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Latest Publications — Page 416

  2. WorldMiddle EastPublic HealthHealthcareGender

    Serbia Reduces Prices of Two Groups of Medicines

    President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, announced a new measure to help citizens by reducing the prices of two groups of medicines: those for preventing blood clots and those for heart weakness. The state has allocated 3.7 billion dinars (around 32 million euros) for this purpose. The reduction applies to drugs obtained with a prescription and will be a permanent measure. The first group of drugs, which includes 16 medications, will see their prices reduced by 30%, with the state covering 70% of the cost. The second group of drugs, for heart weakness, will see a 50% reduction, with the state covering the other 50%. The measure aims to save lives and enable people to spend less on medication.
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  5. PoliticsBillRegulatorsElectionsMiddle East

    SPS Running Independently in Elections

    The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) will run independently in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Party president Ivica Dačić dismissed speculation about talks with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) regarding a pre-election coalition. The SPS will have its own presidential candidate and has agreed that city, municipal, and district boards must submit lists of candidates by August 25.
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  6. CultureMiddle EastEducation

    New Subject 'Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia' Introduced in Schools

    From September 1, schools will introduce a new mandatory subject, 'Spiritual and Moral Culture of Russia' (SMCR), for fifth-graders starting January 2027 with 17 hours allocated. Later, SMCR will be introduced for older students with more time allocated. Other changes include unified history textbooks, sociology taught in grades 9-11, OJT divided into two courses, and behavior assessment reintroduced. Despite rumors, homework will not be canceled. Meanwhile, bureaucratic workload on teachers is promised to be reduced.
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  9. WorldLawRegulatorsMiddle East

    Taiwan Proposes Record Defense Spending in 2027

    Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te announced plans to propose a record defense budget of NT$1.1225 trillion (approximately €30 billion) for 2027, a 16% increase from the current year. This investment, seen as an 'investment in peace', aims to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region amid growing military pressure from China. The budget will account for over 3% of Taiwan's GDP, demonstrating its commitment to strengthening self-defense capabilities. The proposal comes as Taiwan faces increasing military pressure from China and follows US urging for increased defense spending.
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  12. WorldChinaInequalitySci PolicyPublic Health

    China's AI Deployment Slows Due to Social Security Concerns

    China is slowing down the deployment of AI due to insufficient social security, which could lead to worker unrest and hinder technological progress. Despite being an authoritarian state with technological ambition, China lacks a robust social safety net, unlike democracies. Historical examples like Britain and Denmark show that adequate social protection can facilitate technological change. China aims to bridge the gap between its AI development and real economy by democratizing AI skills across its workforce.
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  13. CultureEarthBox Office

    Influencers' Shark Encounters: Bites and Warnings

    Influencers are risking their lives for the perfect underwater selfie, leading to a series of shark attacks. At least three influencers have been bitten by sharks in on-camera incidents in less than a year, with one almost losing her leg. Experts warn that sharks are being harassed and that safety guidelines are being ignored. The International Shark Attack File reports an increase in such incidents.
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  14. SocietyCorruptionProtest

    Hayden Panettiere's Death: Investigation Ongoing

    Hayden Panettiere, 36, has died, with investigations ongoing into the cause of her death. Police responded to an incident involving the actress on Sunday, and her publicist confirmed an investigation is underway. Her agent stated that more information would be available the next day. Panettiere's death has left Hollywood mourning, with actress Selma Blair paying tribute on Instagram.
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  15. WorldSummitMiddle East

    International Military Music Festival 'Spasskaya Tower' Postponed to 2027

    The International Military Music Festival 'Spasskaya Tower', scheduled for August 21-30, 2026, has been postponed to 2027 due to reasons beyond the organizers' control. The exact dates for the event will be announced later. The festival features military orchestras and honor guard units from various countries and has been held annually since 2006, with the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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  17. WorldMiddle East

    Sébastien Lecornu Visits Gironde Fire-Affected Areas

    Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited The Porge, a commune severely affected by a fire in Gironde, ahead of his official visit scheduled for Monday. He was accompanied by the mayor and toured the commune without cameras. Residents expressed concerns and doubts before his visit, calling for aid that matches the scale of the disaster. The fire in the Landes is still not extinguished, and the government is being watched closely to provide assistance.
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  19. PoliticsAppointmentsLeadership

    Dan Campbell Refuses to Delegate Challenge Flag Despite New NFL Rule

    Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell has no intention of giving up the challenge flag to an assistant, despite the NFL's new rule allowing coaches to designate someone else to throw it. Campbell, who is 10-14 on challenges since taking over in 2021, believes the responsibility lies with him as the head coach. He joins other coaches like Mike Vrabel in keeping the challenge flag to themselves.
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  21. WorldEarth

    Experts Warn of Possible Major Earthquake in Marmara Region on Anniversary of 1999 Disaster

    On the 27th anniversary of the 1999 Marmara earthquake, experts Prof. Dr. Osman Bektaş and Prof. Dr. Naci Görür have warned of the possibility of a major earthquake in the region. Bektaş stated that there is a 62% chance of a M7+ earthquake in 2000 and a 42% chance in 2004, while Görür emphasized that 'either now or later, a major earthquake will occur'. Both experts stressed the importance of maintaining high levels of earthquake preparedness in Istanbul and making the country earthquake-resistant.
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  23. WorldMiddle East

    Kazakhstan Launches Unified Digital Coal Supply Monitoring System

    Kazakhstan has launched a unified digital system to monitor coal supplies in real-time. The system tracks volumes of mining and loading, coal movement, stocks at dead ends and warehouses, prices, and plan execution by regions. There are 951 railway dead ends and 586 operators involved in coal sales nationwide. In the previous heating season, 8.15 million tons of coal were supplied to the regions, exceeding the planned volume by 9%. The upcoming season's need is estimated at 7.3 million tons.
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