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12 June, 2020


The Last Million, by David Nasaw, is coming out in September 2020. 
(Will be interesting to see how much is written about Estos.)



From Penguin Marketing: “A masterwork from acclaimed historian David Nasaw, The Last Million tells the gripping yet until now largely hidden story of postwar displacement and statelessness. By 1952, the Last Million were scattered around the world. As they crossed from their broken past into an unknowable future, they carried with them their wounds, their fears, their hope, and their secrets. Here for the first time, Nasaw illuminates their incredible history and, with profound contemporary resonance, shows us that it is our history as well.”




COVID-19 Eestis
Viimati uuendatud: 12. juuni 2020
[Harjumaa 766 | Saaremaa 551 | Ida-Virumaa 153 | jne.]






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Friday 12. June
__________ 


Thousands of secret KGB ‘Singing Revolution’ photos enter archives
(ERR - 21. May)
“6,000 original camera negatives were given to the film section of the National Archives (Riigiarhiiv) 
 The film reels had been stored in a safe belonging to Jaanus Rohumaa, who has been a security company owner for 30 years. "To my knowledge, the existence of these photos is unique, not (to) mention that this is the only place in the former Soviet Union where photos have preserved of events that affected us so deeply.”

Just a few of the photos taken by the KGB




Inimgeograaf Kadri Leetmaa: Eesti maaelu ei saa kujundada ainult linnaeliit
(Novaator)
“Eestis on kahanemise nĂ”iaringi jĂ”udnud ka maakonnakeskused, ka sealt kaovad elutĂ€htsad teenused. Isegi Tartu regioonikeskusena kahaneb. Inimesed eelistavad elada kohtades, kus töö ja kĂ”igi pereliikmete jaoks vajalikud asjaajamised jÀÀvad igapĂ€evaliikumise ulatusse. Kui Eesti maakonnakeskused nĂ”rgenevad, sĂŒveneb ÀÀremaastumine veelgi.”



Saku Suurhalli ees toimus «Black Lives Matter» meeleavaldus
(Postimees)
“Meeleavaldajad usuvad, et Eestis ei mĂ”isteta probleemi tĂ”sidust.”
—
“Minu arust see on ebaaus, et valgenahalistel on suuremad privileegid, kui tumedanahalistel. See, et seda nii palju ignoreeritakse, see peab muutuma,” kommenteeris Suurhalli ette meelt avaldama tulnud Anna. Olukorras, kus meeleavaldus peaks kĂ€est minema, on Anna enda sĂ”nul valmis oma pĂ”himĂ”tete eest seisma. “Ma isiklikult olen nĂ”us kĂ€ed kĂŒlge panema, kui on vaja,” kommenteeris neiu.”



500 people turn up for a peaceful “Black Lives Matter” rally in Tallinn
By Silver Tambur, Estonian World
“
 showing support to the Black community in the United States and taking a stand against racism in Estonia.”











Putin attends first public event after months of lockdown
(AP)





Lifting of restrictions for passengers between Estonia and Finland
(GlobeNewswire via Yahoo)
“The opening of the Estonian-Finnish border will help to restart passenger transport on the Tallinn-Helsinki and Muuga-Vuosaari shipping lines. In the summer months of 2019, 3 million people traveled by ship between Estonia and Finland, 53% of them Finns and 24% Estonians.”





Norilski diislileke on ulatuselt maailma 20 suurema kĂŒtuseĂ”nnetuse seas
(Novaator)
“PĂ”hja-Venemaal Norilskis ulatub diislileke 21 000 tonnini. Ehkki loodus saab ajapikku Norilski diislisaastest vĂ”itu, nĂ€itab varasem kogemus, et Ă”nnetuse jĂ€lgi vĂ”ib nĂ€ha ka 40 aasta pĂ€rast.”








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Thursday 11. June
__________ 

€750 Billion Recovery Plan Tests Estonia’s EU Policy
By Kristi Raik, ICDS
“In the ongoing discussion on EU recovery package, Estonia has failed to send the message that it is actively taking part in European efforts to look for ways to repair damaged solidarity in the Union.”





Russia welcomes prospect of US troop pullback from Germany
(AP)
“Trump has reportedly signed off on a plan to cut the number of troops stationed in Germany from 34,500 to no more than 25,000. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “we would welcome any steps by Washington to scale down its military presence in Europe.”
—
“Such steps would undoubtedly help reduce confrontational potential and ease military and political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region 
”



U.S.-NATO Exercises In Eastern Europe Are Important
(RFERL)
“Dubbed Allied Spirit, the exercise was supposed be linked to a much larger U.S.-led multinational exercise in Europe, including NATO members, called Defender Europe 20, which had to be significantly scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 The second one, Baltops 20, runs from June 7 to June 16 in the Baltic Sea region. The maritime-focused exercise, which has been held annually since 1972, involves 28 maritime units, 28 aircraft, and up to 3,000 personnel from 19 countries, with Finland and Sweden being the only non-NATO participants.”



How the U.S. Gains From Having Troops in Germany
(CEPA)
“A fundamental misconception in today’s charged political atmosphere is that the U.S. defends Europe out of charity. In reality, the defense relationship is mutually beneficial: serving both American and European interests. Much progress is indeed still to be made by European allies in meeting their obligations on defense spending and capability targets. 
”















Ravikindlustus kÔigile vÔi lasterikkaile?
(Postimees)
“Rahvastikuminister Riina Solman (Isamaa) tuli mĂ”ni aeg tagasi vĂ€lja algatusega, mille eesmĂ€rk on tagada nelja ja enama lapse vanemale eluaegne ravikindlustus. Algatuse prognoositav maksumus vĂ”ib kĂŒĂŒndida 14 miljoni euroni. Ravikindlustuse sidumine laste arvuga ei lahenda aga pĂ”hilist lastevanemate ravikindlustusega seotud probleemi. Sotsiaalministeerium töötab sĂŒgiseks vĂ€lja plaani, kuidas tagada ravikindlustus kĂ”igile Eesti elanikele.”



Russia to play a big role in Estonia's 5G future
(ERR)
“Estonia's neighbor to the East has firmly stated its position, of which they notified the Estonian government of in 2017. Estonia's proposal to allow for the development of networks on the same frequencies has been rejected because it would interfere with Russia's TV broadcasting.”



Even One-Person Protests are Too Much for Vladimir Putin
By Anna Nemtsova, The Daily Beast
“The contrast with the mass protests taking place around the world right now could not be more striking.”








__________

Wednesday 10. June
__________ 


Ida-LÀÀne rollid LÀÀnemerel on vahetunud: NATO uuenenud ĂŒlesanded
Ott Laanemets, Diplomaatia
“NATO peab vĂ”tma ofensiivse hoiaku alates hetkest, kui heidutus lĂ€bi kukub, et tagada ĂŒhendusteed Balti riikidesse. Vaja on sĂŒnkroniseeritult merelisi vĂ”imeid arendada ning luua juhtimisĂŒhtsus.”



Foreign Ministers mark 100 years of Finland-Estonia diplomacy
(News Now Finland | ERR)
“Pekka Haavisto and Urmas Reinsalu held ceremonies in their respective capitals, but highlighted the increasing cooperation across a range of sectors for the Baltic neighbours.”
—
—



Arvamus: VĂ”imalus kĂ”ikjal Eestis elada on kĂŒsimĂ€rgi all 
(Eesti PĂ€evaleht - paywall)
“Juba veerand sajandit on Tallinn olnud Eesti ainus kasvava elanikkonnaga keskus. Kuhu jĂ”uame nii jĂ€tkates jĂ€rgmise veerandsajandiga?”





Riigikogu aitab Narval tĂ€navaid ĂŒmber nimetada
(Postimees)
“Kolm Reformierakonna ja kaks Isamaa riigikogusaadikut esitasid kohanimeseaduse tĂ€iendamise eelnĂ”u, mis vĂ”imaldaks kohustada nĂ€iteks Narva linna ĂŒmber nimetama punamĂ”rtsukate Ants Daumani ja Albert-August Tiimanni nimelise tĂ€nava, millega on edutult tegeletud juba peaaegu kakskĂŒmmend aastat.”



Eesti ja Euroopa karmid relvaregulatsioonid on end Ôigustanud
(Novaator)
“Eesti on rahvusvahelise uuringu andmetel ĂŒks riikidest, kus relvaĂ”nnetuste tagajĂ€rjel sureb inimesi suhteliselt vĂ€he. Viimase kĂŒmnendiga on ka vĂ€givaldseid surmajuhtumeid ĂŒldiselt Eestis poole vĂ€hemaks jÀÀnud. Siseministeeriumi hinnangul on siinsed karmid relvaloa taotlustingimused end seega Ă”igustanud.”










Astravets Nuclear Power Plant in Belarus Is Nearing Completion
(Jamestown Org.)
“The Astravets Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), in Belarus, finished receiving nuclear fuel for the initial load of its first reactor .. For roughly a decade the Astravets NPP has been a tangible focus of the bitter breakdown in relations between Belarus and Lithuania. Lithuania argues the Belarusian plant is a threat to its national security, public health, and environment, primarily due to it being constructed just 28 miles from its capital of Vilnius.”



Giant Diesel Spill in Siberia’s Norilsk
(Warsaw Institute)
“The leak can have a severe impact on the local ecology. Many say the oil spill was the worst such accident ever in the Arctic region.”








__________

Tuesday 9. June
__________ 


Vabade ĂŒĂŒrikorterite arv Tallinnas tegi aastaga suure hĂŒppe
(ERR)
“Kinnisvaraportaalide kinnitusel on ĂŒĂŒrikorterite pakkumiste arv aastaga tublisti suurenenud. NĂ€iteks kinnisvaraportaalis KV.ee oli mais eelmise aastaga vĂ”rreldes ligi 75 protsenti rohkem ĂŒĂŒrikorterite kuulutusi ja pakkumiste keskmine hind vĂ€henes seitse protsenti.”



Competing Tallinn tunnel visions head for regional council vote
(News Now Finland)
“Private developers at FinestBay Area Development – who have already raised financial pledges for the full €15 billion cost of the tunnel project – want the route to go from Tallinn Airport to Helsinki Airport under the Baltic Sea, and reach the mainland at Keilaniemi-Otaniemi in Espoo before traveling at 300 kmph to the airport in Vantaa.”



Tallinn kavandab tĂŒhermaade ja varemete asemele rohekoridori
(ERR)
“Üks osa Tallinna rohekoridorist peaks tulevikus muutuma nn putukavĂ€ilaks, kus inimeste kĂ”rval tunnevad end hĂ€sti ka teised liigid. Eelmisel aastal viisid Tartu ĂŒlikooli teadlased lĂ€bi loenduse, mis nĂ€itas, et juba praegu elab keset Tallinna mitukĂŒmmend liiki liblikaid, kimalasi, mesilasi ja muid pisitegelasi.”



Blame Game Shatters Putin’s Majority
(Carnegie Moscow)
“In its quest for short-term tactical advantages, the Russian leadership is destroying something it spent years building up. Previously, the Kremlin feared a schism in society, and only singled out tiny groups of alleged blasphemers and traitors. That aside, the state tried to paper over the cracks by suppressing ethnic issues and regional patriotism. It built a loyal pro-Putin majority in which everyone was essentially the same and in agreement with everyone else and with the state on matters of principle. Right now, the state itself is shattering that majority into minorities pitted against one another.”







__________

Monday 8. June
__________


Uuring: pooled eestlased ei oota Eestisse elama teisest rahvusest vÔi rassist inimesi
(Novaator)
“Veidi rohkem kui pooled eestlastest leiavad, et riik peaks lubama kas ĂŒldse mitte vĂ”i vaid vĂ€hesel mÀÀral erinevast rassist vĂ”i rahvusest inimesi Eestisse elama, selgub Euroopa sotsiaaluuringust.”



Estonia Woos Remote Workers With A Digital Nomad Visa
(Forbes)
“Estonia’s government has voted to amend its Alien Act to allow for a digital nomad visa for stays for up to a year — nine months longer than the three-month tourist visa allows.”



Finland: Intense flooding in Lapland reaches its peak
(Helsinki Times)
“Several rivers in the region, including the Muonio, Tornio, and Kemijoki, have all burst in the past few days, causing mass flooding across Lapland. Rovaniemi has been the worst affected area so far, with the highest amount of flood damage to property occurring in and around the city.”




NATO must become more political and global, says alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg
(Euronews | RFERL)
“Speaking from Brussels via videoconference, Jens Stoltenberg, director-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), called on leaders to make the alliance "even stronger by making sure we are as effective politically as we are military".
—
“He flagged that "Russia continues its military activities unabated", that extremist armed groups including the so-called Islamic State "are emboldened", and that "the rise of China is fundamentally shifting the global balance of power" and "increasing the competition of our values and our way of life”.”
—





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