In September, the Ministry of the Interior began publishing, as open data, the names, birth and death dates, and personal identification codes of deceased persons. For historians and name researchers, machine‑readable data makes research easier.

A CV.ee survey shows that the strict line between working time and personal time has long blurred in many workplaces.

The opposition wants voters under no circumstances to forget what happened in the previous elections — namely broken promises and the hiding of their real political intentions, notes Martin Mölder.

Although Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi criticized the tone with which rescue workers and teachers demand higher pay, the salaries of higher‑ranking state employees rise every year without anyone needing to protest, because their pay increases are indexed.

In September, the Ministry of the Interior began publishing, as open data, the names, birth and death dates, and personal identification codes of deceased persons. For historians and name researchers, machine‑readable data makes research easier.

Pärnu street artist Kristjan Tamm, known as Kryptik, says young artists today have more legal chances to learn street art than when he first started more than 20 years ago.

Kliimaministeerium esitleb esmaspäeval plaani kulutada kuni aastani 2050 kokku enam kui 3,6 miljardit eurot «looduse taastamiseks»: peamiselt on tegu eurotoetuste suunamisega valitud tegevustesse, loodust hoidma peaksid Eesti inimesed aga eeskätt entusiasmist.

Andres Sõnajala firma Eleon Green tahab püstitada Aidusse 11 uut tuulikut, mille toodang hakkaks saama soodsat taastuvenergia toetust.

Pope Leo spoke to bishops before leading a service attended by thousands of worshippers in France.

Aleksandar Vučić's administration has been dogged by prolonged protests over allegations of corruption.

Andy Burnham said he would wait for the results of a consultation on a scheme estimated to cost £33bn

He must consider the longevity of Iran war economic pressures and how to sustain modest optimism, writes the BBC's Faisal Islam.

BRUSSELS — The EU is developing proposals that would see the four countries closest to joining the bloc given a clear, step-by-step path toward membership — while the others languish behind. Targeted “roadmaps” are being considered for Montenegro, Ukraine, Moldova and Albania, two senior European Commission officials working on the draft proposals told POLITICO, as part of efforts to speed up the decades-long process. They were granted anonymity to speak about the sensitive plans. The four countries are seen as frontrunners to join the EU, but still face slow progress and unclear timelines as to when they might formally be admitted. While Brussels has long backed their membership bids, the roadmaps mark the first time they will be given assurances that if they continue with essential reforms, they will be admitted — and offered indicative timelines for the completion of negotiations. The roadmaps will make clearer exactly what’s expected of each candidate country, one of the officials said, as well as create obligations for current members, which need to give their blessing for the process to go ahead. The plans also set rough dates for when groups of reforms, known as negotiating “clusters,” will be formally completed — major milestones on the path to membership. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged targeted support for the candidate countries “that have made most progress” during her State of the Union speech earlier in September. However, other candidate countries at an earlier stage in the process, like Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina would not be offered the roadmaps at this stage, the officials confirmed. Nor would Georgia, Turkey or Serbia, which have seen their applications grind to a halt over concerns about democratic and judicial backsliding. A spokesperson for the Commission confirmed that the new roadmaps “will provide a pathway toward the conclusion of the accession negotiations. They will set out a clear priority list: timelines and deliverables to help the most advanced candidates complete the necessary reforms.” ‘Geopolitical imperative’ EU leaders are increasingly looking to other pro-trade democracies, particularly in their neighborhood, amid tensions with partners like the U.S., hostile practices from China and threats from Russia. Officials are concerned that joining the EU takes too long, exposing would-be new members to disillusionment or pressure from rivals not to pursue membership. The move comes as the EU’s “pre-enlargement” policies undergo a separate overhaul. Candidate countries need to be offered a better path toward “gradual integration” into the bloc, officials believe, one that would use economic benefits and access to joint projects to reward them for progress. That policy review, led by von der Leyen’s close adviser Alexandre Adam, is to be presented to top officials Oct. 6; it is designed to keep them on the path toward the EU while their applications unfold. “Enlargement … remains a geopolitical imperative. Accession, however, takes time,” reads a draft version of the pre-enlargement review text seen by POLITICO. “Candidate countries must complete a rigorous, merit-based process and deliver far-reaching and lasting reforms. That time should be put to full strategic use to both prepare the Union for larger membership and deepen gradual integration in areas of mutual interest.” As part of that review, von der Leyen and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos will propose changes to the bloc’s internal workings to ensure safeguards are in place to prevent new joiners from disrupting key policies or reneging on their commitments. The revisions could include emergency clauses and transition periods before certain membership rights are fully granted. “The policy reviews show that the Union can accommodate a larger membership through targeted adaptations, largely within the existing Treaty framework,” the draft reads, arguing that the EU’s fundamental laws don’t need to change to assuage concerns about enlargement. Capitals are cautious about admitting new members, some of which have had only a few decades of democratic governance, following Hungary’s backsliding on rule-of-law principles under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and its use of veto powers to block key policies like sanctions on Russia and support for Ukraine. The support of current members must be unanimous for candidate countries to move through the process of joining the EU. National leaders will weigh in on how, and how fast, new members can be brought in during a two-day summit in Brussels from Oct. 15; in turn, the Commission will ask them for political support to pick up the pace. The European Council will hold “a strategic discussion on enlargement and internal reforms,” a draft agenda shows. Kos told POLITICO earlier this month that she hopes the changes being proposed, and the talks with leaders, will make for an “autumn of enlargement” after years of slower progress. Von der Leyen travels to the Western Balkans this week for talks with leaders in Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo. She will skip Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, as well as Serbia, both of which are in the midst of national elections.

Independent Łukasz Gibała won Sunday’s snap mayoral election in Kraków, Poland’s second-largest city, setting up an Oct. 11 runoff against a candidate backed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition. The contest in Kraków, pop. 800,000, was seen as a test of political strength for Civic Coalition ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections a year from now. The runoff offers Tusk’s camp a chance to regain the mayoralty after Civic Coalition Mayor Aleksander Miszalski was removed in a May referendum — a result Poland’s right-wing opposition portrayed as a setback for the government. Gibała nevertheless finished well ahead of Tusk’s preferred candidate, Senator Monika Piątkowska, winning 36.6% against Piątkowska’s 24.4%, according to an Ipsos exit poll released after polling stations closed at 9 p.m. No candidate took the 50% needed for outright victory. For Gibała, Sunday’s result gives him another shot at winning an office he came within a few thousand votes of securing in 2024, when he lost to Miszalski. Miszalski subsequently faced mounting local opposition, including over Kraków’s clean-transport zone, before being recalled. Opposition parties, including Law and Justice (PiS) and parties on the far right, presented that result as evidence of weakening support for Tusk’s government ahead of the fall 2027 general election. An effort is underway to hold a similar referendum in the capital Warsaw, targeting Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, also from Tusk’s party Sunday’s exit poll had the PiS candidate, Michał Drewnicki, in third with 19.6 percent, which would mean he misses the runoff. Nationally, however, the Tusk-led coalition may not hold onto power, with polls suggesting the PiS and the far right could form a majority. Earlier statements from parties opposed to Tusk’s coalition indicated some could back Gibała against Piątkowska in the second round. Turnout Sunday was 41.9%.

A strike on a market in the Yemeni city of Taiz has killed at least seven people and wounded 40.

An Israeli Apache helicopter struck a commercial centre near Mayfadoun in Southern Lebanon.

Vučić not allowed to seek third presidential term and election will test his grip on rule after widespread protestsSerbia’s populist president, Aleksandar Vučić, has resigned to pursue an attempt to become prime minister in an early parliamentary election that will test his firm rule in the Balkan country after nearly two years of protests.Vučić’s second presidential term would otherwise end in May next year. He is banned by the constitution from seeking a third term and said he was resigning to lead his rightwing Serbian Progressive party (SNS) in the 25 October ballot. Continue reading...

Pontiff also uses visit to Catholic shrine at Lourdes to criticise assisted dying as ‘false compassion’The pope has called on the Catholic church to heal “deep wounds” and “painful errors”, before a meeting survivors of child sexual abuse as he continues his four-day visit to France.Addressing a crowd in a large field near the Catholic shrine of Lourdes on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV called on the church to reckon with its past, without directly referencing sexual abuse scandals in France that affected at least 330,000 children over seven decades. Continue reading...

March unable to proceed as police say they cannot facilitate Protestant route down largely Catholic road

Prime minister says shake-up would be ‘hard’ to do in current parliament