Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's announcement of an "AI minister" named Diella, described as "pregnant" with 83 AI assistants for parliament, highlights absurdities in addressing corruption. Meanwhile, Serbia's government announces an AI factory, echoing past unfulfilled industrial promises. Both efforts showcase populist strategies that distract from real issues and governance failures.
Author: Dejan Pantic
Dearly departed war criminals and some basketball
Overt displays of political and ideological affection for war crimes, Russia and territorial expansion permeate the Serbian political spectrum. Both the student protesters and the Aleksandar Vučić's Progressives engage in such activities, like the recent funeral of Nebojsa Pavkovic, a Yugoslav and Serbian general convicted of war crimes in Kosovo.
EU parliament resolution is good news for Serbia, bad news for the government and student protesters
Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic criticized the European Parliament's resolution on Serbia, labeling it a "political pamphlet" full of lies. Amid protests and condemnation of Serbia's political climate, the resolution highlights violent incidents and foreign influences.
OFAC stopped the sale of Serbia’s NIS subsidiary companies in Romania, Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Serbian Oil Industry NIS, faces additional problems due to sanctions resulting in closed gas stations and blocked accounts across Romania, Bulgaria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cumulatively, losses amount to around 360 million euros, burdening Serbian taxpayers and shareholders, while attempts to sell subsidiaries have stalled due to OFAC sanctions.
The Serbian masters of the irrelevant: Shooting and a fire in the Belgrade government supporter tent camp
While Serbia anticipated an announced hard-hitting EU parliament resolution about Serbia that has been adopted today, a shooting and a fire occurred in the tent camp full of government supporters in downtown Belgrade.
Serbian media: Serbia lacks 216,000 tons of crude oil per month, MOL fire could affect the fuel supply to Serbia from Hungary
Serbian media reported Serbia's need to import 216,000 tons of crude oil monthly due to US sanctions affecting the NIS. Following US sanctions, Serbian oil quandaries multiply after the EU decision to halt gas transit to Serbia through Bulgaria next year, and a fire in a Hungarian oil refinery that might affect fuel supply to Serbia.
Illiberalism and The Global South are fueled by the Mandate of Heaven
Illiberal political movements in Europe, associated with their ideological allies from Russia, China, and the Global South, cannot be countered by the committees of overthinking everything in existence that are the staple of European mainstream politics, that is doing itself a disservice by getting dragged into foreign cultural conflicts and upholding foreign values that go against rationalism and the Enlightenment.
Deus Ex – A gamer’s perspective on techbro eschatology
The global case of life imitating art - "Deus Ex," a 2000 sci-fi action role-playing game, explores themes of conspiracy involving billionaires and officials aiming to unleash chaos for power. Amidst current tech magnates' dystopian rhetoric, the game serves as a reminder that reality diverges from gaming. The fallibility of tech elites suggests their catastrophic visions may lead to inevitable market failures rather than dystopia.
Top 5 Companies with Biggest Losses in Serbia 2024
In 2024, the largest net loss in Serbia was reported by Continental Automotive Serbia at nearly 170 million euros, followed by HBIS Group with around 150 million euros. Arena Channels Group, Putevi Srbije, and Petrohemija Pancevo also faced significant losses. Conversely, top gainers included Elektroprivreda Srbije and others.
Croatian JANAF pipeline stands to lose up to 18 million Euros after Serbian NIS hit with sanctions
The American sanctions on Serbia's Oil Industry might lead to significant financial losses for Croatia's Adriatic Pipeline (JANAF). Croatia put forward a feeler to acquire control over Serbia's Oil Industry (NIS) to stabilize JANAF's operations, sparking political banter between Croatian and Serbian leaders, which reflects old Balkan rivalries and energy independence goals.
Serbianism 