Ethnic Greek imprisoned in Albania hopes his election to European Parliament will boost rule of law

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — An Albanian prison cell wouldn't rank high among choice spots to run a successful campaign for election to the European Parliament. Fredis Beleris, a member of Albania's ethnic Greek minority, had no choice. Last year, he was elected mayor of a town in...

Medical workers in Albania are charged with abusing their posts by sending cancer patients elsewhere

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Two doctors and five other medical workers in Albania have been charged with abusing their posts by sending cancer patients for costly treatment elsewhere instead of providing free public care, the prosecutor’s office said Wednesday. The prosecutors'...

Albanian appeals court upholds prison term for Greek minority mayor, raising tensions with Athens

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian appeals court on Tuesday upheld a two-year prison sentence for an elected mayor of the country’s Greek minority, in a move expected to further exacerbate tension with neighboring Greece. The appeals court declined to change the verdict of the...

Much-changed Spain beats Albania 1-0 at Euro 2024 to finish perfect group stage

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Spain changed almost its entire lineup and still kept up its victorious start to the European Championship with a 1-0 win over Albania, which was eliminated on Monday. With his team already assured of winning Group B, coach Luis de la Fuente changed 10...

Spain eliminates Albania from Euro 2024 and advances England, Netherlands, France into last 16

Albania player Mirlind Daku banned by UEFA for two Euro 2024 games after nationalist chants

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Albania player Mirlind Daku was banned on Sunday for two games after leading fans in nationalist chants at the European Championship, that UEFA said brought soccer into disrepute. Daku took a megaphone after Albania’s 2-2 draw with Croatia on Wednesday...

Gjasula scores own goal then last-gasp equalizer for Albania in 2-2 draw with Croatia at Euro 2024

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Albania substitute Klaus Gjasula had the rare experience of scoring for both teams Wednesday in an intense 2-2 draw with Croatia that could make it difficult for each to survive the group stage at Euro 2024. The Croatian players were particularly...

Italy concedes goal after 23 seconds but recovers to beat Albania 2-1 at Euro 2024

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — By conceding a goal after just 23 seconds, Italy made the worst possible start to its European Championship title defense. Thankfully for the Azzurri, it soon got much better. Italy recovered from letting in the quickest goal in the...

Italy's premier visits Albania as controversial plan to hold Italy-bound migrants nears its start

SHENGJIN, Albania (AP) — Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni traveled to Albania on Wednesday to thank its government for its unique role in agreeing to host thousands of asylum-seekers while Italy processes their claims, and to tour migrant centers she said will be ready in August. ...

Italy's migrant jails are squalid and chaotic. A young man from Guinea was desperate to escape

ROME (AP) — It was still dark and quiet outside when Ousmane Sylla performed his last prayer in the courtyard of an Italian migrant jail. “I miss my Africa very much and my mother too,” read a scribble in French on the wall nearby. ”May I rest in peace." A few...