Colombia begins process to join BRICS bank
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Anthony Albanese has secured a second consecutive three-year term as Australia’s prime minister, becoming the first leader to do so in 21 years, in a victory hailed as historic for the center-left Labor Party.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton conceded defeat following Saturday’s tightly contested general election, acknowledging his party’s shortcomings:
“We didn’t do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that,” he said.
“Earlier on, I called the prime minister to congratulate him on his success tonight. It’s an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that.”
According to projections from the Australian Electoral Commission, Labor secured 70 seats, while the conservative opposition coalition won just 24 in the 150-seat House of Representatives. Thirteen seats are expected to go to independents and minor parties.
Renowned election analyst Antony Green, speaking on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, predicted Labor would ultimately secure 76 seats — enough to form a majority government — while the coalition would take only 36.
Campaign Themes:
Key campaign issues included the rising cost of living, inflation, and energy policy. While both major parties support a 2050 net-zero emissions target, their approaches differ sharply.
Dutton’s Liberal Party promoted nuclear power as a solution to high energy costs and blamed government spending for rising inflation. It also proposed eliminating over 20% of public service jobs.
Labor countered that plan, accusing the opposition of mimicking U.S. President Donald Trump’s governance style. The party labeled Dutton “DOGE-y Dutton” — a jab at his proposed Department of Government Efficiency, which critics say would lead to deep service cuts.
“We’ve seen the attempt to run American-style politics here of division and pitting Australians against each other, and I think that’s not the Australian way,” said Albanese.
Foreign Policy and Trade:
Albanese also highlighted the restoration of relations with China during his first term. Since Labor came to power in 2022, Beijing has removed several trade barriers that previously cost Australian exporters AU$20 billion ($13 billion) annually.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Türkiye for their first direct peace talks since 2022, with discussions lasting under two hours.
Vietnam and Thailand have officially upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership, marking a significant step forward in regional diplomacy.
Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that India is opening up 200,000 square kilometers of its sedimentary basin for oil and gas exploration, inviting Russian companies to participate.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 16 that his country has started the process of joining the New Development Bank of BRICS.
Ministers in Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) are resigning one by one amid mounting protests in Tripoli, Libya Press agency reports
The US Supreme Court on Friday paused President Donald Trump’s attempt to carry out deportations using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, siding with a group of Venezuelan immigrants in Texas who argued they were at risk of sudden removal under the rarely used wartime law.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment