Afghanistan, Belarus agree to deepen industrial cooperation
Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to advance joint industrial projects, investment and technical cooperation following talks in Minsk, as Kabul s...
Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party has said its chairman, Mindaugas Sinkevicius, is preparing to become the country’s next prime minister, replacing Inga Ruginiene.
In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday, the party said Mindaugas Sinkevicius was “ready to assume full responsibility for the formation of the new government”.
The planned leadership change comes weeks after the Social Democrats took the decision to expel the populist Zarya nad Nemanu party from the governing coalition.
The move followed a court ruling that found the party guilty of anti-Semitism, triggering political fallout and prompting a reshaping of the government.
The Social Democratic Party’s decision to back Mindaugas Sinkevicius signals an effort to stabilise leadership within the ruling bloc following the coalition dispute.
By choosing its chairman to take over the premiership, the party appears to be consolidating control and seeking a more unified direction for government policy.
Mindaugas Sinkevicius is expected to lead the formation of a new cabinet, as the Social Democrats work to maintain their governing majority after the coalition reshuffle.
The transition marks a significant moment in Lithuania’s domestic politics, with the new leadership set to guide the government through the next phase following recent instability.
The leadership change could shape Lithuania’s policy direction in the coming months, particularly as the government seeks to rebuild stability after the coalition split and address both domestic and regional challenges.
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment