According to Serbian Economist, a project to build a large resort on the Albanian coast linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump has faced protests and environmental criticism due to its proximity to protected natural areas inhabited by flamingos, sea turtles, and other species.
The project in question is a tourism development on Albania’s Adriatic coast, in the area of Vlorë, Sazan Island, and the Vjosa-Narta zone. Thousands of Albanian residents took to the streets in Tirana to protest against a resort complex worth approximately EUR 1.4 billion linked to Jared Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners. The project involves the creation of a luxury tourist complex on one of the most valuable stretches of the Albanian coast.
Environmentalists’ main concerns stem from the fact that construction could impact natural areas near the Narta Lagoon and the Vjosa-Narta region, which is considered a critical habitat for migratory birds and other species. Activists point out that the region is home to pink flamingos, seals, and sea turtles, and that large-scale development could damage coastal ecosystems.
BirdLife International stated that work related to the resort threatens one of Europe’s most important coastal habitats. The organization claims that construction and preparatory work could damage areas critical for biodiversity and migratory birds.
The protests have been dubbed the “flamingo revolution” by Albanian and international media. Protesters are using flamingos as a symbol of the protection of the natural area. According to media reports, the protests intensified after fences and construction equipment appeared on part of the site, as well as following reports of clashes between activists and security guards.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama defends the project, stating that it is important for the development of high-end tourism and attracting foreign investment. According to Reuters and AP, authorities view the development as part of a strategy to transform Albania into a more prominent destination for premium tourism on the Adriatic.
Critics, for their part, point to the need for greater transparency, environmental impact assessments, and public debate. At the heart of the controversy are not only flamingos and sea turtles, but also a broader question: can Albania develop luxury tourism without losing natural areas that are themselves part of the country’s tourist appeal?
The project has also taken on a political dimension due to its connection to the family of U.S. President Donald Trump. Jared Kushner is his son-in-law, and Ivanka Trump has publicly supported the idea of developing a tourism project in Albania. At the same time, international media emphasize that this is a private development project linked to Kushner’s investment firm, not a U.S. government project.
For Albania, the conflict surrounding the resort has become a test for its entire model of tourism development. The country is actively promoting the Adriatic and Ionian coasts as an alternative to the more expensive Mediterranean markets, but the growth in investment is increasing pressure on natural areas, infrastructure, and local communities.
A political debate has erupted in Bucharest over the name of a new park in the capital’s 4th Sector after local authorities proposed naming it after U.S. President Donald Trump and then put the matter to an online vote.
The proposal concerns the expansion of Tudor Arghezi Park on Metalurgiei Boulevard. Initially, Daniel Beluță, mayor of Bucharest’s 4th Sector, proposed naming the new section of the park “Donald J. Trump,” citing the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and the symbolism of the Romanian-American partnership. Following public criticism, he suggested that residents choose a name through an online poll.
The list of options included the names of Western and European politicians, among them Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Maia Sandu, Emmanuel Macron, Jacques Chirac, François Mitterrand, Václav Havel, Helmut Kohl, and Angela Merkel. According to Digi24, Maia Sandu held a commanding lead in the early stages of voting: after approximately 4,000 votes, she had garnered about 60%, while Trump had 16% and Barack Obama had 15%.
However, by the end of the online poll, the situation had changed. Mayor Daniel Băluță announced that, based on the results of the vote, the new section of the park would be named Donald J. Trump. According to HotNews, more than 28,000 people voted for this option, and a total of over 116,000 people participated in the vote on the names of the park and the ice arena. The next step should be the approval of the name by the local council of Sector 4.
Romanian media note that the vote was accompanied by controversy. Opposition representatives from the USR pointed to possible violations and drew attention to a sharp increase in the number of votes in favor of Trump on the night before the poll closed. According to HotNews, one of the USR’s advisors claimed that there were about 30,000 votes by Saturday evening, but by Sunday morning, the number had risen to about 70,000.
Thus, the initial reports of Maia Sandu’s lead were accurate only for the early stage of voting. According to the latest reports from Romanian media, Donald Trump emerged as the ultimate winner of the online poll, although the result still requires administrative approval.
The story garnered widespread attention because it turned the question of naming a district park in Bucharest into a symbolic debate about Romania’s foreign policy priorities, its relationship with the U.S. and Moldova, and the role of public consultations in local politics.
According to Serbian Economist, Jared Kushner’s company may demand up to EUR50 million in compensation from Serbia for failing to fulfill the terms of the contract regarding the construction of a hotel and residential complex on the site of the former General Staff building in central Belgrade, said Marinka Tepić, vice-chair of the opposition Freedom and Justice Party.
According to her, the contract between the Serbian government and Kushner’s company stipulated obligations on Serbia’s part regarding the preparation of the site for the project, but these were not fulfilled. Tepić claims that because of this, Kushner’s company may seek compensation of EUR50 million.
So far, this is merely a statement by an opposition politician, not a publicly confirmed lawsuit or an official claim by Kushner’s company.
The project involved the site of the former General Staff complex in Belgrade, which was damaged during the NATO bombings in 1999. The complex had long held cultural heritage status, but in 2024, the Serbian government removed its protected status, paving the way for the development project.
According to media reports, the Serbian side agreed to transfer the site to a company linked to Kushner under a long-term 99-year lease. The project called for the construction of a hotel, apartments, and office and commercial spaces in one of Belgrade’s most prominent locations.
The initiative sparked strong opposition from Serbian opposition groups, architects, and activists. For many Belgrade residents, the General Staff building remains not just a ruined structure in the city center, but a symbol of the 1999 NATO bombings and a reminder of Serbia’s modern history. Opponents of the project demanded that the complex retain its memorial and cultural status rather than be turned into commercial real estate.
The situation became more complicated following an investigation into the documents on the basis of which the complex was stripped of its cultural monument status. Serbian prosecutors had previously charged current and former officials in a case involving the possible forgery of documents used to remove the General Staff building’s protected status. Following this, Western media reported that Kushner had abandoned the project amid protests and legal issues surrounding the site.
Jared Kushner is an American entrepreneur, founder of the investment firm Affinity Partners, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and former senior advisor to the White House during Trump’s first presidential term.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić sharply criticized the project’s collapse and stated that the country had lost a major investment.
According to him, the project involved at least EUR750 million in investments and thousands of jobs. Vučić promised to personally file criminal complaints against those who, in his words, participated in a “campaign” to destroy the project.
For Serbia, a potential claim for compensation marks a new phase in a politically sensitive case. On the one hand, the authorities presented the project as a major investment that could revitalize one of the most prominent locations in central Belgrade. On the other hand, opponents of the project believe that the state should not have transferred a symbolically important site to a private foreign investor for a hotel and commercial development.
The key question now is whether Kushner’s company will file a formal claim against Serbia and on what grounds. No official announcement from Kushner’s company regarding the filing of a lawsuit or a claim for EUR50 million has been published in open sources at this time.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during talks in Beijing to expand cooperation in trade and agriculture, and also discussed the situation in the Middle East, Ukraine, and on the Korean Peninsula, according to CCTV.
The meeting took place on May 14 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during Trump’s state visit to China. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Xinhua News Agency, the leaders of the two countries discussed the bilateral agenda and exchanged views on key international and regional issues, including the situation in the Middle East, the crisis in Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula.
Xi Jinping stated that China and the U.S. should build “constructive and strategically stable relations,” and also emphasized the importance of a cautious approach to the Taiwan issue, calling it the most critical aspect of Sino-American relations. According to Xi, mishandling this issue could lead to a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.
According to the official Chinese account of the talks, Trump expressed his readiness to work with Xi to strengthen communication and cooperation, resolve differences, and develop U.S.-China relations. He also introduced the Chinese leader to representatives of American business who had traveled to China with him.
The talks took place against the backdrop of efforts to maintain the trade truce between the U.S. and China, reached in October 2025. Topics discussed included U.S. companies’ access to the Chinese market, Chinese investment in the U.S., trade, energy, and agricultural supplies.
For Ukraine, the very fact that the Ukrainian issue was discussed at the level of U.S. and Chinese leaders is significant. Beijing retains influence over Moscow and remains one of the key external players whose stance shapes the diplomatic context surrounding the war. However, the published reports do not indicate that the parties reached any specific agreements specifically regarding Ukraine.
The situation in the Middle East was a separate topic of discussion. Against the backdrop of tensions surrounding Iran and risks to energy supplies, the U.S. is interested in China playing a more active role in mitigating risks to global trade and energy routes. Washington is also seeking economic outcomes from the meeting, including trade and investment agreements.
The U.S. administration has so far approved only one application under the new Trump Gold Card immigration program, despite earlier claims of potential revenue in the billions. This was stated by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Latnik.
The program, launched in December 2025, offers the opportunity to obtain residency in the U.S. under a scheme similar to a green card, in exchange for a $1 million investment following a security check. An additional fee of $15,000 is also required for expedited processing. At the same time, Latnik claims that hundreds of applicants are currently in the review process.
The modest current results stand in sharp contrast to the authorities’ initial expectations. Reuters notes that at the program’s launch, Latnik spoke of high interest and thousands of potential participants, as well as the potential to generate billions of dollars through the sale of such visas. AP also notes that the program was initially presented as a potential replacement for the EB-5 visa and as a tool for attracting wealthy foreigners and capital into the U.S. economy.
Thus, at this point, the program remains more of a politically significant initiative than a truly substantial source of revenue for the U.S. budget.
US President Donald Trump has published a list of initiatives on social media under the title “SAVE America Act,” in which he calls for the introduction of mandatory ID checks for voters and documentary proof of US citizenship.
Meanwhile, Congress is considering a Republican bill called the SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), which requires documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and introduces stricter voter identification rules, as well as separate requirements for procedures related to absentee/mail ballots. The House of Representatives passed the bill in February, but it has not yet advanced in the Senate.
In his post, Trump also stated the need to ban mail-in voting, except in cases of illness, disability, military service, or travel. At the same time, experts point out that a complete ban on “universal” mail-in ballots is not included in the text of the bill, although such an idea has been discussed.
In addition to electoral provisions, Trump mentioned measures concerning the participation of men in women’s sports, as well as sex reassignment surgery for minors. According to his wording, such interventions should only be possible with the written consent of the parents.
These points are not related to the voting rules bill and are presented as political demands in a single list.
