Year: 2026

Belarus: industrial CSR cases focused on workplace safety and continuous training

Industrial CSR in Belarus: focus on safety and training

Belarusian industry — encompassing potash and fertilizer production, metallurgy, heavy vehicle manufacturing, oil refining and chemical plants — has developed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices that increasingly emphasize workplace safety and continuous workforce training. These two pillars are treated both as ethical obligations and as strategic measures to protect assets, maintain export competitiveness, and reduce operational risk.Regulatory and institutional contextThe state's labor protection framework sets baseline legal requirements for occupational health and safety, inspections, and reporting. Large enterprises operate within this framework while responding to market pressures from international customers and partners that demand recognized safety management systems and demonstrable…
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Obesity: why the approach is changing

Understanding the shift in obesity management

Obesity is increasingly understood not as a matter of willpower or aesthetics, but as a multifaceted, long‑term medical condition shaped by biological, behavioral, social, and environmental influences. This broader understanding has prompted major shifts in prevention strategies, clinical practice, public policy, and scientific research. This article outlines the factors behind this change, reviews supporting evidence and examples, presents emerging tools and care models, and examines the challenges and consequences for patients, healthcare professionals, and communities.What obesity is and why it mattersObesity is usually defined by body mass index (BMI) thresholds (BMI ≥30 kg/m² for adults), but BMI is a crude…
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Placebo and nocebo: the power of expectation in health

The power of expectation: placebo and nocebo in health

Expectations shape physiology. The terms placebo and nocebo capture the positive and negative consequences of those expectations. A placebo effect occurs when a beneficial health change follows an inert treatment or contextual therapeutic act; a nocebo effect is when negative outcomes or side effects follow due to negative expectations. Both are not “just in the head”: they produce measurable changes in symptoms, biological markers, brain activity, and behavior. Understanding these phenomena matters for clinical care, trial design, public health policies, and ethical communication.Essential Terms and Clear DistinctionsPlacebo: an improvement that stems from psychological influences and situational elements rather than the…
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Suecia: cómo integrar sostenibilidad en rentabilidad, no solo en reportes

Funding startups in an era of less predictable exits

During periods when acquisitions decelerate and public markets fluctuate, the usual startup storyline of fast expansion leading to an obvious exit becomes far less dependable. Investors adjust what they look for, and founders must shift in response. A fundable startup today focuses less on forecasting an imminent liquidity event and more on showing resilience, efficient use of capital, and the ability to build lasting value despite unclear exit pathways.Capital Efficiency as a Core SignalWhen exits become harder to foresee, investors place greater emphasis on how well a startup turns capital into measurable traction, reflecting a wider market reality in which…
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