Europe

Concern is growing in Albania over the privacy of a 'virtual community' app offered by the ruling Socialist Party and, with local elections approaching, over whether it is actually 'voluntary' as the party claims

A group of Belarusian musicians has called off a planned concert in Budva, Montenegro, in support of Ukraine, after a pro-Russian gathering protested in front of the venue

"Ukraine will have the fighters, it's just a matter of timing and procedures," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference

Labour has decided to scrap Corbyn, with current leader Starmer announcing that he will not re-elect his predecessor who led the party to its worst defeat against Johnson; they are now 20 points above the Conservatives in the polls

Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life hosted an international conference on 'Pastors and lay faithful called to go forward together' to explore how to encourage 'positive collaboration' between clergy and laity for a more synodal Church

Gennady Gatilov, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, says he is closely following the discussions in the Swiss legislature, which could allow Swiss arms to be transferred to Ukraine under certain conditions

Annual Malta Drug Report released on 17 Feb 2023 reports 513 drug-related emergencies and 5 deaths in 2021; cocaine and synthetic cannabis were the main drugs leading to medical assistance for intoxication and 1.990 individuals were undergoing treatment

Buying an electric car in the near future is completely unimaginable for most Czechs, who are still sceptical about e-mobility due to the high cost of cars and misunderstandings about emission standards, said expert Helena Truchlá

Over 12.000 people left the Church in 2022, a 42% increase on previous year, with young people leading the way, according to data from Danmarks Statistik

The country denied entry to a boxing team from Montenegro for security reasons, according to sources from Chisinau, over concerns that foreigners could infiltrate a big pro-Russian protest due in Chisinau on Sunday 19 February

Production has started from the first well of the Nyekpuszta unconventional gas field in the south-east of the country

All copies of the Wingertesel carnival newspaper that have not yet been sold will be collected, as the content violates personal rights, the data protection office explained