Latest Albania News

Italy denies asylum for 43 migrants relocated to Albania, and observers say they were denied lawyers

Jan. 30, 2025 13:33 PM EST

MILAN (AP) — Italian authorities on Thursday rejected the asylum requests of 43 asylum-seekers transferred to Albania in a speedy procedure that a non-governmental delegation observing the process said illegally deprived them of legal assistance. “The commission is clearly...

Thousands of Albanians pay last respects to Orthodox Christian Archbishop Anastasios

Jan. 30, 2025 08:55 AM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Thousands of Albanians gathered in the capital on Thursday to pay their last respects to Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country’s Orthodox Christian Church after the fall of the Communist party in 1990. Anastasios, who was the Archbishop of Tirana,...

Italy sends 49 more migrants to Albania for processing following earlier court rejections

Jan. 29, 2025 01:09 AM EST

SHENGJIN, Albania (AP) — An Italian navy ship arrived Tuesday in Albania with 49 migrants intercepted in international waters for processing of their asylum applications at special Albanian centers, in the third such attempt following hurdles earlier raised by Italian courts. ...

Italy resumes migrant transfers to processing centers in Albania

Jan. 26, 2025 08:34 AM EST

ROME (AP) — Italy said Sunday it was transferring 49 migrants picked up in the Mediterranean to new processing centers in Albania, in the third such attempt facing hurdles by courts. The navy vessel Cassiopea with the migrants on board was expected to reach the Albanian port of...

Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the Orthodox Church in Albania, dies at 95

Jan. 25, 2025 04:28 AM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania's Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the country's Orthodox Church after the fall of the communist regime in 1990, has died, the church said on Saturday. He was 95. Anastasios, the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania and head of the...

Italy, Albania and UAE ink clean energy cooperation deal

Jan. 15, 2025 06:44 AM EST

ROME (AP) — Italy, Albania and the United Arab Emirates signed a three-way clean energy cooperation deal Wednesday that calls for the Gulf country’s expertise to be put to use in Albania to produce solar, wind and other renewable energy, some of which would then be transferred to Italy via an...

Albania opposition activists rally on streets of Tirana to demand government steps aside

Dec. 23, 2024 13:22 PM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Members of Albania’s main opposition party on Monday blocked the capital Tirana’s main intersections in an anti-government protest calling for a technocratic caretaker cabinet ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. In the first rally after their...

Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a 'rushed reaction to a single incident'

Dec. 23, 2024 02:22 AM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s prime minister said Sunday the ban on TikTok his government announced a day earlier was “not a rushed reaction to a single incident.” Prime Minister Edi Rama said Saturday the government will shut down TikTok for one year, accusing the popular...

Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among children

Dec. 21, 2024 14:16 PM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania's prime minister said Saturday the government will shut down the video service TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. Albanian authorities held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents following...