Latest news with #Belgrade
CTV News
11 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Serbia's protesting students rally across the country to mark 7 months since train station tragedy
People march during a protest, seven months after the deadly train station tragedy that sparked mass demonstrations against corruption in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) BELGRADE, Serbia — Thousands of people on Sunday vowed to keep on fighting for justice and rule of law in Serbia as they demanded that President Aleksandar Vucic call a snap parliamentary election following months of persistent demonstrations that have challenged his firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Protesters led by university students blocked bridges in the capital Belgrade and rallied in 30 other Serbian cities and towns as they also marked exactly seven months since a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in the north, killing 16 people and sparking the massive wave of anti-corruption protests. 'The whole of Serbia has risen,' protesting students said in a speech that was read at all the rallies at the same time. 'There will be no more silence, there will be no more surrender!' Many people in Serbia believe that the deadly Nov. 1 canopy collapse in Novi Sad was the result of flawed renovation work on the station building, and they link the disaster to alleged government corruption in major infrastructure projects with Chinese state companies. Vucic, whom critics have accused of imposing authoritarian rule in Serbia since coming to power over a decade ago, initially dismissed the possibility of holding early elections but on Friday suggested they could take place, though without saying exactly when. Sunday's protests included commemoration ceremonies for the victims of the Novi Sad crash and student marches and blockades. In Belgrade, crowds halted traffic at two key bridges over the Sava River for three hours, while protesters in Novi Sad carried a white wreath for the canopy collapse victims as they walked toward the crash site. Mina Miletic, from Belgrade, said she is encouraged by so many people fighting together for the same goal: 'The rule of law and life in a decent country.' Vucic has accused the protesters of working for unspecified Western powers to 'destroy Serbia.' Pro-government media on Sunday described the blockades in Belgrade as 'terror' and alleged falsely that 'only a handful' of people joined the rallies. Most media in Serbia are controlled by the ruling populists, often lashing out at government opponents and accusing them of anti-state activities. The student movement is seeking a snap vote, arguing that the current government cannot meet their demands for justice for the crash victims. Presidential and parliamentary elections are otherwise due some time in 2027. No one has been sentenced in connection with the tragedy in Novi Sad and doubts prevail that ongoing legal proceedings will uncover the alleged corruption behind the crash. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but the ruling populists have been accused of clamping down on democratic freedoms, including free media. Vucic's authorities have stepped up pressure on protesters, including police detentions, intimidation and physical attacks.
Washington Post
12 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Serbia's protesting students rally across the country to mark 7 months since train station tragedy
BELGRADE, Serbia — Thousands of people on Sunday vowed to keep on fighting for justice and rule of law in Serbia as they demanded that President Aleksandar Vucic call a snap parliamentary election following months of persistent demonstrations that have challenged his firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Protesters led by university students blocked bridges in the capital Belgrade and rallied in 30 other Serbian cities and towns as they also marked exactly seven months since a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in the north , killing 16 people and sparking the massive wave of anti-corruption protests. 'The whole of Serbia has risen,' protesting students said in a speech that was read at all the rallies at the same time. 'There will be no more silence, there will be no more surrender!' Many people in Serbia believe that the deadly Nov. 1 canopy collapse in Novi Sad was the result of flawed renovation work on the station building, and they link the disaster to alleged government corruption in major infrastructure projects with Chinese state companies. Vucic, whom critics have accused of imposing authoritarian rule in Serbia since coming to power over a decade ago, initially dismissed the possibility of holding early elections but on Friday suggested they could take place, though without saying exactly when. Sunday's protests included commemoration ceremonies for the victims of the Novi Sad crash and student marches and blockades. In Belgrade, crowds halted traffic at two key bridges over the Sava River for three hours, while protesters in Novi Sad carried a white wreath for the canopy collapse victims as they walked toward the crash site. Mina Miletic, from Belgrade, said she is encouraged by so many people fighting together for the same goal: 'The rule of law and life in a decent country.' Vucic has accused the protesters of working for unspecified Western powers to 'destroy Serbia.' Pro-government media on Sunday described the blockades in Belgrade as 'terror' and alleged falsely that 'only a handful' of people joined the rallies. Most media in Serbia are controlled by the ruling populists, often lashing out at government opponents and accusing them of anti-state activities. The student movement is seeking a snap vote, arguing that the current government cannot meet their demands for justice for the crash victims. Presidential and parliamentary elections are otherwise due some time in 2027. No one has been sentenced in connection with the tragedy in Novi Sad and doubts prevail that ongoing legal proceedings will uncover the alleged corruption behind the crash. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but the ruling populists have been accused of clamping down on democratic freedoms , including free media. Vucic's authorities have stepped up pressure on protesters, including police detentions, intimidation and physical attacks.
Associated Press
12 hours ago
- General
- Associated Press
Serbia's protesting students rally across the country to mark 7 months since train station tragedy
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of people on Sunday vowed to keep on fighting for justice and rule of law in Serbia as they demanded that President Aleksandar Vucic call a snap parliamentary election following months of persistent demonstrations that have challenged his firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Protesters led by university students blocked bridges in the capital Belgrade and rallied in 30 other Serbian cities and towns as they also marked exactly seven months since a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in the north, killing 16 people and sparking the massive wave of anti-corruption protests. 'The whole of Serbia has risen,' protesting students said in a speech that was read at all the rallies at the same time. 'There will be no more silence, there will be no more surrender!' Many people in Serbia believe that the deadly Nov. 1 canopy collapse in Novi Sad was the result of flawed renovation work on the station building, and they link the disaster to alleged government corruption in major infrastructure projects with Chinese state companies. Vucic, whom critics have accused of imposing authoritarian rule in Serbia since coming to power over a decade ago, initially dismissed the possibility of holding early elections but on Friday suggested they could take place, though without saying exactly when. Sunday's protests included commemoration ceremonies for the victims of the Novi Sad crash and student marches and blockades. In Belgrade, crowds halted traffic at two key bridges over the Sava River for three hours, while protesters in Novi Sad carried a white wreath for the canopy collapse victims as they walked toward the crash site. Mina Miletic, from Belgrade, said she is encouraged by so many people fighting together for the same goal: 'The rule of law and life in a decent country.' Vucic has accused the protesters of working for unspecified Western powers to 'destroy Serbia.' Pro-government media on Sunday described the blockades in Belgrade as 'terror' and alleged falsely that 'only a handful' of people joined the rallies. Most media in Serbia are controlled by the ruling populists, often lashing out at government opponents and accusing them of anti-state activities. The student movement is seeking a snap vote, arguing that the current government cannot meet their demands for justice for the crash victims. Presidential and parliamentary elections are otherwise due some time in 2027. No one has been sentenced in connection with the tragedy in Novi Sad and doubts prevail that ongoing legal proceedings will uncover the alleged corruption behind the crash. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but the ruling populists have been accused of clamping down on democratic freedoms, including free media. Vucic's authorities have stepped up pressure on protesters, including police detentions, intimidation and physical attacks.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Serbia's Pres. Vucic to 'Post': I asked my Arab friends to save Israeli hostage Alon Ohel
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade, President Vučić touched on Serbia-Israel relations, the Gaza war, Serbia's EXPO 2027 exposition, and more. BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić revealed to The Jerusalem Post last week that he personally appealed to Arab leaders to help secure the release of Israeli-Serbian citizen Alon Ohel, who was abducted by Hamas during the October 7 massacre and held in Gaza for more than 600 days. 'I met his family several times,' Vučić said as part of an exclusive and wide-ranging interview at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade. 'I was so touched by the way they were presenting the case of their son and grandson when they were here. They were so proud and so dignified. They were doing everything in a solemn, serious way, doing everything to help.' The young dual-national was attending the Nova music festival near Re'im when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel, and last week passed 600 days in captivity. His family revealed in April that they had received information from released hostages that Ohel was now blind in one eye. 'Alon is injured. He lost sight in one eye, and we know that his other eye can be saved,' his father, Kobi Ohel, said at the time. Taken captive on October 7 from the 'death shelter' along with additional hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ohel sustained shrapnel wounds from some of the grenades thrown into the shelter, his mother, Idit, said. He was then physically abused and tortured, his mother said, adding that he received 'disgraceful treatment from Hamas – a 19-year-old sewed him up with needle and thread, with no pain killer.' Vučić described his quiet but determined efforts behind the scenes to gather information and plead for assistance. 'I asked some of my friends in the Middle East for help, and we got some info that he was alive,' Vučić shared. 'Of course, you never know. It is terribly difficult conveying this type of message to the mother who is waiting for her son. But I said to her, 'I cannot guarantee it, but we have information that he is alive.' And then we got official information that he was alive, that he was injured and passing through difficult times.' Vučić added that Serbia had done all it could within its limited capacity, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in such cases. 'We will always do our best. He is our citizen, he is an Israeli citizen. He is just a young man who has the right to live. We have some friends in the Arab world too, good friends, and I am begging those people to help take care of that young guy and free him as soon as possible. I was really begging my friends for his life.' Vučić has developed excellent ties with many Arab countries during his presidency, most notably United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Serbian leader reserved special praise for Ohel's family. 'His family is amazing—his grandparents. That was the first time I saw how Israelis and Jewish people are able to bear that type of burden on their shoulders. It was not an easy meeting at all, but this is what I saw. What can you say to a mother who is waiting for her son, and not disappoint their expectations?' Reflecting on the circumstances of Ohel's abduction, Vučić added: 'These people are civilians. Being present at a music festival, listening to the music—that was their biggest sin.' Vučić's comments come amid increasingly warm ties between Serbia and Israel. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Belgrade in September 2024, and earlier this year, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić made an official visit to Israel, reinforcing diplomatic cooperation between the two nations. The full interview with President Vučić, covering Serbia-Israel relations, the Gaza war, Belgrade's EXPO 2027 exposition, and more, will be published later this week in The Jerusalem Post.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Brit held by US after being accused of ‘spying and plotting' for China
A BRITISH businessman has been accused of spying and plotting to smuggle sensitive military technology to China. The FBI claim investigators intercepted phone calls in which John Miller, 63, called Chinese leader Xi Jinping as "The Boss'. The 63-year-old from Kent is also alleged to have tried to buy military hardware in the US for the People's Liberation Army. This included missile launchers, air defence radars and Black Hornet 'microdrones' that can fly within feet of enemy soldiers and enter buildings to spy on troop positions. Other equipment he attempted to purchase included a hand-held device approved by America's National Security Agency for the secure communication of classified material. Mr Miller also suggested smuggling a device by glueing it inside a food blender so it could then be 'sent via DHL or Fedex to Hong Kong, according to US court papers. The FBI said Mr Miller calling Xi 'The Boss' showed his 'awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government'. He was arrested on April 24 after he was caught in a sting when the 'arms dealers' he was negotiating with turned out to be undercover FBI agents. Mr Miller was on a business trip to Belgrade, Serbia, at the time and is still being held last night facing extradition to the US. He is accused of conspiring with US-based Chinese national, Cui Guanghai, 43, and if convicted, both men face up to 40 years in prison. Neighbours at his five-bedroom £1.5million home in Tunbridge Wells described him a 'respectable family man', according to the Mail on Sunday. 1
