Tirana
Thousands of Virus-free international fans participate at Unum Albania's open-air music festival in Shengjin on Friday, June 4, 2021. Organizers had sold all 10,000 planned tickets with more requests to follow from people around the world trying to forget the virus restrictions and follow non-stop music for five days at the Rana e Hedhun (Thrown Sand) beach, 75 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of the capital Tirana. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Music fans flock to Albania’s beach festival despite virus

By Florent Bajrami And Llazar Semini Jun. 08, 2021 04:21 AM EDT

Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama waves to his supporters during a rally in Tirana, Albania, Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Albania's left-wing Socialist Party has secured a third consecutive mandate in a parliamentary election, winning a majority of seats in parliament, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albania's Socialists win election, gain 3rd straight mandate

By Llazar Semini Apr. 27, 2021 01:51 PM EDT

Supporters of the Democratic Party waving Albanian and party flags participate in the political rally in capital Tirana, Albania on Friday, April 23, 2021.Albania holds parliamentary elections on Sunday amid the virus pandemic and a bitter political rivalry between the country's two largest political parties but that will serve as a key milestone in the country's next step toward European Union membership. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Albania heads to polls after a bitter political fight

By Llazar Semini Apr. 23, 2021 04:15 AM EDT

Albanian President Ilir Meta speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Tirana, Albania, Wednesday, April 21, 2021. Albania’s president waded deep into the country's parliamentary election campaign Wednesday, accusing the left-wing government of running a “kleptocratic regime” and bungling its pandemic response. In an interview with The Associated Press, Ilir Meta also said he would step down if Prime Minister Edi Rama's Socialists — who are leading the main opposition conservatives in opinion polls — win Sunday's vote. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albania’s president harshly attacks PM ahead of Sunday polls

By Llazar Semini Apr. 21, 2021 12:12 PM EDT

Albania signs 104 million-euro deal to build new airport

By Llazar Semini Apr. 20, 2021 08:13 AM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania on Tuesday signed a contract with a Swiss-based consortium to build a 104 million-euro ($125 million) new international airport....

This Monday, April 19, 2021 photo provided by the Albanian Police shows Rudolf Nikolli, 34, after his arrest in Tirana, Albania. The Albanian young man has attacked with a knife and injured five persons at a mosque in the capital Tirana, according to police. A statement on Monday said that at about 2.30 p.m. (1230 GMT) Rudolf Nikolli, 34, entered the Dine Hoxha mosque downtown Tirana and "in unclear situation he injured with a knife 5 citizens." Police forces reacted immediately and managed to "neutralize him" but have yet to disclose the cause of the attack. (Albanian Police via AP)
Albanian man with knife wounds 5 at mosque in Tirana

By Llazar Semini Apr. 19, 2021 12:41 PM EDT

Albania’s flights resume after 2-day airport closure

By Llazar Semini Apr. 09, 2021 06:09 AM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Commercial flights resumed at Albania’s Tirana International Airport on Friday after they were blocked for two days by an air traffic...

'Essential' flights resume at Tirana Airport after strike

By Llazar Semini Apr. 08, 2021 07:10 AM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s infrastructure minister on Thursday said that “essential” flights have resumed at the country’s only international airport...

Albania sends troops, police, to end flight control strike

By Llazar Semini Apr. 07, 2021 09:08 AM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania's government sent troops and police Wednesday evening to clear striking air traffic controllers out of the flight control tower...

FILE - In this Wednesday, April 16, 1997 file photo, Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino shakes hands with OSCE representative Austrian Franz Vranitzky, in Tirana. Bashkim Fino, who was appointed prime minister to shepherd Albania out of almost total chaos 24 years ago when fraudulent investment schemes collapsed and angry crowds looted military installations nationwide, has died aged 58. Fino's family and his governing Socialist party said the former prime minister died Monday March 29, 2021 in hospital, where he had been treated for several days after contracting COVID-19. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina, File)
Economist who pulled Albania out of 1997 anarchy dead at 58

By Llazar Semini Mar. 29, 2021 12:20 PM EDT

People wait outside a vaccination center for the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in Tirana, Albania, Sunday, March 28, 2021. Albania started a mass vaccination campaign trying to inoculate half a million people opening the way to a more relaxed incoming summer tourism season. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albania starts mass COVID vaccinations before tourist season

By Llazar Semini Mar. 28, 2021 06:52 AM EDT

Poeple wearing face masks and face shields to prevent the spread of the coronavirus buy food at the Munoz market in Quezon city, Philippines as they prepare for a stricter lockdown on Sunday March 28, 2021. The government will start stricter lockdown measures next week as the country struggles to control an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
The Latest: Metro Manila, outlying provinces go on lockdown

By The Associated Press Mar. 28, 2021 06:11 AM EDT

Albanian parties break some virus rules to launch campaigns

By Llazar Semini Mar. 25, 2021 04:11 PM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s opposition on Thursday defied virus restrictions to hold a rally in the capital of Tirana to launch its electoral campaign. ...

Albania federation wants vaccinated fans at England match

By Llazar Semini Mar. 23, 2021 04:22 PM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The Albanian Football Association on Tuesday called on the country’s prime minister to let vaccinated fans attend the national team's...

Albania coach wants fans at the stadium for England match

By Llazar Semini Mar. 21, 2021 09:00 AM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s national team soccer coach on Sunday called on the government to let a limited number of spectators to attend its World Cup...

Albania: Spectators banned from WC qualifier with England

Mar. 19, 2021 12:18 PM EDT
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania soccer officials say their request for a limited number of spectators at the World Cup qualifier with England this month was...

Albania to build 2nd international airport to boost tourism

By Llazar Semini Mar. 05, 2021 10:49 AM EST
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania's government on Friday selected a Swiss-based corporation to build a 104-million-euro ($125 million) new international airport...

In this picture taken on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, health workers wheel out a patient from an ambulance, at the entrance of the University Clinic complex in Skopje, North Macedonia. When thousands of people across the European Union simultaneously began rolling up their sleeves last month to get a coronavirus vaccination shot, one corner of the continent was left behind, feeling isolated and abandoned: the Balkans. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Balkans feel abandoned as vaccinations kick off in Europe

By Sabina Niksic And Dusan Stojanovic Jan. 06, 2021 03:18 AM EST

Albanian protesters run away from teargas during a protest rally in Tirana, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. Demonstrators in a northern Albanian city damaged the left-wing governing Socialist Party's offices and injured a police officer Saturday, authorities said, as part of ongoing protests this week after a fatal shooting by police enforcing a coronavirus curfew. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Human rights envoy criticizes Albania's handling of protests

By Llazar Semini Dec. 16, 2020 11:08 AM EST

Protesters throw stones to riot police during clashes in Tirana, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Albanian demonstrators clashed in the third day on Friday protesting for the death of a 25-year-old man shot dead by a police officer. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)
Albanians hold a peaceful protest over police shooting

By Llazar Semini Dec. 14, 2020 11:34 AM EST