Europe Slovakia The Slovak National Theatre is temporarily being led by Jozef Svolik, head of the department of art and artistic institutions at the Culture Ministry
Europe France A battle is underway to save Marie Curie's laboratory, a small building which should become a large and innovative cancer research centre; some argue that it is a 'historical monument' to be preserved while others say it is a highly radioactive place
Europe Germany The country's greenhouse gas emissions have dropped to their lowest level in 70 years; the decline is largely attributable to the decrease in coal-fired power plant production and the economic recession, which has led to less demand for energy
Europe Liechtenstein As part of the Epiphany entertainment, the Vaduz fire brigade theatre group performed the show 'Fischerei Ospelt'
Europe Luxembourg Luxembourg’s companies with global revenues of at least €750 million will pay a minimum effective tax rate of 15% with the start of 2024 as lawmakers passed the new law in parliament’s last session of 2023
Europe Austria Ahead of federal elections later this year in which the far-right is expected to do well, President Alexander Van der Bellen in his New Year's message encouraged people to engage more with those who have different viewpoints
Europe North Macedonia North Macedonia weathered a series of ethnically-charged incidents in 2023, a relatively calm period despite economic hardships, and opens 2024 with the prospect of a politician from the country’s ethnic Albanian minority becoming prime minister
Europe Belarus A new law granting himself permanent immunity from criminal prosecution has been signed by President Lukashenko; it also prevents opposition leaders living in exile from running in future presidential elections
Europe Denmark Danish Queen Margrethe II took her last trip as sovereign in the golden carriage before officially renouncing the throne on 14 January, abdicating in favour of her son, as announced as a surprise on New Year's Eve
Europe Sweden The country recorded its lowest temperature in 25 years for the month of January: minus 43,6 degrees Celsius at the Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka station in the far north
Europe Switzerland Around one million counterfeit Swiss watches were confiscated worldwide in 2023, says the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry despite a constant monitoring for fake "Swiss Made" on websites or socials and training for customs officers in many countries
Europe United Kingdom Junior doctors demanding better working conditions have begun an unprecedented six-days strike expected to bring massive disruption of non urgent care and tens of thousands services cancelled, amid flu peaks and a surge in the need of hospital care
Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina In a series of indictments announced over the New Year period, 15 suspects were charged with various wartime crimes including attacks on villages that left dozens of Bosniaks and Croats dead and executing hundreds of men from Srebrenica