Sun, Jul 05, 2009
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Mapping the News
Enlarge this map to select this week's countries
Research by Ron Solomon Sources: The Associated Press, BBC, CIA World Factbook, Factmonster, Financial Times World Desk Reference
What am I?Population: 4.5 millionGovernment: constitutional monarchy History: Two-thirds of this Scandinavian nation is mountainous, and 50,000 islands lie off its coastline, one of the longest and most rugged. Its economy includes free-market activity and government intervention, and the constitution mandates that the government create conditions that let everyone find work. It is the No. 3 oil exporter. In the news: Four municipalities have lost about $64 million, and potentially much more, in complex securities investments that went sour. The towns are the latest victims of the credit crisis that began last summer in the U.S. subprime mortgage market and which has spread to far reaches of the world. Residents are angry and frightened, fearing that the losses will hurt local services. Town officials are considering legal action against the brokerage firm that sold them the investments, alleging that brokers failed to warn of the high level of risk. Last week's mystery country: Sudan
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