Once known as "the North Korea of Europe", Albania is turning to its millennia-old sites and rich cultural heritage to recast its image.

Albania is set to establish a sovereign spiritual state in Tirana for the Bektashi Order, an Islamic Sufi sect, in a move aimed at promoting religious tolerance, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on January 25.

Ali Amini was just days from starting a new life in the United States when President Donald Trump halted aid for resettling Afghan refugees last week, a move that Amini worries could put his life in danger if forced to return home.

Archbishop Anastasios, who revived the Orthodox Church of Albania after the fall of the communist regime in the country, has died

Albania has not been asked by anyone, nor can we even consider taking on any such responsibility."Albanian-Middle Eastern tiesThe Albanian leader went on to note the country's strong ties to numerous Middle Eastern countries,

Anastasios played a key role in reviving the church in Albania, an independent branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, after being elected to lead it in 1992 following the fall of the communist regime which had ruled the Muslim-majority country for decades.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Albania on January 17, 2025.

Italy, Albania and the United Arab Emirates have signed a three-way clean energy cooperation deal. It calls for the Gulf country’s expertise to be put to use in Albania to produce solar, wind and other renewable energy,

Albania will create a sovereign Muslim state in Tirana for the Bektashi religious order, along the lines of the Vatican in Rome, to preserve and promote religious tolerance, Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Saturday.

Archbishop Anastasios, an ecumenical movement leader credited with helping to revitalize the Orthodox Church in Muslim-majority Albania, has died at the age of 95.

Surinam Airways is the flag carrier of the South American nation of Suriname (although it is culturally associated with the Caribbean). The airline is based at Paramaribo and is owned by the Government of Suriname. According to ch-aviation, Surinam Airway operates only one active Boeing 737-800s, although planespotters.net lists two as active.