Ajaloolises Patarei merekindluses kogub hoogu suur ümberehitus
(Novaator)
“… kavas on lammutada vanglasisustus, taastada tsaariaegne merekindluse hoone ja luua vaba aja veetmise võimalused. Tegu on ühe suurima ehitusprojektiga ajaloolises hoones, mis Eestis ette võetud. Patarei merekindlus, sagedamini tuntud kui Patarei vangla, koosneb kaarekujulisest 280 meetri pikkusest Gorži peakindlusest ja 125-meetristest lõikuvatest Lüneti tiibadest. Kogu kompleks koos seda ümbritseva alaga võtab enda alla 55,000 ruutmeetrit.”
https://novaator.err.ee/1609058000/ajaloolises-patarei-merekindluses-kogub-hoogu-suur-umberehitus
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| Patarei Prison, Tallinn | January 2009 | WikiMedia |
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Cover photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vambolakurm/
EstoNews on-line:
https://estonewsoftheweek.blogspot.com/
Dropbox Archive:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1kvd04gtar6ty2b/AADCUK2J_RXcMyIYf_sjnAwoa?dl=0
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Friday 11. August
Kommunistlik skulptuur seisab siiani Pirita sadama muulil
(Ypsilon)
“Moskva olümpiamängude siiani nii ihult kui ka hingelt punane logo-skulptuur, mis tolkneb siiamaani Pirita sadama muuli küljes. Lennart Meri käskis selle oma ajal mere äärest ära koristada, aga toonane Pirita sadama direktor põhjendas käsu täitmata jätmist sellega, et me ei peaks häbenema, et meil olümpiamängud olid. Tõesti? Ei peaks ikka või?”
Estonia now UK military's largest overseas deployment worldwide
(ERR)
“With the presence of the NATO battlegroup at Tapa, its in-progress expansion into and integration with an Estonian Defense Forces divisional structure, and major commitments at sea and in the air as well …”
https://news.err.ee/1609058693/estonia-now-uk-military-s-largest-overseas-deployment-worldwide
Doubling Down on the Baltics
By Māris Andžāns
(Internationale Politik Quarterly, 9. Aug.)
“Much has changed since February 24, 2022, both in the Baltic states and in Germany, though naturally to different extents. Russia’s war was the most considerable geopolitical shock in decades for the Baltic states. All three became some of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine, both in words and deeds. All three have significantly invested in their defense: All are heading toward defense spending of 3 percent of their gross domestic product, and Latvia decided to reintroduce compulsory military service from mid-2023 (which means that conscripts now serve in all three armed forces).”
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“Although the Baltic defense ministries and armed forces would like to work even more closely with Germany, the latter is not their first choice. The German way of doing things is seen as too slow and too complex … The much smaller and more agile Baltic bureaucracies and militaries are not used to the German approach and thus find it difficult to reciprocate German assistance.”
https://ip-quarterly.com/en/doubling-down-baltics
“Estonia Sends More Small Arms, Ammunition To Ukraine.” - RFERL
“Eesti annetab Ukrainale käsitulirelvi.” - ERR
Estonia setting increasingly ambitious climate targets
(ERR)
“A total of ten primary targets are outlined in the letter of explanation accompanying the draft of the updated REKK, an increase from the previous plan's eight. One of the new targets, for example, is for Estonia to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. climate neutrality, by 2050.”
https://news.err.ee/1609058765/estonia-setting-increasingly-ambitious-climate-targets
Finland to start seeing climate lawsuits
(Yle)
“Litigation aimed at pushing politicians and governments to do more on climate change has become increasingly common in Europe in recent years, and the practice is beginning to gain traction in Finland too.”
Norway: More evacuations considered. Level in swollen rivers continues to rise
(AP | ABCNews)
“… huge amounts of water, littered with broken trees, debris and trash, were thundering down the usually serene rivers after days of torrential rain.
The level of water in swollen rivers and lakes continued to grow despite two days of dry but overcast weather, with houses abandoned in flooded areas, floating hay bales wrapped in white plastic, cars coated in mud and camping sites swamped.”
https://apnews.com/article/norway-landslide-rain-floods-592547493d53bf3ab8d2190be1ddf843
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Sweden struggles to handle the fallout from repeated Quran-burning protests
(Euronews)
“The government’s line is increasingly that both the Quran burnings themselves and the outrage over them are being fuelled by foreign agents provocateurs and disinformation efforts – including from Russia - which is enraged at the prospect of Sweden joining NATO.”
“Russia spreading false claims about Qur’an burnings to harm Nato bid, says Sweden.” - The Guardian
“Why does Sweden allow Quran burnings? Like much of West, it has no blasphemy laws.” - AP
“The Qur’an burnings in Sweden: who is fanning the flames?” - Guardian
“Sweden Is Not Staying Neutral in Russia’s Information War.” - NY Times
“Sweden Embassy In Lebanon Attacked Amid Koran Row.” - Barrons
Thursday 10. August
Välisturistide arv Eestis on kolmandik alla koroonaeelset taset
(Estonian World Review, 8. august)
“Statistikaameti juhtivanalüütiku Helga Laurmaa sõnul peatus juunis Eesti majutusettevõtetes ligi 163,000 välisturisti. „Kriisieelset 2019. aasta juunikuu taset välisturistide arv veel ei saavutanud, jäädes sellest kolmandiku võrra väiksemaks, kuid 2022. aasta juuniga võrreldes oli välisturiste 9% võrra rohkem.”
https://www.eesti.ca/valisturistide-arv-eestis-on-kolmandik-alla-koroonaeelset-taset/article60423
“Raport: kliimasoojenemine toob suveturistid Põhja-Euroopasse.” - ERR
Poland to double troops number at border with Belarus, accuses it of organizing illegal migration
(BBC | AP)
“Poland is sending 10,000 extra troops to its border with Belarus following an alleged incursion by Belarusian military helicopters. Its government says they'll help to guard against mercenaries from Russia's Wagner group who have moved to Belarus, and who are now said to be moving towards the border.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66410230
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https://apnews.com/article/poland-belarus-border-soldiers-a823c19c9cda0071ca4983b6e3f82af2
“Poland plans to deploy 10,000 troops on Belarus border as deterrent.” - Euronews
Mapping Media Literacy
(ICDS)
“In 2022, the BCME in cooperation with the International Centre for Defence and Security (Estonia) and individual experts from Latvia and Lithuania carried out a research project titled “Media Literacy Sector Mapping in Estonia” … This policy brief highlights current developments in the field of media literacy and suggests developing media literacy infrastructure to increase cognitive resilience.”
https://icds.ee/en/mapping-media-literacy/
The Report:
https://icds.ee/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2023/08/ML_Mapping_Estonia_2022.pdf
Wednesday 9. August
Extreme storms hit Western and Southern Estonia on Monday
(ERR)
“As of lunchtime the storm front, formed from the eastern edge of an area of low pressure which brought warm air from the South, had hit Saaremaa, with hailstones up to 7cm in diameter hitting parts of the island, and wind speeds of up to 29 m/s (Force 11 on the Beaufort Scale).
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“In addition to Saaremaa, the Level 3 warning applied to the adjacent island of Hiiumaa and other smaller islands in the vicinity, Pärnu County in the Southwest of Estonia, Lääne County in the West, and Viljandi, Valga and Võru counties, in South Estonia.”
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https://news.err.ee/1609056395/two-people-injured-by-monday-s-storm
“Rescuers dispatched over 300 times due to storm damage.” - Postimees
“Majority of storm network damage fixed by Elektrilevi.” - ERR
Kliimamuutus on hakanud mereelustiku kõrval inimeste pihta lööma
(ERR)
“Tervikuna on lisandunud Tarmo Soomere hinnangul Maa süsteemi juba piisavalt energiat, et kliimamuutuse mõjud on näha selgelt ka Eestis. "Millega peame arvestame eriti pärast eilset-tänast äikesetormi, mis meid väga kõvasti ei tabanud, on see, et Eesti ei ole enam paradiislik kant, kus kliimamuutuse mõjud on ainult mõnusad ja mugavad. Oleme situatsioonis, kus kliimamuutus on hakanud lööma inimeste pihta. [...] Sellega, et kuumalained hakkavad inimeste elusid võtma või rahe lõhub meie autod, sellega peame lihtsalt harjuma hakkama," sõnas mereteadlane.”
“Elamuehituses tuleb üha enam arvestada kuumade suvedega.” - ERR
“Kuum ilm vähendab tihase valvsust.” - Novaator
Effects of climate change are clearly evident in Estonia
(ERR)
“According to Tarmo Soomere, professor of coastal engineering at Tallinn University of Technology … the effects of climate change are also clearly evident in Estonia. "What we should recognize, especially after yesterday's thunderstorm, which wasn't even so bad, is that Estonia is no longer a paradise, where the effects of climate change are merely pleasant: we have reached a point where climate change is beginning to hit people hard. [...] The fact that heat waves are going to take people's lives or that hail is going to destroy our cars — we're just going to have to get used to this.”
“Climate change has made wine production possible in Finland.” - Yle
Estonia Will Not Revoke Residence Permits of Russian & Belarusian Citizens
(ERR | SchengenVisaInfo)
“Such an announcement from Estonia was made after both Lithuania and Latvia said they would revoke residence permits of Russian and Belarusian citizens.”
https://news.err.ee/1609055192/estonia-will-not-revoke-russian-belarusian-citizens-residence-permits
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“Asylum applications to Finland submitted by Russians has decreased since last year.” - Yle
Survey: Dissatisfaction with wages still high in Estonia
(BNS via Estonian World)
“… 75 % of employees do not consider their salary to be sufficient and are still waiting for a salary increase from their employers. The survey reveals that employees can no longer wait for a salary increase, because almost 50 % of respondents have already decided to look for a new job. …”
https://estonianworld.com/business/survey-dissatisfaction-with-wages-still-high-in-estonia/
Latvia Boosts Border Security With Belarus
(RFERL)
“Riga has also accused Minsk of helping migrants enter Latvia illegally.”
https://www.rferl.org/a/latvia-belarus-border-tensions/32540452.html
“Belarus begins military drills near its border with Poland, Lithuania.” - PBS
"Lithuania Declares More Than 1,000 Belarusians And Russians To Be National Security Risks.” - RFERL
“Poland doubles border troops, Russia vows response to Western ‘threats’.” - Euronews
Russia releases history schoolbook praising Ukraine invasion
Completely rewrote the sections on the ‘70s’, ‘80s’, ‘90s’ and ‘2000s
(The Guardian | Meduza | CNN)
“Moscow has unveiled new history textbooks that defend Russia’s invasion of Ukraine before children return to school in September. The Kremlin has tightened its control over the historical narrative in schools under Vladimir Putin – a trend that has hugely accelerated since the president launched the full-scale war on Ukraine in 2022.”
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“The book features sections on Russian soldiers “saving peace” in 2014, when Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine, which is repeatedly labelled as a “nazi state”. It also denounces western sanctions, describing them as worse than Napoleon, who marched on Russia in 1812. The new history book also states that the “main goal” of the west is to “destabilise the situation inside Russia”, and casts Moscow as a victim of western aggression fighting for its very existence.”
—
“Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky … appeared to boast that the book rewrote past history. “We completely rewrote the sections ‘70s’, ‘80s’, ‘90s’ and ‘2000s’. A new section has been added from 2014 to the present, including the special military operation.”
—
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/08/07/such-unique-times-are-rare-in-history
—
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/09/europe/russia-history-books-war-ukraine-intl/index.html
“Weaponised Russophobia as a propaganda defence mechanism.” - Riddle
Arvamus: Kas sõda Ukrainas on Putini või vene rahva kätetöö?
Jevhen Tsõbulenko, Postimees 8. august
“Arvestades Venemaa väegrupeeringu suurust, tähendab see, et praktiliselt kõik Venemaa sõjaväelased kõigil tasanditel – sõdurid ja seersandid, noorem- ja vanemohvitserid, kindralid, kõrgeim ülemjuhataja (ajateenijad, mobiliseeritud, kaadrisõjaväelased) – sooritasid sõjakuritegusid üksikult või osana oma allüksusest. Need on tavalised pojad, vennad, isad, abikaasad.”
- Russia’s Forever War -
Russia Targets Activists’ Families as Efforts to Muzzle Dissent Spread
(The Moscow Times)
“In an emotional Instagram post, exiled Chechen human rights lawyer Abubakar Yangulbaev said authorities in his home region had forcefully taken four of his closest male relatives to the frontlines in Ukraine … “
Russian Offensive Campaign
Assessments: 9. Aug. & 10. Aug.
(ISW)
“Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attempted to justify the recreation of the Moscow and Leningrad Military Districts by reamplifying boilerplate rhetoric posturing NATO as an existential threat to Russia.”
—
“The Wagner Group continues to maintain a presence at facilities in Belarus and the status of its rumored withdrawal to Russia remains unclear.”
—
“Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin … may not be entirely at liberty to comment on the future of Wagner.”
—
“The Kremlin is likely attempting to crypto-nationalize Russian internet giant Yandex to strengthen control over the Russian information space in preparation for the 2024 Russian presidential election.”
—
“Russian forces conducted another series of missile and drone strikes in Ukraine overnight on August 9-10.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-9-2023
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https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-10-2023
“Moscow tests Kyiv’s fortifications on the northeastern front.” - Politico
“Moscow pounds Ukraine with missiles and drones, strikes medical center.” - Politico Europe
“Latest developments from Kupiansk, Bakhmut, southern Ukraine, and the east bank of the Dnipro.” - Meduza
“Putin’s Age of Chaos: The Dangers of Russian Disorder.” - Foreign Affairs
“At least 79 civilians have been killed on Russian soil since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine.” - The Moscow Times
“Sanctions on Russia are working—just not how some people thought.” - The Bulwark
“A breakdown of Russia’s new mobilisation and conscription laws.” - Novaya Gazeta
“Ukraine declares war on Russia’s Black Sea shipping.” - Politico Europe
“Ukraine announces 'humanitarian corridor' for ships stuck in Black Sea ports.” - Reuters
“Head of Russia’s Interior Ministry reports ‘critical’ personnel shortage.”
- Meduza
Ukraine’s Slow-Moving Counteroffensive: Problems and Solutions
(Jamestown Org.)
“Beyond the ongoing lack of sufficient political will in the West to provide Ukraine with adequate military equipment, problems abound in the training of Ukrainian forces. Often during training in NATO countries, only the basics are taught, without proper combat alignment. In this, it seems the greatest criticism concerns the exercises in Germany. For example, Ukraine’s 32nd Mechanized Brigade was trained in Germany but received a weak level of training—reportedly, only the loading and unloading with Bradleys was completed. Meanwhile, the opposite is being said about the United Kingdom, where extensive “training was completed from MARCH protocol to basic engineering knowledge.”
https://jamestown.org/program/ukraines-slow-moving-counteroffensive-problems-and-solutions-part-one/
The Battle Of Hostomel Airport: A Key Moment In Russia’s Defeat In Kyiv
(War on the Rocks)
“The battle for Hostomel Airport was the first major battle of the Russo-Ukrainian War (2022-present) and a decisive event in the war. This battle started on the morning of February 24 and lasted less than 36 hours. In the opening hours of the Russo-Ukrainian war Russian forces sought to seize a key airfield just 12 miles from the capital’s center. Additional airborne battalions would follow on transport planes. They would rapidly deploy, seek to take control of the city, and overthrow the government or make the leadership flee. …”
How Bakhmut became a pivot in the Ukraine war
(The Guardian)
“Since the beginning of 2023, a prolonged and bloody battle has been waged for control of a mid-sized Ukrainian city. Why is Bakhmut an inflection point, and who stands to gain from its capture?”
Russia’s war with Ukraine has generated its own fog and mis-information
(AP)
“Europe’s largest land war in decades — and the biggest one since the dawn of the digital age — is taking place in a superheated information space. And modern communications technology, theoretically a force for improving public knowledge, tends to multiply the confusion because deceptions and falsehoods reach audiences instantly.”
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-disinformation-f8ee274890cd62362be3dd75fbc7dd6b
Moscow doesn’t care who it starves
(Politico)
“So, with Russia actively threatening to sink any civilian vessel heading to Ukrainian ports, as they could be carrying military supplies, Ukraine is now pushing back and trying to demonstrate it, too, can play a game of brinkmanship — hence the recent drone strike on a Russian oil tanker in the Kerch Strait as part of the ongoing effort to punish Moscow and make it rethink the grain initiative. Ending the deal has “untied Kyiv’s hands,” said Ukrainian military analyst Roman Svytan, adding that the frequency of attacks on Russian ships will likely increase in a bid to get the Kremlin to agree on a renewal.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-ukraine-war-moscow-black-sea/
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