Europe

Rescuers and firefighters carried out 383 operations last year as a result of prank calls and already 48 operations so far this year, reports the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, costing thousands of lei to the state budget

With the final approval of the Chamber of Deputies, articles 9 and 41 of the Constitution have been amended to introduce the protection of the environment, ecosystems, biodiversity and animals

Latvian laboratories may have reached their maximum capacity for Covid-19 testing, according to the director of the infectious disease risk analysis and prevention department at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

The Minister of Economy says it is necessary to tax the 'excessive profits' of nuclear power plants, thus having millions to offset the increase in energy prices; the owner of the nuclear power plants says it would drive the company into bankruptcy

According to a report released by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the country is at the top of the global ranking of countries with "full democracy" with a score of 9,75

The country will buy another 100 tonnes of gold this year, bringing its national gold reserves to 330 tonnes, the central bank president confirmed, a policy considered the best for the country's development

The Government has decided to establish a commission to evaluate and define proposals for projects of strategic interest to Croats abroad, responding to Croatia's constitutional obligation to take care of this category of citizens

Almost 30 residents have applied for financial compensation for side effects and health problems after receiving the vaccine; seven of these have already been rejected on various grounds

An amnesty scheme for undocumented persons was recently opened; it will last until the end of July and will give many people the chance to apply for official residence, including people with an existing deportation order

At least 37% of Albanians suffer from fuel poverty, well above the European average of 5%, according to a study by DOOR and EIHP, forcing them to use wood; the report stresses it has a direct impact on health

Professor Anne L'Huillier has been awarded the Wolf Prize in Physics for her pioneer contribution on ultrafast laser science and attosecond physics; she is the first woman after 44 years of male winners

Six cities and towns, including the capital Sofia, have been selected for EEA grants totalling almost €1,7 million for the use of geothermal energy in the heating and cooling of kindergartens and schools