Sir Nicholas Winton, who saved hundreds of Jewish children in Prague from the Nazis in the run-up to World War II, was given the Czech Republic's top honour.
The Spanish central government said it will challenge in court plans by Catalonia to hold a symbolic vote on whether the wealthy region should be independent.
Estonian Finance Minister Juergen Ligi announced his resignation after he caused a furore with Facebook comments seen as insulting to the education minister.
Ukraine's parliamentary polls was meant to help bring a shattered nation together, but the frontline city of Mariupol is in no mood for reconciliation.