New Zealand

BELGRADE - In the December 17 elections, Serbian expats will be able to vote at a record-high 81 polling stations in 35 countries around the world.

The majority of the polling stations abroad - 19 - will be in Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by Germany with six and Austria and Italy with five each.

Cellphones will be banned in schools across New Zealand, conservative Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Friday, as his fledgling government looks to turn around the country's plummeting literacy rates.

The European Union is in a "global race" with the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to scoop up skilled migrants, the European Commission has acknowledged.

"Europe is engaged in a global race for talent, the same way that we are fighting a global race for raw materials, for energy," Commissioner Margaritis Schinas said.

People applying for visas to visit Europe's Schengen area will soon do so via an online platform, under a change adopted by EU foreign ministers.

The shift towards digitalization of the visa process will also do away with the need for applicants to get a sticker in their passport, meaning no more appointments at consulates or service providers' offices.

The European Union is ushering in a new era for Schengen visas, making the process fully digital. This move eliminates the need for physical stickers in passports, streamlining the application process, as reported by AFP.

More than one-quarter of the world's population gambles or has gambled. This meant that at least one in every four people you know has placed at least a wager at some point in their life. So, it's safe to say that gambling is a popular activity.

Turkish police have dismantled the notorious international criminal organization Comanchero, arresting 18 of its alleged members.

The arrests come after a joint effort by Turkish law enforcement agencies to apprehend individuals involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, murder, armed robbery, arson, kidnapping and global money laundering.

Turkish authorities have announced the capture of Hakan Ayık, a notorious criminal on the most wanted list in Australia, and 36 individuals affiliated with his criminal organization, Comanchero.

A recent study conducted by a team of Turkish economists has illuminated the pivotal role of globally coordinated full lockdowns in mitigating both economic losses and saving lives during the COVID-19 crisis.

Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, introduced two new subscription plans on Friday, including a Premium+ tier for users willing to pay for an ad-free experience, according to a page detailing the features of the subscription. Premium+ tier that costs USD 16 per month and offers the "largest reply boost" and removes ads from the For You and Following feeds.