Serbia's parliament passed a law on Friday designed to accelerate the development of a luxury complex in Belgrade, leased to an investment company founded by Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law.
U.S.-based Affinity Global Development plans to construct a hotel, apartments, shops, and offices on the site of the former Yugoslav army headquarters—a project that has sparked protests from Serbs who believe the site should be preserved.
Many Serbs view the old headquarters, which was damaged during the 1999 NATO bombing campaign, as a memorial to those who died and a symbol of Yugoslav-era modernist architecture. They opposed the signing of a 99-year lease agreement with Affinity last year.
Some opposition politicians argued that the law was unconstitutional, but the ruling majority passed it without amendments, agreeing that it could take effect before the legal deadline, allowing work to begin soon.
Kushner's broader investment firm, Affinity Partners, did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Despite protests, the Serbian government removed the buildings’ protected cultural heritage status last November. Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, established Affinity Global Development after stepping down as a White House aide in 2021.
The vote comes at a turbulent time for Serbia, as President Aleksandar Vucic has faced large-scale protests following the collapse of a station roof in November 2024, which killed 16 people.
Serbia's only Russian-owned oil refinery is under U.S. sanctions, raising concerns about fuel supplies in the Balkan country this winter.
On Friday, Russia called on Belgrade to clarify President Vucic's comments regarding the potential sale of ammunition to the European Union, amid fears in Moscow that the shipments could end up in Ukraine. Moscow had previously been assured by Serbia that its ammunition would not be sent to Ukraine.
The United States has lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his planned visit to the White House next week. The move follows a...
Serbia's parliament passed a law on Friday designed to accelerate the development of a luxury complex in Belgrade, leased to an investment company fou...
Azerbaijan has no plans to deploy peacekeepers to Gaza unless there is a complete cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, an Azerbaijani Fo...
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Friday suggested a potential link between recent drone incidents in Belgium and discussions surrounding the...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Friday that while Iran seeks peace, it will not be pressured into abandoning its nuclear and missile pro...
Azerbaijan has no plans to deploy peacekeepers to Gaza unless there is a complete cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry official told Reuters on Friday.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Friday suggested a potential link between recent drone incidents in Belgium and discussions surrounding the use of frozen Russian assets, held by Belgian financial institution Euroclear, to fund a substantial loan to Ukraine.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Friday that while Iran seeks peace, it will not be pressured into abandoning its nuclear and missile programmes, according to state media reports.
Explosions at a mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, during Friday prayers have left dozens injured, with officials suggesting it could have been an attack. A 17-year-old student has been identified as the suspected perpetrator.
More than 10,000 supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rallied in Belgrade on Wednesday to show their backing for the populist leader’s policies, following a year of anti-government demonstrations.
Israel launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon after ordering evacuations, accusing Hezbollah of rebuilding its forces despite a year-old ceasefire, as Lebanon and the United Nations warned of renewed border tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to release imprisoned Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai during their meeting in South Korea last week, according to three individuals briefed on the discussions and a U.S. administration official.
U.S. Senate Republicans have blocked a resolution that would have barred President Donald Trump from launching military action against Venezuela without congressional approval, despite growing concern over recent U.S. strikes in the southern Caribbean.
The driver who rammed his car into a crowd in western France on Wednesday is suspected of "self-radicalisation" and had "explicit religious references" at home, the country's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Thursday.
Major U.S. airports are cutting flights and facing delays as the government shutdown continues to affect air traffic control staffing, raising concerns ahead of peak holiday travel.
The United States has lifted sanctions on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa ahead of his planned visit to the White House next week. The move follows a similar decision by the UN Security Council and comes days before his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Azerbaijan has no plans to deploy peacekeepers to Gaza unless there is a complete cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry official told Reuters on Friday.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Friday suggested a potential link between recent drone incidents in Belgium and discussions surrounding the use of frozen Russian assets, held by Belgian financial institution Euroclear, to fund a substantial loan to Ukraine.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Friday that while Iran seeks peace, it will not be pressured into abandoning its nuclear and missile programmes, according to state media reports.
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