AGP Executive Report

Student Protests Turn Violent in Belgrade: A massive student rally at Slavija Square on May 23 ended peacefully, but riots afterward led to police arresting 23 people. Interior Minister Ivica Dačić blamed the violence on participants, while President Aleksandar Vučić said the movement showed “violent nature” and did not present its platform. Crime Update: Police have arrested a suspect after a shooting at a Belgrade restaurant in Novi Beograd, where the owner was injured; investigators are checking footage and witnesses. Public Health Pilot: Serbia is launching the #VRATILEK pilot so households can return unused or expired medicines to pharmacies for free, aiming to stop drugs ending up in municipal waste. Sports Spotlight: Novak Djokovic says he has “a very good chance” at Roland Garros as he begins his record 82nd Grand Slam; in Belgrade, Serbia’s national team coach says Nikola Jokić should be available for upcoming qualifiers. Regional Health Watch: WHO reports new COVID variants across parts of the Middle East, urging continued precautions.

Belgrade Violence: Police arrested a 24-year-old suspect (D.M.) after a shooting at a well-known restaurant in Novi Beograd injured the owner; investigators are checking security footage and witnesses, with the motive still unclear. Missing Person Update: Separately, a body suspected to be linked to a man reported missing in Belgrade was found in a barrel in Indjija; prosecutors say DNA analysis is underway and multiple people have been arrested. Public Health Policy: Serbia is launching a pilot system for collecting household pharmaceutical waste—unused/expired medicines can be returned to pharmacies for free, aiming to stop improper disposal. Regional Health Watch: WHO says 13 Middle East countries have reported new COVID-19 variants, with at least one more contagious variant detected across the region. Sports With Serbian Links: Djokovic heads into the French Open for a record 82nd Grand Slam, but with limited clay match play and a tough first-round opponent.

Belgrade Violence: Police say they’ve arrested D.M. (24) after a shooting at a well-known restaurant in Novi Beograd injured the owner; investigators are checking security footage and witnesses, and the motive is still unclear. Public Health—Medicines Take-Back Pilot: Serbia is launching the #VRATILEK pilot so households can return unused or expired medicines to pharmacies free of charge, with pharmacies temporarily storing them before proper transport and disposal—aiming to stop medicines ending up in municipal waste. WHO Watch: WHO says coronavirus cases are stabilizing in parts of the Middle East, but more than a dozen countries report new variants, with at least one of three new variants found across 13 countries. Digital Health & Waste: The week also brought broader health-adjacent moves, including a push for safer pharmaceutical waste handling and ongoing regional health monitoring.

Pharmaceutical Waste Pilot: Serbia is launching the #VRATILEK pilot so households can return unused or expired medicines to pharmacies for free—aiming to stop drugs ending up in municipal waste and landfills, with pharmacies storing them safely before proper disposal. Tense Kosovo Vote Climate: Serbia’s leadership says it will back the Belgrade-aligned Serb List ahead of Kosovo’s 7 June election, as authorities and Serb institutions trade accusations of pressure and intimidation in Serb-majority areas. Public Safety Investigation: Police and prosecutors continue work after a body suspected to be a missing man was found in a barrel in Indjija; DNA and autopsy procedures are underway and multiple suspects have been arrested. Digital Health & AI Push: Serbia’s business AI push continues, with partnerships aimed at building Serbian-language models for companies, alongside broader regional cooperation on data and computing. Sports-Health Crosscurrent: Tennis’s French Open revenue dispute is escalating, with players warning the sport could fragment—an indirect reminder that athlete welfare and scheduling remain hot-button issues.

Kosovo Vote Tensions: Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić backed the Belgrade-backed Serb List ahead of Kosovo’s 7 June election, alleging arrests of health and school staff on political orders and warning of pressure on Serb voters. Murder Investigation: Serbian police are probing the death of a man believed to be A.N., found in a metal drum buried near Indjija; prosecutors say DNA work is underway and multiple suspects—including former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milic—have been arrested. AI & Industry: Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce and Orion Telekom plan a Serbian business language model using NVIDIA tech, aiming to boost company competitiveness and digital transformation. Sports—Serbia in Focus: Coach Dusan Alimpijevic says Nikola Jokić should be available for Serbia’s FIBA qualifiers in July and August. Global Health Note: A new NCCN tool highlights cancer distress screening in 70+ languages, pushing faster support for patients’ mental and practical needs.

Concert Safety Incident: Ricky Martin’s Montenegro show was briefly halted after someone sprayed tear gas toward the stage; authorities said the situation was under control and the singer later returned. Public Health & Justice: A body suspected to be a missing man (A.N.) was found in a barrel in Indjija; prosecutors ordered an autopsy and police have arrested 10 people tied to the case. Health & Politics in Kosovo: Serbia’s Office for Kosovo-Metohija says detentions of Serbian health and education staff in Gračanica are meant to pressure Serb voters ahead of June 7 elections, after earlier arrests were linked to alleged voter intimidation. Digital Health/AI Push: Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce and Orion Telekom plan a Serbian business language model using NVIDIA tech, aiming to boost company competitiveness and digital transformation. Sports Medicine Angle: England World Cup hopeful Djed Spence reportedly suffered a broken jaw and may play with a protective mask.

Kosovo Tensions: Kosovo police detained Serbian-linked health and education officials in Gračanica, with Belgrade calling it election intimidation ahead of June 7 and warning of pressure on Serb voters. AI for Industry: Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Orion Telekom signed an MoC to build a Serbian business language model using NVIDIA tech, aiming to boost competitiveness and digital transformation. Health Tech Research: A Cambridge-led “Origami” RNA method could speed diagnosis of repeat-expansion neurodegenerative diseases, where most cases are still undiagnosed. Workplace Safety & Training: Trayal plans rocket-fuel production in Rudo, with workers first undergoing medical checks and training in Krusevac or Belgrade. Public Health Access: NCCN expanded its cancer distress screening tool into 70+ languages, pushing faster support for patients’ mental, physical, social, and spiritual needs. Sports & Injury Watch: England World Cup hopeful Djed Spence reportedly suffered a broken jaw but is expected to play with a protective mask.

Sports & Health Spotlight: Novak Djokovic confirmed Viktor Troicki as his new coach ahead of Roland Garros, with Troicki joining a revamped Serbian team setup after being seen working with Djokovic during practice at Paris. Regional Health & Politics: In Kosovo-Metohija, Serbia’s government office says detentions of Serbian health and education workers are meant to intimidate Serb voters ahead of June 7 elections, while EU and other monitors were notified. Public Health Watch: A Council of Europe report flags worsening prison overcrowding across Europe and rising shares of older and women detainees—conditions that can strain health care behind bars. Health Access & Medicines: A new EFPIA W.A.I.T. report compares how quickly patients get EMA-approved medicines across Europe, highlighting access gaps that hit cancer and rare disease patients hardest. Serbia-Linked Item: Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić says foreign students could qualify for citizenship to stay and work after studies, with health insurance included in the long-running World in Serbia scholarship program.

Scholarship Backlog Relief: Nigeria’s federal government has started paying 50% of 2025 Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) arrears to students studying abroad, with N4bn released via the central bank to embassies for immediate disbursement and the rest promised as efforts continue. Cancer Support Push: The NCCN reaffirmed its global commitment to cancer-related distress resources, expanding free, multi-language screening tools for patients and caregivers during Mental Health Awareness Month. Prison Overcrowding Watch: A Council of Europe report flags worsening overcrowding and rising shares of older and women detainees across Europe, with several systems operating at or near full capacity. Drug Enforcement: Zimbabwe reported ZiG80 million in drug seizures amid intensified crackdowns, including thousands of court cases and dismantled drug bases. Serbia-Regional Business: Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce chief Marko Čadež says Ukraine can use Serbia as a trade hub, while Serbia and Ukraine seek deeper cooperation and renewed free-trade talks. Sports & Health Angle: Djokovic arrives at Roland Garros with limited clay prep due to health issues, underscoring how physical strain is shaping elite performance.

Drug Crackdown: Authorities report a nationwide blitz seizing illicit drugs worth ZiG 80 million, including crystal meth, cocaine, ecstasy tablets, and unregistered cough syrups, alongside thousands of arrests and convictions, 453 alleged suppliers identified, 2,436 end-users flagged, and 31 drug bases shut down—plus 32 children removed from street work. Access to Medicines: A new EFPIA W.A.I.T. report says England ranks 7th in Europe for access to EMA-approved innovative therapies, but drops when medicines are restricted to narrower patient groups—highlighting persistent gaps for cancer and rare disease patients. Public Health Watch: With hantavirus concerns in Europe, Hungary’s health minister says the current risk is low and there’s no direct domestic threat, while EU monitoring continues. Digital Serbia: Serbian PM Djuro Macut says Serbia is pushing ahead on digital public administration and AI capacity, pointing to “concrete results” in faster, more accessible state services.

Healthcare Cost Shock in the US: A new letter to the editor says a cancer drug can cost $600 a day and that Medicare Part D rules can block help—fueling fears that people may have to gamble with coverage. Climate Whiplash in Europe: Reports describe Europe swinging from Arctic cold to near-35°C heat within days, with frost threatening crops and raising alarms about instability. Public Transport “Exclusion” Study: An Oeko-Institut/Greenpeace-backed report says up to 56% of Europeans feel effectively cut off from public transit, with knock-on effects for access to jobs and healthcare. Serbia’s Digital Push: Serbian PM Djuro Macut highlights continued investment in digital infrastructure and AI-ready public services, pointing to faster, more accessible state support. Belgrade Tech Fair: Serbia opened a major international technical and innovation fair in Belgrade, with hundreds of exhibitors and a focus on “Unmasked Technology.” Hantavirus Calm in Hungary: Hungary’s health minister says the risk is low and there’s no direct domestic threat, urging no panic. Regional Health Context: Finland’s Mehiläinen expands further in Scandinavia by acquiring Aleris, adding more care capacity across the Nordics.

Public Health Watch: Hungary’s health minister says hantavirus risk is “very low” domestically after a Romania case, stressing there’s no known exposure in Hungary and urging calm. Cross-Border Health Preparedness: A separate EU-focused report notes Europe lacks a single quarantine playbook, even as countries align with WHO guidance and keep monitoring cruise-ship concerns. Digital Health & Admin: Serbia’s PM Djuro Macut says Serbia is pushing digital public administration and AI capacity-building so services feel “faster and more accessible” to citizens and businesses. Healthcare Expansion: Finland’s Mehiläinen moves deeper into the Nordics by buying Aleris, expanding services across Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Drug Trafficking Signal: India reports its first Captagon seizure—31.5 kg hidden in a chapati cutter—highlighting West Asia-linked trafficking routes. Energy for Health Systems: UAE Cabinet approves an Agentic AI push, including a national AI healthcare policy and training 80,000 employees.

Hantavirus Watch: Europe is urging calm as Hungary reports no domestic spread, but the EU has switched to outbreak monitoring after deaths tied to the Andes variant on a cruise ship—officials say risk is low, yet there’s still no single playbook for quarantine and distancing. Digital Public Services: Serbia’s PM Djuro Macut says the country has made major progress modernising public administration and is pushing further digital infrastructure and AI capacity to deliver faster, more accessible state services. UAE Agentic AI Push: The UAE Cabinet approved a national Agentic AI programme, including training 80,000 employees and launching AI-powered healthcare policy—aiming to roll out agentic tech across half of government services. Regional Energy Deal: Vucic says new cooperation with Azerbaijan could unlock a gas power plant near Niš (~500 MW), framed as support for rising electricity demand from data centres and electric vehicles. Health & Mobility Risk: A Croatia bus crash near the Serbian border killed 10 and injured at least 45, including minors, with causes still under investigation.

EU Parliament Power Math: Manfred Weber’s “firewall” against far-right allies is wobbling as his EPP faces internal drift toward Jordan Bardella’s Patriots and AfD’s Sovereign Nations—raising stakes for next year’s national elections. Regional Mobility & Health: A bus crash in Croatia near the Serbian border killed 10 and injured at least 45, with officials saying the route ran from Germany to Pristina. Serbia Watch: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will skip Business Summit 2026 in Belgrade for health reasons, with Milos Vucević stepping in. Public Media & Protests: Students at RTS in Belgrade are demanding timely coverage of incidents near the Faculty of Law, after a 90-year-old was reportedly injured in a traffic incident. Health-Adjacent Policy: A week of coverage also flags how Russia’s cultural diplomacy may still operate via loopholes despite EU sanctions. Travel Mood: The Lower Danube cruise story keeps the spotlight on quieter river routes through the Balkans.

Road Safety Shock: A bus crash in Croatia early Sunday killed 10 people and injured at least 45, with authorities saying the bus had Kosovo license plates and was traveling from Germany to Pristina; health officials reported multiple serious injuries, including minors. Serbia Protest Fallout: In Belgrade, a driver who reversed into people at a silent protest near the Faculty of Law has been arrested and charged with aggravated attempted murder, after organizers said the incident followed an argument at the blockade. Health & Care Policy: A Serbian-linked debate on mental health systems echoes wider calls for earlier outpatient support—highlighting how delays can turn illness into crises and jail time. Regional Politics: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will skip Business Summit 2026 in Belgrade due to health reasons, with a replacement panelist set to take his place. Ongoing Culture & Influence: A new analysis argues Russia’s cultural diplomacy continues to operate through EU loopholes despite sanctions, keeping Kremlin narratives in circulation.

Road Trauma Update: A bus crash in Croatia early Sunday killed 10 people and injured at least 45, with authorities saying the bus had Kosovo plates and was traveling from Germany to Pristina; Croatia’s health minister later said 15 minors were on board and one girl suffered serious injuries. Serbia Protest Safety: In Belgrade, a driver who reversed into an elderly man during a silent Faculty of Law protest was arrested and faces charges of aggravated attempted murder, underscoring how tense street demonstrations are spilling into injuries. Health Policy Context: Serbia’s wider protest climate comes as regional reporting highlights the need for better crisis prevention and care pathways, not just emergency response. Ongoing Watch: Serbia’s Interior Ministry and prosecutors are still determining details around the protest incident as the political calendar heats up.