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All About Australia
New South Wales (Sydney)
New South Wales is Australia's most populous state.The original inhabitants of the area were Aboriginal tribes who arrived in Australia approximately forty to sixty thousand years ago.Executive authority is vested in the Governor of New South Wales, who represents and is appointed by Queen Elizabeth II. The current Governor is Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir.The State Parliament is composed of the Sovereign and two houses: the Legislative Assembly (lower house), and the Legislative Council (upper house).New South Wales has an arid or semi arid climate. However, the eastern portion has a temperate climate. The Snowy Mountains region in the south-east falls in the alpine climate/highland climate zone, with cool to cold weather all year around and snowfalls in the winter.
Victoria (Melbourne)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia.Victoria is Australia's most densely populated state, and has a highly centralised population, with almost 75% of Victorians living in Melbourne, the state capital and largest city.Victoria has a written constitution.Victorian voters elect 49 representatives to the Parliament of Australia, including 37 members of the House of Representatives and 12 members of the Senate.Victoria has nine universities.The state of Victoria is the second largest economy in Australia after New South Wales, accounting for a quarter of the nation's gross domestic product. Victoria has the highest population density in any state in Australia, with population centres spread out over most of the state.Victoria has a varied climate despite its small size. It ranges from semi-arid and hot in the north-west, to temperate and cool along the coast. Victoria's main land feature, the Great Dividing Range, produces a cooler, mountain climate in the centre of the state.
Queensland (Brisbane)
Queensland is a state of Australia that occupies the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. Queensland is often nicknamed the Sunshine State, since it enjoys warm weather and a sizeable portion of the state is in the tropics.Queensland's economy has enjoyed a boom in the tourism and mining industries over the past 20 years.Queensland is served by a number of National Highways and, particularly in South East Queensland, high quality motorways such as the M1.The Queensland Parliament or the Legislative Assembly, is unicameral. It is the only Australian state with a unicameral legislature.
South Australia (Adelaide)
Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth-largest city in Australia.Adelaide has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, where most of the rain falls in the winter months. Of the Australian capital cities, Adelaide is the driest, and it has a semi-arid climate influence because of its dryness. Rainfall is unreliable, light and infrequent throughout summer. Adelaide, as the capital of South Australia, is the seat of the Government of South Australia.Adelaide's economy is primarily based on manufacturing, defence technology and research, commodity export and corresponding service industries.The music of Adelaide has produced various musical groups and individuals who have achieved both national and international fame. Newspapers in Adelaide are dominated by News Corporation publications—Adelaide being the birthplace of News Corporation itself. The city itself has a metropolitan-wide public transport system, which is managed by and known as the Adelaide Metro. The Adelaide Metro consists of a contracted bus system including the O-Bahn Busway, metropolitan railways, and the Adelaide-Glenelg Tram, which was extended as a metropolitan tram in 2010 through the city centre to the inner north-west suburb of Hindmarsh.
Western Australia (Perth)
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia.Perth became known worldwide as the "City of Light" when city residents lit their house lights and streetlights as American astronaut John Glenn passed overhead while orbiting the earth on Friendship 7 in 1962.The central business district of Perth is bounded by the Swan River to the south and east, with Kings Park on the western end, while the railway lines form a northern border. Summers are generally hot and dry, lasting from December to late March, with February generally being the hottest month of the year, whilst winters are relatively cool and wet, making Perth a classic example of a Mediterranean climate.Perth is served by five analogue free to air stations: ABC (now branded as ABC1), Seven, Nine, Ten and SBS, (branded as SBS One). These channels are also broadcast in digital transmission format.Perth has many cuisines from nearly every country. Some of these include Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Malaysian, Korean, Italian, Turkish and Polish cuisines. Many others can be found throughout Perth.
Tasmania (Hobart)
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania.The city is the financial and administrative heart of Tasmania, and also serves as the home port for both Australian and French Antarctic operations.Hobart is a busy seaport, notably serving as the home port for the Antarctic activities of Australia and France.Hobart is home to the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, which is resident at the Federation Concert Hall on the city's waterfront. It offers a year-round program of concerts and is thought to be one of the finest small orchestras in the world.Commercial television channels are provided by Southern Cross Tasmania, Tasmanian Digital Television (TDT), also providing One HD in high definition only, and WIN Television, also providing the nationwide Go! channel. The only public transportation within the city of Hobart is via a network of Metro Tasmania buses funded by the Tasmanian Government; and also a few private bus services.
All About Africa
Burundi
Burundi is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. It has the lowest per capita GDP of any nation in the world.Burundi's political system is presidential representative democratic republic based upon a multi-party state. The President of Burundi is the head of state and head of government. There are currently 21 registered parties in Burundi. There is less health care in Burundi than in most other countries.Burundi's culture is based on local tradition and the influence of neighboring countries, though cultural prominence has been hindered by civil unrest.
Kenya
Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa. Kenya is a country of 47 counties each with its own government semi-autonomous to the central government in the capital, Nairobi.Kenya's climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate inland to arid in the north and northeast parts of the country. The country receives a great deal of sunshine all the year round, and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is both the head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system.
Botswana
Republic of Botswana is a country located in Southern Africa.As one of the world's fastest growing economies, Botswana is trying to diversify its economy which is heavily dependent on diamonds, beef market and tourism; which amongst other things is the proposed innovation hub project which will catapult the country to the world of innovations and innovation technology and researches in line with other institutions both local and international.Botswana has had one of the fastest growth rates in per capita income in the world .Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country.
Lesotho
The Lesotho Government is a parliamentary or constitutional monarchy. Lesotho remains cooler throughout the year than other regions at the same latitude. Most of the rain falls as summer thunderstorms.Lesotho's economy is based on diamonds exported all over the world and water sold to South Africa, manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, and to some extent the earnings of laborers employed in South Africa. The population of Lesotho is estimated to be around 90% Christian.Lesotho's geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to political and economic developments in South Africa. It is a member of many regional economic organizations, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
Mozambique
Republic of Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa.Mozambique has a tropical climate with two seasons, a wet season from October to March and a dry season from April to September. Climatic conditions, however, vary depending on altitude. Rainfall is heavy along the coast and decreases in the north and south. Mozambique is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and ranks among the moderate members of the African bloc in the United Nations and other international organisations. Mozambique also belongs to the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.
Rwanda
Republic of Rwanda is a unitary republic of central and eastern Africa.Rwanda has been governed by a strict hierarchy since precolonial times.Rwanda is the world's 148th-largest country.Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures than is typical for equatorial countries due to the high altitude.Rwanda is a country of few natural resources, and the economy is based mostly on subsistence agriculture by local farmers using simple tools.
Malawi
Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa.Malawi is among the world's least developed countries. The economy is heavily based in agriculture, with a largely rural population.Malawi is a democratic, multi-party government, currently under the leadership of President Bingu wa Mutharika.Malawi's climate is hot in the low-lying areas in the south of the country and temperate in the northern highlands. The altitude moderates what would be an otherwise equatorial climate.The main agricultural products of Malawi include tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, sorghum, cattle and goats. The main industries are tobacco, tea and sugar processing, sawmill products, cement and consumer goods.
Namibia
Republic of Namibia is a country in southern Africa.Namibia is one of few countries in the world to specifically address conservation and protection of natural resources in its constitution. The politics of Namibia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president of Namibia is elected to a five-year term and is both the head of state and the head of government, and of a multi-party system.
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa. The President of Tanzania and National Assembly members are elected concurrently by direct popular vote for five-year terms. The president appoints a prime minister who serves as the government's leader in the National Assembly. Tanzania has a tropical climate.Tanzania has considerable wildlife habitat, including much of the Serengeti plain, where the white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi) and other bovids participate in a large-scale annual migration.
Uganda
Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa".The official languages are English and Swahili, although multiple other languages are spoken in the country.For decades, Uganda's economy suffered from devastating economic policies and instability, leaving Uganda as one of the world's poorest countries.Uganda is home to many different ethnic groups, none of whom forms a majority of the population. Around forty different languages are regularly and currently in use in the country.
All About Europe
Albania
Albania is a parliamentary democracy and a transition economy. The head of state in Albania is the President of the Republic. Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity.Currently there are three main four lane highways in Albania: the highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana, that connecting Durrës with Lushnje and the Albania-Kosovo Highway.The railways in Albania are administered by the national railway company Hekurudha Shqiptare (HSH).
Andorra
Andorra is a parliamentary co-principality with the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell (Catalonia, Spain), as co-princes.The Parliament of Andorra is known as the General Council. The General Council consists of between 28 and 42 Councilors, as the members of the legislative branch are called.Andorra maintains a small Army, and all able-bodied men who own firearms must serve. The Army is unique in that all men are treated as officers. The Army's main responsibility is to present the national flag at ceremonies.
Austria
The Parliament of Austria is located in Vienna, the country's largest city and capital.The manpower of the Austrian Armed Forces (German: Bundesheer) mainly relies on conscription. All males who have reached the age of eighteen and are found fit have to serve a six months military service, followed by an eight year reserve obligation. Both males and females at the age of sixteen are eligible for voluntary service.Austria is a largely mountainous country due to its location in the Alps.The Central Eastern Alps, Northern Limestone Alps and Southern Limestone Alps are all partly in Austria.
Netherland
The predominant wind direction in the Netherlands is southwest, which causes a moderate maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. This is especially the case with places within direct proximity of the Dutch coastline, which sometimes are over 10 °C warmer (in Winter) or cooler (in Summer) than places in the (south)east of the country.The Netherlands has 20 national parks and hundreds of other nature reserves. Most are owned by Staatsbosbeheer and Natuurmonumenten and include lakes, heathland, woods, dunes and other habitats.The Netherlands has been a constitutional monarchy since 1815 and a parliamentary democracy since 1848. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state.
Belarus
Belarus is a presidential republic, governed by a president and the National Assembly. The Armed Forces of Belarus have three branches: the Army, the Air Force, and the Ministry of Defense joint staff. Belarus has historically leaned to different religions, mostly Orthodox, Catholicism (mostly in western regions), different denominations of Protestantism (especially during the time of union with Protestant Sweden).
Belgium
Belgium's strongly globalized economy and its transportation infrastructure are integrated with the rest of Europe.The Belgian economy is heavily service-oriented and shows a dual nature: a dynamic Flemish economy and a Walloon economy that lags behind.Belgium has three official languages, which are in order of native speaker population in Belgium: Dutch, French and German.
Bosnia and Hersegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a parliamentary republic, which has a bicameral legislature and a three-member Presidency composed of a member of each major ethnic group.The country is mostly mountainous, encompassing the central Dinaric Alps. The northeastern parts reach into the Pannonian basin, while in the south it borders the Adriatic.Bosnia and Herzegovina has several levels of political structuring, according to the Dayton accord. Most important of these levels is the division of the country into two entities: Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Britain
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and unitary state governed by a parliamentary system with its seat of government in the capital city of London. It is a country consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.The United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round.The temperature varies with the seasons but seldom drops below −10 °C (14.0 °F) or rises above 35 °C (95 °F).The United Kingdom is a unitary state under a constitutional monarchy.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria functions as a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic.Geographically and in terms of climate, Bulgaria features notable diversity, with the landscape ranging from the Alpine snow-capped peaks in Rila, Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast; from the typically continental Danubian Plain (ancient Moesia) in the north to the strong Mediterranean climatic influence in the valleys of Macedonia and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts of Thrace.Bulgaria comprises portions of the separate regions known in classical times as Moesia, Thrace, and Macedonia.
Denmark
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Denmark, with a mixed market capitalist economy and a large welfare state,ranks as having the world's highest level of income equality.The climate is in the temperate zone. The winters are not particularly cold, with mean temperatures in January and February of 0.0 °C, and the summers are cool, with a mean temperature in August of 15.7 °C.
Denmark's armed forces are known as the Danish Defence.
Estonia
Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic and is divided into 15 counties. The capital and largest city is Tallinn.The military of Estonia is based upon the Estonian Defence Forces (Estonian: Kaitsevägi) which is the name of the unified armed forces of the republic with Maavägi (Army), Merevägi (Navy), Õhuvägi (Air Force) and a paramilitary national guard organization Kaitseliit (Defence League).As a member of the European Union, Estonia's economy is rated as high income by the World Bank.Food, construction, and electronic industries are currently among the most important branches of Estonia's industry.Estonia has been an important transit centre since the medieval period. The country's favorable geographical location, along with its developing infrastructure, offers good opportunities for all transport and logistics related activities.
Finland
Finland has a humid and cool semi continental climate, characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. The climate type in southern Finland is north temperate climate. The Constitution of Finland defines the political system. Finland is a representative democracy that was formerly a semi-presidential parliamentary system, but now is a largely ceremonial non-executive Presidency. Aside from state-level politics, residents use their vote in municipal elections and in the European Union elections.Finland has a highly industrialized mixed economy with a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as France, Germany, Belgium or the UK.
Hungary
Hungary is one of the thirty most popular tourist destinations of the world. The President of the Republic, elected by the members of the National Assembly every five years, has a largely ceremonial role, but he is nominally the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and his powers include the nomination of the Prime Minister who is to be elected by a majority of the votes of the Members of Parliament, based on the recommendation made by the President of the Republic.
Thursday, April 21, 2011 | Labels: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Hersegovina, Britain, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Netherland | 0 Comments
All About Asia
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands. With a population of around 238 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, and has the world's largest population of Muslims. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with East Timor, and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN and a member of the G-20 major economies.
Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. The Javanese are the largest—and the politically dominant—ethnic group. Indonesia has developed a shared identity defined by a national language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism within a majority Muslim population, and a history of colonialism including rebellion against it. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The country is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty remains widespread in contemporary Indonesia.
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres north of the equator, in the Southeast Asian region of the Asian continent. It is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north, and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait to its south. Singapore is the world's fourth leading financial centre and a cosmopolitan world city, playing a key role in international trade and finance. The port of Singapore is also amongst the top five busiest ports in the world.
Malaysia, which, in Tanjung Piai, can claim the southernmost point of continental Eurasia, is located near the equator and has a tropical climate. It has a biodiverse range of flora and fauna, and is considered one of the 17 megadiverse countries.It is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, and a member of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Thailand
Thailand, is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest.The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok, the capital, which is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.Thailand experienced rapid economic growth between 1985 and 1995 and is a newly industrialized country with tourism, due to well-known tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Ko Samui, and exports contributing significantly to the economy.
Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in terms of total area, with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2, and the 20th most-populous country, with approximately 66 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay;the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. There are approximately 2.2 million legal and illegal migrants in Thailand.Thailand has also attracted a number of expatriates from developed countries.The country's official language is Thai. Its primary religion is Buddhism, which is practiced by around 95% of all Thais.
Vietnam
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by People's Republic of China (PRC) to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea, referred to as East Sea (Vietnamese: Biển Đông), to the east. With a population of over 86 million, Vietnam is the 13th most populous country in the world.
Taiwan, also known as Formosa, is an island situated in East Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of Mainland China. It has comprised most (99%) of the territory of the Republic of China (ROC) since the 1950s. The term "Taiwan" has also become a commonly used alternative name both domestically and internationally to refer to the entire country of Republic of China after the ROC lost international diplomatic recognition as "China" in the 1970s.
Separated from the Asian continent by the 120 kilometres (75 mi) wide Taiwan Strait, the main island of the group is 394 kilometres long and 144 kilometres wide. To the northeast are the main islands of Japan and the East China Sea, and the southern end of the Ryukyu Islands of Japan is directly to the east; the Batanes Islands of the Philippines lie to its south across the Bashi Channel. The mountainous island spans the Tropic of Cancer and is covered by tropical and subtropical vegetation. Other minor islands and islets of the group include the Pescadores, Green Island, and Orchid Island, as well as the Diaoyutai Islands which have been controlled by Japan since the 1970s.
Taiwan's rapid economic growth in the decades after World War II has transformed it into an advanced economy as one of the Four Asian Tigers.This economic rise is known as the Taiwan Miracle. It is categorized as an advanced economy by the IMF and as a high-income economy by the World Bank. Its technology industry plays a key role in the global economy.Taiwanese companies manufacture a large portion of the world's consumer electronics, although most of them are now made in their factories in mainland China.
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and sometimes referred to simply as Korea, is a state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul. South Korea lies in a temperate climate region with a predominantly mountainous terrain. Its territory covers a total area of 99,392 square kilometers and has a population of 50 million.
South Korea is a presidential republic consisting of sixteen administrative divisions and is a developed country with a very high standard of living. It is Asia's fourth largest economy and the world's 15th or 12th largest economy. The economy is export-driven, with production focusing on electronics, automobiles, ships, machinery, petrochemicals and robotics. South Korea is a member of the United Nations, WTO, OECD and G-20 major economies. It is also a founding member of APEC and the East Asia Summit.
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea. The Amnok River and the Tumen River form the border between North Korea and the People's Republic of China. A section of the Tumen River in the extreme northeast is the border with Russia.
Philippines
Monday, October 11, 2010 | Labels: Asia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam | 0 Comments
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