News about Social sphere

On July 17, Moldova and Ukraine held an emergency meeting of the Dniester Commission and agreed to maintain the water discharge rate from the Dniester Reservoir at 100 cubic meters per second through the end of July.

It will last three days—from July 17 to 19. The Chisinau City Hall invites residents and visitors to the capital to a three-day music festival.

For the first time in history, the winner of the 2026 World Cup will receive not only the trophy and gold medals, but also special championship rings. FIFA has decided to introduce a tradition into soccer that has long been a part of American professional sports.

Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber set a new record among original props from the “Star Wars” franchise. At a Heritage Auctions event in the U.S., the weapon used by Mark Hamill in the film *Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back* sold for $3.75 million. The sale served as yet another confirmation of the growing interest among investors and collectors in iconic movie memorabilia.

The LEGO Group is expanding its LEGO Art line with the launch of the largest building set in its history inspired by a work of art. In partnership with the Belvedere Museum in Vienna, the company has released a set dedicated to Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “The Kiss” (1907–1908).

The winner of the 2026 World Cup will receive a record $50 million in prize money—8% more than the champion of the previous World Cup. If Spain defeats Argentina in the final on July 19 in New York, the national team players will split 45% of that amount in accordance with an agreement with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and Caritas Moldova have launched the next phase of the “Case pentru Toți” initiative (“Homes for All”), which aims to transition from emergency humanitarian aid to long-term housing solutions for vulnerable populations, including Ukrainian refugees.

As of mid-July, 51 companies had already joined the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s pilot project to involve the private sector in the air defense system.  

Moldova has officially launched the process of establishing the National Council of Psychologists—a professional body that will regulate the activities of psychologists, monitor compliance with professional and ethical standards, and maintain a unified registry of psychologists.

The Ministry of Health has updated the Republic of Moldova’s Classification of Occupations (CMO) by approving six new professional standards for medical specialties whose professional profiles and legal status had not yet been formalized. The ministry’s corresponding order has been published and has entered into force.

Nearly one-third of the world’s population—that is, three billion people—cannot afford a healthy diet, as the cost of food has risen sharply in recent years. This was stated by Máximo Torero Cullen, chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), speaking to reporters ahead of the July 21 release of the report “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.”

On the last day of the workweek, Vadim Ciobanu, chairman of the “Forța Fermierilor” Association of Grain and Oilseed Producers, took part in a working meeting between representatives of agri-food organizations and Prime Ministerial candidate Vasile Tofan. This was by no means the first round of consultations between the potential prime minister and the corporate business community. However, “Forța Fermierilor” was one of the first associations to provide the media with relatively detailed feedback following the event.

In the summer, ice cream is one of the most popular foods. However, high temperatures can quickly affect its quality and safety if proper storage and transportation conditions are not followed. Ice cream is a perishable product and must be kept in the refrigerator at all times to ensure that this refreshing dessert does not become a health hazard.

It is proposed to completely ban plastic cutlery, plates, straws, and drink stirrers, cotton swabs, balloon sticks, food containers, cups, and beverage containers, as well as funeral wreaths and funeral accessories.

Regular attendance at theaters, museums, concerts, and other cultural events is statistically associated with a slower rate of biological aging. This is the conclusion reached by researchers in Japan who analyzed data from a long-term health study of older adults in the United Kingdom. The results were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Funding for state-funded enrollment slots at higher education institutions this year is being allocated according to long-established rules—based on the budget allocation limit and the “capacity” of the universities. Of course, the focus on the economy’s need for qualified specialists is implicit. So far, the balance of interests tips in favor of “free” training only for teachers and IT specialists, who are in short supply.

Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire, has once again weighed in on the debate over digital platforms’ cultural policies. The catalyst was the description of the classic film *Gone with the Wind* in the Netflix catalog, where the movie is characterized as a Civil War-era epic “known for its racism.”

Celebrations marking the Argentine national team’s advancement to the World Cup final could result in disciplinary action against the country’s soccer federation. After defeating England, the players unfurled a banner on the field with a political message supporting Buenos Aires’ territorial claims to the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, which may violate FIFA rules.

On August 10, 2026, amendments to the Domestic Trade Act (No. 231/2010) will take effect, requiring retailers to indicate the country of origin on food price tags. The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) is reminding all interested parties of this requirement.  

In Moldova, employers will be held financially liable for damages caused to employees due to a violation of the obligation to ensure equal pay for equal work.