International News
Former Albanian President, Meta Arrested For Corruption
In a dramatic development that has rocked Albanian politics, former President Ilir Meta was arrested on Monday for alleged corruption and money laundering, marking a new chapter in the ongoing political battle between Meta and his long-time rival, Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The arrest, confirmed by the country’s special prosecutor’s office, has drawn sharp criticism from Meta’s supporters and deepened tensions within Albania’s political landscape.
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Meta, 55, who served as President from 2017 to 2022, was detained in Tirana after returning from a visit to Kosovo.
His arrest comes amid an ongoing investigation involving him, his ex-wife, Monika Kryemadhi, and other prominent figures on charges that include “passive bribery of a senior official,” “money laundering,” and “false declaration of assets.”
The allegations span over a decade, with some of the earliest accusations dating back to his tenure as Minister of Economy between 2010 and 2011.
Albanian media outlets published images showing police escorting Meta out of his vehicle and into a police van, while AFP photographers later captured him leaving a police station, en route to jail.
His ex-wife, Kryemadhi, a Member of Parliament and leader of the Freedom Party, has not been arrested but is required to appear regularly before judicial authorities.
Kryemadhi has publicly denounced the charges, describing them as “political” in nature.
“This is a criminal kidnapping,” said Tedi Blushi, the secretary-general of Meta’s Freedom Party, as he condemned the arrest.
Meta’s political allies view the move as part of a broader crackdown by Prime Minister Rama, who has been accused of consolidating power and targeting political rivals.
Former Prime Minister and opposition leader Sali Berisha, himself under investigation for corruption, called Meta’s arrest “political persecution” during a press conference on Monday.
The charges against Meta, if proven, could result in up to 12 years of imprisonment under Albanian law.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities receiving international support from the United States, Austria, Italy, San Marino, and Cyprus.
Prosecutors hinted at the possibility of more individuals being implicated as they continue to scrutinize Meta’s alleged network of criminal activities.
Ilir Meta is a seasoned figure in Albanian politics, with a career that spans back to the country’s post-communist transition.
He was elected as a deputy in 1992 and went on to serve in a variety of top-level roles, including Prime Minister (1999-2002), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2009-2010), and Speaker of Parliament (2013-2017).
His presidency, though largely ceremonial, was marked by escalating tensions with Prime Minister Rama, particularly as Meta positioned himself as a fierce critic of the government, accusing Rama of creating a “kleptocratic regime.”
International News
Turkish Model Arrested Over Plan To Sleep With 100 Men In 24 Hours
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Ezra Vandan, also known as Azranur AV, has been detained in Istanbul for publicly announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
The announcement, made on social media, sparked outrage and led to her arrest by the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate’s Morality Bureau.
Vandan had shared her intentions on January 14, 2025, posting a photo of herself in red lingerie with the caption: “My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record! I’m starting with 100 men in 24 hours.”
She reportedly planned to live-stream the event, which was widely criticised as “obscene” and “damaging to societal morals.”
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According to reports, the post drew the attention of authorities, who initiated an investigation and apprehended her while she awaited a cosmetic surgery operation in Atasehir. Footage captured her being escorted down the stairs of a hospital by female officers, her wrists bound behind her.
In a controversial twist, Vandan allegedly uploaded a revealing image taken during her arrest by a police officer, captioning it, “I had the photo taken by one of the officers, he didn’t object much.”
Her husband, Pedram Behdar Vandan, 25, was also briefly detained but later released.
The Istanbul 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace has charged Vandan with obscenity, resisting an officer on duty, and slander, stating that her actions and posts were “damaging to moral values” and “provocative to society.”
Defending herself in court, Vandan argued that her posts were personal and did not harm anyone. “I do not deserve to be judged,” she said.
The case has reignited debates in Turkey about personal freedom and societal values.
International News
Train Accident In Maharashtra Claims 11 Lives After Panic Over Fire Alarm
Eleven passengers tragically lost their lives on Wednesday in Maharashtra, India, after jumping off a moving train amid fears of a fire, only to be struck by an oncoming train.
The incident occurred in Jalgaon district, approximately 400 kilometres from Mumbai, and has once again highlighted safety issues in India’s extensive railway network, which serves millions of passengers daily.
Ayush Prasad, a senior district official, confirmed the fatalities and stated that five other passengers are receiving medical treatment. “People were run over by a train,” he said, without clarifying if the fire alarm was genuine or false.
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According to a spokesperson for Indian Railways, the chaos began when someone activated the “alarm chain” on the Mumbai-bound train, prompting several passengers to disembark. Tragically, they were struck by a train traveling in the opposite direction.
India’s interior minister, Amit Shah, expressed his grief over the incident, saying, “Deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident.” Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, described the tragedy as “deeply disturbing” and said he was “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Despite efforts to modernise the railway infrastructure with a $30 billion investment aimed at improving safety and connectivity, accidents remain a significant concern. Official records indicate that an average of 20,000 people died annually in rail-related accidents between 2017 and 2021.
In 2023, one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters claimed nearly 300 lives when a passenger train collided with a stationary goods train, leading to further collisions.
India continues to grapple with balancing its rapid economic growth with ensuring the safety of its ageing railway network.
International News
WHO Expresses Regret Over US’ Withdrawal
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed regret on Tuesday over the decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to withdraw the United States from the global health body.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic addressed the media, stating, “The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the organisation.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”
The move comes after Trump, on his first day back in the White House, signed an executive order initiating the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, citing dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to implement necessary reforms.
He also criticized the alleged political influence over the WHO. “That’s a big one,” Trump said, referring to his previous attempt to exit the organization in 2020, which was blocked by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Public health experts have sharply criticized the decision. Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, called the move a “strategic error,” warning that it could potentially increase China’s influence in global health matters.
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Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University, labeled the decision as “a cataclysmic presidential decision,” adding that it undermines both world health efforts and U.S. leadership on the global stage.
In response, China reiterated its support for the WHO.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, emphasized, “The role of the WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened. China will, as always, support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities… and work towards building a shared community of health for humanity.”
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