World Tour: Protests in Serbia

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: WORLD Tour with our reporter in Africa, Onize Ohikere.

ONIZE OHIKERE, REPORTER: Serbia protest— Today’s global report takes off in Serbia.

AUDIO: [Protesters singing]

Orthodox priests led thousands of protesters carrying crosses and icons through Belgrade on Sunday. The protesters oppose a planned LGBT pride event scheduled to include a march on Saturday.

The Serbian government banned the march, saying police cannot handle possible riots. But organizers have insisted it will go on.

Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

PORFIRIJE: [Sermon]

He says the community does not want anyone pushing their values or lifestyle on to them.

U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken and other European Union officials have asked the Serbian government to reverse the ban.

Jakarta fuel protests— We move to Indonesia, where a fuel price hike has sparked protests.

AUDIO: [Protesters chanting]

Hundreds of conservative Muslims chanting “freedom” and “God is great” blocked the streets of the capital city of Jakarta on Monday.

They want the government to go back on its decision to raise fuel prices. Fuel and gasoline prices rose by about 30 percent last month after the government cut subsidies. But protesters say the decision hurts people still struggling with the effects of the pandemic. The government said the move was needed to reduce a multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

Ethiopia Tigray— Next, to Ethiopia, where a rebel group has shifted its stance and expressed interest in talks.

AUDIO: [Explosion aftermath in Tigray]

The Tigray forces on Sunday said they are willing to stop the violence and join discussions led by the African Union. Fighting between rebels and Ethiopian troops started nearly two years ago in the Tigray region. It has left millions of people without their basic needs.

Renewed fighting last month sparked pressure for peace from the United States and other nations. The Ethiopian government has not responded to the offer.

Queen Elizabeth II — We wrap up today in London.

AUDIO: [Flower seller]

The Columbia flower market is seeing more foot traffic since the death of Queen Elizabeth the Second.

Shoppers mill around the stalls, picking up sunflowers, hydrangeas, and other flower bunches.

Many of them took the flowers to Green Park - a designated spot near Buckingham Palace for floral tributes to the late monarch.

Georgia Gomez is a 19-year-old student who visited the market.

GOMEZ: Laying flowers is just kind of to say thank you for everything that she's done for our country. I've celebrated her diamond jubilee and all of that and, you know, growing up with her being the figure at primary schools. I feel like paying my respect is something very important and it's a moment in history that I'm getting to live through.

The queen’s official funeral will take place Monday.

That’s it for this week’s World Tour. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Onize Ohikere in Abuja, Nigeria.

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