Nest drones could provide the next major leap forward for the Police and Border Guard Board and the Rescue Board by enabling faster and smarter emergency response, writes Veiko Randlaine.

A formal ceremony was held on Tuesday in the twin city of Valga–Valka, where the 1st German–Dutch Corps (1GNC) officially took over the tactical command of the Estonian and Latvian land forces from NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast.

Minister of Education Kristina Kallas (Eesti 200) said that as long as the war in Ukraine continues, the budget deficit cannot be reduced ahead of schedule, as this would mean cutting defense spending. Kallas added that after the war ends, it will be possible to reassess priorities.

The recently renamed Free Party has not yet decided whether it can afford to compete in the next Riigikogu election and will make that decision as circumstances develop, party leader Märt Meesak tells ERR.

The Health Board detected both non-toxic and toxic species of blue-green algae in water samples taken Wednesday at the Pirita beach swimming area.

A new survey on religion shows that traditional church‑based religiosity in Estonia is continuing to decline, and most Estonian residents do not consider themselves followers of any religion. The study also found that attitudes toward religion differ sharply between Estonians and Russian‑speaking residents.

Finantspettuste hoiatusi jagub Eesti meedias küllaga, ent sellest hoolimata kaotati Politsei- ja Piirivalveameti andmetel mullu kelmidele üle 29 miljoni euro. Suur osa summast varastati ettevõtetelt ning ka tänavu on esinenud mitmeid suuri juhtumeid. Seetõttu soovitab Elisa infoturbejuht Mai Kraft ettevõtetel rahavooge rangemalt kontrollida ja kehtestada selged reeglid raha liikumiseks.

Poola presidendi Karol Nawrocki kaaskondsed kaaluvad Ukraina presidendi Volodõmõr Zelenskõiga kontaktide piiramist, kuna kahe riigi suhted on hakanud halvenema.

The blast was caused by an explosive device which appeared to contain bolts and pellets, the head of Monaco's government said.

More than a quarter of those identified are believed to be violent, Germany's domestic intelligence agency says.

Tui has apologised and told passengers it has arranged flights home for tomorrow and a full refund.

Three in five homes listed for sale since January remain on the market, says property portal Zoopla.

A splinter group of moderate House Republicans is threatening to derail an $88 billion Iran war spending bill unless American troops are returned to Poland. Led by frequent Trump critic Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), the small cadre of GOP lawmakers could scuttle the emergency spending bill, which also includes farm aid and money to counter the Ebola virus. Bacon and his allies are trying to force the White House to make good on its plan to replace 4,200 American troops abruptly pulled out of Poland last month. Just three defections could lead to serious trouble for Speaker Mike Johnson, given the narrow Republican House majority and expected widespread Democratic opposition to the measure, and concerns from GOP fiscal hawks about writing such a huge check. The standoff is the latest clash between Republican defense hawks and a Trump administration that has largely ignored GOP worries about pulling forces from Europe — part of a larger push by the White House to force European nations to shoulder more of their own national security burden. “We had five brigades, and we’re three now,” Bacon said about U.S. forces in Poland, considered a key ally of the United States. “It’s unsatisfactory. … If they want my support on the supplemental, they better come up and address it,” added Bacon, who described himself as the effort’s “spokesman.” This month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon would conduct a six-month review of American forces in Europe, and lashed out at NATO allies who declined to throw military support behind the U.S. during the Iran war. “I stand with Don,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, (R-Penn.), adding that he wanted answers from the Pentagon on why the department is changing course on “unquestionable policy” that has lasted for generations. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), also a member of the Armed Services panel, said while he would still support the supplemental, “we won’t have the votes to pass it without those two.” The White House, Defense Department and Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The abrupt cancellation of a deployment of 4,200 Army soldiers to Poland in May caught American lawmakers, Army leaders and Polish officials by surprise. Two senior Polish defense ministry officials were immediately dispatched to Washington as Warsaw raced to figure out what had happened. At the time, Bacon said it was “a slap in the face to the Armed Services Committee,” and panel Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) told Army Secretary Dan Driscoll that his committee was “not happy.” In the days following the Pentagon’s announcement, President Donald Trump said he would send an additional 5,000 troops to Poland “based on the successful Election of the now President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, who I was proud to Endorse.” But those troops have yet to be deployed. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), also a member of the Armed Services Committee, said he hoped withholding votes from the supplemental would not be necessary, and that the Pentagon would soon replace the troops. “I think it’s going to come through,” he said.

Germany didn’t just crash out of the World Cup Monday night. For some, the defeat looked like something bigger: yet another national institution losing its nerve. The 2014 FIFA World Cup champion, which has struggled at every major tournament since 2016, suffered a bruising defeat against Paraguay, losing 3-4 on penalties to be dumped out of the tournament hosted in the Americas. But Die Mannschaft is not the only German national institution failing to live up to expectations.  “This national team plays the way this federal government governs: big on ambition, short on resolve. Everyone struggles on their own, no one takes responsibility, and when luck finally does appear, the goal doesn’t count,” wrote German Member of the European Parliament Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann on X, referring to a controversially disallowed goal made during overtime, which would have brought Germany victory. There is “always a link between sport and politics,” said professor of political science Alexander Straßner — and Europe’s largest economy is no exception. Much like its men’s football team, over the last decade, the country’s automotive sector and industrial backbone have lost much of their former shine. When Germany crushed Brazil 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semifinals before going on to win football’s most prestigious tournament for a fourth time, Volkswagen was on the verge of becoming the world’s largest automaker. Last week, that same company announced tens of thousands of job cuts, with major automotive supplier Bosch planning similarly large-scale layoffs. Unemployment in the country has now climbed to its highest level since the Covid pandemic, and economic growth remains weak. A nation once synonymous with delivering on performance, reliability, efficiency and engineering excellence is now better known for its chronically delayed trains, infrastructure mega-projects plagued by years of holdups and ballooning costs, and ailing automotive industry. Germany’s international standing has taken a hit too: After Chancellor Friedrich Merz told students at a high school that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian regime, President Donald Trump responded by attacking the German leader on Truth Social by threatening Berlin’s nightmare scenario: a withdrawal of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany. Add to that the government’s very low approval ratings and the far-right Alternative for Germany party rising in the polls, many Germans don’t think Merz can turn things around. The chancellor’s coalition government has struggled to deliver major economic reforms, with only a planned pension overhaul generating slight optimism among political observers. Meanwhile, Merz seems unable to read the public mood — whether in politics or football. “Even though the loss hurts: What a game, @DFB_Team! Your determination and team spirit throughout this World Cup inspired our country. We’re proud of you,” wrote the chancellor on X after the final whistle late Monday night, garnering ridicule and pushback from German fans. German media later reported the post was accidentally published by a junior member of the chancellor’s staff, who selected the wrong prewritten message. But the end of Die Mannschaft‘s World Cup ambitions should not necessarily be taken as an irrefutable sign of Germany’s imminent defeat. The country still has hope, argued Straßner: “In a political culture shaped by negativity … the decline of the West is always said to be just around the corner, with the state the national team held up as the latest omen. First the national team collapses, then society itself. That is utter nonsense.”

How the Biden administration’s response to October 7 reshaped US politics and influenced the 2024 presidential election.

Analysts say Russia's fuel crisis may affect its domestic economy, but the war in Ukraine will remain the priority.

Normally safe principality left reeling from apartment blast that also injured Vadym Iermolaiev’s wife and child‘He isn’t political’: the Ukrainian-born oligarch targeted by a Monaco bomberAn international search is under way for a suspected bomber after a Ukrainian tycoon and his family were injured in an explosion in Monaco in an unprecedented attack that has shaken the normally ultra-safe principality.Stéphane Thibault, Monaco’s public prosecutor, told reporters that a man entered an apartment block on Monday evening, left a package in the lobby and walked away. Moments later, as three occupants of a ground-floor flat approached the entrance, the package exploded, he said. Continue reading...

Cristina Guarda says delegation was denied access to cells in offshore detention facility, at which six people have attempted suicideAn Italian MEP has questioned whether the Italian government is trying to “hide the truth” about conditions at an offshore migrant detention centre in Albania after a delegation she was part of said they were prevented from conducting a full inspection.Cristina Guarda, from Italy’s Greens and Left Alliance (AVS), said staff at the Italian-run facility in Gjadër had refused to give MEPs from the Greens/EFA group key information, such as how many people were being held at the centre, and that they had not been allowed to access their cells. Continue reading...

Number of residents on outer islands of the Scottish archipelago has fallen by a quarter in forty years

Increase in violent incidents comes in response to far-right extremism and Israeli actions in Middle East