Europe Kosovo For the first time ever, Kosovo and Serbia met in Brussels to discuss the fate of people who disappeared during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war; joint commission has been agreed within the framework of the Declaration on Missing Persons
Europe Switzerland Johnson & Johnson plans to reduce its workforce in Switzerland, as the Company goes through reorganization and the business must adapt to a "complex and rapidly changing external environment"
Europe Estonia Funding for extracurricular education has decreased by a third in the last five years, and most hobby schools are now concentrated in larger municipalities; the Saare County has seen a 60% decline
Europe Czech Republic The fruit harvest dropped by 65% in 2024 to 48.058 tonnes, the lowest in 100 years according to a number of sources, after heavy frosts in April damaged flowering crops; frost-related losses are estimated at CZK 1,3 billion, or € 51.382.500
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina With the adoption of the decision on the minimum wage in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 2025, the child allowance will increase from the previous 117 BAM (60€) to 190 BAM (90€) per child
Europe Netherlands The number of bankruptcies increased in 2024 compared to the previous year: according to Statistics Netherlands, almost 4.300 companies were declared bankrupt last year, an increase of 30% compared to 2023
Europe Malta The free ferry service between Valletta, Sliema and Cottonera attracted over 440.000 Tallinja cardholders last year, along with another 1,2 million passengers who bought tickets for the service
Europe Luxembourg A new bill approved by the government is intended to eliminate the current mandatory three-day reflection period before a pregnancy can be terminated
Europe Lithuania There is currently a shortage of around 3.000 nurses in Lithuania: if ignored, the shortage could soon become 5.000 nurses, experts have warned; 400 nurses are lost every year as about 600 leave the system and about 200 graduate and enter the system
Europe Iceland Fermented shark, an Icelandic delicacy, may become increasingly difficult to find due to a number of factors, including declining interest in the industry and rising costs
Europe Portugal LusoSpace, a pioneering national company, will launch its first satellite, PoSat 2, via SpaceX, to join the ATON constellation, focused on mapping oceans with crucial data on maritime traffic, illegal activities, spills, and drifting icebergs
Europe Romania 2024 was the hottest year in the history of Romania weather records, with an average annual temperature of 12,99 degrees Celsius, a thermal deviation of 2,71 degrees Celsius compared to the 1991-2020 average
Europe Norway 100 years ago the name of the Norwegian capital was officially changed to the original 'Oslo', dating back to the end of the Viking Age and the foundation of the city in 1024; it had been renamed Christiania in 1624, then altered to Kristiania until 1925