Politics

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic has announced his resignation amid ongoing protests triggered by a fatal railway station accident. The decision comes after months of public demonstrations following the November collapse of a concrete canopy at a Novi Sad railway station that claimed fifteen lives. Explaining his departure, Vucevic stated he was stepping down "in order to avoid further complicating things" and to prevent "further raising tensions in society." The incident has sparked widespread demonstrations across Serbia, with protesters demanding accountability and highlighting concerns about corruption and construction oversight. Student-led protests have been particularly impactful, featuring daily traffic disruptions and university blockades. The movement gained further momentum when businesses joined a general strike last week, bringing tens of thousands of demonstrators to Belgrade's streets. The protests culminated in a 24-hour blockade of Belgrade's main road junction by students on Monday. […]

A leaked government memorandum, verified by CBS News, reveals that President Donald Trump has implemented a pause on federal grants, loans, and other government assistance programs. The directive, issued through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), instructs government agencies to review their spending to ensure alignment with Trump's priorities. The memo, signed by acting OMB chief Matthew Vaeth, specifically targets "financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal." While Medicaid and Social Security benefits remain unaffected, agencies must halt both new awards and disbursements under existing programs by 5:00 PM EST, with a February 10 deadline to report paused programs. Democratic leaders have responded with strong opposition. Senator Patty Murray and Representative Rosa DeLauro sent a joint letter to the White House expressing "extreme alarm," describing the scope as "breathtaking, unprecedented" […]