Europe

The government has commissioned the drafting of a new aquaculture law; the new legal framework is expected to foster the growth of this promising sector

The cost of driving courses will rise even further, with prices exceeding 2.000 leva (1.000 euro); Yonko Ivanov, president of the Union of Car and Motorcycle Instructors, explained that they must adapt to European standards and technological advances

Czech beer culture was officially included in the Czech Republic's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, taking a step towards potential inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List

A bill proposed by the Ministry of Health aims to tighten regulations on the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors; a key provision is that the supply of alcohol to minors will be changed from an administrative offence to a misdemeanour

The number of homeless people fell slightly in December, according to Department of Housing, following record figures in November when 14.864 people were hosted in emergency accommodation, of whom 4.510 children

8 months before the elections, the coalition between the two parties that had governed since 2021 broke apart: Centre Party and Labour Party had been squabbling for weeks over the adoption of 3 European directives on environmental and energy issues

On 1 and 2 February, Ģertrūdes Street Theatre will host 'Avots' language festival with thematic lectures, discussions and workshops exploring the languages in the context of the relationship between the individual and society, and lesser-used languages

The Marga Centre, a new women's shelter in Neudorf, offers drug addicts a space where they can feel safe with an all-women team providing support

A full year of paid leave - between maternity and parental - has been proposed by the Nationalist Party within a package of 10 work-life balance measures to provide flexibility for families

A second programme loan for health sector development policies worth $75 million has been approved by the World Bank Board of Directors to support the implementation of policies to improve the financial stability of healthcare institutions

In 2024, 411.021 counterfeit articles were seized in Belgium, almost double the previous year's total of 217.053, announced the Ministry of Economic Affairs

Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu topped History T.R.A.I. index in 2024: the former has the highest total score based on objective indicators such as traffic, air quality and property prices, and the latter on 13 subjective criteria assessed by city residents

The annual number of births in Poland once again reached an all-time low, according to the state agency Statistics Poland; 2024 marked the 12th consecutive year in which deaths exceeded births