Europe

A major change to the way welfare regions receive state funding has been proposed; the draft legislation, to take effect at the beginning of 2027, would reduce allocations to large population centres and shift emphasis on assessed service needs

Dutch producer Roshwita Bacha, better known by her stage name Roselilah, won a Grammy for her collaboration with the American rapper Kendrick Lamar; the song “Luther,” which also features singer SZA, received the award for Record of the Year

63% of 405 food samples analyzed in a federal monitoring exercise contained pesticide residues, of which ten samples exceeded the legally permitted maximum limits, seven significantly; milk prices have been lowered since the beginning of February

Two of Romania’s three oil refineries will suspend operations this month: Petromidia will enter a scheduled overhaul, while Petrotel Lukoil will undergo maintenance amid a complicated context shaped by international sanctions imposed on Russia

Thousands in Prague turned out to support President Pavel against radicals in the government who allegedly attempted at blackmail; the civic association Million Moments for Democracy organized the rally

An episode of gang-assault on the son of an MP has exposed a pattern of recurrent reports of similar gang activity and attacks on children, particularly during weekends, in family-friendly neighborhoods

The first National Artificial Intelligence Olympiad ONIA has been announced; organized by the National Association of ICT Companies, it aims to develop students skills in creating ICT projects and in building complex Artificial Intelligence models

The Serra da Gardunha, bordering Spain east of Coimbra, has been classified as a Special Area of Conservation and will benefit from a special legal regime supporting the conservation of its habitats and wildlife

100 years since the first radio transmission in Iceland have been celebrated yesterday: from Free Church a seamen’s church service and memorial mass were broadcast, heard across the country and on ships at sea; Hf Útvarp ceased broadcasting in 1928

Compulsory social insurance with a mandatory minimum levy of €131,34 per month has been introduced; it must be paid by self-employed workers, including authors and licensed professionals with very low or irregular income, regardless of actual earnings

The scandal of ski jumping men wearing manipulated suits was resolved with three team officials and coaches banned for 18 months; the case tarnished Norway's hosting of the Nordic ski world championships last March and its wider reputation for fair play