The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

The Nordic Times

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/stena-line-expands-in-the-baltic-sea-acquires-wasaline/

The Nordics

Stena Line expands in the Baltic Sea – acquires Wasaline

Published November 5, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Stena Line operates a total of 20 ferry routes across Europe and employs around 6,500 people – the Vaasa-Umeå route will become the shipping company's fifth line in the Baltic Sea.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Swedish shipping company Stena Line is taking over the ferry service between Vaasa, Finland and Umeå, Sweden through the acquisition of Wasaline.

However, the ferry Aurora Botnia will remain owned by the cities through Kvarken Link, and the deal must be approved by the city councils later in November.

Stena Line is expanding its presence in the Baltic Sea through the acquisition of NLC Ferry Ab Oy, which operates the ferry line under the name Wasaline. The agreement was signed on Tuesday and means that Stena Line will take over operations of the route connecting the two important regional cities.

Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line, welcomes the deal in a comment to Finnish broadcaster Yle:

— It is with great joy and enthusiasm that we at Stena Line take over responsibility for Wasaline and the route between two important regions and cities, Vaasa and Umeå.

Ferry remains in city ownership

The vessel Aurora Botnia, which has operated the route since 2021, will continue to be owned by Kvarken Link while responsibility for daily operations transfers entirely to Stena Line. Peter Ståhlberg, CEO of Wasaline, sees the acquisition as a natural step:

— It is strategically important to ensure that traffic between Vaasa and Umeå continues and has opportunities to grow in the future. This will mean a major boost for the region with significant positive synergies.

Frans Villanen, chairman of the city council in Vaasa, emphasizes the importance of bringing in a larger operator with greater resources:

— We are very proud of how bold we were in Vaasa city and Umeå municipality when we decided that the ferry was needed across the Kvarken strait and the project became reality. But now it's time to bring in a larger operator with knowledge, expertise and resources that we in the cities don't have.

"Great opportunities"

Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Joakim Strand, who is also a council member in Vaasa, views the deal positively:

— This is very positive news. What I think is excellent is that the ferry itself, meaning the infrastructure, remains in municipal ownership while operations are run by a strong company like Stena Line.

According to Strand, Stena Line's extensive network and experience with European logistics flows will benefit the region.

— This will create great opportunities to put the Kvarken region, Vaasa and Umeå even more on the map. This shows that there is strong belief in our region.

Fifth line in the Baltic Sea

With the Vaasa-Umeå route, Stena Line gains its fifth ferry line in the Baltic Sea. The shipping company, which has its headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, operates a total of 20 lines across Europe and employs around 6,500 people. The company's annual revenue amounts to €1.7 billion.

Wasaline has in recent years steadily broken new passenger and freight records, although last year showed a slight decline in passenger numbers.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-government-proposes-real-time-ai-facial-recognition/

Sweden

Swedish government proposes real-time AI facial recognition

Mass surveillance

Published today 7:29 pm – By Editorial staff
The Swedish government's press conference where new tools for crime prevention were presented.
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish government is presenting a legislative proposal that would give the police the ability to identify individuals using artificial intelligence. The technology is intended to be used to more quickly locate suspects, wanted persons, and crime victims.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (Moderate Party) announced at a press conference that the government has decided on a legislative proposal that would allow police to use AI-based facial recognition in real time.

— We are presenting a powerful new tool, said Strömmer, who also emphasized the importance of camera surveillance in stopping violence and investigating crimes.

Swedish Minister for Civil Defence Erik Slottner (Christian Democrats) stressed that the technology could dramatically transform police work. What previously took several weeks can now be done "in a matter of seconds," according to the minister.

— Through real-time facial recognition, we can find criminals, abducted children or wanted terrorists, Slottner explained.

Currently, AI-based facial recognition in public spaces is essentially prohibited in Sweden. The government's proposal would give police broader exemptions from the ban in order to combat serious crime.

The Liberal Party's Martin Melin specified that the technology would be used to locate victims, prevent serious violent crimes, investigate offenses such as murder and rape, and enforce sentences.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/iceland/icelands-public-broadcaster-wants-to-ban-israel-from-eurovision/

Iceland

Iceland’s public broadcaster wants to ban Israel from Eurovision

The genocide in Gaza

Published today 4:01 pm – By Editorial staff
Israeli singer Eden Golan represented the Jewish state of Israel at Eurovision 2024. Here she participates in the Celebrate Israel Parade 2024.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Icelandic public broadcaster RÚV wants Israel excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest next year. Board chairman Stefán Jón Hafstein confirms that a majority of the board today voted to urge the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel from the competition in spring 2026.

The resolution was adopted with five votes out of nine at RÚV's board meeting late in the afternoon.

— What happens next is that the EBU holds its annual meeting on December 4-5. My understanding is that this issue of Israel's participation and the rules around the competition will be discussed on December 4, and our resolution will have been presented before the meeting. It will therefore be completely open on the table, says Hafstein.

There is uncertainty about several countries' participation in next year's competition. Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have all declared themselves opposed to Israeli participation due to the country's military actions in Gaza.

When asked how many countries he believes will take the same position, he says he doesn't know.

— I don't know what the situation looks like right now. This discussion has been going on for quite a long time, so we'll simply have to see at the meeting since everyone has been waiting for it, he says.

Iceland's participation not decided

Whether Iceland itself will participate if Israel is not excluded has not yet been decided. That question will be addressed at a special board meeting after the EBU's meeting.

— That will be handled at a special board meeting after the EBU meeting. No decision on that was made at today's meeting, he says.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finlands-border-fence-with-russia-nearing-completion/

Finland

Finland’s border fence with Russia nearing completion

The new cold war

Published today 12:34 pm – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

After nearly three years of construction, Finland's border fence with Russia is almost complete. The 200-kilometer barrier has been erected at strategically important locations to prevent hybrid warfare in the form of so-called instrumentalized migration.

Finland has chosen to expand its border security at locations where the risk is assessed to be greatest, despite the border with Russia stretching over 1,300 kilometers. The new fence covers only 200 kilometers of the total border length.

The 3.5-meter-high structure is designed to be impossible to climb and is equipped with barbed wire at the top. The area is also fitted with surveillance cameras and lighting, according to Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

The purpose is to stop what is called instrumentalized migration, where Russia sends asylum seekers to Finland as part of alleged "hybrid warfare".

The prioritization of where to build the fence has been based on where infrastructure and roads exist on both sides of the border. The old border crossings in Finnish Lapland have also been equipped with fencing as they constitute natural entry routes.

Mikko Kauppila, commander at the Lapland Border Guard, notes that the local population is supportive.

— It's patriotism, he says.

However, he worries that people are leaving villages in the area, which means fewer eyes to notice irregularities. The risk that someone could get around the fence has also sparked discussions about extension, but financing is uncertain.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/denmark/denmark-takes-the-leap-into-space-will-map-the-moon/

Denmark

Denmark takes the leap into space – will map the Moon

Published today 10:07 am – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Danish government has allocated 125–130 million Danish kroner (approximately 17–18 million euros) to the Máni space mission – a satellite that will map the lunar surface to identify safe landing sites for future astronauts. The launch is planned for 2029.

The mission is led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with several Danish universities, satellite manufacturer Space Inventor, and international partners from Poland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, among others. The total budget amounts to approximately 50 million euros.

— It's a dream come true. That we're now reaching the starting line, where we'll begin building and developing the mission, is a fantastic feeling, says Jens Frydenvang, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen and project leader, to Danish public broadcaster DR.

Máni was selected this spring by the European Space Agency (ESA) to advance alongside nine other European projects. In mid-December, ESA is expected to make the final decision on which missions will be prioritized.

The satellite will be equipped with a specially built telescope to photograph the Moon's south pole in high detail. The area is particularly interesting because scientists believe there are large quantities of water there, which could be used both as drinking water and to produce rocket fuel.

Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund believes the investment marks Denmark as a space nation and strengthens the country's independence from large commercial players like SpaceX.

— That we in Denmark and Europe are strengthening ourselves in this area is very important for our independence, for our security, and for our competitiveness, she says.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com