Eurotopics.net

Vilnius Airport had to suspend operations four times last week due to several unidentified objects entering its airspace. According to government sources, they turned out to be helium-filled balloons like those used by meteorologists, coming from Belarus. In recent times such balloons have been used to smuggle cigarettes into the EU. Lithuania has responded by almost completely closing its border with Belarus.

Media investigations have revealed that the Swedish government diverted 5 million kronor (approx. 450,000 euros) from development aid funds to the Somali government to ensure that it would allow it to send Somali migrants back to the country. The money was used to finance three well-paid civil service positions.

After 15 years of construction, the People's Salvation Cathedral, the world's biggest Orthodox church, was consecrated in Bucharest on Sunday. An estimated 200 to 315 million euros went into its construction, but the exact figure is not known even though most of the money came from public funds. A good investment?

In much of Europe and North America and in many countries around the world, clocks were set back to standard time on Saturday night. People were able to sleep an hour longer - or reflect on whether moving the time back and forth makes sense. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a push for its abolition in the EU and claims he has the support of a majority of Europeans. The commentaries reflect a more nuanced perspective.

The Netherlands is holding a snap general election on Wednesday after Dick Schoof's four-party right-wing government collapsed in June in a row over asylum law. According to polls, the PVV led by far-right politician Geert Wilders is set to become the strongest party again, but its previous coalition partners are no longer willing to work with it.