BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia's striking university students on Wednesday rallied outside the chief prosecutor's office to demand justice over a concrete canopy collapse that killed 15 people last month in the country's north.
More than 1,000 students symbolically left letters on the doorstep of the public prosecutor's office, telling chief prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac that "students expect you to fight for law and justice, without political abuse or corruption.”
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People stopping traffic, stand in silence during ongoing protests that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in front of the government building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People stopping traffic, stand in silence during ongoing protests that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in front of the government building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students shout slogans during a protest protest that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in front of the prosecutor's office in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students march during a protest protest that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students carry banner reading: "Belgrade is the World again" during a protest protest that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Dolovac's office later responded with a statement inviting a student delegation to a meeting.
Serbia's universities have been blockaded for weeks as part of a wider movement demanding accountability over the Nov. 1 tragedy in Novi Sad when a huge concrete construction at the railway station crashed onto the people below.
Many in Serbia blame the collapse on widespread corruption and sloppy work on the building renovation, one of a number of questionable infrastructure megaprojects involving Chinese state companies.
Prosecutors have arrested 13 people over the Novi Sad tragedy, including a government minister whose release later fueled public skepticism about the honesty of the investigation.
Striking students have received wide support in Serbia from their professors, farmers, actors and others. Tens of thousands joined a student-led protest in Belgrade on Sunday that also reflected wider discontent with populist President Aleksandar Vucic's rule.
Protesting students on Wednesday carried banners featuring red handprints — a protest symbol telling the authorities they have “blood on their hands.”
In an apparent attempt to defuse the student strikes, Vucic has been advertising what he describes as “favorable” loans for young people to purchase apartments.
The increasingly autocratic Serbian leader has faced accusations of curbing democratic freedoms despite formally pursuing European Union membership for the Balkan nation.
People stopping traffic, stand in silence during ongoing protests that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in front of the government building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
People stopping traffic, stand in silence during ongoing protests that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in front of the government building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students shout slogans during a protest protest that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in front of the prosecutor's office in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students march during a protest protest that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Students carry banner reading: "Belgrade is the World again" during a protest protest that erupted after a concrete canopy fell last month and killed 15 people in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees.
Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades.
Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park.
Starting Price: $112,825
Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light.
A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model.
Starting Price: $118,900
Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet.
The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025.
Estimated starting price: $150,000
Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop.
But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard.
Starting Price: $161,990
What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list.
The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town.
Starting price: $250,500
Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future.
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds.
Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.
This photo provided by Lucid shows the 2025 Air. The Air is a luxury EV sedan and the Sapphire version boasts three electric motors and 1,234 horsepower. (Courtesy of Lucid Motors via AP)
This photo provided by Cadillac shows the Escalade-V. The Escalade is already a bold-looking SUV and the V version goes even further with giant 24-inch wheels. (Courtesy of General Motors via AP)
This photo provided by Chevrolet shows the 2025 Corvette ZR1. The new ZR1 is the most powerful and fastest production Corvette ever made. (Courtesy of General Motors via AP)
This photo provided by Mercedes-Benz shows the 2025 S-Class. When it comes to comfort and refinement on four wheels, it really doesn't get much better than this iconic German luxury sedan. (Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz USA via AP)
This photo provided by Ford shows the 2025 F-150 Raptor R. The Raptor R has a V8 engine and a specialized suspension that helps it stay in control when driving off-road at high speed. (Courtesy of Ford Motor Co. via AP)
This photo provided by Ram shows the 2025 Ram 1500 Rebel. It features four-wheel drive, Bilstein shock absorbers, an electronic locking rear axle, all-terrain tires and a powerful six-cylinder engine. (Courtesy of Stellantis via AP)
