BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Nearly two weeks after celebrating New Year, many Serbians did it again on Tuesday evening, this time according to old Orthodox Christian tradition.
Some Eastern Orthodox churches follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar used by Catholic and Protestant churches and much of the secular world.
The streets in central Belgrade’s commercial pedestrian zone were busy with people on Tuesday night, and Christmas and New Year’s decorations were still on full display.
“I celebrate the Serbian (New Year),” said Zoran Todorovic, a Belgrade resident. "We’re going out. We’ll take a walk, drink mulled wine, eat traditional sweets, and then we’ll go home and treat ourselves to a meal. I feel lovely.”
Jovan Brkic, also from Belgrade, was skeptical. “I don’t celebrate Serbian New Year. I don’t give it much attention."
“I think it’s the same as the non-Serbian one, the usual, commercial New Year,” he added. "It’s just an economic trick to get people to spend a bit more money, to give them a reason to be cheerful.”
A fireworks and a drone show was held at midnight at a newly built and much-criticized residential block by the Sava River in Belgrade that was backed by Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic.
In the central Serbian town of Cacak, however, protesters snowballed a folk singer performing at the main square, angry that the local authorities were using public money for the celebrations, N1 regional television reported.
Vucic faced street protests throughout last year against his autocratic rule in Serbia that were triggered by a train station disaster in November 2024 that killed 16 people in a northern city.
Fireworks and laser lights illuminate the sky over the Belgrade Tower just before midnight, for the Orthodox Christians New Year that Serbs celebrate on Jan. 14, according to the Julian calendar, in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Fireworks and laser lights illuminate the sky over the Belgrade Tower at midnight, for the Orthodox Christians New Year that Serbs celebrate on Jan. 14, according to the Julian calendar, in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Fireworks and laser lights illuminate the sky over the Belgrade Tower just before midnight, for the Orthodox Christians New Year that Serbs celebrate on Jan. 14, according to the Julian calendar, in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luka Doncic had 51 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, LeBron James added 18 points in his return after missing three games because of injuries and the Los Angeles Lakers used a strong third quarter to defeat the Chicago Bulls 142-130 on Thursday night.
Doncic scored 50 points for the first time as a Laker following the blockbuster trade that sent him from Dallas to Los Angeles in February 2025. It was Doncic’s 13th 40-point game in 82 appearances for Los Angeles, moving into ninth in franchise history.
Austin Reaves chipped in with 30 points, Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 10 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season, and the Lakers’ four-game winning streak is their longest since running off seven in a row Nov. 14-30.
Los Angeles moved ahead of the idle Houston Rockets into third place in the Western Conference.
Josh Giddey scored 27 points and Matas Buzelis had 22 for the short-handed Bulls, who have alternated wins and losses over their past six games following 11 straight losses in February.
James started off sluggish after being sidelined by a right hip contusion and arthritis in his left foot, picking up his only points of the first half on a layup and free throw for a three-point play with 54 seconds remaining. The sequence sparked James, 41, and he made all five of his shots from the field in the third quarter to finish with 11 points in the period.
Giddey and Buzelis combined to go 10 for 20 from 3-point range, finding their shot in the second quarter and keeping the Bulls in striking distance for most of the game. Chicago ended up 15 for 36 from deep.
Bulls: Visit the Clippers on Friday.
Lakers: Host the Nuggets on Saturday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James shoots a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) goes to the basket against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) goes to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls, Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
