Europe

The education system is not yielding the expected results according to OECD, which conducts the PISA assessments; Icelandic students receive high grades that don't accurately reflect performance, raising concerns about the country’s academic standards

67% of Hungarian voters oppose Ukraine's accession to the EU according to latest poll by the Nézopont Institute and this decisive position spans all demographic categories

Restaurant Palace in Helsinki has been voted the best restaurant in Finland for the sixth consecutive year; in the Suomen 50 Parasta Ravintolaa /Finland’s 50 Best Restaurants list BasBas and Grön follow and new entries Jason and Teller are 4th and 5th

The Republika Srpska assembly adopted a draft constitution and law allowing for the formation of a separate army and judiciary; according to OHR, which oversees the accords that ended the 1992-95 war, it is a violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement

A draft law would abolish the special statute for offenses and crimes committed by ministers: limitation period would be 5-8 years for misdemeanors and 15-20 for felonies; now offenses expire if prosecution isn't initiated within 2 parliamentary sessions

Opposition leader Sali Berisha is borrowing MAGA-style rhetoric for his campaign in view of May’s elections - many experts doubt that will work as corruption charges he faces in court and his age (81) weigh against his chances of victory

"Terror supporters, antisemites and extremists" could have their German citizenship revoked if they hold a second nationality, according to planning documents; critics say the measure would lead to unequal treatment

The last four goats living on a small peninsula on the Bristol Channel have been culled by the National Trust in a 'difficult decision'; the animals, regularly scaling the cliffs in Brean Down, were put down due to poor health including tuberculosis

11 people, including the climate activist Greta Thunberg, were taken away by the police in Stockholm after demonstrating in an unauthorized public gathering outside the Concert Hall were SEB Bank's annual general meeting was taking place

Today the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin, will preside over the special Mass in the Vatican commemorating the 20th anniversary of the death of Pope Saint John Paul II; Pope Francis has sent his encouragement to those partaking in the commemorations

Protests were held after Natalija Jovanovic, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at Nis University, was attacked with a knife by a woman arrested; Jovanovic has been targeted repeatedly by authorities over her support for student-led protests and blockades

Radio and tv workers have rallied against layoffs: employees at Croatia’s public broadcaster protested against a government ‘consolidation plan’, which includes cutting 700 to 800 employees – about a third of the total staff

The president's inauguration has taken place at the Palace of Independence on 25 March; newly re-elected President Lukashenko, placing his right hand on the Constitution, took the oath of office in front of over 1000 people invited at the ceremony