituudi (MIT) teadlased katsetasid uudset vooluallikat sigade sees, pannes selle tööle kahes seadmes. Üks neist saatis edukalt signaale looma kehast välja ja teine stimuleeris elektriliselt magu, et vallandada näljatunnet reguleerivat hormooni. Teadlased valisid voolu salvestavateks elektrijuhtideks magneesiumi ja molübdeeni. Meie keha vajav mõlemat metalli väikestes kogustes elutegevuseks niikuinii.
Teadlased lõid kõhus lahustuva patarei
Ameerika Ühendriikide Massachusettsi tehnoloogiainstituudi (MIT) teadlased katsetasid uudset vooluallikat sigade sees, pannes selle tööle kahes seadmes. Üks neist saatis edukalt signaale looma kehast välja ja teine stimuleeris elektriliselt magu, et vallandada näljatunnet reguleerivat hormooni. Teadlased valisid voolu salvestavateks elektrijuhtideks magneesiumi ja molübdeeni. Meie keha vajav mõlemat metalli väikestes kogustes elutegevuseks niikuinii.
Värsked tuumafüüsika doktorid: tuumajaam on julgeolekutagatis
Esimesed tuumajaamad rajati maailmas 1950. aastatel. Nagu ka teistes elusfäärides, käis selleski valdkonnas Ameerika Ühendriikide ja Nõukogude Liidu vahel külma sõja aegne võidujooks. Mõlemad pidasid end selle võitjaks, sest USA-s Idaho osariigis avatud EBR-1'st sai 1951. aastal esimene elektrit tootev tuumajaam. Nõukogude Liit jõudis aga esimese stabiilselt energiat tootva jaamani 1954. aastal, kui avas Kaluga oblastis Obninski tuumareaktori. Mõlemad jaamad on praeguseks tegevuse lõpetanud.
Tartu teadlased lõid uudse RNA-vaktsiini tehnoloogia
Projekti juhi, Tartu Ülikooli rakendusviroloogia professori Andres Meritsa sõnul oli see esimene katse rakendada Eesti teadlaste väljatöötatud RNA-tehnoloogiat vaktsiinides. RNA-vaktsiinid said küll koroonaajal rohkem tähelepanu, kuid meeldetuletuseks lugejale selgitas Merits lahti, mille poolest erinevad traditsiooniline ja RNA-vaktsiin. Traditsioonilise vaktsiini puhul viiakse organismi antigeen ehk mingi molekul või molekulide kogum, mis tekitab reeglina immuunvastuse.
Poor condition of Baltic Sea behind flounder population slump
According to Taavi Suitsberg, chairman of the NGO Lääne County Coastal Fisheries Association and a professional fisherman, fishers believe the decline in flounder numbers is due to the invasive round goby, which competes with native fish species for food and reproduces more quickly. At the same time, Suitsberg said the growing number of gobies is a double-edged sword for fishers.
Lestade vähese arvukuse taga on Läänemere kehv seis
MTÜ Läänemaa rannakalanduse seltsi esimehe ja elukutselise kalamehe Taavi Suitsbergi sõnul on kalameeste seas teadmine, et lesta arvukuse vähenemise taga on ivasiivne võõrliik ümarmudil, kes kohalike kalaliikide eest toidu ära sööb ning kiiremini paljuneb. Samas on mudilate arvukuse kasv kalameeste jaoks kahe otsaga asi, sest kuigi nad väidetavalt lestaliike välja söövad, on nemadki söögikalad ning toiduks teistele suurematele kaladele, leidis Suitsberg.
AI agents will not get Estonian ID codes and responsibility will stay with humans
This year has seen a steady stream of reports about agents powered by various artificial intelligence (AI) models acting against their owners' wishes and taking unauthorized action. For example, it emerged in July that OpenAI's AI agents had launched an unauthorized attack on the Hugging Face code repository.
Defense agencies admit problems but plan no resignations
In fact, the National Audit Office's audit of the state's consolidated annual report, published Friday, was in many ways a continuation of previous years' findings. In July 2024, the National Audit Office sent a letter to Kusti Salm, then permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defense, stressing that the working procedures of the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (RKIK) and the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) needed to be put in order.
Court fight over Eurovision song could complicate music teaching and live shows
The case reached the Harju District Court in July 2024 and concerns the 2023 Estonian Film and Television Awards gala organized by the Estonian Film Institute (EFI), where Tanel Padar and Dave Benton performed the 2001 Eurovision winning song "Everybody." EFI applied for a simple license to perform the song, but the composer argued that the performance was not of the original work and that the song was presented in a modified and processed form.
Reform and Eesti 200 recieve lowest party donations in Q2
Data from the Political Parties Financing Surveillance Committee shows Isamaa collected the most donations in the second quarter, at €161,279. This was followed by non-parliamentary Parempoolsed (€120,739), Center (€68,753) and Social Democrats (€65,149). The governing parties Reform and Eesti 200 received donations worth €55,185 and €2,179, respectively. EKRE had not yet submitted its report by the time the article was published.
Climate law update: no obligations for private sector, only for the state
Committee chair Yoko Alender (Reform Party) said the proposed amendments largely addressed the same issues raised during the first reading. The main difference from earlier versions, she said, is that sector‑specific emission targets have been dropped — lawmakers do not want to impose binding limits on individual sectors. Most feedback focused on whether the roadmaps included in the law are legal requirements or simply statements of intent.
Scientists say dependence on support hindering Estonia's housing fund renovation
The Center of Excellence in Energy Efficiency, which brings together researchers from several Estonian universities, said in a recent review that another 12 million square meters of floor space will need to be renovated over the next 30 years. That is equivalent to roughly 9,500 to 10,000 apartment buildings. According to the research team, the current subsidy-based system has proven effective, but it is also expensive and creates dependency.
Uncertainty remains over delayed U.S. weapons deliveries to Estonia
It was previously revealed that U.S. deliveries have been delayed due to the war involving Iran, directly affecting Estonia's procurement of HIMARS and Javelin systems. These have not yet arrived, but Pevkur confirmed that an agreement on their delivery has been reached. Hanno Pevkur. Source: Airika Harrik/ERR "Today [Thursday] I also met with [U.S. Department of Defense] Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel L. Zimmerman. We went over everything again, and the vast majority should now be settled.
Court: Businessman's action against Delfi journalist an attempt to silence the press
The lawsuit centered on an article published in the print edition of Eesti Ekspress and on the newspaper's website in which Laine wrote about documents made public during court proceedings involving Pruunsild and then-Tartu Deputy Mayor Priit Humal (Isamaa), who has since returned to the same position. Prosecutors charged Humal with violating restrictions on official acts and Pruunsild with aiding and abetting the same offense.
Estonia will not be testing physical aptitude of young people for several more years
On July 4, the Riigikogu held a plenary session where increasing physical activity was discussed as a matter of significant national importance. In its wake, the Social Affairs Committee sent a letter to the Ministry of Education and Research (HTM) asking about the progress of creating a database for monitoring children's physical abilities.
Estonia sees spa boom as tourism and spending habits shift
SPA Tours OÜ has announced two major projects in Tallinn: a €10 million water center in Lasnamäe planned for 2028 and another in Ülemiste. A new spa development is also planned for Telliskivi. Outside the capital, new spas and spa hotels are also planned in Tartu, Viljandi, Alutaguse Municipality and Pärnu, where one of several upcoming developments is the beachfront spa Part.
Siseturism ja ettevaatlik tarbijakäitumine on tekitanud spaaturul plahvatuse
SPA Tours OÜ on viimase kuu jooksul teatanud Tallinnas kahe spaa ehitamisest. Kui mais teatasid nad, et 2028. aastaks peaks valmima 10 miljonit eurot maksev veekeskus Lasnamäel, siis sel nädalal teatati, et samal ajal peaks valmima sama kallis keskus ka Ülemistel. Arendustööd erinevate spaade ja spaadhotellide rajamiseks käivad lisaks Tallinnale veel näiteks Tartus, Viljandis ja Alutaguse vallas. Tallinnas on lisaks Lasnamäele ja Ülemistele oodata uut spaad ka Telliskivisse.
AI Leap project lead: Students say our model is annoying but full of potential
Broadly speaking, there are two groups of people in society when it comes to artificial intelligence. The first group is represented by people like Prime Minister Kristen Michal who believe the economy could grow by as much as 50 percent over the next decade thanks to AI. In an interview with Sirp, Rein Raud said AI is frightening, will bring culture to a standstill and also contributes to climate problems. An increasing number of young people are among those who share that view.
EKRE leader downplays poll slump, targets strong showing ahead of Estonia vote
How are you set with candidates — how many are running for chairman? As far as I know, there is currently one candidate for chairman. By now the candidates are already locked in. All candidates had to be nominated a week before the congress. For the board it's roughly two people per seat, and for the council there is quite heavy competition again, about four people per seat, so we are well supplied with candidates. You are the only one running for chairman? Yes, of course, that's correct.
Baltic decision on permanent summer time stalls over Finland's preference
The idea of ending clock changes in Europe dates back to 2017, when a citizens' initiative was submitted to the Finnish Parliament calling for the abolition of daylight saving time. It was signed by more than 70,000 citizens concerned about the negative effects of switching to summer time on public health. The Finnish Parliament's Transport and Communications Committee supported the initiative, noting that experts believe the practice has more drawbacks than benefits.
MPs aligned on a longer statute of limitations for crimes against children
A petition launched on the platform rahvaalgatus.ee is calling for sexual crimes against children to have no statute of limitations and for abusers to be required to pay state-enforced compensation to victims for the suffering they caused. Under the current Penal Code, such offenses, when classified as second-degree crimes, expire after 10 years. The Penal Code also lists crimes that are not subject to a statute of limitations.
Estonian companies say hiking 'cassette fee' playing into the hands of foreign retailers
Last week, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the Estonian Traders Association, the Estonian E-Commerce Association and the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications, sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice arguing that raising the private copying or so-called cassette levy — the blank media levy paid on every device capable of recording — is unreasonable.
Police and defense attorney agree: Wiretapping disclosure rules need overhaul
According to the Ministry of Justice, courts issued 771 new surveillance warrants last year involving 369 individuals. However, according to sworn attorney Carri Ginter, the authorities are withholding information on the total number of individual phone numbers that were wiretapped. "Right now, the situation in Estonia is that the state is running a media campaign aimed at convincing everyone that people are not being wiretapped excessively.
Estonian parliament now has more unaffiliated MPs than at any point this century
On Thursday, Varro Vooglaid announced that he is leaving the Estonian Conservative People's Party's (EKRE) Riigikogu faction due to a loss of trust in him. With Vooglaid's departure, there are now 18 non-affiliated, or so-called "window-seat," MPs in the Riigikogu. The highest number of non-affiliated MPs since Estonia regained independence was in the Riigikogu's eighth composition, elected in 1995, when there were 27 such lawmakers.
Pärnu, Tallinn and Tartu all still in the running for planned new sports arena
The arena would host major events currently, if they are held at all in Estonia, hosted at older facilities such as the Unibet Arena in Tallinn. Not only Tallinn but also Tartu and Pärnu have expressed serious intent to host the planned arena, providing concrete arguments in each case. The discussion about building a new large arena gained stronger momentum a year ago, once it had become clear that Estonia had won the right to host the 2029 European Basketball Championships.
EDF Military Intelligence: Ukraine is capable of carrying out deep strikes as far as the Urals
Last week, the number of combat engagements in Ukraine decreased noticeably, while Ukrainian deep strikes reached further into Russian territory. Russia's strong desire for a ceasefire around Victory Day on May 9 indicates that the country has failed to achieve its strategic objectives. This can rather be seen as recognition of Ukraine's increased ability to threaten Russia's strategic objects, Kiviselg said.
Reform Party MPs doubt Kaljulaid's election as President
Retired military officer Meelis Kiili said immediately that he would not vote for Kaljulaid. "She would not get my vote. For a very simple reason. I do not believe she would be a unifier of the people in the way Arnold Rüütel, for example, was," Kiili said. Valdo Randpere said that in his assessment Kaljulaid's chances of being elected president again would be even worse than those of the current president, Alar Karis, whose chances are already very slim.
Estonian doctors can treat loved ones if anti-corruption amendments pass
Although the Anti-Corruption Act failed to pass the Riigikogu on its first attempt and sparked extensive debate over provisions concerning procedural restrictions, the bill is now returning for reconsideration. According to a 2024 report by the University of Tartu's RAKE Center for Applied Social Sciences, doctors were the professionals most frequently reported by Estonian residents as having requested bribes.
Banks say anti‑terrorism rules behind refusal to open Koos party account
Last week, Koos sent a letter to the National Electoral Committee stating that it has been unable to open a bank account with credit institutions operating in Estonia. According to Igor Hopp, a member of the party's board, this means the party is also unable to pay the security deposit required to submit an electoral list. Koos has now also contacted the ERJK, saying that without a bank account it is difficult for the party to properly report its financial transactions.
Bensiinide 98 ja 95 hindade võrdustumise taga on kampaaniad
Olerex on juba aasta algusest alates pakkunud sooduskampaaniat, kus bensiinide 95 ja 98 postihinnad on võrdsed. Ettevõtte sõnul on tegemist kliendikäitumist suunava lähenemisega. Ka Alexela tanklates on 98 bensiini hind aprilli lõpus olnud 95 tasemel kampaania korras. Ettevõtte äriarenduse juht Tarmo Kärsna ütles ERR-ile, et läbi aastate on kütuste hind erinenud viie sendi võrra, kuid soojemate ilmade saabumine on toonud välja hobisõidukid.
Minors are not allowed to mow lawns as paid job in Estonia
Based on a regulation signed in 2009 by the government led by Andrus Ansip, numerous restrictions have been placed on the working conditions of minors. In addition to exposure to harmful radiation, vibration, and high pressure, working in environments with excessively low or high temperatures is also prohibited. Thus, minors may not perform light physical work in environments where the temperature is below 19°C or above 26°C, nor moderate physical work in environments below 16°C or above 24°C.
Estonian presidential vote could jump straight to Electoral College
Under the Presidential Election Act, the president must be elected between 60 and 10 days before the incumbent's term ends. Since Estonian president Alar Karis's term expires October 11, the new president must be chosen by October 1. Riigikogu Speaker Lauri Hussar previously announced the first parliamentary voting rounds for September 2 and 3.
Several bidders but no clarity for a new large arena in Estonia
In a letter of support sent to the Ministry of Culture, Tallinn argued the venue should be built in the capital, claiming it is the only city in Estonia capable of servicing a large-scale arena. "If we want to compete for international events, we must also take regional realities into account. In neighboring countries, this role is fulfilled by capital cities — Riga and Helsinki — where similar arenas operate successfully.
Estonia's state agencies sent phishing letters under prominent think tank's name
Earlier this week, the Information System Authority (RIA) sent an email to various institutions warning about a circulating phishing campaign. The phishing email, which also reached ERR, invites recipients — under the name of Frederick Kempe, head of the internationally recognized think tank Atlantic Council — to register for a closed-door strategic discussion.
Petturid saatsid riigiametitele õngitsuskirju tuntud mõttekoja nime alt
Sel nädalal saatis Riigi infosüsteemide amet (RIA) erinevatesse asutustesse meili, milles hoiatas leviva õngitsuskirja eest. Ka ERR-i jõudnud õngitsuskiri kutsub rahvusvaheliselt tuntud mõttekoja Atlantic Councili juhi Frederick Kempe nime all üles registreerima kinniste uste taga peetavale strateegilisele arutelule.
Estonian politicians on Trump's NATO remarks: Serious signal or just talk
U.S. President Donald Trump's reaction was prompted by a decision by Spain and Italy not to allow U.S. forces to use their air bases and airspace for military operations aimed at Iran. According to Kalev Stoicescu (Eesti 200), chair of the Riigikogu National Defense Committee, Italy and Spain are sovereign states and therefore free to make decisions about what happens within their own borders. "What is taking place in Iran is an operation outside NATO.
Estonian hospital sends patient home with other peoples' health data
ERR has received information about a person who went to West Tallinn Central Hospital to undergo an X-ray. Because the images needed to be forwarded to a specialist, the person was advised to save them on a USB drive as a precaution, so they would not have to travel back and forth between hospitals. Following this recommendation, the individual purchased a new USB drive from the hospital, which was not supposed to contain any other data.
Haigla saatis patsiendi koju teiste inimeste terviseandmetega
ERR-i toimetuseni jõudis info inimesest, kes käis Lääne-Tallinna keskhaiglas röntgenipilti tegemas. Kuna ta oli röntgenipiltidega vaja edasi saata eriarsti juurde, soovitati tal pildid igaks juhuks ka mälupulgale panna, et ta ei peaks edasi-tagasi haiglate vahet käima. Nii ostis ta vastavalt soovitusele haiglast uue mälupulga, kus muud infot justkui peal olla ei oleks tohtinud.
Riik tahab koondumiste kontrolliks vajalikku summat tõsta
Justiitsminister Liisa Pakosta sõnul lahendab konkurentsiseaduse muutmise kavand küsimusi, mida ettevõtjate nõukoda on valitsusele ette pannud. "Üks suurem muudatus on selles, et meil on majandus vahepeal kolm korda kasvanud sellest ajast, kui me panime piiri," selgitas Pakosta. Seni on konkurentsiamet kontrollinud ettevõtete koondumisi, mille osaliste aastakäibed Eestis ületavad kokku 6 miljonit eurot ning vähemalt kahe osalise käibed 2 miljonit eurot.
Estonia wants to give Waze and Google Maps direct access to traffic data
A second-reading discussion on amendments to the Traffic Act was held Thursday in the Riigikogu Economic Affairs Committee. The bill aims to transpose a European Union directive on intelligent transport systems into Estonian law. The legislation would require local governments and the Transport Administration to make traffic data available in machine-readable form.
Riik tahab luua liiklusrakendustele otsetee liiklusandmeteni
Riigikogu majanduskomisjonis toimus neljapäeval liiklusseaduse muutmise teise lugemise eelne arutelu. Eelnõu eesmärk on üle võtta Euroopa Liidu direktiiv intelligentsete transpordisüsteemide kohta. Seadus muudaks kohalikele omavalitsustele ja transpordiametile kohustuslikuks teha liiklusandmed masinloetavalt kättesaadavaks. Sellised liiklusandmed on transpordiameti sõnul näiteks liikluspiirangud, -takistused, -olud, ühistranspordipeatused ja graafikud ning ka andmed veokite parklate kohta.
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