Russians clean up at Europeans

Led by defending Olympic champion Evgeny Plushenko, Russians won three of the four titles in Tallinn, Estonia, at the European figure skating championships, which ended Saturday. Carolina Kostner of Italy broke the Russian stronghold by winning the women s event on Saturday, while Russian Alena Leonova finished seventh and Russian champion Ksenia Makarova finished ninth. But with an array of mistakes, Kostner hardly figures in the Winter Olympics picture for the women s event next month in Vancouver. Kostner fell on a triple loop and popped a triple flip into a single. She landed a triple flip - triple toe loop combination, but it wasn t perfect. Her final point total of 173.46 pales in comparison to the world record of 210.03 set by Kim Yu-Na of South Korea earlier this season, or even to Canadian champion Joannie Rochette s best score of 191.29,

Plushenko, Lambiel in focus at Euros

Just weeks before the Vancouver Olympics, and will face each other on the ice for the first time since winning gold and silver at the last Winter Games in Turin in 2006. Plushenko and Lambiel, both making comebacks after retirements, are competing at the European Figure Skating Championships this week in Tallinn. They will be up against European champion Brian Joubert. The competition begins Tuesday with compulsory dance and the pairs short program, but the men s event that starts Wednesday is likely to be the highlight of the championships. Plushenko and Lambiel returned to competition this season. Their performances this week should show whether they will be contenders at the Vancouver Games, which start Feb. 12. Plushenko dominated the sport during the last Olympic cycle but, until late last year, the Russian hadn t competed internationally since winning gold in Turin.

ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2010

177 skaters couples from 38 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. The ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2010 will open in Tallinn, Estonia, on January 19. Estonia is hosting an ISU Championship for the first time in history. 177 skaters couples from 38 ISU members have been entered for the Championships. All skaters couples will compete in the Short Program Compulsory Dance and Original Dance, and the top 20 Men and Ladies and the top 16 Pairs Ice Dance couples will proceed to the Free Skating. Overview over the top contenders Reigning European Champion Brian Joubert (FRA) will face stiff competition from Olympic Champion Evgeni Plushenko (RUS) and two-time World Champion Stéphane Lambiel (SUI) who both returned to competition this season. Joubert posted a seasons best of 232.70 points at the NHK Trophy, while Plushenko scored 240.65

Wanted By Nazi-Hunters Dies in Costa Rica

An Estonian alleged by Nazi-hunters to have murdered Jews during World War II has died in his adopted homeland Costa Rica aged 89, according to officials in the Baltic state. Harry Mannil died Monday in the Costa Rican capital San José, Edgar Savisaar, mayor of Estonia s capital Tallinn and a close friend, said in a statement. Savisaar paid tribute to Mannil, the godfather of his daughter, as an outstanding expatriate Estonian businessman and did not mention the accusations against him, dropped by Estonian prosecutors in 2005. Mannil nonetheless remained on a wanted list drawn up by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Los Angeles-based Jewish organization that tracks Nazi war criminals. Mannil, then aged 21, was recorded as having served from September 1941 to June 1942 with the German security forces during the Nazi occupation of Estonia.

Estonian Consumer Price Decline Eased a 2nd Month in December

The decline in Estonia s consumer prices slowed in December for a second consecutive month as fuel prices increased. Consumer prices slid 1.7 percent from a year earlier, following a 2.1 percent decline in November, the Tallinn-based statistics office said on its Web site today. In the month, prices rose 0.1 percent, the first increase in four months. The 23 billion economy has bottomed out after export demand rose and demand stabilized, the Finance Ministry and central bank have said. The smallest of the three Baltic states is set to become the euro region s next member and targets adopting the single currency by 2011. Estonia s government raised taxes on alcohol, fuel and electricity from Jan. 1 to boost budget revenue and to stay on track with its euro adoption goal.

European Christmas markets: Tallinn

Currently in its eighth year, the Tallinn Christmas Market is one of Europe s youngest markets. However, with the revival of the Christmas market tradition following the fall of the Soviet Union, organizers hope to make this Estonian festival one of the world s best. The Tallinn Christmas Market s festive scene or colorful lights and music is enhanced by the city s Old World charm. Centered around a massive Christmas tree, the market features 64 wooden stalls situated within Tallinn Town Hall Square s wide open spaces. In these quaint stalls, skilled artisans sell traditional and original wares including felt hats, slippers, buckwheat pillows, wooden bowls, wickerwork, hand-sewn quilts, knitted hats and scarves, cardigan sweaters, ceramics, glassware, homemade candles, and traditional Christmas wreaths. Hungry shoppers can find a plentiful supply of Estonian holiday foods including pork, sauerkraut, blood sausage, hot soups, gingerbread, marzipan, black pudding, nuts, honey, cookies and sweets.

Anti-crisis Christmas cheer in Estonia

Locked in one of Europe s deepest recessions, Estonians in dire need of some anti-crisis cheer are flocking to their capital s annual Christmas market, a magnet for locals and tourists alike. Spread across the centre of Tallinn s picturesque Old Town, the market showcases the hugely popular handicraft traditions of this small Baltic nation of 1.3 million people. Despite the recession there are plenty of customers. But you can see times are hard because of the increase in the number of thieves, who act quickly, like rabbits, Mahe Jarmut, a grandmother from the island of Saaremaa, wearing traditional costume and a sheepskin jerkin to fight off the winter chill, told AFP. The Estonian economy is forecast to contract a whopping 14 percent this year after a spectacular boom turned to bust.

Tallinn is a Baltic fairytale

I d been told that Tallinn was beautiful but it s hard to get the measure of a place when you touch down at midnight and there s little to see but empty streets and worn-out shop fronts. Why you come here? snorts the taxi driver. Tallinn not good. Oh dear. I m in the Estonian capital on a recommendation and was led to believe all would be charming. I sit back in the seat and sigh, watching my breath almost freeze in front of me. It feels a bit like no-man s land. Then, out of nowhere, the outline of medieval turrets rises above the city s old quarters as arterial roads give way to 13th-century cobbles - the reason people come here becomes obvious. Only 15 minutes from the airport and you re in a Baltic fairytale.

Estonia s Tallinn is like a Petri dish of capitalism

It s amazing what a stretch of water can do. The country of Estonia sits across the Baltic Sea from Sweden and Finland. Yet the struggles of the last couple of generations couldn t be more different on opposite sides of the sea. Traveling to this former Soviet republic spices up any visit to this region especially if you connect with the people and tune into their story about their struggle for freedom. During World War II, Estonia lost its independence to Soviet expansion and sank into a 50-year communist twilight. In an attempt to Russify the country, the Soviets moved out Estonians, moved in Russians, and built massive-scale, cookie-cutter apartment blocks. During my visit here in the 1980s when labor was cheaper than light bulbs an old babushka would actually go through museums with me turning on and off lights as we went from room to room.

Craftsmanship surging in Estonia

Estonia is known for its innovativeness and eagerness to adopt and invent new technologies. Yet the old and the traditional has not at all been forgotten. Among the Nordic capitals, only Tallinn and Lubeck have far-reaching roots in the history of marzipan. The recipe for marzipan was invented in Hanseatic Tallinn by a student at Town Hall Apothecary, which is also known as the oldest apothecary in the world. Since then marzipan (originally Marci Panis) has been produced in Tallinn. When visiting Tallinn, it is suggested to go to one of the two marzipan museums in Tallinn, on Pikk street 16, or Viru street 4, where one can shape all sorts of marzipan figures. These are popular places for celebrating children s birthdays among the locals. Also, Estonia s biggest chocolate manufacturer Kalev had its start, in 1806, in Pikk street s marzipan boutique in the Old Town.