Russian leader Vladimir Putin is trying to present himself in the eyes of US President Donald Trump as a supporter of peace who creates solutions, not problems, by offering a 30-hour ceasefire, British station SkyNews assessed.more
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, announcing that the United States may withdraw from attempts to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine, was conveying the point of view of President Donald Trump, who is frustrated with the course of the negotiations, CNN reported, citing a source.more
Global wine consumption fell by 3.3 per cent year-on-year in 2024, to its lowest level since 1961. - according to estimates from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). According to its report, the continued decline in wine consumption is linked to, among other factors, changes in the habits of the younger generation.more
The United States will abandon attempts to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine within days if there are no signs that an agreement is achievable, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared in Paris.more
2024 was the warmest year in Europe's history. Fires affected 42,000 people, while storms and floods affected 413,000, including in Poland, and caused 335 deaths, according to the latest report on the state of the climate in Europe in 2024.more
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said on April 14 that his recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin were "compelling" and centered around a possible peace deal based on the status of "five territories."more
The British embassy in Vienna warns of possible terrorist attacks in Austria. The Interior Ministry promises to strengthen police patrols and urges people to remain calm and not to panic.more
Copenhagen's urban bicycle system was launched as early as 1995. Berlin has a network of cycle paths of 2,376 km. In London, you have to pay the equivalent of almost £9 for a 30-minute ride on a city bike, while in Brussels the first half hour is free.more
The attack on Catfish was horrible, but I was told the Russians made a mistake, US President Donald Trump announced yesterday. However, he stated that it was not his war, but Joe Biden's war.more
Crowds of tourists from Italy and many countries around the world flocked to Venice on the last weekend before the requirement to register arrival and pay a fee on public holidays and weekends comes into force, for the second year in a row. It will remain in force until the end of July. The fee must then be paid by tourists who are not staying overnight in the city.more
Members of the World Health Organization are close to a deal on a treaty to prepare for future pandemics, sources involved in the talks told Reuters on Saturday, with a WHO spokesperson saying discussions had been paused until Tuesday.more
By 2150, Venice and the islands and marshes of the Venetian Lagoon could be periodically under water during sea floods, an analysis by Italian scientists has confirmed. Oceanologist Professor Jacek Piskozub stressed that by the end of the century some Polish towns and cities, including districts of Gdansk, could also be flooded.more
The first minimum wage figures for 2025 show that in 10 EU countries the minimum wage was below €1,000 per month, in six other countries it ranged from €1,000 to €1,500 per month and in the remaining six countries the minimum wage was above €1,500 per month.more
US President Donald Trump stated that he did not rule out withdrawing some US troops from Europe and suggested that this could be the subject of trade negotiations. He also expressed satisfaction that the EU had not immediately decided to impose retaliatory tariffs in response to the new US tariffs.more
The topic of over-tourism has been raised for several years, as have the ways of local authorities to deal with too many visitors. Recently, the mayor of the Italian town of Teulada announced his new idea. From July, a visit to one of Sardinia's flagship beaches is to require tourists to make a reservation via an app.more
There were 1,518 executions worldwide in 2024, the highest number since 2015. - reported Amnesty International (AI) yesterday in its annual report on the use of the death penalty worldwide. Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are responsible for the increase, with a total of 1,380 executions.more
Ukraine's ambassador to the UK and former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has confirmed the existence of a secret Ukrainian-US headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. The site had become a ‘secret weapon’ in cooperation with the US; operations against Russia were planned there, war games were played and weapons were requested, he revealed.more
Relocation is just one option in the EU's migration pact, which is intended to ease the burden on countries struggling with high numbers of arrivals or the instrumentalisation of migrants. Countries can also opt for a financial equivalent or to second their staff to assist in asylum procedures.more
Polish consular authorities in Rome have reported a wave of thefts, with Polish tourists and pilgrims falling victim to them. They are appealing to everyone to be particularly careful and warning that thieves are becoming increasingly bold.more
Transfers to Poland from emigrants in Q4 2024 amounted to PLN 5 billion, compared to PLN 5.1 billion in Q4 2023, the National Bank of Poland reported in its full balance of payments for Q4. Transfers from Poland from working immigrants at that time amounted to PLN 5.5 billion; 55.2 percent of transfers went to Ukraine.more
Americans have worse survival rates than Europeans and at all levels of wealth. At the same time, there is a survival gap between rich and poor Americans. In Europe, the disparity is much smaller.more
Representatives from France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine are meeting in Kyiv on 4 April to discuss the deployment of a military contingent to Ukraine.more
Yesterday, new housing laws took effect in Spain to curb the phenomenon of illegal home occupation, known as "okupas". According to lawyers and advocates for those affected by wild tenants, this will only reduce the scale of the problem, but will not solve it.more
France or Britain should take the lead in engaging with Russia about Ukraine as part of European efforts to support Kyiv, Finland's president Alexander Stubb said on Thursday.
European countries who joined a "coalition of the willing" to back Ukraine agreed at a meeting last week that at least one of their leaders should engage with Russia at some stage, Stubb told reporters in Helsinki.more
Bali authorities have issued new guidelines to address “misbehaviour” among foreign tourists in a bid to protect the Indonesian island’s cultural integrity, including a rule prohibiting menstruating women from entering sacred temple areas.more
