Australia condemns Israel over closure of Gaza aid worker case
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom ...
Serbia’s parliament has officially accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, setting a 30-day deadline for the formation of a new government or the calling of snap elections.
The resignation, announced on January 28, follows the deadly train station collapse in Novi Sad last November, which resulted in 15 fatalities and sparked widespread protests across the country.
The protests, including one of the largest rallies in decades with more than 100,000 people gathering in Belgrade, were fueled by allegations of government corruption and mismanagement related to the incident, which the government denies. Protesters have demanded accountability for the disaster, and the ongoing unrest has significantly shaken the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic, who has maintained power since becoming prime minister in 2014 and president in 2017.
Under Serbia’s constitution, President Vucic now has 30 days to propose a new prime minister-designate to lead the country until the next scheduled elections in 2027. The deadline for forming a new government is April 18, 2025. If the president fails to appoint a new prime minister-designate by then, a snap election will be triggered within 45 to 60 days.
The parliament session, which began on March 4, concluded with Vucevic's resignation as its final agenda item. The session has been marked by tensions, with opposition lawmakers protesting against the government and in support of student-led demonstrations. While the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) remains the most popular party, recent polls have shown a decline in government support amid the protests.
Opposition parties have called for an interim government without the SNS, but Vucic has rejected this demand, asserting that the SNS should remain in power. The next steps in this political drama will determine the future of Serbia’s government and the direction of the country's political landscape.
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.
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