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Search results for tag #corruption

muddle 🥣 boosted

[?]DB 🌱💦 [She / Her] » 🌐
@dbattistella@mstdn.ca

If the FIFA rules are followed, the US will need to be kicked out of the World Cup, and the team suspended.

Under FIFA's statutes, national football associations must be independent and free from undue influence by governments or third parties. This is one of the core principles governing membership in FIFA. The relevant provisions are found primarily in the FIFA Statutes, particularly: • Article 14 (Member Associations' Obligations): Member associations must manage their affairs independently and ensure that their own bodies are not influenced by third parties. • Article 19 (Independence of Member Associations and Their Bodies): Associations must be free from undue political or governmental interference. What counts as government interference? Examples that FIFA has treated as improper interference include: • A government dismissing or replacing the elected football federation leadership. • A sports ministry appointing federation officials. • Courts or governments preventing scheduled federation elections without exceptional legal grounds. • Governments taking direct control of federation finances or operations. • Political authorities instructing the federation how to conduct competitions or disciplinary matters.

Alt...Under FIFA's statutes, national football associations must be independent and free from undue influence by governments or third parties. This is one of the core principles governing membership in FIFA. The relevant provisions are found primarily in the FIFA Statutes, particularly: • Article 14 (Member Associations' Obligations): Member associations must manage their affairs independently and ensure that their own bodies are not influenced by third parties. • Article 19 (Independence of Member Associations and Their Bodies): Associations must be free from undue political or governmental interference. What counts as government interference? Examples that FIFA has treated as improper interference include: • A government dismissing or replacing the elected football federation leadership. • A sports ministry appointing federation officials. • Courts or governments preventing scheduled federation elections without exceptional legal grounds. • Governments taking direct control of federation finances or operations. • Political authorities instructing the federation how to conduct competitions or disciplinary matters.

    [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
    @meganL@mas.to

    "Një prej djemve i është thyer hunda”/aktivisti:Presidenti duhet t’i shërbejë popullit, s'ka reagim!

    Machine translation: "One of the boys has broken his nose" / activist: "The president must serve the people, there's no reaction!"

    youtube.com/watch?v=jfAQmfqJbpg

      [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
      @meganL@mas.to

      “Balla nxiti policinë”, Lubonja: Diplomacia është diplomatike, të mbështetemi te forcat tona

      Machine translation: "(Taulant) Balla urged the police," Lubonja: "Diplomacy is diplomatic; we should rely on our own forces."

      The man interviewed is Fatos Lubonja, an Albanian dissident (who was imprisoned under the Enver Hoxha regime), writer, and human rights activist.

      Apparently the police used tear gas, water cannons, and also directly assaulted some protestors today, injuring people and also arresting some.

      youtube.com/watch?v=h5AwY-NKNCU

        [?]stux⚡️ » 🌐
        @stux@mstdn.social

        House Democrats accuse Trump of 'hijacking' America's 250th birthday for his own gain

        Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee published a 55-page report Thursday accusing the group of aiding President Trump in turning America's milestone into a "hotbed of corruption and self-enrichment" through tactics that potentially amount to criminal fraud.

        democrats-naturalresources.hou

          [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
          @meganL@mas.to

          18th day/night of protests in Tirana, Albania.

          youtube.com/watch?v=E23xdewo2hI

            [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
            @meganL@mas.to

            Multi-billion dollar plan sparks Albania's 'Flamingo Revolution' | DW News

            They've got an Albanian reporter on this one.

            youtube.com/watch?v=3cS2FZcoWPM

              [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
              @meganL@mas.to

              European Parliament calls for ban on construction in protected areas

              "The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the European Commission's Report on Albania for 2025, expressing deep concern about recent developments in the Pishë Poro–Nartë Protected Landscape, also known as Vjosë–Nartë."

              citizens.al/en/2026/06/17/Euro

                [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                @meganL@mas.to

                For the first time since protests started in Tirana, I cannot find a livestream of it on YouTube.

                Looking at the Albania sub-Reddit, there are indications that a protest was planned as usual for tonight (in that a graphic was circulated with the details), but the two channels I have been able to rely on for livecasts are not posting any. And it is 45 minutes past what the normal start time would be.

                EDIT: rumor of crackdown, arrests

                  [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                  @meganL@mas.to

                  "Police Launches (sic) Criminal Proceedings Against 23 Protest Participants After Tirana Rally" June 18, 2026

                  albaniandailynews.com/news/pol

                  "According to the Tirana Police Directorate, investigations conducted after the gathering found that several participants allegedly organized and directed demonstrators in a manner that disrupted the free movement of vehicles on multiple roads across the capital, deviating from the route that had been previously notified to authorities."

                  Alt..."According to the Tirana Police Directorate, investigations conducted after the gathering found that several participants allegedly organized and directed demonstrators in a manner that disrupted the free movement of vehicles on multiple roads across the capital, deviating from the route that had been previously notified to authorities."

                    [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                    @meganL@mas.to

                    16 Protestors, Including Organizers, Face Criminal Proceedings Over Tirana Road Blockades

                    June 17, 2026

                    albaniandailynews.com/news/16-

                    "The latest measures come just days after prosecutors and police initiated separate criminal proceedings against 19 other individuals in connection with the same protests, signaling a broader investigation into the demonstrations and their impact on public order in the Albanian capital."

                    Alt..."The latest measures come just days after prosecutors and police initiated separate criminal proceedings against 19 other individuals in connection with the same protests, signaling a broader investigation into the demonstrations and their impact on public order in the Albanian capital."

                      [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                      @meganL@mas.to

                      The livecast started more than an hour later tonight. But people are still out protesting.

                      Tonight is the 19th day/night of protests in Tirana, Albania

                      youtube.com/watch?v=7qY8tX7_VpM

                        [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                        @meganL@mas.to

                        On the 19th day, the protest goes to Parliament

                        "Hundreds of protesters today decided to change their protest route to march towards Parliament, where the next session was being held. During the march, citizens encountered MPs who were leaving.

                        Under the calls for revolution, they accused majority MPs like Blendi Çuçi or Mirela Kumbaro, who had just left Parliament, of corruption."

                        citizens.al/en/2026/06/18/ne-d

                          [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                          @meganL@mas.to

                          God, I love the humor of this banner. And it's also a relief from the many genAI signs people have made.

                          Detail from article linked in toot above. "Despite calls for his resignation, Prime Minister Edi Rama continued to comment on the protest on his social media as an organization fueled by slander and disinformation. He considered it a political demonstration lacking in ideas, poor in arguments, and degraded in vocabulary. He then requested a conversation with the "flamingos," referring to the protesters, who "do not lose their beauty if they engage in a useful discussion about the future of the area and the path of Albania's development." The Flamingo group responded to Edi Rama's request for a conversation with a simple response "in the language of flamingos": "Rama, resign."" Photo shows crowd of protestors, many with the cardboard cutouts of pink flamingos but a group in front with a fuschia banner with a hand-painted depiction of a machine translation app. The left side shows input in "Flamingoish" : "Hroonk! Gronk-gronk! Kraank!" and the right side shows translation in Albanian "Rama dorëhiqu!" (Rama, resign!)

                          Alt...Detail from article linked in toot above. "Despite calls for his resignation, Prime Minister Edi Rama continued to comment on the protest on his social media as an organization fueled by slander and disinformation. He considered it a political demonstration lacking in ideas, poor in arguments, and degraded in vocabulary. He then requested a conversation with the "flamingos," referring to the protesters, who "do not lose their beauty if they engage in a useful discussion about the future of the area and the path of Albania's development." The Flamingo group responded to Edi Rama's request for a conversation with a simple response "in the language of flamingos": "Rama, resign."" Photo shows crowd of protestors, many with the cardboard cutouts of pink flamingos but a group in front with a fuschia banner with a hand-painted depiction of a machine translation app. The left side shows input in "Flamingoish" : "Hroonk! Gronk-gronk! Kraank!" and the right side shows translation in Albanian "Rama dorëhiqu!" (Rama, resign!)

                            [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                            @meganL@mas.to

                            Op-Ed: The False Civil Society and the Real One By Mrika Temali

                            tiranatimes.com/the-false-civi

                            "35 years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed tens of millions in the name of building civil society, strengthening democracy, protecting civic space and empowering citizens. Yet, at one of the most dramatic political moments in the country’s post-communist history, much of what is officially called “civil society” is either silent, absent, or comfortably positioned within the orbit of power. This is not a failure of terminology. It is a failure of democracy. For decades, Albania has been home to an entire industry of democracy projects: seminars, capacity-building programs, consultation meetings, monitoring reports, donor strategies, public forums, roundtables on civic space, workshops on good governance, electoral integrity, anti-corruption, media freedom and European integration. A whole vocabulary of democracy has flourished. But the reality of democracy has withered. The result is that a large part of Albania’s so-called civil society has become an institution in the service of the system it was supposed to scrutinize. It speaks the language of accountability, but avoids holding power accountable. It invokes citizens, but rarely stands with them when they confront abuse. It talks about civic space, while failing to defend the actual civic space where citizens gather, protest and risk confrontation with an arrogant state."

                            Alt..."35 years after the fall of communism, Albania offers a bitter paradox. The European Union, Western governments and international foundations have spent millions indeed tens of millions in the name of building civil society, strengthening democracy, protecting civic space and empowering citizens. Yet, at one of the most dramatic political moments in the country’s post-communist history, much of what is officially called “civil society” is either silent, absent, or comfortably positioned within the orbit of power. This is not a failure of terminology. It is a failure of democracy. For decades, Albania has been home to an entire industry of democracy projects: seminars, capacity-building programs, consultation meetings, monitoring reports, donor strategies, public forums, roundtables on civic space, workshops on good governance, electoral integrity, anti-corruption, media freedom and European integration. A whole vocabulary of democracy has flourished. But the reality of democracy has withered. The result is that a large part of Albania’s so-called civil society has become an institution in the service of the system it was supposed to scrutinize. It speaks the language of accountability, but avoids holding power accountable. It invokes citizens, but rarely stands with them when they confront abuse. It talks about civic space, while failing to defend the actual civic space where citizens gather, protest and risk confrontation with an arrogant state."

                              [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                              @meganL@mas.to

                              20th night of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania catalyzed by private goons working for Kusher-linked development

                              youtube.com/watch?v=HoG7BuBBxh4

                                [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                @meganL@mas.to

                                Tirana, Albania - 14 June 2026

                                - SOUNDBITE (English) Marilda Ledi, protester:

                                "None of the Albanian youngsters that are protesting here are against the development, (they) are against corruptive development and development that exploits natural environment and everything else."

                                - SOUNDBITE (English) Ardesian Binjakaj, protester:

                                "I came here to protest because we are currently facing a very corrupt government who is doing a lot of things against their own people. They're doing everything they can in their power to suppress us as protesters. They're doing everything they can in order to pocket and increase their earnings while the average citizen is out here suffering for basic needs, such as water, healthcare, and a lot more."

                                -. Mid of protesters chanting UPSOUND "Rama step down"

                                youtube.com/watch?v=igVYTJGJnRs

                                  [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                  @meganL@mas.to

                                  "The largest anti-government protest in Albania / Motorcade with hundreds of protesters from the diaspora"

                                  Too bad it was a car protest, though. I guess it makes it harder for authorities to charge them with "blocking traffic" than charging pedestrians and cyclists.

                                  youtube.com/watch?v=cN0RQ6SfPhM

                                    [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                    @meganL@mas.to

                                    "Wait for us, we're coming!", "Rama in prison!"/ Diaspora together, convoy of Albanians towards Tirana

                                    youtube.com/watch?v=b2mkrIq-7eU

                                      [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                      @meganL@mas.to

                                      21st night of anti-corruption protests in Tirana.

                                      Formally incorporating many diaspora Albanians who arrived in Tirana today to join in.

                                      youtube.com/watch?v=YX4awxIRLEk

                                        [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                        @meganL@mas.to

                                        They spent the night in front of the Prime Minister's Office, police demand the protesters leave

                                        "The main protest in Tirana starts at 6pm every night (so those who work day jobs can attend).

                                        This hardy group tried to set up overnight outside the prime minister's office with chairs and patio umbrellas. The police didn't like that."

                                        The auto-translate is bad. What they're chanting is "Rama (the PM's surname) resign!"

                                        youtube.com/watch?v=yPCrU1S0Qao

                                          [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                          @meganL@mas.to

                                          Protestë historike para Kryeministrisë. Dita e 22-të e revoltës për dorëheqjen e Edi Ramës

                                          22nd day/night of protests. Usually a big group gathers by 6pm, but it looks like they're talking with folks who are still demonstrating (after an overnight presence) in front of the PM's building.

                                          youtube.com/watch?v=6GG6Ci1xqfY

                                            [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                            @meganL@mas.to

                                            Albania’s Street Revolt Turns (Party) Political

                                            "The protest, now in its 21st consecutive day, has become openly political. It is no longer mainly about the disputed Zvërnec project, nor only about the lack of transparency surrounding so-called strategic investment projects. Zvërnec was the match that lit a much larger fire.

                                            That fire had been building for years: over bad governance, corruption, arrogance, institutional deafness, the concentration of power in one man’s hands and the personalization of authority. For many protesters, Albania no longer resembles a functioning parliamentary democracy. As one local analyst put it, the country has come to look more like a sultanate, where one person controls and directs almost everything."

                                            tiranatimes.com/albanias-stree

                                              [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                              @meganL@mas.to

                                              Revolta në Kakome: Rrëzohet rrethimi që prej dy dekadash pengonte hyrjen në plazh

                                              Machine translation: Kakome riots: The fence that had blocked access to the beach for two decades has collapsed

                                              Kakome is between Sazan Island (where Kusher development deal is) and the Greek Island of Corfu, further down along the Albanian coast.

                                              "The civic uprising in Kakome has brought down the fence that had been preventing citizens from freely accessing the beach for nearly 20 years. This development has been seen by many participants as a symbol of the strength of civic unity. According to them, citizens have understood that only united can they protect rights, property and the public interest, taking their destiny and that of the country into their own hands."

                                              youtube.com/watch?v=WA_OmVPshKc

                                                [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                @meganL@mas.to

                                                Interview in Italian with an Albanian member of the diaspora (in Netherlands) who came back to support the protests. Diaspora Albanians came back before this weekend to protest, but there was an organized return of diaspora Albanians just this past Saturday.

                                                He speaks of how the corruption and patronage keep Albanians poor, forcing better-educated anti-corruption Albanians to leave the country.

                                                For decades, Albania's youth have had to emigrate to survive & to support their extended families.

                                                There was no reckoning for the oligarchs under Hoxha. Many of the same people run things now under "democracy".

                                                youtube.com/watch?v=lgoBwf8D-Rk

                                                  [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                  @meganL@mas.to

                                                  Carving Up the Adriatic: Why Are Albanians Protesting the Kushner Luxury Resort?

                                                  This is not from an Albanian commentator, but from someone who comes from the Balkans and does a good summary of Albanian and regional history that is important to understand to put the Flamingo Revolution into context.

                                                  youtube.com/watch?v=1a92meECMvU

                                                    [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                    @meganL@mas.to

                                                    Interview in Italian with an Albanian who was in the diaspora and came back to live in Albania. He speaks of why many in the diaspora are afraid to come back, and of how corruption has gotten worse.

                                                    youtube.com/watch?v=3358wzdhFSs

                                                      [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                      @meganL@mas.to

                                                      I was unable to post this yesterday, but here's the archive of the livecast of the 23rd day/night of protests in Tirana, the capital of Albania.

                                                      There are also protests in other Albanian cities. And also in cities abroad with significant numbers of Albanian diaspora.

                                                      youtube.com/watch?v=pMZoKWr84E4

                                                        [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                        @meganL@mas.to

                                                        "For decades, migration from Albania was largely explained by poverty and the search for survival after the collapse of communism. Today, according to researcher Ilir GĂ«deshi, the pattern has changed. Migration is increasingly selective and structural. It affects young people, educated people and skilled professionals in disproportionate numbers.

                                                        The reasons are no longer only economic. Young Albanians are leaving because they do not see a future at home. The study points to dissatisfaction with corruption, lack of meritocracy, weak trust in institutions, poor services, inadequate infrastructure and the feeling that success depends more on political connections than on talent or work."

                                                        tiranatimes.com/albanias-missi

                                                          [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                          @meganL@mas.to

                                                          Brief piece, mostly focusing on a member of the Albanian diaspora who's been living in France but came back for the protest.

                                                          youtube.com/watch?v=lMz7zIsYSbo

                                                            [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                            @meganL@mas.to

                                                            How Ivanka Trump’s plans for a lux resort sparked The Flamingo Revolution

                                                            This is a better report than I expected from a major US network (my expectations are low these days).

                                                            youtube.com/watch?v=uNSlGOKqrR8

                                                              [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                              @meganL@mas.to

                                                              The 24th straight day of protests in Tirana, Albania, the capital.

                                                              There are also protests in other cities in Albania and at Albanian embassies in countries with significant Albanian diaspora.

                                                              youtube.com/watch?v=WkgHVFYvkN0

                                                                [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                @meganL@mas.to

                                                                The 25th day/night of protests in Tirana, Albania. There's a thunderstorm right now and protestors are still out there meeting up.

                                                                youtube.com/watch?v=KYS-Ln89w-c

                                                                  [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                  @meganL@mas.to

                                                                  Albania’s flamingo protests: Will protests stop Trump’s family luxury resort plan? • FRANCE 24

                                                                  youtube.com/watch?v=vKKolg5RaVw

                                                                    [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                    @meganL@mas.to

                                                                    The 26th day/night of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania.

                                                                    youtube.com/watch?v=TBmYNN147dI

                                                                      [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                      @meganL@mas.to

                                                                      Kushner-backed luxury resort sparks outrage, dividing Albanian population • FRANCE 24 English

                                                                      This includes some interview footage from Albanian scientists and environmentalists, who've been carrying this fight for at least 2 years before it erupted generally in late May.

                                                                      youtube.com/watch?v=wA2t84BV6xs

                                                                        [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                        @meganL@mas.to

                                                                        27th day/night of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania

                                                                        youtube.com/watch?v=Arj1D-miO04

                                                                          [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                          @meganL@mas.to

                                                                          28th day/night of anti-corruption protests in Tirana, Albania

                                                                          They've got some new chants, new signs, and someone's projecting onto the Prime Minister's office building.

                                                                          youtube.com/watch?v=ErUYZKiRZoA

                                                                            [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                            @meganL@mas.to

                                                                            Albania's "Flamingo revolution": Trump-linked luxury resort plan triggers mass protests

                                                                            "Protests in Albania entered their fifth week on Saturday, with demonstrations that began in May over a planned luxury resort project linked to the Trump family. Since then, the movement has expanded into a broader criticism of Prime Minister Edi Rama and his government, with protesters raising wider concerns about governance and political accountability. Vladimir Karaj, a journalist and editor at the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, joins us from Tirana for further insights."

                                                                            youtube.com/watch?v=cgm6m4O4EvY

                                                                              [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                              @meganL@mas.to

                                                                              29th day/night of anti-corruption protest in Tirana,

                                                                              youtube.com/watch?v=flsxU50Ubr0

                                                                                [?]Megan Lynch (she/her) » 🌐
                                                                                @meganL@mas.to

                                                                                Albanians keep protesting against Jared Kushner-linked resort project

                                                                                They interview two Albanians who speak English.

                                                                                youtube.com/watch?v=DmTglc2flDM

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