TOP NEWS

Security around the Baltic Sea

The Coast Guard will be given increased responsibility for maritime surveillance

To strengthen security in the Baltic Sea, the Coast Guard will be given greater authority for expanded maritime surveillance, the Ministry of Defense announced in a press release.

According to the government, this would lead to more complete sea situation pictures and analyses, which in turn makes it easier to see "trends, tendencies and deviations".

For the change to become a reality, certain legislative amendments are required, the ministry continues. These legislative amendments are proposed to enter into force on March 1, 2026.

- We have not chosen our external situation, but we must relate to the reality we face, says Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), Minister of Civil Defense.

Political situation in Germany

35 years since East and West were united in a united Germany

On Friday, Germans celebrate the 35th anniversary of the reunification of East and West Germany. On October 3, 1990, the separation that began during World War II was ended, Deutsche Welle reports.

The biggest celebration of the year is being held in the city of Saarbrücken near the border with France, which will be visited by both Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

“The reunification was not a given, but the result of courageous people who stood up for freedom and democracy. It remains our task to draw closer to each other – in the east, west, north and south,” Merz writes on X.

Political situation in the Czech Republic

Orbán friend favourite to become new leader of the Czech Republic

Billionaire Andrej Babis looks set to return to the post of prime minister in the Czech Republic. There are many indications that his party Ano will take power after the parliamentary elections held on Friday and Saturday.

The Czech economy has struggled to recover from the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to discontent with the liberal right-wing coalition led by Petr Fiala.

Babis, 71, was once seen as a liberal but has moved increasingly to the right over the years. He is friends with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, supports sharply reduced immigration and wants to cut aid to Ukraine.

Preliminary election results are expected on Saturday afternoon, writes Politico Europe.