Tallinn’s Christmas Market listed among the best in Europe
(The Times | Estonian World)
“The Times, a British media outlet, has compiled a list of the best Christmas markets in Europe, including the market in Tallinn.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/best-christmas-markets-holidays
—
https://estonianworld.com/business/the-times-tallinns-christmas-market-among-the-best-in-europe/
“Tallinna Jõuluturg Raekoja platsil - 25.11.22 – 8.01.23.”
“Tallinn Christmas Market - 25.11.2022 – 8.01.2023.”
“Estonia braces for colder than average December.” - ERR
Europe’s Christmas Markets Return
(The Atlantic)
[Includes the Christmas market in Tallinn.]
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2022/11/photos-europes-christmas-markets-return/672279/
“The Christmas market of Tallinn is listed among the ones that must be visited during the winter holidays.” - SchengenVisaInfo
“Christmas Markets Around the World - (Includes Tallinn).” - Thrillist
“Tallinn is among the best Christmas markets in Europe this year.” - SWVA
“The Best European Christmas Markets to Visit This Winter.” - Vogue
“Cities are trying hard to keep the festive spirit amid the cost of living crisis and war in Ukraine.” - The Guardian
“Energy crisis dims festive sparkle in Europe's shops.” - Reuters
Friday 2. December
Sõda harvendas Vene vägede ridu Eesti piiri taga
(Postimees)
“Venemaa sõjaline jõud Eesti piiri ääres ei ole aastaid olnud nii nõrk nagu praegu, kuna Ukraina sõjas langenud sõdurid ja hävitatud sõjatehnika avaldavad otsest mõju idanaabri võimekusele meie läheduses.”
—
“Kaitseväe luurekeskusel ja välisluureametil on Venemaa Lääne sõjaväeringkonnas toimuva kohta hea ülevaade, kuid täpsed andmed Venemaa sõjaväebaasides toimuva kohta ei kuulu avalikkusega jagamisele. Küll aga möönavad mõlema asutuse esindajad, et kahtlemata on 24. veebruarist alates kestnud sõda meie läheduses asuvate Vene vägede ridu hõrendanud.”
https://www.postimees.ee/7661388/soda-harvendas-vene-vagede-ridu-eesti-piiri-taga
Euroopa Liidus seati hinnalagi Vene naftale. Kallas: see oli hetkel parim võimalik kompromiss
(Postimees)
“Euroopa Liidu liikmesriigid jõudsid täna poliitilisele kokkuleppele kehtestada Venemaa naftale hinnalagi – 60 dollarit barreli kohta. … Eesti tegi selle tulemuse saavutamiseks tõsiseid jõupingutusi ning mul on kokkuleppe üle hea meel, sest see on oluline samm Ukraina toetamisel ja Venemaa sõjamasina peatamisel, tõdes peaminister Kaja Kallas (RE).”
—
“Iga dollar, mille võrra hinnalagi madalam on, tähendab Venemaale umbes 2 miljardi dollari võrra väiksemat tulu. Seega see, et meil õnnestus kokku leppida 5 dollari võrra madalamas hinnas, tähendab, et Venemaa sõjamasin jääb ilma 10 miljardist dollarist,» selgitas peaminister, nentides siiski, et hind võinuks olla veelgi madalam.”
“Reinsalu: 60 dollarit barreli kohta on samm edasi, kuid kaugelt mitte piisav.” - Postimees
Tallinnas lõppes maailma üks suurimaid küberõppusi
(Postimees)
“Tallinnas lõppes täna viiepäevane NATO ja partnerriikide küberõppus Cyber Coalition 2022, mis on üks suurimaid samalaadseid koostööharjutusi kogu maailmas. … Viieteistkümnendat korda toimuvast õppusest võttis osa tuhatkond küberkaitsjat 26 NATO liikmesriigist, samuti Soomest, Gruusiast, Iirimaalt, Jaapanist, Rootsist, Šveitsist. Vaatlejana osales ka Lõuna-Korea. Õppuse käigus mängiti läbi reaalseid väljakutseid nagu näiteks küberrünnakuid elektritaristule ja NATO liitlasvägedele operatsioonide olukorras.”
https://www.postimees.ee/7662127/fotod-tallinnas-loppes-maailma-uks-suurimaid-kuberoppusi
Air quality in Estonia improved 'significantly' over past decade
(ERR)
“The study, published Wednesday and conducted jointly by University of Tartu and the Estonian Environmental Research Center (EKUK) on behalf of the ministry, found that the primary sources of air pollution such as it is continue to be car traffic and local heating, while fine particle and nitrogen dioxide pollution led to more than a thousand early deaths in Estonia in 2020 alone.”
https://news.err.ee/1608806221/study-air-quality-in-estonia-improved-significantly-over-past-decade
Antidepressant use in Estonia has grown over the last 20 years
(Euronews)
[Statistically, the Czech Republic recorded the highest increase with 577 %. Estonia came in second with an increase of 478 % according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s data from 2000 to 2020.]
Ukraine war shows that Europe is too reliant on U.S., Finland PM says
(Reuters | The Guardian | BBC)
“Speaking in Sydney, Marin says Europe needs to build its own defence capabilities and says Finland is preparing for cyber-attacks from Russia.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/ukraine-war-shows-europe-too-reliant-us-finland-pm-says-2022-12-02/
—
—
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63838350
Thursday 1. December
Kallas hoiatas taas elektrikatkestuste eest
(ERR)
"Me oleme praegu sellises olukorras, kus kogu Nordpooli piirkonnas napib elektrit. Neid põhjuseid on erinevaid. Üks põhjus on see, et Venemaalt enam ei tule 1000 megavatti, seega üle 1000 megavati jääb Nordpooli piirkonnas puudu," rääkis Kallas valitsuse pressikonverentsil.”
—
"Siis on hetkel rivist väljas mitu olulist elektrijaama. Näiteks Rootsis Ringhallsi tuumajaama neljas reaktor ja Oskarshavni tuumajaama kolmas reaktor. Soomes ei ole käivitunud Olkiluoto kolmas reaktor ja meie oma Auvere on jälle katki. Kuigi see ei ületa enam isegi uudiskünnist. Ilmselt uudiskünnist ületaks see, et Auvere töötab ideaalselt," lisas ta. "Eesti probleem on see, et me tarbime endiselt energiat nii palju, nagu meil ei oleks neid murekohti”.
https://www.err.ee/1608806356/kallas-hoiatas-taas-elektrikatkestuste-eest
____________
Plaanid Nursipalus: kuni 3500 hektarit metsa maha, 80 kilomeetrit teid ja hüppelised mürapäevad
Ülle Harju, Postimees TV
“Kaitseväe juhataja asetäitja kindralmajor Veiko-Vello Palm kommenteeris Nursipalu harjutusväljaku ohualasid.”
 |
| Deputy Commander of the Defense Forces, Major General Veiko-Vello Palm, commented on the danger areas of the Nursipalu training ground to be further developed just west of the town of Võru in Võrumaa |
Hawkish Estonia under pressure to accept higher cap on Russian oil price
(The Guardian)
“The level of the cap on the price of seaborne oil has been the subject of fraught negotiations within both the European Union and the G7 group of industrialised nations. … Despite its size, Estonia is in theory in a strong negotiating position since unanimity is needed for the price cap. The EU is also on 5 December supposed to introduce an already agreed and more restrictive EU ban on most Russian oil shipments.”
Reinsalu Ukrainas: vahetult pärast raketirünnakuid on suurem osa territooriumist täielikult pime
(Postimees)
“Välisminister Urmas Reinsalu on koos kuue Põhjala-Balti välisministriga visiidil Ukrainas. “See on tegelikult suurim rahvusvaheline visiit pärast sõja selle faasi algust veebruaris,” rääkis Reinsalu.”
‘Get Ukraine more weapons now’, urge European ministers in Kyiv
(Political Europe)
“There is a “need to change the paradigm of Western support,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu. Sitting in a small train compartment on Sunday night, the minister said that arms assistance to Ukraine can no longer be a “gradual” response to Russia’s escalatory steps — and more weapons should be provided “without any caveats.”
—
“The Estonian minister called for a two-pronged approach: giving Ukraine a “shield” and a “sword.” The shield, he said, “means all the types of air defense systems” while the sword entails “long-range missiles, so that they could reach also to these places from where the missiles which are intended to destroy their civic infrastructure are launched.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-weapons-european-ministers-kyiv/
Estonia says European nations should double defence expenditure
(Reuters | Estonian World Review | Euronews)
“… Estonia's foreign minister said on Monday, adding that his own country planned to raise national defence spending to 3% of GDP.”
—
https://www.eesti.ca/estonia-urges-european-countries-to-double-their-military-spending/article59775
—
“Estonia's parties want to raise defense spending to 3-6% of GDP.” - ERR
“Crises, wars must be prepared for in peacetime.” - Baltic Times
Estonian cellist Jüri Täht has died
(The Strad)
“The death of cellist Jüri Täht was announced on 29 November 2022. He was 92. The Estonian-born cellist made a career in the US, most notably performing in the Don Shirley trio, which was a source of inspiration for the 2018 Oscar-winning film Green Book.”
https://www.thestrad.com/news/estonian-cellist-juri-täht-has-died/15831.article
Wednesday 30. November
President Kersti Kaljulaid kompab NATO peasekretäri kohta
(Postimees)
“NATO peasekretäri kohast unistav Kersti Kaljulaid on sel teemal kohtunud nii välisminister Urmas Reinsalu kui peaminister Kaja Kallasega.”
https://www.postimees.ee/7660374/sojaga-katkenud-too-jatkub-kaljulaid-kompab-nato-peasekretari-kohta
Postimees On-Line Poll
Statement by Estonia’s Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu
(Stratcom Centre UA)
Ukraine must win
NATO countries should send 1% of GDP in military aid
Modern tanks, jets, and ATACMS
Putin must face war tribunal
NATO membership after the war for Ukraine
https://twitter.com/StratcomCentre/status/1597929568362328064?s=20&t=VbMchP6gh1KDoxzbGf-kJg
Interview: Riho Terras
(RFERL)
“Ukraine Has Already Won the War With Russia.”
https://www.rferl.org/a/estonian-military-chief-ukraine-has-won-russia-war-invasion/32150777.html
Russia claims NATO is trying to fly drones into Pskov oblast
(Estonian World Review)
“The Pskov oblast is located along Russia's border with NATO members Estonia and Latvia …” [The Ostrov airbase is located approximately 40 kilometers (or 24.8 miles) from the Estonian border.]
https://www.eesti.ca/russia-claims-nato-is-trying-to-fly-drones-into-pskov-oblast/article59769
“Russia claims NATO attempted to fly drones into Russia near the Pskov region.” - Jerusalem Post
Poland, Estonia and Lithuania are pushing to hit Putin’s oil revenue with a tougher cap on prices
(Politico Europe)
“U.S. officials have stepped in to try to persuade Poland and other EU countries to agree on a plan to hit Vladimir Putin's war fund by capping the price paid for Russian oil. As time runs out ahead of a Monday deadline for implementing the G7 price cap plan, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania have been pushing within the EU for a more severe limit, at a lower price, EU diplomats said.”
—
“The trio of hawkish Eastern European countries argue that with Russian Urals crude currently trading at around the level of the proposed cap, the measure would fail to drive down Moscow’s oil revenues, which help fund its war in Ukraine.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/us-tries-to-break-eu-deadlock-over-russian-oil-price-cap/
Finland buys more arms from the United States as it boosts defences
(Reuters)
“After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Finland's government decided to grant an additional 1.7 billion euros ($1.76 billion) to arms and other defence material purchases this year alone. "A very significant share of it will go to (purchases) from the U.S.," Governmental Counsellor Iikka Marttila from Finland's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.”
—
“The State Department said the proposed sale of AIM 9X Block II tactical missiles, AGM-154 Joint Stand Off weapons and related equipment, for an estimated $323.3 million, would improve Finland’s air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons capabilities. Finland plans to use the missiles with its new fleet of F-35 stealth jets it is also buying from the United States.”
“Finland Expects Up to 40,000 Ukrainian Applications for Temporary Protection in 2023.” - SchengenVisaInfo
Hungary to ratify Finland's Nato membership in February
(Yle | Politico Europe)
“Finland and Sweden are both awaiting approval of their applications to the defence alliance, and are attending the meeting of foreign ministers as observers for the first time. Representatives from the Nordic countries held separate, tripartite talks with both Hungary and Turkey on the sidelines of the meeting.”
—
“Hungary does not have preconditions for the two countries' membership ratification.”
—
Turkey: 'Concrete steps' still needed for Finland and Sweden NATO membership
(Euronews)
“Turkey, which has accused the Nordic countries of ignoring threats to Turkey from Kurdish militants and other groups that it considers as terrorists, has not endorsed their accession. … Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met with his Swedish and Finnish counterparts in the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Bucharest on Tuesday.”
—
“There is no concrete development yet on some issues such as the extradition (of suspects wanted by Turkey) and the freezing of terrorist assets. We reminded (them) that in the end, it’s the Turkish people and the Turkish parliament that needs to be convinced,” Cavusoglu said.”
“Turkey Is NATO’s Pivot Point Over Ukraine.” - Foreign Policy
In Ukraine, ‘General Winter’ Working against Russian Invaders
By Paul Goble , Leonid Nevzlin
“Putin and his own invading army “may have fallen into the same trap Napoleon or the Wehrmacht did … Russian soldiers are already having to buy their own food and sometimes don’t have hot meals for several days at a time. Moscow is relying on Iran not only for drones but for uniforms as well. Unfortunately, for the soldiers and for Moscow, “Iranian uniforms are unlikely to help them” when temperatures fall well below zero and stay there for days.”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2022/11/in-ukraine-general-winter-working.html
Fighting While Female
How Gender Dynamics Are Shaping the War in Ukraine
(Foreign Affairs)
“Officials proudly proclaim that up to one-fifth of Ukraine’s armed forces are women. President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials take pains to thank both male and female defenders of the country …”
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/fighting-while-female
And:
https://reader.foreignaffairs.com/2022/11/21/fighting-while-female/content.html
Heavy dose of winter expected in Kyiv today as many remain without heat
(CBC | RFERL | Guardian)
“More misery for Ukrainians as temperatures plummet amid attacks on utilities.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-ukraine-war-1.6665819
—
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-faces-misery-amid-plummeting-temperatures/32136564.html
—
“European nations fund generators for blackout-hit Ukraine.” - Euronews
“NATO Chief Expects Allies To Step Up Air-Defense Support To Ukraine.” - RFERL
“Ukraine Should Be Free to Hit Military Targets in Russia, Latvia Says.” - Bloomberg
“NATO seeks to buttress Russia's neighbours as Moscow attacks Ukraine.” - Reuters
“NATO renews membership vow to Ukraine.” - AP
How do Ukrainians in a war zone feel about Russia?
(Riddle *)
“… (a focused survey was conducted) on the attitudes of more than 1,800 ordinary people in southeast Ukraine, in three Ukrainian cities close to the frontlines of the nearest war: Poltava, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. The survey was administered in July 2022 …”
https://ridl.io/how-do-ukrainians-in-a-war-zone-feel-about-russia/
* “Russia Declares Lithuanian Think Tank Riddle ‘Undesirable’.” - RFERL
* “Russia Bans Online Journal Riddle.” - The Moscow Times
Tuesday 29. November
Estonia's most expensive road project of the year completed in time
(ERR)
“Friday marks the official deadline for the completion of the new Võõbu-Mäo section of Tallinn-Tartu Highway. Despite the process having been dogged by construction material price increases and supply difficulties caused by Russia's war in Ukraine, Estonia's most expensive road project of the year, at a total cost of €58.7 million, was nonetheless completed in time.”
https://news.err.ee/1608799876/estonia-s-most-expensive-road-project-of-the-year-completed-in-time
Ukrainian border guards start working on Estonia's eastern border
(Yahoo News | ERR | SchengenVisaInfo)
“Ukrainian border guards arrived at the Estonian border with the assistance of the European Border Guard Agency Frontex. They are working at the Narva and Luhamaa border crossing points, where they monitor the control of the Estonian border. Estonian border guards will have an opportunity to benefit from the experience of their Ukrainian colleagues and to better understand the path of refugees arriving from Ukraine, as well as their further destination, and to provide assistance more effectively.”
https://news.yahoo.com/ukrainian-border-guards-start-working-085349065.html
—
https://news.err.ee/1608801049/five-ukrainian-border-guards-start-work-at-estonia-s-eastern-border
—
Politics: Estonia’s newest party sets sights on Riigikogu
(ERR)
“Parempoolsed is Estonia's newest political party, having only been incorporated in October, and will be contesting its first ever election next spring. … The new party's name – Parempoolsed, initially a breakaway Isamaa faction, was sometimes translated as "right-wingers," perhaps not the best choice, in English at least. …"Yes, please use the name Parempoolsed," party leader Lavly Perling insists.”
—
“The party barely polls at 1 % in current ratings surveys.”
https://news.err.ee/1608800017/interview-leader-of-estonia-s-newest-party-sets-sights-on-riigikogu
“A brief overview of Estonia's 2023 elections.” - ERR
“Estonian parties to start election campaigns.” - BNN
“Estonia's political parties start 'serious' election campaigns in new year.” - ERR
NATO’s Flagship Cyber Defense Exercise Kicks Off In Estonia
(Eurasia Review | NATO)
“Cyber Coalition 22, one of the world’s largest cyber defence exercises, started on Monday (28 November 2022), bringing together some 1,000 cyber defenders from 26 Allies, as well as Finland and Sweden, Georgia, Ireland, Japan, Switzerland, the European Union, and participants from industry and academia.”
https://www.eurasiareview.com/28112022-natos-flagship-cyber-defense-exercise-kicks-off-in-estonia/
—
https://shape.nato.int/news-archive/2022/exercise-cyber-coalition-2022-underway-in-estonia
Russians Against War protest outside embassy in Tallinn
(ERR)
“Russian demonstrators gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Tallinn on Saturday to protest against the war in Ukraine and demand the release of political prisoners. The protest was organized by Reforum Space Tallinn and Russians Against War Estonia.”
https://news.err.ee/1608802072/russians-against-war-protest-outside-embassy-in-tallinn
- Putin’s War -
Putin Says Strikes on Ukraine Infrastructure ‘Inevitable'
(The Moscow Times)
“After suffering humiliating military defeats during what has become the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, Russia began targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure in October, causing sweeping blackouts. Speaking with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the first time since mid-September, Putin slammed what he called the West's "destructive" policies in Ukraine and said Russian strikes were a response to "provocative" attacks from Kyiv.”
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment:
29. And 30. November
(ISW)
“Russian efforts around Bakhmut indicate that Russian forces have fundamentally failed to learn from previous high-casualty campaigns concentrated on objectives of limited operational or strategic significance.”
—
“The Kremlin continues efforts to stifle domestic dissent through legislation that broadens the definition of “foreign agents” and those amenable to foreign influence."
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-29
—
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-30
“Gains made in Bakhmut offer Russia little operational benefit.” - Euronews
“Russia Not Critically Weakened By War So Far - Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.” - RFERL
“Bomb Shelter Signs Spring Up Across Russian Cities.” - Moscow Times
Russia demands annexations recognised before talks
(BBC)
“Russia says the West's refusal to recognise "new territories" seized from Ukraine makes peace talks harder, after President Joe Biden indicated he would be ready to meet Vladimir Putin.”
—
“The Kremlin said it was open to negotiations, but not on the West's demand to pull out of Ukraine. Russia illegally annexed four Ukrainian regions at the end of September, without controlling any of them. Nine months into its invasion, it has lost more than half the land it seized.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63832151
The Ukrainian Village That Sacrificed Itself for Kherson
(Foreign Policy)
“At the height of its destruction, hundreds of rockets rained down on Posad-Pokrovske every day. Things have gotten quiet since Russian troops left the outskirts, and the city of Kherson was liberated this month. Most of the noise now comes from the stray dogs roaming the bomb-cratered streets and the few returnees determined to fix up their battered homes.”
—
“Around 80% of the houses in this village were destroyed. Shells and shrapnel litter the area. Gas pipes are broken and electricity lines cut. The school was bombed, as was the gas station. Even the trees are burned. But Posad-Pokrovske, in its immolation, helped save Mykolaiv, and in turn, Kherson itself. Americans in Vietnam “destroyed villages to save them.” In Ukraine, they burn from incoming fire.”
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/29/ukraine-russia-kherson-liberate-posad-pokrovske/
Russia’s Secret Recruits Allegedly Abandoned, Starving, and Missing
(The Daily Beast)
“Russia’s infamous Wagner Group has abandoned dozens of former Central African Republic (CAR) rebels in Ukraine’s Donbas region after recruiting them to fight Vladimir Putin’s war, two former CAR fighters told The Daily Beast. The CAR sources, who were recruited by Wagner after quitting the Union for Peace (UPC) rebel group last December, said that many of the 100 or so ex-UPC fighters currently in Ukraine have lost contact with Wagner after the group trained them and flew them to the Donbas region about eight months ago.”
Putin Seeks to Destabilize Ukraine's Neighbor Moldova
(Spiegel)
“Moldova is seeking to join the European Union, but Russia is doing everything it can to destabilize the small republic. The Kremlin has radically throttled gas deliveries and is orchestrating protests in the country.”
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