Europe Slovakia The Regional Public Health Office reported an increase in the number of hepatitis A cases in the Bratislava region, with 24 cases reported in December
Europe Romania The country disbursed €1,3bn worth of state aid in 2019-2023, with 62% of the projects granted to foreign companies, according to an analysis conducted by EY Romania; main sectors were automotive, technology, manufacturing, medical and food industry
Europe Iceland The new Icelandic government that took office on Saturday has made it part of its programme to organise a referendum on EU membership by 2027, giving substance to a debate that is rather heated in the country
Europe Hungary 800 disadvantaged primary school children from Hungary and Hungarian communities from across the Carpathian Basin were hosted at the Parliament's Christmas party with the involvement of the International Child Safety Service
Europe Greece A €9,5 million contract was signed for the rehabilitation of the port of Volos, Thessaly, which was heavily damaged by storms Daniel and Elias in September last year
Europe Estonia Services accounted for 68% of Estonian GDP 15 years ago and this year they will reach 74,5%; the service sector of the economy is growing steadily, while the share of industrial activities is declining
Europe Albania Social network TikTok will be made unavailable for at least a year across the country starting in early 2025; the government will launch a series of programmes to 'foster the education of students and help parents track their children's education'
Europe Sweden Swedish environmental technology company Chromafora has received a European Investment Bank loan of €22,5 million to advance technology to remove 'chemicals forever' from water
Europe Slovenia Nazi and fascist symbols will be banned under the amendments passed by the National Assembly; the opposition failed to pass the proposal to extend the ban to communist symbols
Europe Moldova A 60-day state of emergency began last week over the prospect of a halt to gas supplies to the Cuciurgan power plant, which is located in Transnistria and supplies the rest of Moldova with some 80% of its electricity
Europe Germany The Bundestag has approved an amendment to the Basic Law to protect the Federal Constitutional Court; key provisions regarding the structure and functioning of Germany’s supreme court have now been incorporated in the constitution
Europe Switzerland The world’s steepest cable car has opened, connecting the villages of Stechelberg and Mürren in the Bernese Oberland; the iconic aerial cable car climbs 775 metres of altitude difference in 4 minutes on a track of 1.194 metres with 159,4% gradient
Europe Vatican City New webpage "Work with Us", job applications for laypeople who wish to apply for vacancies at the Holy See, has been launched by the Secretariat for the Economy; appropriate competence, motivation, and an ethical sense are required for all positions