The Republic of Albania, slightly smaller than the state of Maryland, is across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, and shares borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia and Greece. Independence was obtained from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but it was conquered by Italy in 1939, became a communist country in 1944, associated with China in 1960, then went on to establish a democracy in the early 1990’s. It joined NATO in 2008 and is a potential candidate for European Union membership.
The population is 3.6 million with a life expectancy at birth of 78 years, a literacy of nearly 99% and GDP/capita of $6,000. Unemployment is either 12.5%, or a more accurate 30%, because many are resigned to subsistence farming. A quarter of the population is below the poverty line. The people are 70% Muslim. The president is Bamir Topi and capital is Tirane.
97% of electricity is hydropower. It produces about 6500 barrels/day of oil, but consumes nearly 5 times that amount. At 80 leke/U.S. Dollar, the rate has been decreasing. There are 65 television stations. Trafficking of women and drugs are serious problems.
There is a book entitled, Albania Today, by Clarissa De Waal, while the latest info can be found at Albania News. The State Department can be tapped for additional details.
The population is 3.6 million with a life expectancy at birth of 78 years, a literacy of nearly 99% and GDP/capita of $6,000. Unemployment is either 12.5%, or a more accurate 30%, because many are resigned to subsistence farming. A quarter of the population is below the poverty line. The people are 70% Muslim. The president is Bamir Topi and capital is Tirane.
97% of electricity is hydropower. It produces about 6500 barrels/day of oil, but consumes nearly 5 times that amount. At 80 leke/U.S. Dollar, the rate has been decreasing. There are 65 television stations. Trafficking of women and drugs are serious problems.
There is a book entitled, Albania Today, by Clarissa De Waal, while the latest info can be found at Albania News. The State Department can be tapped for additional details.
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The Dow Jones Industrials dropped 68, then recovered up 44 at 8212. Except for Sweden (again) and Australia, other world markets increased. Read about the current status. Gold stayed steady at $887/toz and crude oil jumped around 5%.
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