It was in September of 1978 when I first visited Tallinn and met my relatives who lived in the city. The photo above is me with my Tädi Linda somewhere in Vana-Tallinn. Renovation work was going on at the time for the 1980 Olympic Games’ sailing events, which explains the building materials in the background. An ERR article from 2015 stated: "Expert Polish restorators were also brought in to take care of the crumbling Medieval Old Town - the quality of their work is self-evident 35 years later.”
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✔︎ Zaha Hadid Architects (London) will modernize Vana-Tallinn’s port area. Project is called Masterplan 2030. (Architectural Digest)
✔︎ Tallinn completed construction of a new tram which connects the airport with downtown. It’s now operational. (Linnaleht)
✔︎ Schools throughout Eesti celebrated the first day of school. (Delfi)
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Friday 1. Sept.
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✔︎ 1. september täidab klassiruumid tuhandete õpilastega
(Delfi | Õhtuleht)
"Täna alustab kooliaastat 147,190 üldhariduskoolide õpilast, neist 15,570 jaoks on tänane esimene koolikell."
—
Kooli Õpetaja: "Kui su õel on kuus
õuna ja sina võtad temalt kaks
ära - mis on tulemus?"
Juku: "Õudne kisa."
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| Foto: Valmar Voolaid - Meie Maa |
- Presidend Kaljulaidi tervitus kooliaasta alguse puhul
(ETV video)
- Trammitee lennujaamani on valmis
Streetcar Service Between Tallinn Airport and Downtown Now Open
(ERR | Delfi | Linnaleht)
"Trammitee pikendus algab Peterburi maantee äärde rajatud pöördekanjonist, kulgeb tunnelis raudtee ja Suur-Sõjamäe tänavate alt läbi, jõuab süvendis tõustes Keevise tänaval taas maapinnale ning lõpeb tagasipöörderingiga lennujaama juures."
--
—
- Arvamus: Applebaum ja holodomor
Edward Lucas
(Postimees)
"Kas holodomor oli genotsiid?"
- Which EU country has the most teenage mothers?
(Euronews)
"Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland are all among the EU’s worst when it comes to young mothers. … Teenage births have fallen across the EU over the last decade – but the biggest drop was in Estonia. It had 1,116 teenagers giving birth in 2005, compared to 368 ten years later. … “It’s not only a question of having a very developed system like in western Europe – Estonia has shown it can be done in that region of Europe. They are doing well and they’re a role model that could be followed."
(Kyiv Post)
"Even if the risk of direct military invasion of the Baltic states and Poland is low, we, together with our allies, need to be vigilant and ready for a quick response if the picture of the threat changes.” - Estonian Commander Gen. Riho Terras
https://www.kyivpost.com/world/estonian-troops-urged-maintain-vigilance-due-zapad-2017-drills.html
- Tracking Russian Influence Ops. on Twitter
(German Marshal Fund)
[Note: Ilves is on the advisory council.]
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Thursday 31. August
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- Estonia defends Russian media ban at EU event
(EU Observer | RFERL)
"Estonia reserves the right of not accrediting, or considering as media, such channels (those belonging to the Rossiya Segodnya group) whose editorial offices are not independent, which do not follow good journalistic practice"
—
--
- Russian embassy: Freedom of speech in Estonia is ‘selective’
(ERR)
"The Russian embassy in Tallinn criticized the decision of the Estonian authorities not to accredit employees of Russian state news agency Rossiya Segodnya for an EU presidency event."
- Putin’s 'Secret New Dacha’
(YouTube)
"Opposition politician Alexei Navalny on Thursday published an investigation claiming to show President Vladimir Putin’s “secret dacha” ..."
- Articles: A New 'Secret Dacha’ for Putin
(Moscow Times | Euronews | others)
"Drone footage depicts a lavish property on the Russian border with Finland occupying 48.5 hectares with a helicopter pad and a 745-square-meter residence with a 1,500-square-meter extension, the investigation said."
—
-
- How to Deal with Authoritarianism Inside NATO
(War on the Rocks)
“NATO allies are ostensibly bound by a shared belief in “democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.” But what happens when an ally shuns those principles and takes up the mantle of illiberalism or even authoritarianism?"
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Wednesday 30. August
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✔︎ Zaha Hadid Architects Tapped to Modernize One of the Oldest Cities in Europe
(Architectural Digest)
“While ZHA won't actually touch any of the oldest buildings in Tallinn's Old Town, it will revamp and modernize its surrounding area. Working alongside the Latvian-based firm RemPro and Tyrens UK, a consultant for urban, landscape designs, among others, ZHA plans to bring Tallinn's Old Town swiftly into the 21st century with its multipurpose design. … The Port of Tallinn plans to work with ZHA to finalize the plan before the end of the year."
✔︎ Zahad Hadid Architects: Masterplan 2030
[Drawings, descriptions, etc.]
✔︎ Nimekas Zaha Hadid Architects asub Vanasadamaala tervikuks kujundama
(ERR)
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- Viru hotelli lugu
(Delfi)
- Kas tunned need Tallinna paigad aastakümnete tagustelt fotodelt ära
(Delfi)
- Architecture: The New HQ of ‘Äripäev'
(ERR)
"Suurejoonelisest Lutheri Masinasaalist sai Äripäeva toimetus."
- Eesti ehitab oma soomukeid 30 miljoni eest ümber
(Õhtuleht)
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Tuesday 29. August
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- 11 kuud presidentuuri ehk 3 asja, mis on Kersti Kaljulaidis muutunud
(Elu24)
[Soeng, empaatia, ja kleidid.]
- Piiriäärsel alal liikumine nõuab tähelepanelikkust
(Lõuna Leht)
"Saatse saapas on keelatud peatumine ning samas ka selle läbimine jalgsi. „Mullu lisasime Saatse saapasse täiendavaid hoiatussilte, et hoida ära tahtmatuid rikkumisi ning suurendada ses piirkonnas liikuvate inimeste teadlikkust kehtivast eripärast. „Kuigi hoiatussildid on märgatavad ja neid on rohkesti, soovitame piiriäärsel alal liikudes olla tähelepanelik ning teha endale näiteks maa-ameti kaardilt või kohalike piirivalvurite kaasabil täpsemalt selgeks, kuidas piir kulgeb."
- Finnish President Visits the White House
(Yle | Helsinki Times)
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- Kohtumine Trumpiga oli sõbralik, oluline sai öeldud
(ERR)
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- Joint Press Conference
(White House Transcript)
- Trump declines to single out Russia as 'security threat’
(The Hill)
- Trump Said Finland And Russia Have Had A Good Relationship, But Relations Are Frosty And Russia Has Invaded Finland
(Daily Caller)
- Finnish president denies Trump claim of fighter jets sale
(The Hill | Slate)
—
- Trumpi jutt uute hävituslennukite teemal tekitas Soomes segadust
(ERR)
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Monday 28. August
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- Eestlane, aga taskus on ikka hall pass
(Postimees)
"Eestis elab augusti seisuga 78,107 määratlemata kodakondsusega inimest. Postimees leidis nende hulgast Lidia, Elmi, Elvira, Andrei – vaid mõned näited inimestest, kelle emakeel on eesti keel, aga taskus välismaalase pass. Mis põhjustel pole kõik siin elavad eestlased Eesti kodanikud, muulastest rääkimata?"
- Propastop: natsismisüüdistused Erna matka suunas kõlavad sel aastal valjemalt kui varem
(Postimees)
- Ratas starts four-day visit to the U.S.
(ERR)
- Commentary: The Ghosts Of August 1939
by Brian Whitmore
(RFERL)
- Русские в Эстонии не хотят становиться российской пятой колонной
(Vedomosti)
"Russians in Estonia do not want to become Russia's fifth column."
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- Zapad 2017 -
Russia’s military exercises
14. to 20. September
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- Don't Fear The Zapad
(Brian Whitmore)
"Can you say psyop? Of course you can. … It's in the Kremlin's interests for the Baltic states, Poland, and Ukraine to be nervous and edgy."
- Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges: Media should be invited to observe Zapad
(ERR)
"Hodges said that Russia could dispel concerns by inviting journalists to observe the drills the way Western countries do. "I think this would all be solved and everybody would be relaxed if the Russian Federation invited the media to everything that they do the way that the Lithuanian Armed Forces do, the German Armed Forces do, the American Armed Forces do."
- USA kindral ei usalda Zapadi osas Venemaad
(Postimees)
- Belarusian Twitter users are swearing allegiance to a fictional country invented for Moscow's ‘Zapad 2017’ war-games
(Meduza)
"The fighting scenario pits Russian and Belarusian troops against a coalition of fictional Western countries called Veishnoria, Vesbaria, and Lubenia that seeks to destabilize Belarus. According to the planned exercises, Veishnoria exists in western Belarus, Vesbaria overlaps with parts of Lithuania and Latvia, and Lubenia occupies northeastern Poland and southwestern Lithuania."
- NATO battlegroups in Baltic nations and Poland are fully operational
(NATO Press Release)
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| NATO Graphic |
- USA: Zapadi ajal peab olema valmis erinevateks arenguteks
(ERR)
"Vene-Valgevene ühisõppuste Zapad ajal peavad lääneriigid olema valmis kõigiks situatsioonideks, ütles USA eriesindaja Ukrainas Kurt Volker pühapäeval."
- NATO Says Sending Three Monitors To Russian War Games, Seeks Greater Access
(RFERL)
- Pro-Kremlin Media Spread Disinformation on Zapad 2017 in Lithuania
(CEPA)
[How pro-Kremlin media completely distorted a 16. August radio interview of Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis.]
- Pro-Kremlin TASS: Cautions Latvia against “hysterics" over Zapad
(TASS - Russia)
- Rattling the West's Cage
(Real Clear World)
"Zapad’s unofficial purpose - its political impact - has in large part already succeeded. First, Zapad shows Russia’s maintained security relevance on the European continent. Second, it intends to rattle regional neighbors unsure of the extent of Russia’s interests. Third, the exercises are meant to alert Aleksandr Lukashenko, the leader of Russia’s closest ally Belarus, that his recent moves to chart a more balanced course between Russia and the European Union can be easily quashed."
- Should We Fear Russia’s Latest Military Dress Rehearsal
(National Interest)
- U.S. Protective Of Baltic Region
(RFERL)
"Asked further about recent joint naval exercises held by Russia and China in the Baltic Sea, and upcoming war games scheduled for next month in regions bordering the Baltic countries, Trump replied: "We are very protective of that region."
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"That's all I can say. We are very, very protective. We have great friends there."
- Russia refers to Zapad as just an anti-terrorist drill
(Postimees)
"Practicing an air and naval blockade near the Suwalki gap connecting the Baltics to their NATO allies is merely a part of an anti-terrorist drill, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin said when introducing the Zapad 2017 major training exercise yesterday.”
—
"Because the enemy is a terrorist group, special units and security services, including the FSB, will also take part in the exercise. One of the most controversial elements of the drills will be a naval blockade by Russia’s Baltic Sea fleet to cut off the extremists’, who are supported from the outside, escape route west."
- Russia seeks to reassure over war games, denies invasion plans
(Reuters | Baltic Times)
"The Zapad-2017 war games next month have stirred unease in some countries because Russian troops and military hardware will be training inside Belarus, a Russian ally which borders Ukraine as well as NATO member states Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. Russia has used such exercises in the past as a precursor or as a cover to project force in other countries …"
—
- Russian forces will leave Belarus by 30 Sept – General Staff Chief
(Belsat TV - Belarus)
- Commentary: Putin's weird war gets ever riskier
(Reuters)
- Latvian FM says provocations possible
(Belsat TV)
- The Road to Zapad 2017
(CEPA)
- Russian Actions in Belarus Are Cause for Concern
(The Daily Signal)
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- Russia | Belarus-
"Trust No One"
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- Venemaa teatas lõpuks, kui palju Armata tanke nad tegelikult ehitavad
(Postimees)
"Kremli lubadus ehitada 2020. aastaks 2300 uut kõrgtehnoloogilist T-14 Armata tanki jääb siiski vaid unistuseks ja selle asemel loodetakse valmis saada 100 tanki.”
- Putin saw the Panama Papers as a personal attack and may have wanted revenge
(Washington Post)
“… the Panama Papers (was) the enormous 2016 leak of documents from an offshore banking network. … It was seen as an attack on personal friends of Putin, his immediate circle. … Worse, Putin believed the Panama Papers attack was sponsored by Hillary Clinton's people - this, in a way, provided him with a “justification” for a retaliatory operation."
- On the Putin Succession
(Youtube - Mark Galeotti )
[People in Moscow are beginning to talk about the ‘after-Putin-era’.]
- Lame-Duck Putinism
(RFERL - Brian Whitmore)
"Despite the fact that Putin is widely expected to seek - and all but certain to win - a fourth term in the Kremlin in March, there appears to be a growing realization that after 18 years, the Putin era is actually entering its final lap."
- Vene kaardilt kadus Põhja-Korea raketikatsetuse ajal Sahhalini saar
(ERR)
- Russia's Sakhalin Island Disappears From Online Maps As North Korea Fires Missile
(Moscow Times)
- Underground Belarusian
(Open Democracy)
[Reportedly, less than 2% of Minsk’s schoolchildren currently receive Belarusian-language schooling.]
- 200,000 moslemit kogunes Moskva peamošeesse ühispalvusele
(Postimees)
"Märgitakse, et tänasele palvusele kogunes siiski vähema rahvast kui kaks aastat tagasi – siis oli seal umbes 250 000 moslemit."
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