United States
Obama to face Syria scrutiny in Jordan
Mar 22, 2013 05:19 EDT
A day after challenging Israelis to embrace peace with Palestinians, US President Barack Obama Friday will face scrutiny over his strategy on Syria during an overnight stay in Jordan.
Palestinians invoke civil rights on Obama tour
Mar 22, 2013 04:49 EDT
Palestinians sour at Barack Obama's perceived failure to honour their historical struggle have invoked the US civil rights movement and South Africa's apartheid in a bid to win his sympathy.
UN seeks to end toilet 'taboo'
Mar 22, 2013 04:45 EDT
The United Nations launched a campaign Friday to lift a deadly taboo on talking about toilets and to turn the world into an "open defecation-free zone."
Three Marines reported dead at US base shooting
Mar 22, 2013 04:19 EDT
A US Marine shot and killed two colleagues before apparently turning the gun on himself at a military base in Virginia, US media reported early on Friday.
Apple, Microsoft defend Australian pricing at inquiry
Mar 22, 2013 04:17 EDT
Technology giants including Apple and Microsoft on Friday defended their pricing policy in Australia at an official inquiry launched over concerns that they were overcharging customers.
'Richest' China village sends off chief in high style
Mar 22, 2013 03:48 EDT
Residents of China's "richest village" bid farewell on Friday to the man who made Huaxi a socialist paradise, with a 20-vehicle funeral procession transporting his coffin and a helicopter flying overhead.
Sri Lanka state media slams UN panel after rights vote
Mar 22, 2013 03:23 EDT
Sri Lankan state media called Friday for the dismantling of the UN human rights chief's office after Colombo was angered by a resolution calling for a probe into alleged war crimes in the island.
Klinsmann faces "must win" in 2014 W.Cup qualifier
Mar 22, 2013 03:10 EDT
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann dubbed Friday's World Cup 2014 home qualifying match against Costa Rica a "must-win" a term which might apply to his future as coach as well as to the team's hopes of qualifying.
Divorce just as much a hurdle as marriage for US gays
Mar 22, 2013 02:47 EDT
It's hard enough for same-sex couples to marry in the United States, but divorce is a headache as well, and one that supporters of gay marriage hope the US Supreme Court can resolve.
Bodies in streets of riot-hit Myanmar town
Mar 22, 2013 02:43 EDT
Charred bodies lay unclaimed on the streets of a riot-hit town in central Myanmar, witnesses said Friday, as global pressure mounted for an end to the Buddhist-Muslim unrest.
France's Sarkozy charged in probe of illegal party funding
Mar 22, 2013 02:38 EDT
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been charged with taking financial advantage of France's richest woman, as part of a probe into illegal party funding that could shatter his hopes of a political comeback.
Congress OKs stopgap, broader budget battle begins
Mar 22, 2013 02:35 EDT
American lawmakers averted a feared government shutdown by approving a stopgap spending bill, but heated debate over future federal spending took shape as they clashed over budget plans.
Putin welcomes China's Xi for landmark talks
Mar 22, 2013 02:13 EDT
Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of strategic agreements.
US officials say China 'cooperative' on N.Korea sanctions
Mar 22, 2013 02:06 EDT
US officials involved in enforcing international sanctions against North Korea expressed optimism on Friday that China was willing to cooperate to disrupt financing for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.
Singapore denies being haven for Malaysian tax cheats
Mar 22, 2013 01:56 EDT
Singapore on Friday strongly rejected a whistleblower's allegation that its banks facilitate massive tax evasion by a powerful family in neighbouring Malaysia's Sarawak state.
Mobs roam streets of riot-hit Myanmar town
Mar 22, 2013 00:26 EDT
Angry mobs took to the streets of a riot-hit Myanmar town for a third day on Friday, as international pressure mounted for an end to communal unrest that has left 10 people reported dead.
Ellen DeGeneres happy to 'kiss the ground' Down Under
Mar 22, 2013 00:20 EDT
US talk show star Ellen DeGeneres arrived in Australia on Friday, declaring she was happy enough to "kiss the ground" as she began a six-day visit officials are hoping will help boost tourism.
N. Korea video depicts invasion of South, US hostages
Mar 22, 2013 00:15 EDT
North Korea posted a new propaganda video Friday, showing paratroopers descending on Seoul in an invasion scenario that envisages taking around 150,000 US residents in South Korea hostage.
World Cup hopefuls stay focused before showdown
Mar 22, 2013 00:01 EDT
With just over a year to go until the World Cup, some of Europe's leading nations are hoping to take a major step towards sealing their places in the finals in Brazil in a busy week of qualifying.
Letters reveal tensions in Thatcher gov't over Falklands War
Mar 21, 2013 23:45 EDT
Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher faced opposition from within her own government over the Falklands War, with one MP warning her "it'll make Suez look like common sense".
Facts from the Wikipedia page:
| United States of America | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||
| Motto: In God We Trust (official) E Pluribus Unum (traditional) (Latin: Out of Many, One) | ||||||
| Anthem: "The Star-Spangled Banner" | ||||||
.svg) | ||||||
| Capital | Washington, D.C. 38°53′N 77°01′W / 38.883°N 77.017°W | |||||
| (and largest city) | New York City | |||||
| Official languages | None at federal level1 | |||||
| National language | English (de facto)2 | |||||
| Demonym | American | |||||
| Government | Federal constitutional republic | |||||
| - | President | Barack Obama (D) | ||||
| - | Vice President | Joe Biden (D) | ||||
| - | Speaker of the House | Nancy Pelosi (D) | ||||
| - | Chief Justice | John Roberts | ||||
| Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain | ||||||
| - | Declared | July 4, 1776 | ||||
| - | Recognized | September 3, 1783 | ||||
| - | Current constitution | June 21, 1788 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 9,826,675 km2 [1](3rd/4th3) 3,794,101 sq mi | ||||
| - | Water (%) | 6.76 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2009 estimate | 308,174,000[2] (3rd4) | ||||
| - | 2000 census | 281,421,906[3] | ||||
| - | Density | 31/km2 (180th) 80/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $14.441 trillion[4] (1st) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $47,440[4] (6th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $14.441 trillion[4] (1st) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $47,440[4] (17th) | ||||
| Gini (2007) | 45.0[1] (44th) | |||||
| HDI (2007) | ▲ 0.956[5] (very high) (13th) | |||||
| Currency | United States dollar ($) (USD) | |||||
| Time zone | (UTC-5 to -10) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | (UTC-4 to -10) | ||||
| Date formats | m/d/yy (AD) | |||||
| Drives on the | right | |||||
| Internet TLD | .us .gov .mil .edu | |||||
| Calling code | +1 | |||||
| 1 | English is the official language of at least 28 states—some sources give a higher figure, based on differing definitions of "official".[6] English and Hawaiian are both official languages in the state of Hawaii. | |||||
| 2 | English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language. | |||||
| 3 | Whether the United States or the People's Republic of China is larger is disputed. The figure given is from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook. Other sources give smaller figures. All authoritative calculations of the country's size include only the 50 states and the District of Columbia, not the territories. | |||||
| 4 | The population estimate includes people whose usual residence is in the fifty states and the District of Columbia, including noncitizens. It does not include either those living in the territories, amounting to more than 4 million U.S. citizens (most in Puerto Rico), or U.S. citizens living outside the United States. | |||||
