Briefly

SERBIA

New govt formed under PM Vucevic

The Serbian parliament elected the country's new government on Thursday, led by Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. With Finance Minister Sinisa Mali as the first deputy prime minister, the government was sworn into duty after it garnered 152 votes in the 250-member parliament. Vucevic said on Wednesday his government would continue with the policies of its predecessor, Ana Brnabic. He also highlighted the importance of Serbia's strategic partnership with China. The new government consists of 32 members, and will also comprise 25 ministries and five ministers without portfolios.

UNITED KINGDOM

Labour calls for polls after by-election win

Britain's main opposition Labour party on Friday called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to call a general election, after seizing another parliamentary seat from the Conservatives and making gains in English local elections. Labour leader Keir Starmer said its candidate's win in Blackpool South in northern England sent a clear message to Sunak, who has until January at the latest to call polls. "That wasn't just a little message, that wasn't just a murmur. That was a shout from Blackpool, 'we want change'," he said on a visit to congratulate the new MP there, Chris Webb. The polls represent the last major ballot box test before Sunak faces a nationwide vote expected in the second half of the year.

INDIA

Security tightened on anniversary of clashes

Security forces were on heightened alert in India's northeastern state of Manipur on Friday, the first anniversary of the start of clashes between the majority Meitei community and tribal Kukis that have killed at least 220 people. The remote state bordering Myanmar has been hit by violence since May 3 last year after a court ordered the state government to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education enjoyed by the Kukis to the majority Meiteis as well. Although much of the violence was put down within days, sporadic clashes, gun battles and bomb attacks have continued in the state of 3.2 million people. "Elaborate preventive measures are in place," a top state police officer said, without giving details.

Agencies - Xinhua