Europe

Stephanie Venier, 31, announced the end of her skiing career; world champion with gold in the Super-G and bronze in the team combination, Venier caused a sensation last winter in Saalbach-Hinterglemm but has recently suffered a lack of motivation

Rail company NS will set up a campsite at Utrecht Central Station proving 'all the necessities' for 20 first-year university students who couldn't find accommodation for Utrecht’s Introduction Time, the orientation period set for 11 to 14 August

Immigration authorities have once again confirmed that there are no border formalities to enter San Marino, open to all those bearing a valid visa for Italy, its only border; tourist visas can be obtained at the tourism office at a cost of 5 Euros

The mandate of Milorad Dodik, President of Republika Srpska, was revoked in a final verdict by the Central Election Commission; Dodik stated that a referendum will be called in the RS in which the people will decide on further actions

Athlete Evald Krnić has once again claimed victory at the traditional “Bentbaša Cliff Diving” competition in Sarajevo, BiH, winning the title for the third consecutive year; the 11th edition of the event took place at Bentbaša beach on the River Miljacka

Errors in the storage of fireworks at world-famous Tomorrowland festival venue are currently being investigated by the authorities in Antwerp, as can possibly be the cause of the devastating fire which gutted its main stage last month

Admirers of traditional Bulgarian carpet craftsmanship gathered for the "Iglika Kilim Fest," a celebration that turned the local meadows into an open-air museum of kilim, antique hand-woven rugs; 965 rugs were displayed across a ten-acre area

Times of Malta received a court injunction preventing it from publishing an article about an e-money firm just one day after sending questions to the company; union of journalists and Institute for Maltese Journalists are concerned about press freedom

The number of catfish caught in Switzerland has increased tenfold in 20 years, as warmer watercourses encourage these predators to reproduce and grow more in size: of the thousands of yearly catches, those above 2m meters are regularly hooked

A group of UN human rights experts called on government to stop all forms of retaliation and intimidation against protesters, concerned over Serbia’s intensifying crackdown on students, professors, human rights defenders, civil society actors and citizens

Bankers Petroleum, Albania’s largest oil producer, threatened to sue government in international arbitration courts, claiming its rights as foreign investor were violated; prosecutors allege it stole billions of euros in a massive corporate fraud

Aalborg zoo is appealing for donations of pets that must be put down to be gently euthanised and fed to predators; it would gratefully receive live horses while hens rabbit, guinea pig can be handed over to be eaten whole so that nothing is wasted

A month after a law came into effect making insulting a public official a criminal offense, over 170 police reports have been filed from police officers, security guards, public employees and 10 preliminary investigations are underway