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☆ Novak Djokovic tells CNN he has visualized winning record-breaking 25th grand slam title
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Ben Church | Amanda Davies | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Novak Djokovic said he’s “looking forward” to the chance of winning a record-breaking 25th grand slam singles title at the French Open this year. The Serbian superstar has won 24 grand slam singles titles to date – the most of any man – and currently shares the all-time record with Margaret Court. So I’ve been, you know, really looking forward to it,” Djokovic said. “Of course I’m not the only one that wants to grab that title but I look forward to it. Borja B. Hojas/Getty ImagesIf Djokovic needs any tips on preparing for retirement then Brady could be the man to turn to.

Persons: CNN — Novak Djokovic, he’s, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Djokovic, –, Margaret Court, I’ve, ” Djokovic, Novak, Jude, Groot, Simone Biles Djokovic, Tom Brady, Brady, ”, ” Brady, “, you’re, Borja, You’ll, there’s, we’ve, it’s Organizations: CNN, Jude Bellingham, Groot Team, Spain women’s, NFL, El Locations: Serbian, French, Spain

☆ Nikola Jokić arrives dressed as ‘Despicable Me’ character and inspires Denver Nuggets to playoff win over Los Angeles Lakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Nikola Jokić came dressed to steal the moon on Saturday, and helped the Denver Nuggets steal a march on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series. On the court, meanwhile, Jokić posted a near triple-double with 32 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to inspire the Nuggets to a 114-103 win over the Lakers and take a 1-0 lead in the playoff series. Jamal Murray added 22 points, six rebounds and 10 assists for the Nuggets. Elsewhere in the Western Conference on Saturday, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Phoenix Suns 120-95 in Game 1 of their playoff series. Meanwhile in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers downed the Orlando Magic 97-83 and the New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 111-104.

Persons: Nikola Jokić, Jokić, LeBron James, “ We’re, Michael Malone, “, you’re, ” Anthony Davis, James, Jamal Murray Organizations: CNN, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Ball, Nuggets, Lakers, ”, Western Conference, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers Locations: Serbian, ” Denver

☆ More than half of the US Air Force's B-2 stealth bombers just staged a mass fly-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

B-2 Spirit stealth bombers executed a mass fly-off earlier this week during a major exercise. AdvertisementMore than half of the US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers conducted a large-scale exercise earlier this week, staging a massive fly-off. For a long time, it was the only stealth bomber in the world, but the US is making progress on a new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, which achieved its first flight in November last year. AdvertisementAs a penetrating strike stealth bomber, the B-21, the US military has said, is expected to "form the backbone of the future Air Force bomber force." A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing takes off at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 15, 2024.

Persons: —, Hailey Farrell, Northrop Grumman, Matthew S, Domingos Organizations: Whiteman Air Force Base, Service, US Air, 509th Bomb, . Air Force, Vigilance, Air Force, Northrop Locations: Mo, Missouri, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Opinion: The world rushes to court Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. Now, they’re urgently working on two fronts: seeking to Trump-proof their foreign policy and defense, and hoping to minimize the potential negative impact of a Trump victory. Making matters more unusual – and far more unethical – Trump has effectively launched his own shadow foreign policy, actively undermining Biden’s – America’s – policy. Not only is the former president leveraging his control of the Republican Party to block US aid to Ukraine ‑ Trump is interfering in US foreign policy elsewhere. Interfering in US foreign policy is bad enough, but there’s also an unseemly financial angle.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Fumio Kishida, David Cameron, Donald Trump, –, It’s, they’re, Putin, Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, Viktor Orban, ”, Orban, “, ’, Joe Biden’s, – Trump, Biden’s, Ukraine ‑ Trump, Richard Grenell, Grenell, Grennell, there’s, Jared Kushner, Aleksandar Vucic, ingratiate, Japan’s, Shinzo Abe, Ivanka Trump, —, Biden Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Washington , D.C, British, Trump, Ukraine –, NATO, European, Trump Heritage Foundation, ”, EU, Europe –, Republican Party, Serbian Locations: Washington ,, Japan, United States, Mar, Europe, Russia, European Union, Ukraine, EU, ” Russia, “, East, Guatemala, Washington, Serbia, New York

☆ Serbia's Vucic Nominates Ally Vucevic as Prime Minister Designate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday nominated his close ally Milos Vucevic to be prime minister and to lead a new government through a time of war in Europe and tensions with Kosovo. The nomination comes more than three months after their party, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), won the most votes in a national election on Dec. 17. Vucevic took over leadership of the party after Vucic stepped down last year. "I propose to parliament Milos Vucevic as candidate for prime minister of Serbia," Vucic wrote on Instagram. A lawyer by profession, Vucevic was deputy prime minister and defence minister in the government of his predecessor Ana Brnabic.

Persons: Aleksandar Vucic, Milos Vucevic, Vucevic, Vucic, Ana Brnabic, Ivana Sekularac, Giles Elgood Organizations: BELGRADE, Reuters, Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, Socialists, Hungarians, European Union, EU, United Nations, Moscow Locations: Serbian, Europe, Kosovo, Serbia, Russia, China, Ukraine

☆ Jared Kushner's $500 million investment deal in Serbia mirrors plans Donald Trump had a decade ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jared Kushner is partnering with Serbian officials to build a luxury hotel in Belgrade, per the NYT. The $500 million contract mirrors plans Donald Trump had made nearly a decade ago, per the outlet. AdvertisementA tentative deal has been struck between Jared Kushner, his investment firm Affinity Partners, and Serbian officials to build a luxury hotel in Belgrade. Bloomberg reported Kushner recently ruled out re-joining the Trump administration if his father-in-law wins his reelection bid. Even after distancing himself from the Trump administration, Kushner has made big money through his investment and development firms.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Donald Trump, Kushner, —, Kushner's, Trump, Trump's, Ivanka Organizations: Serbian, Service, Affinity Partners, New York Times, Times, Yugoslav Ministry of Defense, Trump Organization, Trump, Business, Trump White House, Bloomberg, White Locations: Belgrade, Serbia's, Serbian, Saudi, Persian

☆ Pro-Trump attorney arrested after court hearing about leaked Dominion emails
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A pro-Trump lawyer who tried to overturn the 2020 election was arrested Monday after a court hearing about her recent leak of internal emails belonging to Dominion Voting Systems. In the last 24 hours, Leaf has posted more than 2,000 internal Dominion documents on his social media account. The marshals declined to say whether they arrested her, and she didn’t answer messages seeking comment after the hearing. During the at-times testy hearing Monday, Magistrate Judge Moxila Upadhyaya peppered Lambert with sharp questions about the disputed Dominion materials. Dominion wants Lambert removed from the case and suggested in court Monday that she might have committed a crime by disseminating the files to Leaf.

Persons: Stefanie Lambert, Lambert, Dar Leaf, Donald Trump, Leaf, Patrick Byrne, “, Judge Moxila Upadhyaya, ” Upadhyaya, Byrne, ”, ” Lambert, Davida Brook, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, CNN’s Holmes Lybrand Organizations: CNN, Trump, Voting Systems, Dar, US Marshals Service, U.S . Marshals, Dominion, Leaf, meddled, US Intelligence, America, . Dominion, Fox News Locations: Michigan, Barry, Dominion, Washington ,, Serbia

In 2013, two years before he began running for president, Mr. Trump — Mr. Kushner’s father-in-law — told a top Serbian government official that he wanted to build a luxury hotel on the site. Associates of the Trump Organization traveled to Belgrade to inspect the location. The project did not come together before Mr. Trump’s election in 2016, and after being sworn in he vowed to not do any new foreign deals. But developing the site would again draw interest from Mr. Trump’s circle. Richard Grenell, whom Mr. Trump had appointed as a special envoy in the Balkans, pushed a related plan during the Trump administration that Serbia and the United States jointly work to rebuild the Defense Ministry site.

Persons: Jared Kushner, Donald J, Trump, Kushner, Kushner’s, —, Richard Grenell Organizations: Yugoslav Ministry of Defense, NATO, The New York Times, Serbian, Associates, Trump Organization, United, Defense Ministry Locations: Belgrade, Serbian, Balkans, Serbia, United States, American

☆ Lionel Messi’s last-gasp goal earns Inter Miami a draw against LA Galaxy in front of star-studded crowd
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The stars were out in force to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami against LA Galaxy in Sunday’s 1-1 draw – and the Argentine, unsurprisingly, didn’t disappoint. LA Galaxy, once a home for some of Major League Soccer’s superstar signings following David Beckham’s arrival in 2007, took the lead in the 75th minute through Serbian striker Dejan Joveljić. Despite its new star-studded lineup, which now also features Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, Inter Miami was thoroughly outplayed for much of the match and looked to be heading for defeat until Messi’s intervention in the 92nd minute. Former Galaxy star Beckham, who has a statue outside of the the club’s stadium and is now a part-owner of Inter Miami, didn’t celebrate the equalizing goal against his former team. Actors Edward Norton and Liv Tyler watched alongside David Beckham and son Brooklyn Beckham.

Persons: Lionel Messi’s, Novak Djokovic, Halle Berry, Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Anderson Paak, Tobin Heath, Diana Taurasi, David Beckham’s, Dejan Joveljić, Luis Saurez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Kevork Djansezian, Messi, Alba, John McCarthy, Marco Delgado, Busquets, Beckham, “, Riqui Puig, Gerardo Martino, ” Martino, Joseph Paintsil, David Beckham, Brooklyn Beckham, Leo, ”, Cristiano Ronaldo Organizations: CNN, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, Argentine, Christen Press, Major League, Serbian, Inter Miami, Barcelona, Galaxy, Miami, didn’t, North, Messi Locations: Miami, Argentina, North America

☆ Ashwath Kaushik: Record-breaking 8-year-old chess prodigy tells CNN he wants to become a ‘world champion’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

I felt amazing, just unbelievable,” adds Ashwath, who started playing chess when he was just four years old and quickly fell in love with the “really fun” game. Ashwath was then given a chess board and it wasn’t long before he started beating his parents and grandparents. “A world champion,” he says, without hesitation, when asked what he wants to become when he’s older, before adding: “That will be a bit of time. Carleton Lim/Singapore Chess FederationGiven his rapid development as a chess player, Ashwath is unlike most eight-year-olds, but, in many ways, he’s also like any other child his age. Proud parentsWith the help of his parents, Ashwath also streams some of his games and puzzles online and set up a YouTube channel where he has previously showcased his skills.

Persons: Ashwath Kaushik, Poland’s Jacek Stopa, Leonid Ivanovic –, Ashwath, Stopa, “ I’ve, ChessKid.com, Rohini Ramachandran, ” Ashwath, I’ve, – Ashwath, ”, he’s, he's, Carleton Lim, ” Ramachandran, We’ve Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Singapore, Federation Locations: Switzerland, Serbian, Ashwath

☆ A 'family vacation' for two: Why more parents are taking trips with one child at a time
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

They travel together, but time away with just one child and one parent has perks that family trips don't often provide, she said. "Travelling with only one child allows you to focus on the needs of only that child," she said. Source: Sonja ProkopecProkopec hasn't taken solo trips with her two youngest children, mostly because of Covid-19, she said. Mother-and-daughter trips in particular are on the rise, though father-and-child trips are also becoming more popular, according to the company. She said she vividly remembers the trips she took as a child with her mother and grandmother.

Persons: Sonja Prokopec, Prokopec, she's, —, Prokopec's, Laith, Sonja Prokopec Prokopec hasn't, Scott Dunn, Scott Dunn's, Mike Harlow, Scott Dunn's Mike Harlow, Harlow, Chiang, Monica Pitrelli, Madeline Austin Organizations: CNBC Travel, Istock, Getty, Yellowstone, Hollywood Locations: Rome, London, Turkey, Norway, Finland, Africa, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Korea, India, Chiang Rai, Myanmar, Thai, California, Los Angeles , California

☆ Carl Lewis calls proposed format change in long jump an April Fools’ joke
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A proposed format change could shake-up the long jump at major track and field competitions, but will the idea take flight? That’s the big question for those involved in athletics right now, notably nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis. The new format, which has been put forward by World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon, could see athletes jump from a take-off zone, rather than a take-off board, essentially doing away with foul jumps. “The long jump is the most difficult event in track and field,” Lewis said in a separate post. Judges inspect the take-off board at the 2012 London Olympics.

Persons: Carl Lewis, Jon Ridgeon, ” Ridgeon, ”, Sawyers, Andrej Isakovic, we’ll, “ You’re, ” Lewis, Lewis, Jazmin Sawyers, Franck Fife, ” Sawyers, you’ve, Ivana Španović, Tim Hutchings, ” Hutchings, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, World Athletics, Getty, ’ ” CNN, Athletics Locations: Budapest, AFP, British, European, Serbian

Spain’s Interior Ministry identified the woman as Ana Maria Knezevich Henao, saying she “disappeared” on February 2 and requires medication. An image posted on Spain’s National Center for Missing Persons website shows a photo of Knezevich Henao with long brown hair and brown eyes. Around the time she went missing, Rameau said received a WhatsApp message from Knezevich Henao that read: “I met someone wonderful!! The website of a computer services company in South Florida, EOX Technology Solutions, lists David Knezevich as the CEO and managing director. It says David Knezevich is Serbian and Knezevich Henao is a native of Colombia and a project manager.

Persons: Ana Maria Knezevich Henao, “, ”, Juan Felipe Henao, Knezevich, Sanna Rameau, Rameau, Henao, David Knezevich Organizations: CNN, Spanish, Ministry, National, for, Police, EOX Technology Locations: Madrid, Barcelona, Spanish, Madrid’s, Salamanca, Serbia, South Florida, Colombia

☆ Ashwath Kaushik: 8-year-old prodigy makes history after beating chess grandmaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

At eight years, six months and 11 days, Ashwath Kaushik made history on Sunday by becoming the youngest player ever to beat a chess grandmaster in a classical tournament game. The youngster, who lives in Singapore, achieved the feat after beating Poland’s Jacek Stopa, 37, in round four of the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland. “It felt really exciting and amazing, and I felt proud of my game and how I played, especially since I was worse at one point but managed to come back from that,” Kaushik told Chess.com after beating Stopa. Ashwath has earned the attention of some of the chess world's biggest names like Anish Giri. Every day is a new discovery, and we sometimes stumble in search of the right pathway for him,” his father, Kaushik Sriram, told Chess.com.

Persons: there’s, Ashwath Kaushik, Poland’s Jacek Stopa, Leonid Ivanovic –, Ashwath, Stopa, ” Kaushik, Chess.com, Anish Giri, Carleton Lim, Ashwath’s, ”, Kaushik Sriram Organizations: CNN, Stopa, Singapore Chess Federation Locations: Singapore, Switzerland, Serbian, India

☆ A passenger jet smashed into runway lights as it took off, flew for 60 minutes, then landed with a gaping hole in its fuselage
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An Air Serbia flight knocked into runway lights as it took off on Sunday, sustaining heavy damage. It flew for about an hour before finishing an emergency landing at high speed, flight data shows. Right: An earlier iteration of the same flight shows the aircraft using the full runway length. AdvertisementAs the E195 departed Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, the bottom of its fuselage hit a set of runway lights for an opposite runway, per Tango Six. It then immediately began descending, looping around the area for the next 40 minutes before making its emergency landing, per FlightRadar24.

Persons: —, Nikola Tesla, Thierry Monasse, TangoSix, It's, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Organizations: Air, Service, Air Serbia, Greek, Marathon Airlines, Embraer E195LR, Sunday, Press, Belgrade Nikola, Business Locations: Air Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, Düsseldorf, Germany

Greece has become the first majority-Orthodox Christian nation to legalize same-sex marriage under civil law. Public opinion in majority Orthodox countries has mostly been opposed, too. Civil unions may become more common among Orthodox countries gravitating toward the European Union. Greek Orthodox showed relative tolerance, with half of Orthodox saying homosexuality should be accepted and a quarter favoring same-sex marriage. As head of the Russian Orthodox Church, he oversees the world's largest Orthodox flock.

Persons: ”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, “, George Demacopoulos, ” Demacopoulos, —, Vladimir Putin, “ perversions, Putin, Kirill, Moscow, Tiny Montenegro, Aleksandar Vucic, ″, ___ Smith, Yuras, Stephen McGrath, Illia Novikov, Veselin Toshkov Organizations: European Union, Pew Research Center, Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University, Ukrainian, of, of Human, Russian Orthodox Church, Kremlin, Russia’s, Levada, MONTENEGRO Serbia, Balkan, Serbian Orthodox Church, of Human Rights, Orthodox, Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Associated Press, Gec, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Greece, Montenegro, Cyprus, Russia, Eastern Europe, Washington, New York, European, UKRAINE, Ukraine, RUSSIA, Russian, BELARUS, Belarus, SERBIA, MONTENEGRO, Serbia, ROMANIA, MOLDOVA Romania, Romania, Bucharest, Moldova, BULGARIA, Bulgaria, Pittsburgh, Tallin, Estonia, Belgrade, Kyiv, Sofia

☆ Interpol Issues Arrest Warrants for Gunmen in Last Year Kosovo Attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

PRISTINA (Reuters) - Global police agency Interpol has issued international arrest warrants for ethnic Serb gunmen accused of storming a village last year in north of Kosovo and battling police in a shootout, which left four dead, Kosovo's interior minister said on Friday. Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said Interpol has informed that all suspects of the Banjska attack have been added in the arrest warrant. Kosovo blames Serbia of being behind the shootout but Belgrade has denied such accusations. They have often clashed with Kosovo police and international peacekeepers, but last September's violence was the worst since Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Kosovo is still not a member of United Nations and all arrest warrants for Interpol are handled through a UN mission that arrived in Kosovo in 1999 when the war ended.

Persons: Xhelal Svecla, Svecla, Fatos Bytyci, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Global, Interpol, Reuters, Milan, Kosovo Serb, Facebook, Belgrade, Kosovo police, United Nations, UN Locations: PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbia, Serbian, Banjska, Belgrade

Then, she vanished — two weeks ago, shortly after a man wearing a motorcycle helmet disabled the security cameras at her Madrid apartment building by spray painting the lenses. Records show they also own a home and two other Fort Lauderdale properties, one of those currently under foreclosure. Like I never had.”The Spanish friend got similar texts, the ones that appeared to have been translated by computer. Rameau and the Spanish friend then went to her building on Feb. 8, and learned from a clerk about the helmeted man painting the cameras. "I’m just desperate to find a reason for who could have done this.”___Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Persons: — Ana Maria Knezevic, ”, Sanna Rameau, Rameau, “, Joaquin Amills, David, Ana Knezevic, Ana’s, Juan Henao, David Knezevic's, Henao, Ana, Henao texted David, “ Let’s, David Knezevic, Neighbors, Firefighters, didn't, “ I’m, I’m, ” ___ Spencer Organizations: MADRID, Google, Associated Press, Police, American, Technology Solutions Inc, Records, Fort Locations: South Florida, Spain, American, Colombia, Madrid, Spanish, Fort Lauderdale, Serbia, Salamanca, Austria, Barcelona, Fort Lauderdale , Florida

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo sparred at the United Nations over the latter's ban of the use of the Serbian currency in areas where minority Serbs live, the latest crisis between the two governments. The dinar was widely used in ethnic Serbian-dominated areas, especially in Kosovo's north, to pay pensions and salaries to staff in Serbian parallel institutions, including schools and hospitals. In 1999, a 78-day NATO bombing campaign ended a war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo. Serbian forces were pushed out but Belgrade never recognized Kosovo’s independence and still considers it a Serbian province. The European Union and the United States expressed concern that Kosovo’s ban of the dinar could raise tensions in an already volatile region and called for consultations and a delay in the ban.

Persons: Aleksandar Vucic, ”, Albin Kurti, ” Kurti, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Dmitry Polyansky, Kurti Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Kosovo sparred, United Nations, . Security, NATO, Albanian, European Union, Center for Peace Locations: Serbia, Kosovo, Serbian, Kosovo's, Belgrade, Western Europe, United States, Pristina

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers called on Thursday for an independent investigation into allegations of vote-rigging in Serbia and demanded that EU funds be cut off if the authorities in Belgrade fail to cooperate with the inquiry or are found to be implicated in election irregularities. The governing Serbian Progressive party of populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić won the Dec. 17 parliamentary and municipal elections, securing 129 seats in the 250-seat assembly. The opposition Serbia Against Violence coalition finished a distant second with 65 seats. The resolution has angered Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić. Vučić’s ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his failure to enforce EU sanctions on Moscow have dismayed many.

Persons: Aleksandar Vučić, watchdogs, “, ”, Ana Brnabić, ” Brnabić, Vladimir Putin, ___ Dusan Stojanovic Organizations: —, Union, Serbian Progressive, Serbian, Violence, Organization for Security, Cooperation, Parliamentary, of Europe, Serbia’s National Assembly Locations: BRUSSELS, Serbia, Belgrade, Europe, Strasbourg, France, Moscow

☆ Serbia's Parliament Convenes as Opposition Protests Vote Result
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

On Dec. 17, President Aleksandar Vucic's populist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) secured nearly 47% of the votes in the parliamentary election and the opposition alliance Serbia Against Violence (SPN) almost 24%. At the opening session, opposition lawmakers blew whistles and waved banners reading "Election fraud" and "You stole elections", trading insults with their SNS counterparts. Radomir Lazovic, an opposition lawmaker, said plainclothed police and the parliament's security detail had stepped up checks at the parliament building to intimidate the opposition. Since the election, the SPN, other opposition parties and civil society groups have staged protests to demand a rerun of the vote. Serbia's opposition and rights watchdogs accuse Vucic and the SNS of stifling media freedoms, violence against opponents, corruption, and ties with organised crime.

Persons: Aleksandar Vucic's, Radomir Lazovic, Marinika, Vucic, Aleksandar Vasovic, Ros Russell Organizations: BELGRADE, Reuters, Serbian Progressive Party, SNS, European Union Locations: Serbia

☆ Serbian Journalists Protest Acquittal of Suspects in 1999 Killing of Colleague
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Dozens of Serbian journalists and rights activists protested peacefully in Belgrade on Monday against the acquittal of four men who had previously been sentenced over the 1999 killing of opposition journalist and newspaper publisher Slavko Curuvija. The Belgrade-based Appellate Court announced the acquittal last week of four State Security operatives, including Radomir Markovic, the former head of the agency. The protesters carried a banner reading "You killed justice, but truth lives on," which they left in front of the building housing the Appellate Court in downtown Belgrade. Dusko Milenkovic, the head of the Appellate Court, said the court had concluded that the prosecution "did not provide enough evidence to prove the indictment." The Supreme Court has the power to overturn the Appellate Court's decision and order a retrial.

Persons: Slavko Curuvija, Radomir Markovic, Curuvija, Slobodan Milosevic's, Markovic, Dusko Milenkovic, Ivan Stambolic, Vuk Draskovic, Aleksandar Vasovic, Timothy Heritage Organizations: BELGRADE, Reuters, State Security, Journalists ' Association of Serbia, Milosevic, NATO, Serbia Locations: Belgrade, Curuvija, Kosovo

In the past week, Kosovo police searched the premises of Serbia-administered institutions and of an ethnic Serb non-governmental organization, confiscating papers and computers believed to hold documentation contrary to the country’s laws. Most of Kosovo uses the euro, even though the country isn’t part of the EU. “The EU urges Kosovo to avoid unilateral actions that could raise tensions, and to address these issues through the EU-facilitated dialogue,” the EU statement said. Serbian forces fought a 1998-99 war with ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then the province of Kosovo. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died until a 78-day NATO bombing campaign pushed Serbian forces away.

Persons: Jeffrey Hovenier, ”, Besnik Bislimi, Aleksandar Vučić, Albin Kurti, Josep Borrell Organizations: European Union, Kosovo, Police, Ambassador, EU, Serbian, Kosovo police, NATO, Belgrade doesn’t Locations: PRISTINA, Kosovo, United States, Serbia, Serbian, Belgrade, Kosovo’s, Serbs, Kosovo Serb, EU, Hovenier

☆ HBO is recasting a 'White Lotus' role after Ukraine accused the actor of supporting Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

HBO said Friday it would be recasting a "White Lotus" role held by Serbian actor Miloš Biković. The Ukrainian government accused Biković of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. In a statement, Biković pushed back, saying he could "never wish such devastation on anyone." "We have decided to part ways with Miloš Biković and the role will be recast," an HBO spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: Miloš Biković, Biković, — Organizations: HBO, Service, Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Business Locations: Serbian, Ukraine

☆ Nikola Jokić triple-double powers Denver Nuggets to 120-108 win over Portland Trail Blazers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Patrick Sung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić led the way for the Denver Nuggets in their 120-108 victory over the lowly Portland Trail Blazers to bring the defending champions within half a game of the No. Denver ran out to a big early lead, outscoring Portland 33 to 20 in the first quarter, but the Trail Blazers fought back in the second. The two teams then traded the lead until the Nuggets pulled ahead by four at the half. Jokić said afterwards he was pleased that the Nuggets are still hungry for more success this season. It’s not like won a championship and now we’re gonna go easy,” Jokić said postgame.

Persons: Nikola Jokić, Jokić, –, Michael Malone, laud, ” Malone, “, he’s, – he’s, Scoot Henderson, Denver’s, David Zalubowski, It’s Organizations: CNN, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Ball, NBA, Blazers, Denver, Portland, Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks Locations: Serbian, –, Portland, Denver

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