Everything you need to know about Albania: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
Albania: New EU and NATO Member
Albania with its capital at Tirana is located in the Southeastern part of Europe. It is surrounded by Greece in the southwest, Montenegro in the north, Kosovo to the northeast and by the Republic of Macedonia in the east. Albania has coastline along the Adriatic Sea on the west and the Ionian Sea on the southwest. This geographical location of Albania is important for the war strategist and was used as base for military actions during both the world wars.
A small country, Albania was always considered as potential candidate for geopolitical scenario and associated with various world organisations like UNO, WTO, NATO etc.
Albania is a country having parliamentary democracy and a transitory economy. The Albanian capital, Tirana, is home to approximately 600,000 of the country's 3.6 million people, and it is also the financial capital of the country. The crumbling infrastructure and corruption made Albania a center for high unemployment and wide spread poverty. Many Albanians migrated from the country in search of work and the money they send remain the important source of revenue. Free-market reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development related works like energy and transportation infrastructure. Though, Albania has a developing economy yet it is the poorest country of European Union due to its large informal economy and huge public debt.
Albania Facts:
Geographical and Climatic Information on Albania:
Albania is composed of two major regions: a mountainous highland region (north, east, and south) constituting 70% of the land area, and a western coastal lowland region that contains nearly all of the country's agricultural land and is the most densely populated part of Albania.
The topographic location of Albania along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) provides mild temperate, cool, cloudy, wet winters and hot, clear, dry summers. The interior of Albania is cooler and wetter than the costal region of the country.
Culture, Cuisine and Tourist Attractions in Albania:
The Albanian culture has influences of Greek, Roman, Italian, Byzantine, Turkish and Slavic cultures. This amalgamation of various cultures can be seen in the life style, food behaviors, arts, architectures and literature of Albanians.
The main ingredients of Albanian cuisine comprises of fruits, salad, vegetables, meat and seafood. Different ethnic groups have their own style of food preparations. This traditional style of cooking makes Albanian foods renowned across the globe. The main chunk of daily food habit comprises of bread, vegetables, meat and seafood.
Albania is located between the West and East Europe and has the influence of two big civilizations of Greece and Rome. There are numerous ancient cities, ruins and treasures that are visited by tourists round the year. Albania's ancient treasures tour is a way to explore some of the wonders of the country as well as the wonders of world. Travelers from all corners of the world come to Albania to experience a memorable holiday by enjoying its preserved culture, traditions and picturesque landscapes. Albania offers a fine mix of cheap hotels, sporting activities and fine cuisines to tourists from around the world.
Major Sight-seeing Places in Albania include:
• National Archaeological Museum
• Kruha Fortress
• Berat Fortress
• Onufri Museum
• Ancient Bylis
• Gjirokastra Castle
• Ancient Foenice
• Famous Bthrotum
• Orchum, Ancient Apollonia,
• Duress Amphitheater
• Archaeological Museum.
Washington, Apr 10 (ANI): Libyan weapons are spreading at 'an alarming rate' to new territory in west Africa and the eastern Mediterranean including Syria and the Gaza Strip, a U.N. has panel said.
New Delhi, March 20 (IANS) Nuanced rhythms of India and Africa power the sounds of Swiss jazz giant Malcolm Braff's contemporary compositions that address the musical concerns of the world rather than the niche musical stage of traditional jazz that grew out of America.
Athens, Jan 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Robbers armed with Russian-designed Kalashnikov assault rifles or similar military-type assault weapons may soon face up to life in prison under new legislation drafted by the Greek ministry of justice.
Book: "The Mother and The Sister"; Author: Cyriac Thomas; Publisher: Konark; Pages: 195; Price: Rs.595
Varanasi, Nov.25 (ANI): Hundreds of people participated in a unique Owl Festival in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to highlight the current state of the country's political class.
Washington, October 25 (ANI): In a new study, researchers have investigated the genesis of vendettas - a blood feud in which the family of a murdered person seeks vengeance on the murderer or the murderer's family.
London, July 19 (IANS) Indian weightlifting coach Devi Dutt Sharma Thursday said his two-member team can spring a surprise at the London Olympics beginning here next week.
Moscow, July 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Anzhi Makhachkala coach Guus Hiddink says Hungarian minnows FC Honved are the better prepared side for their Europa League second qualifying round, first-leg clash Thursday.
London, June 27 (ANI): A giant painting made from coffee beans, which was created by Russian artists, has made its way into the Guinness Book of Records.
London, June 22 (ANI): Punjabi is the most commonly spoken language among one million children who do not speak English as a first language in the UK, official figures have revealed.
Moscow, April 29 (IANS) About 25,000 metric tonnes - or 62 percent - of Russia's chemical weapons haf been destroyed till April 29, RIA Novosti reported Sunday.
Melbourne, April 12 (ANI): A Swedish study has found that there is no reason to ban texting or talking on cell phones while driving.
London, April 11 (IANS) An Albanian accused of multiple murders in his native country and on the run for 15 years, has been finally arrested in north London.
Nevada (US), Nov 9 (ANI): Hindus have applauded Albania for its "Inclusion of Young Roma in the University System" program.ommending this plan, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that "it was step in the right direction".
London, Sept 21 (ANI): A Nigerian man, accused of raping a 13-year-old girl, has escaped deportation after European judges ruled he had a right to a 'private life' in the UK.
London, Sept 10 (ANI): A former Eastern European spy chief wanted for torture and kidnapping has been reportedly living in a council flat on benefits in Britain for 15 years.
Washington, Aug 26 (ANI): A 98 foot-long Roman cargo ship dating to the first century B.C. has been found about 130 feet deep near the port city of Vlora.
Nevada (US), July 17 (ANI): Despite six years into high-flown 'Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015' initiative, the Roma (Gypsy) people of Europe still reportedly live in apartheid like conditions, the Hindus have stressed.
New York, May 17 (ANI): Kanye West's latest rumoured girlfriend is Miss Universe Albania Angela Martini.
Washington, Apr 25 (ANI): Pope Benedict XVI has told devotees in his Easter Vigil homily that humanity is not a random product of evolution, but has a "divine reasoning" behind it.
Los Angeles, Mar. 17 (ANI): Global Heritage Fund, a California-based nonprofit organization that focuses on historical preservation has launched a new Internet platform called Global Heritage Network (GHN), to rescue cultural heritage sites on the verge of being irreparably damaged.HN aims to serve as an early warning system for site conservation leaders, archaeologists, local communities, government officials, and volunteers of endangered sites in developing countries, where financial resources and expertise are limited.
London, Feb 9(ANI): England star Ashley Cole is set to become the Three Lions' most-capped full-back by overtaking Kenny Sansom's record of 86 appearances.
London, Feb 9(ANI): England star Ashley Cole is set to become the Three Lions' most-capped full-back by overtaking Kenny Sansom's record of 86 appearances.
London, Jan.27 (ANI): The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced cuts in its World Service program that could see the loss of 650 jobs and at least 30 million listeners.
Prishtina, Dec 15 (ANI): A Council of Europe inquiry report on organised crime has revealed that Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci is the head of a "mafia-like" Albanian group responsible for smuggling weapons, drugs and human organs through eastern Europe.
Nevada (US), Dec 14 (ANI): Roma (Gypsy) in Balkans live in overcrowded residences, in hazardous areas without access to infrastructure, further exacerbated by lack of security of tenure and vulnerability to forced evictions, according to research undertaken by European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC).
London, Nov 24 (ANI): The BBC's popular dance show, 'Strictly Come Dancing', has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most successful reality television format.
New Delhi, Oct.18 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil on Monday said that India is grateful to the international community for the support and the confidence shown by them to India's capability to be a voice of stability as well as development in global affairs.
London, Oct 5 (ANI): Comic actor Sir Norman Wisdom (95), who suffered a series of strokes over the past six months, died at a nursing home on the Isle of Man on Monday evening, confirms his son.
London, June 23 (ANI): India is among thirteen countries that have been declared to have a high level of corruption and abysmal government performance.
Wellington, June 15 (ANI): A woman has become the "Mother Teresa" of Auckland with her tireless efforts to help the poor.
London, Feb 13 (ANI): Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said that Italy would only welcome Albanian immigrants if they were pretty girls.
London, Feb 8(ANI): An easy draw for the Euro 2012 has made England the favourites in the bookies eyes, who are so convinced of the Three Lions getting through to the finals that they have been immediately installed at an incredibly short-price of 1-10.
London, Dec 10(ANI): Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was at the centre of a security alert after a man was arrested near his 3.5million pound home in Connaught Street, Central London, for possessing a firearm.
London, Dec 7(ANI): In what is being seen as a shocking incident, a UK police surveillance photo has revealed one Albania national handing 3,000 pounds in cash to sell a woman as a sex slave to two others in London's Oxford Street.
Beijing, Nov 30(ANI): In spite of conquering every sport played the world over, China's performance in football has been a source of shame for its fans for years, with the national team dangling between Cuba and Albania to be ranked 97th in the world.
London, Oct 15 (ANI): Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has grabbed the first place in a list of 172 heads of States with the hottest appearance.
London, June 9 (ANI): Portuguese and Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo has pulled out of Portugal's friendly clash in Estonia tomorrow amid fears he could need a hernia operation.
London, May 29 (ANI): Ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo is officially off Real Madrid's radar as his Manchester United received a welcome lift after their Champions League final defeat.
London, May 27 (ANI): Renowned short story writer Alice Munro has won the third Man Booker International Prize, beating the likes of Mahasweta Devi and VS Naipaul.
New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) India has informed the United Nations that it has destroyed its stockpile of chemical weapons in compliance with the international Chemical Weapons Convention. With this India has become third country after South Korea and Albania to do so.
Washington, May 9 (ANI): Republican Senator Richard Lugar has asked the Obama admisitration to apply Nunn-Lugar Bill to Pakistan, like it did with the former Soviet Union, to safeguard Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
London, Apr 26 (ANI): Recession-hit Britain is the shoplifting capital of Europe, according to a report.
Voronezh (Russia), April 19 (RIA Novosti) Russia's envoy to NATO has dubbed the alliance's exercises due in Georgia in early May 'insanity'.
Moscow, April 17 (RIA Novosti) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that NATO's decision to hold military exercises in Georgia next month threatens to complicate ties with Russia.
Tirana (Albania), April 11 (Xinhua) An Albanian woman lived 12 years with a bullet lodged below her cheekbone without noticing it, a media report said.
Strasbourg (France), April 4 (DPA) Describing Afghanistan as a 'litmus test' for NATO, leaders of the 60-year-old alliance Saturday began talks on defeating the Taliban insurgency and preventing the warn-torn country from becoming a haven for Al Qaeda terrorists.
Hamburg, April 2 (DPA) England, the Netherlands and Spain maintained their 100-per-cent records to stay well on course for places at the 2010 Football World Cup finals in South Africa.
Tirana (Albania), April 2 (DPA) An Albanian high-school class pulled off a dangerous April fool's prank on their teacher when all pupils took sedatives and fell asleep in class, local media reported Thursday.
Paris, April 2 (DPA) This week's NATO summit celebrating the 60th anniversary of the alliance's founding is viewed by many participants as a new beginning, featuring a new US president, new threats, a new war and perhaps a new relationship with an old foe.
Washington, April 1 (DPA) Albania and Croatia have formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the US State Department said in a statement Wednesday.
Brussels, March 31 (DPA) Heads of state and government from the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) gather in Strasbourg April 3-4 to mark their alliance's 60th anniversary. But despite the fanfare, they will have few reasons to celebrate.
Hindus have urged Albania to urgently empower and integrate its vulnerable Roma community, who are reportedly trapped in extreme and chronic poverty and had suffered social exclusion and economic marginalization for a long period.
Washington, Feb.13 (ANI): Three weeks into her new role as US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton seems to be enjoying her new status at the Foggy Bottom headquarters.
Hindus have praised Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania for promoting ?respect towards the environment? and calling over-exploitation and contempt towards nature an ?unforgivable abuse?.
Berlin, Jan 8 (DPA) Europe remained in the grip of a cold spell Thursday, resulting in at least six deaths as well as heating shortages and travel delays.
Tirana, Dec 18 (DPA) Albania has pulled its last contingent of 200 troops out of Iraq and they will return home Saturday, local media reported Thursday.
Tirana, Nov 12 (DPA) The US actor with Albanian roots, James Belushi, has been decorated in Tirana by President Bamir Topi for taking care of his family heritage, the ATA news agency reported.
Tirana, Nov 10 (DPA) More than 20 people were injured and three missing after a five-story building collapsed Sunday in the southern Albanian town of Gjirokaster.
Washington, Oct 25 (DPA) The US officially endorsed the NATO membership of Croatia and Albania, with President George W. Bush Friday signing an agreement already ratified by Congress.
Hamburg, Oct 16 (DPA) England, Spain and the Netherlands all maintained their perfect records in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with away wins, while Russia got their campaign back on track with a victory against Finland.
Rome, Oct 10 (Xinhua) Climate change and bio-energy are the focus of this year's World Food Day activities, expected to involve over 150 countries, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said Friday.
London, Aug 18 (ANI): A new study has found that British paedophiles gain access to children abroad because foreign orphanages and schools cannot conduct UK criminal record checks. The study said the that the UK Government had "turned a blind eye" to child sex offenders who travel or work abroad, placing thousands of children at risk, with "repeat offenders travelling from country to country and flagrantly avoiding the stringent sex offender mechanisms in the UK". The track record in Britain as far as prosecuting paedophiles is very dismal, as it has prosecuted only five, sex offenders for child sexual abuse abroad since 1997, and none since 2005, while the US has prosecuted more than 50, and Australia more than 25. But the report, by Ecpat UK, a coalition of children's charities, pointed out that Britons figure prominently in international child abuse statistics, with at least 15 British nationals charged in Thailand over the past two years for the sexual abuse of children, and others prosecuted in India, Ghana, Cambodia and Albania, reported The Guardian. The report said: "Many of them have been teachers or volunteers in orphanages. Currently, schools and organisations abroad have no mechanism for undertaking pre-employment checks for checking the suitability of working with children through UK criminal records or other sources. This is a major gap in the protection of vulnerable children." Ecpat UK Director Christine Beddoe said: "Offenders are always trying to find new ways to access vulnerable children. The easiest way to do that is to get into the school or orphanage system - once you've got a job, you've got an employment history and can travel from country to country. By not allowing international organisations access to the information we hold we are putting children at risk and allowing offenders to operate without fear." The report also called for chaperones to ensure convicted sex offenders do not abscond during their return to the UK, as long-haul flights often include stop-off landings. The charity also recommended more joint investigations between police forces and a review of foreign travel orders, which restrict the movements of high-risk sex offenders. Only three have ever been issued for child sex offenders, compared with more than 3000 for football hooligans, the report pointed out. "There is something fundamentally wrong about the current attitude to risk and harm to children abroad when these figures are shown side by side," said the report released after the study. New measures came into force last month allowing paedophiles who abuse children abroad to be prosecuted in Britain, regardless of whether the abuse was legal in the host country. "This sends a strong message to so-called sex tourists that they won't get away with targeting other countries with less strict controls than the UK," the Home Office said, and added: "From the autumn, we also intend to make registered sex offenders notify the police of any travel abroad.
London, Aug.7 (ANI): European judges have halted Abu Hamza's extradition to the United States on terror charges after the hook-handed cleric claimed it would breach his human rights.
As was expected after winning the trust vote the Congress-led UPA government would waste not a single minute to bring the nuclear deal on the track
London, July 20 (ANI): Mother Teresa has topped the list of the world's 90 most inspirational icons in a poll commemorating Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday on July 18.
To curb the soaring inflation that reaches three yearâ??s high of 7.41% of the week ended on March 29, Union Commerce Minister on
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French President Jacques Chirac said after her death: "This evening, there is less love, less compassion, less light in the world."- Ten years ago on this day Mother Teresa the saint of gutter left this world. She began her journey from ...
