Italy begins migrant transfers to Albania with first group of 16

Italy on Monday began transferring migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean to centres in Albania in a European first that has sparked criticism from human rights groups. The would-be asylum seekers, 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt, were rescued in international waters by Italian authorities Sunday. Their two boats had each departed from Libya in the Tripoli area, the source said. Far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took office in October 2022 on a promise to stop the tens of thousands of migrants who land on Italy's shores each year from North Africa. FRANCE 24's Seema Gupta reports from Rome.