Oct 25, 2026, 10:00 PM UTC

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić officially resigned on September 27, ending his second five-year term seven months ahead of schedule. Under the national constitution, Vučić was barred from seeking a third consecutive term as head of state.

His departure triggers a snap presidential election that must take place within 90 days. The decision synchronizes the presidential contest with early parliamentary elections set for October 25 following the dissolution of the national assembly. In the interim, outgoing parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić has assumed the duties of acting president, while a caretaker cabinet handles governance until new leadership is elected.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă.

Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates’ minister of state and former ambassador to the United Nations, has entered the campaign to succeed António Guterres as UN secretary-general. Nusseibeh, who is of Palestinian descent, gained prominence for her efforts in facilitating humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and her vocal advocacy for a two-state solution. Her candidacy has officially received the backing of Palestine.

As part of her platform, Nusseibeh pledged to pursue direct diplomatic engagement with Iran if elected, arguing that open dialogue remains vital to resolving Middle Eastern conflicts. She positions her bid around leveraging diplomacy to address regional volatility and strengthen international cooperation.

Sources: Bloomberg, The Guardian.