According to the latest available data from Eurostat and multiple national statistics agencies, unemployment rates in Europe vary widely, from as low as around 2.6% in some northern nations to more than 15% in parts of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Northern Europe shows strong job markets

Countries in northern Europe continued to report some of the lowest unemployment figures on the continent. For example:

Western Europe sees moderate unemployment

Across Western Europe, unemployment rates were generally moderate:

Southern and Eastern Europe face higher unemployment

Unemployment climbed noticeably higher in parts of southern and eastern Europe:

Central Europe and the Baltics

Central European countries generally showed more balanced employment figures:

While these rates are higher than Nordic counterparts, they remain below many southern and eastern peers, signalling relative resilience in post-transition labour markets.

Unemployment remains a key barometer of economic health, especially as Europe navigates inflation, energy transitions, and changing global demand. Strong job markets in the north and central regions underscore the benefits of diversified economies and active labour policies.

According to historical data compiled by Topend Sports , Norway leads the all-time Winter Olympic gold medal table with 148 golds. The Scandinavian powerhouse’s success spans Nordic skiing, biathlon, and ski jumping, reflecting decades of excellence on snow and ice.

Behind Norway, the United States sits second with 114 gold medals to its name, bolstered by strong traditions in figure skating, ice hockey and alpine events. Germany (112) and the former Soviet Union (78) follow closely, demonstrating the depth of winter sport pedigree across Europe and North America .

Top 10 countries by Winter Olympic gold medals

As athletes prepare for the Winter Olympics in the coming weeks (opening on the Febraury 6), these historical gold medal rankings offer more than trivia, but they set expectations.

Norway’s longstanding leadership makes it a favourite once again, but past Games have shown that emerging nations and breakthrough stars can reshape the medal table with surprising performances.

Milano-Cortina will introduce new events, including ski mountaineering, attract wider global participation and give nations a chance to write the next chapter in Winter Olympic history .

The games which opened on February 6, 2026, will take place in Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and surrounding venues, bringing together thousands of competitors for what promises to be a landmark international event.

According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), approximately 93 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are expected to participate, reflecting the continued growth of winter sport across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

While traditional powerhouses such as Canada, Norway, Germany and the United States remain central contenders, more nations than ever are now qualifying athletes in skiing, skating and ice-based competitions.

The 2026 Games will also include athletes competing under a neutral flag. The IOC has maintained restrictions on Russian and Belarusian delegations following the invasion of Ukraine , though select athletes may be permitted to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) under strict eligibility rules.

8 sports, 16 disciplines, and 116 medal events

Milano-Cortina 2026 will feature 8 core Olympic sports, divided into 16 disciplines, with a total of 116 medal events. Fans can expect major competitions across skiing, skating and ice hockey, alongside the debut of a brand-new event.

Full list of disciplines at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Athletes will compete in:

The addition of ski mountaineering marks a significant milestone, introducing a high-altitude endurance discipline to the Winter Olympic programme for the first time.

Countries and figures:

What this really means is that in some of the world’s most populous nations, a significant portion of citizens cannot consistently afford basic meals without external support.

The rise in free food programmes is being driven by a combination of inflation, unemployment, conflict, and widening inequality.

According to Pew Research, economic hardship has become a growing concern globally, with more people reporting difficulty meeting basic living costs, including food. Pew’s surveys repeatedly show that affordability and economic insecurity are shaping everyday life in both developing and wealthy nations.

Indonesia: The largest beneficiaries

Indonesia tops the list, with nearly one-third of its population reportedly receiving food support.

The country has expanded large-scale food subsidy and school feeding initiatives to reduce poverty and protect vulnerable households from rising prices.

Newsweek has reported that countries across Asia are increasingly relying on mass food distribution systems as governments try to prevent hunger from escalating into political instability.

Nigeria

Nigeria’s position on the list is deeply linked to its worsening food insecurity. Tribune Online Nigeria has published repeated reports on the country’s hunger emergency, pointing to soaring food prices, insecurity in farming communities, and the increasing number of households skipping meals.

The paper has highlighted how food relief and community feeding programmes are now essential in many regions.

With an estimated 20 million Nigerians benefiting from free food support, the country is facing one of the most serious cost-of-living crises in its recent history .

In recent months, millions of pages of investigative records, court filings, contact lists, flight logs, and correspondence linked to Epstein have resurfaced in public discussion, fuelling renewed media attention and political pressure for transparency.

While Epstein died in jail in 2019, the scale of his network and the unanswered questions surrounding who enabled him have ensured the story never fully went away.

The U.S. Department of Justice this year released more than 3 million pages of files related to investigations into the late financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including emails, correspondence, financial records, flight logs, videos and images as part of what is now widely referred to as the “ Epstein files .”

The disclosure stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress in November 2025 and signed into law by President Joe Donald Trump , which mandates the public release of unclassified documents held by the Justice Department and FBI.

Not just names — Context also matters

A high number of mentions does not equal proof of criminal conduct.

Journalists and legal analysts emphasise that the Epstein files include a mix of contact records, flight manifests, emails, and media references, and that being mentioned in a document does not, in itself, imply guilt or illegal activity.

For example:

International reactions to the documents

Across Europe and beyond, governments have reacted differently to references in the Epstein files:

China’s export engine still runs hot

China remains the world’s largest exporter of goods , shipping an astonishing over $3.5 trillion in products globally during 2024, driven by electronics, machinery, and a vast manufacturing base.

In line with that broader picture, China’s top export categories in 2024 included:

This mix shows how deeply China has integrated into global supply chains for tech and transport goods, especially mobile devices and computer components.

China’s export strength isn’t just about scale; it’s also about global reach. The United States, Hong Kong and Vietnam are among China’s biggest trading partners, and electronics remain a dominant part of the export mix.

India ’s export basket: Energy and value-added goods

India’s export picture is narrower in scale but diversified in profile. In 2024, India shipped hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods worldwide, with a growing emphasis on energy, pharmaceuticals, electronics and gems.

The top export categories for India in 2024 included:

Refined petroleum products, including petrol, diesel and other fuels, have taken on greater importance in India’s export economy , making the country one of the top global suppliers of processed fuels.

India’s pharmaceutical sector continues its ascent, building on its reputation as the “pharmacy of the world” thanks to strong global demand for generic medicines and active ingredients

The numbers explain how tennis dynasties rooted in individual greatness can elevate a nation’s global standing. Spain’s haul is anchored by Rafael Nadal, who alone amassed 22 major singles titles, most of them on the clay of Roland-Garros. Emerging stars like Carlos Alcaraz have bolstered the Spanish total with multiple Grand Slam triumphs of their own.

Hot on Spain’s heels is Serbia, with 24 Grand Slam wins, all credited to Novak Djokovic, the only male player in history to hold all four major titles simultaneously and complete a triple career Grand Slam. Djokovic’s consistency at the very top of the sport has cemented Serbia’s place among the elite nations in tennis.

Switzerland ranks third with 23 Grand Slam singles victories this century, fuelled by the careers of Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. Federer’s elegant all-court game produced 20 major titles, while Wawrinka added three of his own, giving Swiss tennis an enduring spotlight on tennis’s biggest stages.

The above map also highlights other countries with notable contributions: the United States (6), Great Britain (3), and Australia (2), reflecting a wider spread of success across continents. Lesser-represented regions in Latin America and Oceania also appear on the map with smaller tallies.

As the 2026 season unfolds, fresh challenges from rising stars like Jannik Sinner , Carlos Alcaraz and others will shape how this map evolves, potentially redrawing the balance of national pride in global tennis.

According to 2017 data, across the country, states struggled with different pressures, each striving in its own way to make sense of a fast-moving and deeply polarised political climate.

The five issues driving frustration

Each state is coloured according to the issue most frequently cited by residents as their biggest source of political frustration on the above map.

Across much of the South, Southwest, and West Coast, immigration emerges as the leading concern. States such as California, Texas, Arizona, Florida, and New York show high levels of frustration with immigration policy.

This aligns with reporting from the Pew Research Centre , which consistently finds immigration to be one of the most polarising national issues, particularly in border states and regions with large immigrant populations. Debates over border security, asylum policy, and labour migration have kept immigration at the centre of US politics for over a decade.

Several Midwestern and Mountain states, including Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, show civil rights as the top frustration.

Civil rights concerns often include voting access, freedom of speech, gun rights, and equality under the law. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), these issues tend to rise during periods of political polarisation or when state-level legislation directly affects personal freedoms.

States such as Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, and Maine are marked by frustration over racial injustice.

This reflects long-running national conversations around policing, systemic racism, and economic inequality. Data from the Pew Research Centre and Brookings Institution show that concern about racial inequality increased sharply in the years following high-profile incidents of police violence and mass protests, particularly between 2014 and 2020.

In states like Iowa, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, and North Dakota, healthcare is the most cited frustration.

These concerns often relate to access, affordability, and rural healthcare shortages. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, rural states and lower-income regions are more likely to report dissatisfaction with healthcare systems, hospital closures, and insurance costs.

A smaller number of states, including Nebraska, highlight frustration with executive leadership. This category typically reflects dissatisfaction with presidential authority, government accountability, and the balance of power between branches of government.

It is 2026, and these frustrations are yet to be nonexistent. From President Donald Trump’s repeated tariff threats to ongoing controversies around immigration enforcement, including ICE detentions and deaths in custody, many Americans are left feeling overwhelmed.

In Minnesota, protests against ICE operations have drawn national attention, particularly in and around Minneapolis, where demonstrators have gathered outside detention facilities and government buildings to oppose arrests, deportations, and what they describe as overly aggressive enforcement tactics.

Tensions escalated further following the death of Alex Pretti . On 24 January 2026, the 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen was fatally shot by federal immigration agents during a confrontation in south Minneapolis. Federal officials say Pretti resisted arrest and approached agents with a handgun.

But bystander video reviewed by multiple outlets shows him unarmed, holding a phone, and attempting to intervene amid a chaotic scene before agents pepper-sprayed and tackled him, then fired multiple shots. This marked at least the second death of a U.S. resident in federal immigration operations in Minnesota in January, following the killing of Renée Nicole Good earlier in the month.

Civil rights organisations and community leaders have demanded transparent investigations, while federal authorities have said the incident is under review. The case has become a focal point for wider concerns about the use of force and oversight in immigration operations.

One such moment occurred in Belgium and remains one of the most unusual political gaffes involving a national anthem.

In 2007, Yves Leterme , then Belgium’s prime minister-designate, was asked during an interview to sing the Belgian national anthem, La Brabançonne. Instead, he sang La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France.

The moment was broadcast publicly and quickly spread across international media. What might have been a minor slip became a symbol of deeper political tensions within Belgium.

Why the mistake struck a nerve

Belgium is a country with long-standing linguistic and cultural divisions, primarily between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. The national anthem itself exists in three official languages and represents a fragile sense of national cohesion.

Singing France ’s anthem, even unintentionally, was seen by some as symbolic rather than merely accidental.

The reaction was swift. Belgian media debated the meaning of the incident, while opposition figures questioned Leterme’s suitability for leadership. Supporters argued it was a human error blown out of proportion.

Leterme later acknowledged the mistake and attempted to downplay it, reportedly joking that it proved how well Belgians know their neighbours. However, the episode remained attached to his political image for years.

The Indian Embassy in Mauritania hosted a formal reception in Nouakchott on Monday to mark the 76th anniversary of the Republic of India’s National Day, drawing senior Mauritanian government officials and diplomats. Mauritania was represented by Daman Ould Hemar, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad, who attended on behalf of Foreign Minister Mohammad Salem Ould Merzoug. Other officials present included Lemina mint El-Ghotob Ould Mema, a special assistant at the Presidency, Al-Hassan Mahamoudou Al-Hussein, and Mohamed Al-Hanshi El-Ketab, Ambassador and Director-General for Bilateral Cooperation.

Mauritania and Italy cooperation

On the same day, Foreign Minister Mohammad Salem Ould Merzoug received a high-level delegation from Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nouakchott, led by Stefano Gatti, Director-General for Development Cooperation, alongside Italian Ambassador Paola Maria Cristina and senior officials. According to the foreign ministry, discussions centred on expanding bilateral cooperation and identifying new development opportunities under Italy’s MATI plan , a strategy aimed at strengthening African partnerships through sustainable economic development, curbing irregular migration flows and improving energy security.

New public procurement code

Mauritania’s Council of Ministers has approved a new public procurement code, a reform designed to overhaul the way the state awards contracts and manages public spending. The move is intended to improve transparency, modernise bidding procedures and ensure greater oversight of government projects, according to national media reporting. Officials say the reform forms part of broader efforts to strengthen governance and attract private investment by making state contracting more predictable and competitive. The new framework is also expected to align Mauritania’s procurement practices more closely with international standards, particularly in large infrastructure and development projects financed with foreign partners.

Major investment for Mauritania Airlines

The government has issued state guarantees to back a major investment programme for Mauritania Airlines, signalling renewed efforts to stabilise and expand the national carrier. Media reports say the guarantees are aimed at supporting fleet renewal and operational growth as the airline seeks to improve regional connectivity and service reliability. Aviation analysts view the move as part of a broader transport strategy to strengthen Nouakchott’s role as a regional hub and support tourism and trade. Officials have argued that reinforcing the airline is critical for economic diversification and for linking Mauritania more effectively with neighbouring countries and international markets.

Kinross Gold prepares financial update

Mining giant Kinross Gold Corporation has announced plans to publish its 2025 fourth-quarter and full-year financial results, along with its 2026 outlook, keeping investor focus on Mauritania’s extractive sector. The company operates the Tasiast gold mine, one of the country’s most significant foreign-owned mining projects, and its forthcoming update is expected to shed light on production levels, costs and future investment plans. Developments at Tasiast are closely watched because of the sector’s importance to government revenues, exports and employment.