Russian drones hit SOCAR oil depot in Ukraine's Odesa region
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region has damaged an oil depot belonging to Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, and left fo...
Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Belgrade on Saturday, demanding snap elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year rule.
Belgrade witnessed a massive anti-government demonstration on Saturday, with students and anti-corruption activists leading calls for early elections and political reform. The protest, one of the largest in years, posed a growing challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic.
Police in riot gear surrounded government buildings and parliament as thousands of Vucic supporters staged a counter-protest nearby in Pionirski Park. The government loyalists included war veterans and bikers who have maintained street blockades in the capital for months.
Demonstrators waved Serbian flags, carried banners naming their hometowns, and sang the national anthem before speeches began.
"We hope for real change after decades of struggle," said Ljiljana Ilic from Valjevo.
Nikola Vukovic from Belgrade said the goal was clear. "We want to change Serbia and bring this government to an end. The next fight will be at the ballot box," he said.
Milica Ivanovic from Lajkovac expressed full support for the student movement. "We are here with strength and courage, standing with them in our hearts," she said.
The protests remained peaceful, with participants stressing non-violence. However, President Vucic warned of possible violence later in the day. Recent weeks have seen more than a dozen arrests as part of what critics call an ongoing crackdown on dissent.
Student organizers had issued an ultimatum, demanding that Vucic call early elections by 9 p.m. on Saturday. The president firmly rejected the call, telling state television on Friday that there would be no elections before 2026.
The unrest began in November following a deadly train station collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people. The incident, blamed on government corruption and neglect, sparked nationwide outrage.
After months of university blockades and street protests, demonstrators shifted their demands to broader political reforms and snap parliamentary elections.
Vucic continues to accuse the opposition of serving foreign interests and attempting to destabilize the country.
As night fell, thousands remained on the streets, chanting and waving flags, vowing to keep up the pressure.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated in an interview published on Friday that he has no intention of seeking another term in office and dismissed claims that he is preparing his son to take over leadership.
China’s President Xi Jinping told Russian leader Vladimir Putin that Beijing will continue promoting peace talks on Ukraine, regardless of how the situation unfolds.
Drone attacks continue to haunt communities around Kyiv. Overnight, Russian forces launched another wave of drones at the Kyiv region, hitting the Bucha district. Fires broke out and several homes were damaged. Local authorities say three women, aged 16, 56, and 80, were injured.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that a pause in the conflict in Ukraine may be approaching, following a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is working urgently to mend strained ties with Mexico, after relations collapsed late last year when Canadian officials indicated a preference for pursuing a U.S. trade deal without Mexico.
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