Author: IQ TIMES MEDIA
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — More than 300,000 inactive university students have been removed from the rolls in Greece, cutting the country’s official student population by nearly half, authorities said Friday.The move marks the end of a decadeslong practice — formally abolished in recent legislation — that allowed extended enrollment to facilitate lifelong learning and lengthy breaks for work.On Friday, the Education Ministry said that 308,605 students admitted to state-run universities’ four-year degree programs before 2017 had been removed from the records. “Student status is not valid for life in any modern European university,” Education Minister Sofia Zacharaki said. “We want…
Chinese tech stocks kicked off 2026 by testing how far their AI-fueled rally can run.Shares of Shanghai Biren Technology, an AI chip designer, surged nearly 120% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by midday on Friday after the company raised 5.58 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $717 million, in an initial public offering.The stock opened at 35.70 Hong Kong dollars, well above its IPO price of 19.60 Hong Kong dollars.That appetite was reflected across the offering, with the retail portion subscribed more than 2,300 times, according to exchange filings, underscoring intense interest in China’s homegrown AI hardware sector.The enthusiasm has…
Kate Hudson, 46, says even 20 minutes of movement a day is “golden” for her wellness.”I danced. So, like if I’m not moving, I feel awful, you know?” she said.She says she varies her workouts according to her mood, doing yoga on some days and weightlifting on others.Kate Hudson, says there’s one thing she can’t skip each day if she wants to feel like herself.During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of the “Table Manners” podcast, the 46-year-old spoke about her approach to wellness and the daily habit she prioritizes even when she’s busy.”I danced. So, like if I’m not moving,…
By Michael ErmanNEW YORK, Dec 31 (Reuters) – Drugmakers plan to raise U.S. prices on at least 350 branded medications including vaccines against COVID, RSV and shingles and blockbuster cancer treatment Ibrance, even as the Trump administration pressures them for cuts, according to data provided exclusively by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.The number of price increases for 2026 is up from the same point last year, when drugmakers unveiled plans for raises on more than 250 drugs. The median of this year’s price hikes is around 4% – in line with 2025.The increases do not reflect any rebates to…
Your smartphone’s price might increase in 2026 — and you’ll have AI to thank for that.According to a December 2025 report from global market intelligence firm International Data Corporation (IDC), the manufacturing of Random Access Memory (RAM), used to store data in devices such as computers and phones, is being reallocated to support AI data centers, rather than being incorporated into phones and PCs.Just as your smartphone runs faster with more memory available, so do AI data centers. As more companies rely on AI tools, the importance of reliable processing power increases, leading to the increased usage of more RAM.IDC…
A Catholic influencer said Thursday that his 5-year-old son died from a severe case of the flu.Paul Kim, who posts videos about his Catholic faith and has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, said in a video on Instagram that his son, Micah, died on New Year’s Eve after “fighting 11 long, hard days.” Previously, Kim said on Instagram that his son was hospitalized after contracting a severe case of the flu.“We are so proud of him. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, as his dad, on behalf of my family, for all the ways…
Europe’s banking sector is about to get a tough lesson about efficiency. According to a new Morgan Stanley analysis reported by the Financial Times, more than 200,000 European banking jobs could vanish by 2030 as lenders lean into AI and shutter physical branches. That’s roughly 10% of the workforce at 35 major banks. The bloodletting will hit hardest in back-office operations, risk management, and compliance, the unglamorous guts of banking where algorithms are believed capable of tearing through spreadsheets faster and more effectively than humans. Banks are salivating over projected efficiency gains of 30%, according to the Morgan Stanley report.…
After years of discussion, 2026 is shaping up to be the year when governments around the world take action on kids using social media.Australia, France, Denmark, and Norway are advancing or planning social-media bans for young people under a certain age. In the US, a patchwork of state-based efforts is likely to face tougher prospects.The changes come as concerns mount over the toll that platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat can take on young people’s mental health.French President Emmanuel Macron, in a New Year’s Eve speech, reiterated his support for banning social media for children and young teens — setting…
OpenAI is betting big on audio AI, and it’s not just about making ChatGPT sound better. According to new reporting from The Information, the company has unified several engineering, product, and research teams over the past two months to overhaul its audio models, all in preparation for an audio-first personal device expected to launch in about a year. The move reflects where the entire tech industry is headed — toward a future where screens become background noise and audio takes center stage. Smart speakers have already made voice assistants a fixture in more than a third of U.S. homes. Meta…
Cases of influenza in the United States are rising, driven by a new strain that public health officials worry current vaccines may not protect against as effectively.Health officials and researchers say that although the flu season has not reached its peak, the spike in cases is not historically unusual – and they stress vaccines probably still offer protection against the worst effects of the strain.Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. The number of hospitalizations, emergency room and outpatient visits, and deaths associated with the flu have shot up, according…