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☆ Burkina Faso army executed over 220 villagers in February, HRW says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Reuters —Burkina Faso’s military in February summarily executed about 223 villagers, including at least 56 children, as part of a campaign against civilians accused of collaborating with jihadist militants, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. The spokesperson for the Burkina Faso government did not respond to phone calls seeking comment on the HRW report. Retaliatory attacksRights groups have previously accused the military in junta-ruled Burkina Faso of attacking and killing civilians suspected of collaborating with militants in retaliatory operations. Burkina Faso is one of several Sahel nations that have been struggling to contain Islamist insurgencies linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State that have spread from neighboring Mali since 2012, killing thousands and displacing millions. Frustrations over authorities’ failure to protect civilians have contributed to two coups in Mali, two in Burkina Faso and one in Niger since 2020.

Persons: Witnesses, HRW, Tirana Hassan, Mali’s Organizations: Reuters, Burkina, jihadist, Human Rights Watch, Ouahigouya, HRW, Facebook, Burkina Faso, Authorities, Rights Watch, Burkinabe, African Union, United Nations, Islamic Locations: Burkina Faso’s, Yatenga, Burkina Faso, Komsilga, Burkina, Nodin, Soro, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Mali, Niger

☆ More Americans Are Moving Abroad Because the US Is Too Expensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Kelli María Korducki | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"We realized we couldn't afford the mortgage and the car payments and everything," Stonestreet told me. Americans work more, vacation less, spend more on healthcare, and die sooner than people in other high-income economies. These factors likely explain why some Americans are moving to countries that aren't generally considered low-cost-of-living locales. She said that living abroad afforded her a degree of flexibility and spontaneity that would be out of reach back home. From their temporary perch in Tirana, Albania, the couple told me via WhatsApp that their only regret about moving abroad was not doing it sooner.

Persons: Amelia Basista, Stonestreet, Basista, Maliya, I'm, Fale, scoping, Cristina Johnson, Johnson, Mariana, Dustin Lange, that's, Mariana Lange, Mark Zoril, Andrew Hallam, Zoril, hasn't, — Zoril, Tomorrow's Organizations: State Department, American Citizens, Monmouth University, Labor Statistics, Financial Technology Association, Business Locations: South America, Denver, Cuenca, Ecuador, Germany, Canada, France, Minneapolis, Latin America, America, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Belize, States, Austin, North Carolina, Central America, Portugal, Spain, Lisbon, Europe, Tirana, Albania

☆ Vast reserves of clean hydrogen fuel could be hiding beneath our feet
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Trillions of tons of lightweight, energy-dense hydrogen gas may be hidden deep underground. Those natural reservoirs, known as geologic hydrogen, could be a fruitful carbon-free fuel source. Oil and gas giants BP and Chevron have joined a consortium to study geologic hydrogen. That's when an oil and gas company assessed a mine that had exploded in Mali and found it was full of hydrogen gas. In the US, two long stretches of this rock are a promising place to look for hydrogen reserves, and efforts are already underway.

Persons: Bill Gates, Geoffrey Ellis, Joe Biden's, didn't, Ellis, John Barrasso, Evelyn N, Wang, Pete Johnson Organizations: Service, United Airlines, BP, Chevron, US, Energy, Natural Resources, Business, Research Projects Agency, ARPA Locations: Alberta, Canada, Mali, Kansas, Ontario, Michigan, New Jersey, Georgia, France, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Albania, Albania's, Tirana, GENT

☆ Researchers just discovered a massive 'jacuzzi bubbling with almost pure hydrogen' — a lucrative source of clean energy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A team of researchers recently discovered a massive reservoir of hydrogen in a mine in Albania. The reservoir could be a potential source of clean hydrogen energy. But recently, a team of researchers uncovered a massive reservoir of hydrogen buried in a mine in Albania that could serve as a source of clean, hydrogen energy . If the hydrogen in the mine can be safely harnessed, the researchers believe it could be a key energy source. One of the initiative's goals is for the hubs to produce "more than three million metric tons of clean hydrogen per year," about one-third of the 2030 US clean hydrogen production goal.

Persons: —, Laurent Truche, Joe Biden Organizations: Service Locations: Albania, Albania's, Tirana, Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest, Appalachia

Most of Kosovo uses the euro, even though the country isn't part of the EU. But parts of Kosovo's north, populated mostly by ethnic Serbs, continue to use the dinar. The Central Bank reported on Wednesday that Serbian bank Komercijalna Banka AD Beograd closed its branches in Kosovo. Serbian forces fought a 1998-99 war with ethnic Albanian separatists in what was then the province of Kosovo. Kosovo eventually declared independence in 2008, but the government in Belgrade doesn't recognize its neighbor as a separate country.

Persons: Kosovo's, Aleksandar Vučić, Alexander, Botsan, ” Vucic, ”, Besnik Bislimi, Albin Kurti, Miroslav Lajčák, Josep Borrell, ___ Llazar Semini Organizations: Union, Serbian, Kosovo’s Central Bank, Western, The Central Bank, NATO, Belgrade doesn't, European Union, Kosovo, Kosovo police, EU Locations: PRISTINA, Kosovo, Serbian, Kosovo's, Serbs, Serbia, Russia, Russian, Belgrade, Pristina, Metohija, Kosovo Serbs, ” Kosovo, Komercijalna Banka, Beograd, Brussels, EU, United States, Vučić, Balkans, Kosovo’s, Tirana, Albania

☆ Albania’s Highest Court Rules in Favour of Migrant Deal With Italy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albania's constitutional court ruled on Monday in favour of a deal with Italy that will allow the Italian government to set up reception centres to host migrants trying to come ashore. The Albanian parliament has still to ratify the deal before it enters into force. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed with her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama in November to set up centres that would initially host some 3,000 people as Italy tries to bring down numbers of migrants that nearly doubled last year. (Reporting by Florion Goga, writing by Fatos Bytyci, editing by Christina Fincher)

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Florion Goga, Fatos Bytyci, Christina Fincher Organizations: Albanian Locations: TIRANA, Italy, Italian

☆ UN Urges Measures to Stop Arms Trafficking Fueling Haiti's Gang Wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Sarah Morland(Reuters) - The head of the United Nation's drugs and crime office on Thursday warned of a "vicious cycle" of arms trafficking to increasingly powerful Haitian gangs, fueling an internal conflict and worsening violence across the Caribbean. "It's more important than ever to take every measure possible to prevent illicit flows," the UNODC's executive director, Ghada Waly, told a U.N. Security Council meeting, saying arms trafficking and gang activity were feeding off each other. A recent UNODC report found that most illegal firearms seized in Haiti came from the United States, notably Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Texas and California. After the Dominican Republic shut its border with Haiti, smugglers were turning to more remote routes including clandestine airstrips, the report said. No date has been set for deployment, which Haiti requested in October 2022.

Persons: Sarah Morland, Ghada Waly, U.N, Robert Wood, Kenya's, Tirana Hassan, Hassan, Jose de la, Michelle Nichols, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reuters, Security, Taurus, Glock, Beretta, Smith, Wesson, Kenyan, Rights Watch, Tirana Locations: Haiti, United States, Florida , Arizona, Georgia, Texas, California, Caribbean, U.S, Dominican Republic, Ecuador

☆ Albanian prosecutors charge former Prime Minister Sali Berisha in corruption probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha gestures as he speaks during an anti-government protest in front of Prime Minister Edi Rama's office in Tirana, Albania, November 12, 2022. REUTERS/Florion Goga/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsTIRANA, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Albanian prosecutors have charged former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his son-in-law on corruption charges over a land deal involving the grounds of a sports club, investigators said on Sunday. Berisha has accused current Prime Minister Edi Rama of orchestrating the whole case. The accusations are baseless and are Edi Rama's direct political attacks against me," Berisha told reporters late on Saturday. Berisha served as president from 1992 to 1997, immediately after the fall of communism in Albania, and as prime minister from 2005 to 2013.

Persons: Sali Berisha, Florion, Berisha, Taulant Balla, Florion Goga, Fatos Bytyci, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Democratic Party, Edi, REUTERS, Rights, FC Partizani, Thomson Locations: Tirana, Albania, Rights TIRANA, United States

☆ Albanian Prosecutors Charge Former PM Berisha in Corruption Probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

TIRANA (Reuters) - Albanian prosecutors have charged former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his son-in-law on corruption charges over a land deal involving the grounds of a sports club, investigators said on Sunday. While his son-in-law was arrested late on Saturday, Berisha himself is a lawmaker and has immunity from prosecution. Berisha has accused current Prime Minister Edi Rama of orchestrating the whole case. The accusations are baseless and are Edi Rama's direct political attacks against me," Berisha told reporters late on Saturday. Berisha served as president from 1992 to 1997, immediately after the fall of communism in Albania, and as prime minister from 2005 to 2013.

Persons: Sali Berisha, Berisha, Taulant Balla, Florion Goga, Fatos Bytyci, Hugh Lawson Organizations: FC Partizani, Edi, Democratic Party Locations: TIRANA, Tirana, United States, Albania

☆ Macron says 'Islamist terrorism' rising in Europe, all states at risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TIRANA, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Europe is seeing a rise of "Islamist terrorism" and all states are threatened, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday during a visit to Albania, after Islamist killings of a teacher in France and two Swedish football fans in Belgium. Macron spoke a day after a 45-year-old attacker, who identified himself as a member of Islamic State and claimed responsibility in a video posted online, killed the two Swedes fans in Brussels. All European states are vulnerable, and there is indeed a resurgence of Islamist terrorism," Macron said after talks with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. "Here, we reiterate our solidarity with our Belgian friends," Macron said. "Israel's security, the fight against all terrorist groups, as well as the peace process and the political solution, are all interconnected," he said.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Florian Goga, Fatos, Hedy Beloucif, Marine Strauss, Ivana Sekularac, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Islamic, Albanian, Edi Rama, Thomson Locations: TIRANA, Europe, Albania, France, Belgium, Islamic State, Brussels, Paris, French, Arras, Tirana, Israel, Pristina

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian novelist Ismail Kadare was awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor title by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. Macron arrived in Tirana after a summit of European Union leaders with Western Balkan countries earlier in the day. Before Albania installed political pluralism after a students’ protest in December 1990, Kadare flew to France asking for political asylum. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesFrance has made him a foreign associate of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences and also Commander of the Legion of Honor. Kadare has been awarded a number of international prizes for his works, which include more than 80 novels, plays, screenplays, poetry, essays or story collections translated into different languages.

Persons: Ismail Kadare, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, didn't, ” Kadare, Enver Hoxha, Kadare Organizations: Legion, Union, Army, Academy of Moral, Political Sciences Locations: TIRANA, Albania, Albanian, Tirana, Western, France, Paris

☆ EU to launch a humanitarian air bridge to bring aid to Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Smoke rises in the air above Gaza following Israeli bombings, as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS/TIRANA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The European Union said on Monday it would launch a humanitarian air bridge operation consisting of "several flights" to Egypt aiming to bring supplies to humanitarian organisations on the ground in Gaza. "Palestinians in Gaza are in need of humanitarian help and aid, they cannot pay the prize of Hamas' barbarism," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference in Tirana. She noted that the EU had decided over the weekend to triple its humanitarian assistance, to over 75 million euros, to support civilians in need in Gaza. It has put Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total blockade and pounded it with unprecedented air strikes, and is widely expected to launch a ground assault.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, gunning, Benoit Van Overstraeten, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Gaza, EU, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, BRUSSELS, TIRANA, Egypt, UNICEF, Lebanon, Tirana, Israel's

☆ Albania coach Sylvinho eyes Euro qualification after dream start
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Poles are struggling down in fourth on six points, two points behind Moldova and the Czechs with three games left. The 21,000 tickets were sold-out within a few hours for the clash at the Air Albania stadium in the capital Tirana. "We're aware of the enthusiasm of our supporters but the players know that's the external scenario, something we can't control. Since Sylvinho's debut in a hard-fought 1-0 loss away to Poland in March, Albania have had three wins and a draw. "We have to be here (in Tirana) because it is where our work will be developed," Sylvinho said.

Persons: Robert Lewandowski's Poland, Albania's, Sylvinho, Armand Duka, Pablo Zabaleta, Doriva, Duka, Gianni De Biasi, Asani, Fernando Kallas, Ken Ferris Organizations: Arsenal, Barcelona, Eagles, Moldova, Poland, Air Albania, Reuters, Albanian, League, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Olympique Lyonnais, Corinthians, Brazil, South Korean, Gwangju FC, UEFA, Thomson Locations: Albania, Czech Republic, Germany, Tirana, Moldova, Faroe Islands, Poland, France, Warsaw, Macedonia

GRANADA, Spain (AP) — Almost 50 European leaders used a summit in the southern Spanish city of Granada on Thursday to stress that they stand by Ukraine at a time when Western resolve appears somewhat weakened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that beside maintaining such unity, more military aid to get through the winter was essential. And especially now that questions about continued support are growing in the United States too. “I am very confident of support for Ukraine from the United States. What the United States is working on is the timing," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Biden, ” Zelenskyy, Robert Fico, Hungary’s, Pedro Sánchez, “, Ursula von der Leyen, Josep Borrell, doesn’t, Putin, Borrell, Putin's, ”, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Vjosa Osmani, Aleksandar Vucic, Osmani, wantssanctions, Raf Casert, Aritz Parra, Ciarán Giles, Joseph Wilson, Semini Organizations: Political, U.S, Congress, White, Republicans, European Union, Kyiv, Armenian, Yerevan, Kosovo, Serbian, Belgrade, Serbia Locations: GRANADA, Spain, Spanish, Granada, Ukraine, United States, Europe, Kyiv, Slovakia, Russia, U.S, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Serbia, “, Kosovo, Brussels, Madrid, Barcelona, Tirana, Albania

☆ ATACMS missiles could push back Russia's lethal helicopter force, but Ukraine will need perfect timing to pull it off
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US looks set to send Ukraine the Army Tactical Missile System, which Kyiv has long sought. ATACMS has longer range than Ukraine's other missiles, allowing it to hit valuable Russian targets. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . It took heavy losses when Ukraine introduced HIMARS and began hitting more distant targets, but it adapted to that and has shown signs of adapting to the cruise missiles Ukraine has started using. "That depends on the ability to find and fix targets at that range," Kofman said.

Persons: ATACMS, —, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Doug Bush, Biden, MIKE NELSON, Michael Kofman, Kofman, VITALY TIMKIV, There's, Colby Badhwar, Badhwar, Maxym, HIMARS Organizations: Army Tactical Missile, Service, MGM, Tactical Missile, Washington, Washington DC, US, Bloomberg, Getty, GPS, Carnegie Endowment, International, Kyiv, British Ministry of Defence, Berdyansk, Maxar Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Tirana, Albania, AFP, Crimea, Russian, Russia's Krasnodar, Russia, Ukrainian

Pristina accuses Belgrade of backing the “terrorists,” an accusation Serbia denies, saying they are Serbs from Kosovo protesting the government there. Two of the gunmen and four Serbs discovered nearby with communication equipment were arrested and are being investigated for terrorist acts. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the gunmen were local Kosovo Serbs “who no longer want to stand Kurti’s terror.”Vucic condemned the killing of the Kosovo policeman, but still said the clash was the result of “brutal” pressure on Kosovo Serbs by the Kosovo government. Serbia will never recognize the independence of Kosovo, that monster creation that you made by bombing Serbia,” Vucic said, referring to the 1999 NATO intervention which led to Kosovo separating from Serbia. In February, the EU put forward a 10-point plan to end the latest round of heightened tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

Persons: Afrim Bunjaku, Bunjaku, Xhelal Svecla, “ It’s, logistically, Albin Kurti, Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo Serbs “, ” Vucic, Vucic Organizations: —, Kosovar Albanian, Sunday, Kosovo, Kosovar, Police, Kosovo Interior, Kosovo Serbs, NATO, European Union, United, EU Locations: PRISTINA, Kosovo, — Kosovo, Pristina, Mitrovica, Serbia, Banjska, Belgrade, Serbian, Kosovo Albanians, EU, Brussels, Kurti, United States, Balkans, Tirana, Albania

☆ Analysis: EU, Italy talk tough on migration but action won't be easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] An Italian Coast Guard vessel carrying migrants rescued at sea passes between tourist boats, on Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy. Well over 10,000 migrants reached the Italian island - whose permanent population is about 6,000 - last week. Lampedusa sits in the Mediterranean between Tunisia, Malta and the larger Italian island of Sicily and is a first port of call for many migrants seeking to reach the EU. In 2020, it was discontinued as other EU nations balked at Italian requests to have them redistributed around the bloc. Other EU states have not commented publicly on the idea of a naval blockade, which Italy says would also need the consent of North African states.

Persons: Yara, Sophia, Giorgia Meloni, Lampedusa, Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, Ferruccio Pastore, Pastore, von der Leyen, Maurizio Ambrosini, Jan Strupczewski, Gavin Jones, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Italian Coast Guard, EU, European Union, European, International, European Forum, Research, Immigration, Human, Reuters, Dublin, University of Milan, Thomson Locations: Lampedusa, Italy, North Africa, ROME, Tunisia, Malta, Sicily, Europe, Albania, Italian, Rome, Tirana, France, Austria, Dublin, EU, Germany, Brussels, repatriations

☆ Former captain Bonucci starts legal battle against Juventus over club exit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I have decided, after great suffering, to take the path of a lawsuit towards Juventus," Bonucci told Sport Mediaset in an interview published on Thursday. Bonucci said he did not feel remorse towards his former club nor was seeking financial reward, and that if he won the legal battle he would donate all the proceeds to charity. Juventus are the fans, the team, my former team mates," Bonucci said. "I want to continue to play and trouble Spalletti for the national team," Bonucci said. Bonucci added his hopes are to be back at Juventus one day as coach.

Persons: Leonardo Bonucci, Florion, Massimiliano Allegri, Bonucci, Luciano Spalletti, Spalletti, Anita Kobylinska Organizations: Soccer Football, Air Albania, REUTERS, Juventus, United States, Serie, Juve, Bundesliga, Union Berlin, Sport Mediaset, Thomson Locations: Albania, Italy, Tirana, Turin, Gdansk

☆ Poland part ways with coach Santos
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 13 (Reuters) - Poland have parted ways with Portuguese coach Fernando Santos following their 2-0 defeat in Albania which left them struggling to qualify for Euro 2024, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) said on Wednesday. Poland are fourth in qualifying Group E with six points from five games. Poland lost 3-1 to Czech Republic in Santos's first game in charge, their opening Euro 2024 qualifier, before beating Albania 1-0. They struggled to beat Faroe Islands 2-0, a penalty from Robert Lewandowski in the 73rd minute breaking the deadlock against a side ranked 129th in the world. Poland travel to the Faroe Islands in October followed by a home game against Moldova.

Persons: Fernando Santos, Santos, Czeslaw Michniewicz, Cezary Kulesza, Robert Lewandowski, Trevor Stynes, Anita Kobylinska, Ed Osmond Organizations: Polish Football Association, Qatar, Albania, Sunday, Germany, Moldova, Thomson Locations: Poland, Portuguese, Albania, Portugal, France, Czech Republic, Moldova, Tirana, Santos's, Faroe, Faroe Islands

[1/5] Tourists visit the redesigned pyramid that was formerly a museum built to honour late Communist dictator Enver Hoxha, in Tirana, Albania, August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Florion Goga Acquire Licensing RightsTIRANA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - A museum built in Albania in the 1980s to honour longtime Communist dictator Enver Hoxha is being transformed into a computer training centre for young people, removing a final vestige of the country's isolated and repressive past. The original architects, which included Hoxha's daughter Pranvera, designed the building in the shape of a pyramid glorifying the leader as an Egyptian-style pharaoh. The museum was finished in 1988, three years after Hoxha died and two years before reclusive Communist rule collapsed, giving way to democracy. "It was an architectural monument like no others," said Ilda Qazimllari, director of investments in the office of the Tirana mayor.

Persons: Enver Hoxha, Florion, Hoxha, Winy Maas, Pranvera, Leon Cika, Ilda Qazimllari, Fatos Bytyci, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Tourists, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Thomson Locations: Tirana, Albania, Rights TIRANA, Dutch, Soviet, Europe, Balkan, Kosovo

The lawsuit filed on Monday said Kante is entitled to more than $20 million in profit from the infringing music. Representatives for Kante, Lipa and WMG did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. Kante's website said he has played the Talk Box on songs by musicians including rappers Kanye West, Big Boi and J. Cole. The lawsuit said producer Stephen Kozmeniuk approached Kante in 2019 about creating a talk-box track to use on "Levitating." "Levitating" was released on Dua Lipa's hit 2020 album "Future Nostalgia."

Persons: Singer Dua Lipa, Florion, Bosko Kante, Kante, Lipa's, WMG, Lipa, Sandy Linzer, Russell Brown, Kanye, Big, J, Cole, Stephen Kozmeniuk, DJ, Madonna, Missy Elliott, DaBaby, Blake Brittain, David Bario, Richard Chang Organizations: Singer Dua, Skanderbeg, REUTERS, Warner Music Group, Kante, Thomson Locations: Tirana, Albania, Dua Lipa, Los Angeles, British, Lipa, Washington

☆ A darling of US conservatives, Iran’s top opposition group may face an uncertain future
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But recent setbacks for the most powerful Iranian opposition group have some observers wondering whether its glory days are numbered. The MeK believes these actions were part of a “policy of appeasement” of the regime in Tehran, a top representative from the group told CNN in an email interview. Gobadi told CNN the raid “was carried out at the behest or under pressure” from Iran. ‘Illegal and subversive activity’An Albanian foreign ministry coordinator told CNN by email that the country has not provided any seized material to Iran. Gobadi told CNN that that speakers or attendees have never received payments from the MeK.

Persons: Mike Pompeo, John Bolton, Mike Pence, Saddam Hussein, bode, ” Shahin Gobadi, Ashraf, Gobadi, “, ” Gobadi, cyberattack, Albania “, Saud, Maryam Rajavi, Bryan Olin Dozier, Prince Turki al, Faisal, Al Faisal, ’ “, Emanuel Macron, Ebrahim Raisi, Trita Parsi, ”, Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Liz Truss, Ali Ahmadi, ” Ahmadi, Alex Vatanka, ” Vatanka Organizations: CNN, United States National Security, Foreign Affairs, National Council of Resistance, Paris, Washington Summit, Organization of Iranian, Communities, Hyatt, Quincy Institute, British, Geneva Centre, Security, Middle East Institute Locations: Iran, Islamic Republic, Albania, France, Tehran, Paris, Tirana, Albanian, Saud Arabia, Washington ,, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, al, Riyadh

☆ Bill Clinton tells Kosovo: stop 'foolishness' in Serb-majority north
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Former U.S. president Bill Clinton delivers his speech during a welcoming in Tirana, Albania, July 3, 2023. REUTERS/Florion GogaTIRANA, July 3 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, largely credited for ending the Kosovo war more than two decades ago, on Monday told Kosovo's government to stop its actions in the Serb majority north, where tension has flared over the past few months. But the real thing we need to do is to stop this foolishness," Clinton said during a ceremony in Tirana where he received a medal from Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama. The United States and the European Union, Kosovo's main allies, have mainly blamed Prime Minister Albin Kurti for igniting tension in the north by installing four mayors in their offices with police despite objections from local Serbs. In Belgrade, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said growing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina "cause great concern, as well as the increase in violence".

Persons: Bill Clinton, Kosovo's, Clinton, Albin Kurti, Mark Rutte, Aleksandar Vucic, Rutte, Fatos Bytyci, Aleksandar Vasovic, Sonali Paul Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Former U.S, Monday, NATO, Albania's, Edi Rama, Kosovo, Serbia's, European Union, Dutch, EU, Thomson Locations: Tirana, Albania, Florion, TIRANA, Former, Kosovo, Pristina, Serbia, Serbian, Kosovo Albanian, United States, Belgrade, Europe, Ukraine, Florion Goga

TIRANA, July 3 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Monday met 12 children and men from Kosovo who were named after him in gratitude for his role in stopping the 1998-99 Kosovo War. Clinton, who served as president from 1993 to 2001, is regarded as a hero in Kosovo and Albania for launching NATO air strikes against Serbia's forces in 1999. The strikes halted the war and allowed nearly 1 million Albanian refugees in Kosovo to return to their homes. Others who spoke at the ceremony included Klinton Gashi, Klinton Bajgora and Klinton Ferizi. Clinton also met three girls who were named after his wife, Hillary Clinton, who served as U.S. secretary of state under former President Barack Obama.

Persons: Bill Clinton, Clinton, Klinton Berisha, Klinton, Ferizi, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Hillary Alidema, Fatos Bytyci, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Former U.S, Monday, NATO, Goga, Thomson Locations: TIRANA, Former, Kosovo, Albania, Tirana, Balkans, Serbia, Washington

U.S. District Judge Sunshine Sykes said Artikal Sound System failed to argue that the writers of "Levitating" ever had access to the group's 2017 song "Live Your Life." Sykes gave the group an opportunity to file a new complaint. Representatives for Lipa and Artikal Sound System did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sykes on Monday agreed with Lipa that Artikal Sound System's complaint failed to show that the defendants could have encountered its song before writing "Levitating." Sykes said this was not enough to demonstrate the song was widely disseminated enough that the "Levitating" songwriters could have heard and copied it.

Persons: Florion, Lipa's, Sunshine Sykes, Sykes, Sandy Linzer, Russell Brown, Don Diablo, Blake Brittain, Richard Chang Organizations: Singer Dua, Skanderbeg, REUTERS, Dua Lipa, Warner Records, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: Tirana, Albania, British, Los Angeles, Florida, New York, Lipa, Washington

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