Europe Switzerland Following the Crans-Montana tragedy, the media coverage, its political relevance, the Swiss have decided to keep a low profile, cancelling some of the events and parties scheduled alongside the Winter Olympics at House of Switzerland in Milan and Cortina
Europe North Macedonia Cuts to North Macedonia’s rare diseases programme have alarmed patient organisations; the state program provides therapy for 430 patients, and is set to be cut from 24 million euros to 17,5 million euros in 2026
Europe Norway Nobel Institute issued a statement on the controversial fact that Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado had given her gold Nobel medal to US President Donald Trump; amid international uproar, the institution said prize and winner are 'inseparable'
Europe Hungary With parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 April, latest polls forecast 39% preferences for Orbán’s party, Fidesz, and 51% for the opposition led by MEP Péter Magyar; Orbán involved the global far right in a controversial video advert
Europe Czech Republic 935.000 legal foreign workers, 360.000 from Ukraine, were employed in the Czech Republic in 2025, +11% on 2024; despite this, firms still face a shortfall, with the Chamber of Commerce estimating a need for around 250.000 more workers
Europe Albania For many families in Tirana buying an apartment, a realistic goal up to a short time ago, is now unaffordable: wages haven't risen at pace with apartment prices surging up to 5.500 euros sq/m in a market that experts say is distorted by speculation
Europe Croatia Political magazine Globus, admired in the 1990s and 2000s for its independent stance, published its last issue in 2025 and will not update its website in 2026; the Croatian weekly suffered shrinking advertising revenue and collapsing print sales
Europe Russia Two maritime patrol aircraft have made a 30-hour Arctic flight, including a mid-air tanking that would account a the first-ever North Pole aerial refueling; for the unique mission, the crews reportedly entered the Book of Records of the Armed Forces
Europe Malta Malta national waterpolo team players are being investigated for allegedly betting on their own matches at the European Championships; currently in Belgrade for finals, they are suspected of having bet on the goal difference of game against Montenegro
Europe Italy Council President Giorgia Meloni is among the international politicians featuring in Hungary's leader Orban's video advert; the presence of a founding member of the EU in a propaganda operation that legitimizes illiberal models has been sharply criticized
Europe Slovenia Police handled 28.200 cases of irregular migration were handed in 2025, -40% on 2024, the lowest number in 4 years; illegal migration has been falling since Slovenia reintroduced controls at its Schengen borders and the measure extends until 21 June 2026
Europe Bulgaria Bulgaria will hold early elections, President Radev announced after the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms became the third party to reject the president’s invitation to form a government to replace the last one which resigned amid widespread protests
Europe Belarus Presidential Decree No. 19 “On crypto banks and regulation in digital tokens” has been signed, said the press service of head of state, to strengthen Belarus’ leading position in financial IT and provide conditions for the operation of crypto banks