Europe

The grey wagtail has been nominated as bird of the year for 2025; the Czech Ornithological Society emphasized the crucial role that natural waterways play in sustaining this long-tailed bird

The Social Democratic Party wants to limit political donations to €100.000 and intends to change the law before the next election; party chairman Lauri Läänemets stated that political decisions should not be made by a small group of people

An increasing number of Luxembourgish teachers are learning Portuguese in order to communicate more easily with Portuguese-speaking pupils and parents as almost all of them teach in classes with pupils of Portuguese origin

A digital platform will be available in Flanders to handle administrative tasks after the death of a loved one to significantly reduce processing time and 'ease the burden of bereavement'; use will be mandatory from 1 January 2026

The country is preparing to become the world epicentre of viticulture and oenology from 16 to 20 June 2025, hosting the 46th World Congress of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine

A group of French and foreign private investors committed to invest €109 billion in the country's artificial intelligence sector in the coming years, mainly in infrastructure, said President Macron

Spain's economy grew by 3,2% in 2024, while the economy of the rest of the European Union is stagnating; this is the highest GDP increase in 2024 among the richest countries in the world: that of the USA increased by 2,8%

According to data from the 'Halo, Inspector!' platform, which organised the shop boycott in Croatia, spending in the country fell by a total of €108 million over three weeks, of which €75 million was lost in just three Fridays of the boycott

The shadow economy remains high, at 33% and Bulgaria shows the highest tolerance for the shadow economy compared to the rest of the European Union according to a study by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Opioids will become the most severely punished drug category in Denmark as the government intends to significantly toughen penalties for opioid-related crimes, increasing sentences by more than 400%, announced Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard

The perpetrator of the Örebro school shooting was likely chose this specific school to attack because he had connections to Campus Risbergska according to current investigation results

In the parliamentary elections, the ruling party Vetevendosje!, 'Movement for Self-Determination!', led by outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti, won a relative majority of seats

176 World War II unexploded bombs were discovered under a children's playground in Wooler, Northumberland, and it is feared that more will be unearthed; it is believed that the area was used as a Home Guard training camp