Europe Ireland For St. Patrick's Day, yesterday 17 March, an estimated 500.000 people participated in the traditional parade in Dublin, with 100.000 visitors from abroad
Europe Belgium Cocaine use in Belgium has risen sharply in recent years, according to a new report by the public health institute Sciensano; requests for cocaine treatment have increased from 2.500 in 2015 to 4.200 in 2022
Europe Vatican City The Holy See Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition - Venice Biennale, which will be displayed in the Giudecca women's prison, will illustrate the ability of inmates to embrace art to transform their lives
Europe United Kingdom Only 10% of the funds promised to reduce inequality under the leveling program have been spent; Public Accounts Committee noted ministers "unable to provide any compelling examples of what leveling up funding has delivered so far"
Europe Moldova The Council of Europe's anti-corruption body listed reforms Moldova needs to make, focusing on lobbying in government, police and border police integrity, and the work of the country's anti-corruption prosecutor's office
Europe Ukraine President Zelensky recalled on X that two years have passed since the Russian attack on the Mariupol Drama Theater, raising "eternal remembrance for all those whose lives were taken by Russian terror"
Europe North Macedonia After banning state media funding and fixing it by law, the country's Social Democratic government has completely reversed course on media reforms over seven years: newspapers have received a formal guarantee that they will continue to receive subsidies
Europe Russia At least eight people have been arrested for vandalizing polling stations before the presidential election that could re-confirm Putin after 20 years in power
Europe Belarus It is necessary to develop a state ideology for the entire nation, President Lukashenko said during a meeting on the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus
Europe Norway Bergen's municipal government has voted to ban overnight camping in public parks, open spaces, along streets, squares and other public areas; critics say the aim is to keep homeless people off the streets
Europe San Marino San Marino Aluminum is in liquidation and the government is working to save the historic company and its 250 workers
Europe Romania Experienced specialists continue to be the most difficult category of candidates to recruit in Romania, especially in sectors such as construction, finance, accounting or manufacturing, where employers generally face a shortage of talent
Europe Malta Valletta's Manoel Theater will become accessible to people with mobility impairments for the first time in its 300-year history after an elevator was installed to provide access to all floors of the historic Baroque-style theater