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.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
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A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
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U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Saturday after completing a round of talks with Iran.
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Australia’s move to ban social media access for children under 16 has intensified a global debate, as governments across Europe and beyond weigh tougher rules amid growing concerns over mental health, safety and screen addiction.
The UK has pledged to step up engagement with Beijing after Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the case resurfacing as a key issue following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent trip to Beijing.
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