Mida saab Eesti teha, et maailmakorra muutmise käigus ellu jääda?
Priit Pullerits, Postimees
“Venemaa agressioon Ukraina vastu ning Iisraeli ja Hamasi sõda, mis väljendavad kõige verisemalt tumedate jõudude tahet maailma teistsuguseks luua, seavad ka Eesti silmitsi küsimusega, mida ja kas üldse õnnestub ette võtta, et üleilmses halastamatuks kujunevas heitluses oma olemasolu kaitsta.”
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[Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas, which are the bloodiest expression of the will of dark forces to create a different world, confronts Estonia with the question of what and whether it will succeed at protecting its existence in the global struggle that is becoming merciless.]
Britain’s forgotten battle for the Baltic
By Robin Aitken, The Critic, 8. Nov.
“As the guns of the Western Front fell silent, Britain fought a quiet but decisive war alongside Estonia to check Soviet expansion. … To understand why and how the Royal Navy became involved requires a grasp of the complex political situation in the Baltic in 1918.”
—
“The Russian fleet was a strong fighting force comprising battleships, heavy cruisers, submarines and destroyers. St Petersburg itself was a strongly defended base; entry to its harbours was ringed by minefields and dominated by the island fortress of Kronstadt. A chain of sea forts equipped with heavy guns protected the entry channels. Whilst it remained in harbour, the Russian fleet was safe from attack, and it could at any time break out and bring force to bear on the Baltic states. It was to prevent this happening that a Royal Navy force was despatched to the Baltic in 1918.”
https://thecritic.co.uk/britains-forgotten-battle-for-the-baltic/
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EstoNews on-line:
https://estonewsoftheweek.blogspot.com/
Dropbox Archive:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1kvd04gtar6ty2b/AADCUK2J_RXcMyIYf_sjnAwoa?dl=0
Cover graphic:
Pärnu postal stamp by Omniva:
https://pood.omniva.ee/et/muud-margid/3942-paernu-eliisabeti-kirik.html
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Friday 10. November
22.5 % of Estonia at risk of poverty
(ERR)
"… and 3.5 percent in absolute poverty in 2022.”
Kivikalmest tuhasõrmuseni: Eesti matmiskommetel on värvikas ajalugu
(Novaator)
“Eesti usundiuurija ja arheoloog Tõnno Jonuks annab lühiülevaate eestlaste matmiskommetest erinevatel ajajärkudel.”
Estonian funeral culture is undergoing a mini-revolution
(ERR)
“… norms when it comes to actual funerals are changing to fit the times. New practices include planting a tree, or even pressing a memorial artifact – a vinyl record or a synthetic diamond – from the ashes of the deceased, while other families send a departed member skyward in a firework rocket. Planting a tree at the site of interred ashes is also becoming more popular. Cremation was not common in Estonia in the Soviet era, and the Tallinn Crematorium was only opened after the restoration of independence in the early 1990s.”
https://news.err.ee/1609159579/estonian-funeral-culture-undergoing-a-mini-revolution
Funeral Pyres in Estonia
(ERR)
“A pyre funeral is no simple matter …”
https://news.err.ee/1609159618/burning-a-loved-one-s-body-yourself-a-gray-area-in-estonia
Estonia’s Education Miracle - Higher Social Mobility, More Innovation
(World Bank)
“Estonian students were the top performers in both Europe and the OECD in all three domains of assessment - reading, mathematics and science.”
https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2023/11/10/eca-talk-estonia-education-miracle
Vene Okupatsioon: Karjala tahab eralduda ja iseseisvust
Tõnu Trubetsky, Ypsilon
“2023. aasta jaanuaris avanes Ukraina ja Venemaa vahelises sõjas uus peatükk. Tekkis Karjala Rahvuspataljon, mis võitleb sõjas Ukraina poolel. See on etnilistest karjalastest koosnev vabatahtlik sõjaväeüksus, mille missioon on vabastada Ukraina ja Karjala Venemaa okupatsioonist. Käesolev artikkel käsitleb selle ainulaadse pataljoni lugu ja Karjala püüdluseid vabaneda Vene okupatsioonist.”
https://ypsilon.postimees.ee/7893210/vene-okupatsioon-karjala-tahab-eralduda-ja-iseseisvust
Thursday 9. November
Russia to Temporarily Close Ivangorod Border Crossing to Estonia Feb. 2024
(Schengen Visa Info)
“Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin has ordered the closure of the Ivangorod border crossing for vehicles and passengers during its reconstruction. Fortunately, pedestrians will not be affected by this closure …”
“Russian-Speaking Arrivals in Estonia Highlight Existence of Just How Many Kinds of Russians Exist.” - Paul Goble
Estonia To End Free Bus Travel Over Lack Of Funds
(Barrons)
“Bus rides will remain free for children, the disabled and the elderly.”
https://www.barrons.com/news/estonia-to-end-free-bus-travel-over-lack-of-funds-c009f07a
Tartu listed as one of 30 exciting 2024 destinations by National Geographic
(Estonian World)
“Calling it the cool list for 2024.”
https://estonianworld.com/life/natgeo-lists-tartu-as-one-of-the-30-exciting-destinations-for-2024/
Estonia sets dates for first offshore wind auctions
(Riviera)
“Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (CPTRA) announced dates for two auctions for the development of offshore windfarms. Two areas have been proposed for development - Liivi 1 and Liivi 2. Seven companies and consortia have been approved by the CPTRA to participate in the auctions. … Liivi 1 and Liivi 2 are located northwest of Ruhnu island in an area suitable for the development of wind energy, according to the Estonian maritime spatial plan.”
China urges Estonia not to allow opening of Taiwan office
(Reuters)
“… after the Chinese ambassador reportedly threatened to leave Estonia if Taiwan opens a representative office in the Baltic nation. … Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu is visiting Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia this week. Taiwan already has representative offices in Latvia and Lithuania.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/china-urges-estonia-abide-by-one-china-principle-2023-11-08/
“Estonia ‘Playing With Fire’ on Taiwan Relations, Lawmaker Says.” - BNN Bloomberg
“China's Ominous Warning to a European Nation.” - Newsweek
“Chinese ambassador threatens to leave Estonia if a Taipei representative office is opened.” - Estonian World
“China Warns Estonia on Taiwan Ties as Baltic Tension Simmers.” - Bloomberg
“China stepped up diplomatic pressure on Estonia.” - Politico
Latvian NATO ambassador: Putin must not be allowed to create new world order
(Latvian Broadcasting)
“Support for Ukraine does not stop just on the theme of supporting Ukraine, it is also viewed from the perspective of not allowing a Putin regime that brutally violates international law to try to establish a new world order. If it goes unpunished, if it is accepted, it is a recipe for the Kremlin to do something similar in another direction, and for other authoritarian regimes to do similar activities in other regions of the world, too. That's what the West doesn't want to allow.“ - Latvian Ambassador to NATO Māris Riekstiņš.
Belarusian culture, language, and history is being destroyed
(ERR)
“The Belarusian regime is systematically attempting to destroy its own culture and Russify it, Marko Koplimaa, Estonia’s special representative to the Belarusian democratic forces believes.”
—
“Belarus has moved closer to Russia and allows Russian military forces to use its territory to attack Ukraine. It also orchestrated a migration crisis on its borders with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Understanding what's happening inside the country is important as it affects regional security, including Estonia's, and increases the number of Russian forces on the EU's border.”
https://news.err.ee/1609156483/belarusian-culture-language-and-history-is-being-destroyed-interview
Wednesday 8. November
Arvamus: Loodusseadused kompromissikunsti ei tunne
(Postimees)
“Praegu on Läänemeri ikka veel üks kõige halvemas seisus meresid, kirjutab looduskaitsja Aleksei Lotman värsket seisundihinnangut tutvustades.”
https://arvamus.postimees.ee/7893085/aleksei-lotman-loodusseadused-kompromissikunsti-ei-tunne
Estonia’s new hate speech law to be tested
(ERR)
“Five protesters in Tallinn's Freedom Square were taken to a police station on Sunday to be questioned over the banner "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." PPA claims, "there is a limit to freedom of expression," but journalists and attorneys disagree. After the Sunday demonstration, which commemorated people killed in Gaza and expressed support for Palestine, the authorities brought misdemeanor proceedings against five people under the Penal Code section on offenses against humanity and international security (§ 151-1 Incitement of Hatred).”
—
"There was no direct threat to anyone's property or life, but let's be mindful about the slogan itself. This paragraph (§ 151-1 "Incitement to Hatred" - ed.) does not require that anyone's health or life be directly in danger, it is precisely directed against the justification of international crime.”
Joint Press Conference of the Prime Ministers of Estonia and Latvia
(Latvian Broadcasting)
“It was all smiles between Latvia and Estonia November 8 during a visit north to Tallinn by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa during a working visit to Estonia.”
—
“The heads of government agreed on the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia and the fight against sanctions evasion. Likewise, work must continue to ensure that Russia bears full responsibility for the crimes of its aggression in Ukraine. The Prime Minister emphasized that, in preparation for the NATO summit in Washington, USA, in 2024, it is important to actively work on the implementation of regional defense plans, including strengthening NATO's air defense. It is also important that Sweden joins NATO as soon as possible, she said.
Both Prime Ministers welcomed the advance of Ukraine's and Moldova's EU membership aspirations.”
Estonia: A hidden delight for a gastronomic adventure
(Euronews)
“Estonian cuisine, steeped in a complex history, reflects the many influences that have left their mark on the country. Fresh, local produce, such as fish, meat and vegetables from the garden, form the basis of this gastronomy. However, the German imprint and the Soviet heritage can also be felt, as a result of the different periods in Estonia's history. According to Estonian food writer Kadri Kroon, Estonian cuisine is constantly evolving …”
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/11/06/estonia-a-hidden-delight-for-a-gastronomic-adventure
Russia, the ‘island of tranquility’
(Meduza)
“Putin’s new campaign will downplay the war while painting the West as rife with problems … Russia’s next presidential election is mere months away, but Putin’s political strategists have been working on his campaign message for over two years. (Yes, the Kremlin plans to engage in fraud to ensure Putin’s election, but that doesn’t mean his popularity doesn’t matter.) Events like the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ICC’s arrest warrant against Putin have repeatedly sent the campaign planners back to the drawing board, but according to Meduza’s sources, they’ve finally landed on a narrative: the West is engulfed in chaos, while Russia is an “island of tranquility” thanks to its wise and fearless leader.”
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/11/08/russia-the-island-of-tranquility
- Russia’s Forever War -
EDF colonel: Russian troops have the initiative in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts
(ERR)
“"Forces of the Russian Federation continued their slightly more intensive offensive action this week," Col. Martin Vendla said, adding that the main vectors of attack are Avdiivka-Marinka and Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna. Vendla said that Russian forces carried out on average 64 daily offensive operations.”
—
"Based on this, we can say that Russia still has enough human resources and machinery to keep the Ukrainian forces under constant pressure. The numbers suggest the Russian Federation has seized the initiative in both Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, which in turn suggests Russia's goals in Ukraine have not changed."
“Vendla: Vene väed on haaranud Luhanski ja Donetski oblastites initsiatiivi.” - ERR
Russian Offensive Campaign
Assessment: 8. & 9. November
(ISW)
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated during a video address to the Reuters NEXT conference in New York on November 8 that Ukrainian forces have a battlefield plan for 2024 that he cannot disclose. Zelensky stated that Ukrainian forces have several paths for future advances in southern Ukraine, eastern Ukraine, and Kherson Oblast. There are also plans to advance to specific occupied cities.”
—
“The Russian military command will likely struggle to redeploy combat-effective reinforcements to respond to ongoing Ukrainian operations in eastern Kherson Oblast while conducting defensive operations in western Zaporizhia Oblast and sustaining other offensive efforts in eastern Ukraine.”
—
“A Russian milblogger claimed that the Russian General Staff uses battlefield maps that differ from tactical reality in response to another milblogger who questioned why Russian forces were not striking alleged large Ukrainian force concentrations close to the frontline.”
—
“Russian opposition media outlet Meduza reported on November 8 that two sources close to the Russian Presidential Administration stated that the presidential campaign aims to paint Putin as a leader who made Russia an “island of calm.”
—
“Ukraine's Southern Operational Command reported that a Russian Kh-31P missile struck a civilian ship flying the flag of Liberia in a port near Odesa.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-8-2023
—
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-9-2023
“Opinion: Stalemate in Ukraine Is the Hesitant West’s Fault.” - Moscow Times
“Zelensky says ‘not the time’ for presidential elections in Ukraine.” - France24
“How Russia is recruiting Wagner fighters to continue war in Ukraine.” - The Guardian
“Private jets of Russian oligarchs keep flying, but not to Europe.” - Reuters
“The damage to Odesa’s Fine Arts Museum is just the latest example of the cultural devastation being wrought by the war in Ukraine.” - Novaya Gazeta
Claim: Russian Subsea Telecoms Cable Damaged in Baltic Sea
(The Moscow Times)
“Finnish authorities said Monday that a Russian telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea was discovered damaged in October, roughly coinciding with damage to subsea infrastructure in Sweden and Finland.”
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/11/06/russian-subsea-telecoms-cable-damaged-in-baltic-sea-a83013
“Russian company says broken cable detected before Balticconnector pipeline incident.” - Yle
“Yet another undersea Baltic infrastructure mystery.” - Politico Europe
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