Europe Bulgaria December 31 and January 2 have been proposed as non-working days to stimulate travel in Bulgaria over the holiday period and to give a full 5 days break to facilitate a smoother transition to the euro
Europe Vatican City Pope Leo encouraged the recent agreement between Israel and Hamas and urged to continue, with courage, along the path toward “a just, lasting peace” that honours the legitimate aspirations of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples
Europe Finland Students from outside the EU and EEA will face tuition fees in Finland's upper secondary education and and vocational education starting August 2026; these students will no longer be counted under the state funding model for education providers
Europe Czech Republic In the newly elected Czech Chamber of Deputies, nearly one-third of the members will be women - a historic high for the country
Europe Romania The EU issued a warning to Romania to stop using a pesticide containing neonicotinoids, which are toxic to pollinating insects, after Bucharest sought to aid its cereal crop and sunflower farmers by prolonging the use of the chemicals
Europe Portugal Another sailing boat was sunk yesterday, around 90 kms southwest of Peniche, as a result of an ‘orca attack’, the latest occurrence in a series of episodes across summer months; all crew was saved from their life raft following their Mayday message
Europe Liechtenstein Hot molten metal from the furnace Flumroc in Flums, Switzerland, provoked a fire; Liechtenstein police gave the all-clear for citizens as no harmful gases escaped
Europe Ukraine Authorities ordered the evacuation of children and their guardians from around the frontline city of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region, citing an increase in Russian drone attacks
Europe Slovakia Bratislava is launching a major modernisation of its tram line in Ružinov, one of the city’s busiest districts, after its first tender collapsed; the 1970s-era route is to be rebuilt with €102 million EU fund following completion of Petržalka extension
Europe Hungary László Krasznahorkai has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2025 “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art”
Europe North Macedonia Nearly 13 years since construction began, the Church of St. Constantine and Helena in central Skopje has been inaugurated and the square fully refurbished
Europe Serbia The number of Russians granted Serbian citizenship under discretionary government powers has shot up since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; at least five of them are under Western sanctions
Europe San Marino 1700 years since the first Ecumenical Council of the Church, the conference "Freedom in Unity: The Council of Nicaea (325) in 21st-Century Society" was held in the Montelupo Hall in Domagnano promoted by the Ambassador Extraordinary Envoy of the RSM