- published: 10 Oct 2012
- views: 17963
- author: Julia Wright
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- 1980s oil glut
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Abkhazia
Abkhazia (Abkhaz: Аҧсны́ Apsny, IPA /apʰsˈnɨ/; Georgian: აფხაზეთი Apkhazeti; Russian: Абхазия Abkhaziya) is a disputed territory on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.
Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny. This status is recognised by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and also by the partially recognised states of South Ossetia, Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Georgian government and the majority of the world's governments consider Abkhazia a part of Georgia's territory. Under Georgia's official designation it is an autonomous republic, called the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, whose government sits in exile in Tbilisi. On 28 August 2008, the Parliament of Georgia passed a resolution declaring Abkhazia a "Russian-occupied territory".
The status of Abkhazia is a central issue of the Georgian–Abkhazian conflict. The wider region formed part of the Soviet Union until 1991. As the Soviet Union began to disintegrate towards the end of the 1980s, ethnic tensions grew between Abkhaz and Georgians over Georgia's moves towards independence. This led to the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia that resulted in a Georgian military defeat, de facto independence of Abkhazia and the mass exodus and ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population from Abkhazia. In spite of the 1994 ceasefire agreement and years of negotiations, the status dispute has not been resolved, and despite the long-term presence of a United Nations monitoring force and a Russian-dominated Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) peacekeeping operation, the conflict has flared up on several occasions. In August 2008, the sides again fought during the South Ossetia War, which was followed by the formal recognition of Abkhazia by Russia, the annulment of the 1994 cease fire agreement and the termination of the UN and CIS missions.[citation needed]
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Afghanistan
Afghanistan
i/æfˈɡænɨstæn/ (Persian/Pashto: افغانستان, Afġānistān), officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming part of South Asia, Central Asia, and Greater Middle East, it is also considered to be part of a broader West Asia. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of 647,500 km2 (250,001 sq mi), making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and the east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast.
Afghanistan has been an ancient focal point of the Silk Road and human migration. Archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation from as far back as 50,000 BC. Urban civilization may have begun in the area as early as 3,000 to 2,000 BC. Sitting at an important geostrategic location that connects the Middle East with Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, the land has been home to various peoples through the ages and witnessed many military campaigns, notably by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and in modern era Western forces. The land also served as a source from which the Greco-Bactrians, Kushans, Saffarids, Ghaznavids, Ghorids, Timurids, Mughals and many others have risen to form major empires.
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African Union
The African Union (abbreviated AU in English, and UA in its other official languages) is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states. The AU's secretariat, the African Union Commission, is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Among the objectives of the AU's leading institutions are:
The African Union is made up of both political and administrative bodies. The highest decision-making organ is the Assembly of the African Union, made up of all the heads of state or government of member states of the AU. The Assembly is chaired by Yayi Boni, president of Benin, elected at the 18thordinary meeting of the Assembly in January 2012. The AU also has a representative body, the Pan African Parliament, which consists of 265 members elected by the national parliaments of the AU member states. Its president is Idriss Ndele Moussa.
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Al Jahra Governorate
Al Jahra is one of the six governorates of Kuwait. It is located to the northwest of the other governorates and houses the city of Jahra among others. It includes Bubiyan Island and is by far the largest governorate in Kuwait. It also contains most of Kuwait's arable land. Al Jahra also has some historic relevance to Kuwait's history. The Red Palace or Al Qasr Al Ahmar is the most important historical landmark there. In and around it the famous battle between Kuwait and the Dweesh army took place. When Jahra was a village it was an oasis and most Jahrans were farmers. Now Jahra is a large city and farming has been reduced to a few small farms.
Doha is a town located in the Al Jahra governorate. The town was the site of a major US military base that closed in 2005 and was returned to the Kuwaiti government.
Mutla is a very unpopulated district located in the Al Jahra governorate. The Mutla Ridge is located there.
See Jahra.
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Albania
Albania (i/ælˈbeɪniə/ al-BAY-nee-ə, Albanian: Shqipëri/Shqipëria; Gheg Albanian: Shqipnia), officially known as the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë pronounced Albanian pronunciation: [ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs]), is a country in Southern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west, and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy, across the Strait of Otranto which links the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea.
Albania is a member of the UN, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and one of the founding members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Albania has been a potential candidate for accession to the European Union since January 2003, and it formally applied for EU membership on 28 April 2009.
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Algeria
Coordinates: 28°N 2°E / 28°N 2°E / 28; 2
Algeriai/ælˈdʒɪəriə/ (Arabic: الجزائر, al-Jazā'ir; Berber: ⴷⵣⴰⵢⴻⵔ Dzayer), officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria (الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية, al-Jumhūriyyah al-Jazāʾiriyyah ad-Dīmuqrāṭiyyah ash-Shaʿbiyyah), also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a large country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.
When referring to its land area, Algeria is the largest country in Africa, Maghreb and the Arab World. It is also the largest of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea; it is also the tenth-largest country in the world. The country is bordered in the northeast by Tunisia, in the east by Libya, in the west by Morocco, in the southwest by Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Mali, in the southeast by Niger, and in the north by the Mediterranean Sea. Its size is almost 2,400,000 square kilometres (926,645 sq mi) with an estimated population of 37.1 million as of 2012. Algeria is a member of the African Union, the Arab League, OPEC and the United Nations. The country is also a founding member of the Arab Maghreb Union.
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Andorra
Andorra (i/ænˈdɔrə/; Catalan pronunciation: [ənˈdorə], locally: [anˈdɔra]), officially the Principality of Andorra (Catalan: Principat d'Andorra), also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, (Catalan: Principat de les Valls d'Andorra), is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of 468 km2 (181 sq mi) and an estimated population of 84,082 in 2009. Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, at an elevation of 1,023 metres (3,356 ft) above sea level. The official language is Catalan, although Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also commonly spoken.
The Principality was formed in 1278. The role of monarch is exercised jointly by the two co-princes, the Catalan Bishop of Urgell and the President of France (the whole state is a part of Diocese of Urgell).
Andorra is a prosperous country mainly because of its tourism industry, which services an estimated 10.2 million visitors annually, and also because of its status as a tax haven. It is not a member of the European Union, but the euro is the de facto currency. The people of Andorra have the 4th highest human life expectancy in the world — 82 years at birth.
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Antarctica
Antarctica
This map uses an orthographic projection, near-polar aspect. The South Pole is near the center, where longitudinal lines converge.
Antarctica (
i/æntˈɑrtɨkə/ or /ænˈtɑːktɨkə/) is Earth's southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole. It is situated in the Antarctic region of the Southern Hemisphere, almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle, and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. At 14.0 million km2 (5.4 million sq mi), it is the fifth-largest continent in area after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. For comparison, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia. About 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice that averages at least 1 mile (1.6 km) in thickness.
Antarctica, on average, is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, and has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Antarctica is considered a desert, with annual precipitation of only 200 mm (8 inches) along the coast and far less inland. The temperature in Antarctica has reached −89 °C (−129 °F). There are no permanent human residents, but anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 people reside throughout the year at the research stations scattered across the continent. Only cold-adapted organisms survive there, including many types of algae, animals (for example mites, nematodes, penguins, seals and tardigrades), bacteria, fungi, plants, and protista. Vegetation where it occurs is tundra.
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Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda (i/ænˈtiːɡə ænd bɑrˈbjuːdə/; Spanish for "ancient" and "bearded") is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands (including Great Bird, Green, Guinea, Long, Maiden and York Islands and further south, the island of Redonda). The permanent population number approximately 81,800 (at the 2011 Census) and the capital and largest port and city is St. John's, on Antigua.
Separated by a few nautical miles, Antigua and Barbuda are in the middle of the Leeward Islands, part of the Lesser Antilles, roughly at 17 degrees north of the Equator. The country is nicknamed "Land of 365 Beaches" due to the many beaches surrounding the islands. Its governance, language, and culture have all been strongly influenced by the British Empire, of which the country was formerly a part.
Antigua was first settled by Archaic Age hunter-gatherer Amerindians, erroneously referred to as Siboney or Ciboney.Carbon-dating has established that the earliest settlements started around 3100 BC. They were succeeded by the Ceramic Age pre-Columbian Arawak-speaking Saladoid people who migrated from the lower Orinoco River.
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Arab League
The Arab League (Arabic: الجامعة العربية al-Jāmiʻa al-ʻArabiyya), officially called the League of Arab States (Arabic: جامعة الدول العربية Jāmiʻat ad-Duwal al-ʻArabiyya), is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia (Middle East). It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (renamed Jordan in 1949), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a member on 5 May 1945. The Arab League currently has 22 members (including Syria, whose participation was suspended in November 2011). The main goal of the league is to "draw closer the relations between member States and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries."
Through institutions such as the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League's Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU), the Arab League facilitates political, economic, cultural, scientific and social programs designed to promote the interests of the Arab world. It has served as a forum for the member states to coordinate their policy positions, to deliberate on matters of common concern, to settle some Arab disputes, and to limit conflicts such as the 1958 Lebanon crisis. The League has served as a platform for the drafting and conclusion of many landmark documents promoting economic integration. One example is the Joint Arab Economic Action Charter which sets out the principles for economic activities in the region.
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Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula (Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية šibh al-jazīrat al-ʻarabīya or جزيرة العرب Ǧazīrat al 'Arab) is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2 (1,250,000 mi2). The area is an important part of the Asian continent and plays a critical geopolitical role of the Middle East and Arab World due to its vast reserves of oil and natural gas. The peninsula formed as a result of the rifting of the Red Sea between 56-23 million years ago, and is bordered by the Red Sea to the west, the Persian Gulf to the northeast, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast.
The Arabian Peninsula is located in the Asia continent and bounded by (clockwise) the Persian Gulf on the northeast, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman on the east, the Arabian Sea on the southeast and south, the Gulf of Aden on the south, the Bab-el-Mandeb strait on the southwest, and the Red Sea on the southwest and west. The northern portion of the peninsula merges with the Syrian Desert with no clear border line, although the northern boundary of the Arabian Peninsula is generally considered to be the northern borders of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
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Armenia
Armeniai/ɑrˈmiːniə/ (Armenian: Հայաստան Hayastan [hɑjɑsˈtɑn]), officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն, Hayastani Hanrapetut’yun, [hɑjɑstɑˈni hɑnɾɑpɛtuˈtʰjun]), is a landlocked, mountainous country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, the de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.
A former republic of the Soviet Union, Armenia is a unitary, multiparty, democratic nation-state with an ancient and historic cultural heritage. The Kingdom of Armenia became the first state in the world to adopt Christianity as its religion, in the early years of the 4th century (the traditional date is 301 AD). The modern Republic of Armenia recognizes the Armenian Apostolic Church, the world's oldest national church, as the country's primary religious establishment. Armenians have their own unique alphabet invented by Mesrob Mashtots in 406 AD.
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Auhah Island
Auhah Island is a small island belonging to Kuwait. It is 800 metres long by 540 metres wide, which corresponds to an area of about 34 ha, and is located 16 km south-east of Failaka Island, and 41 km from Salmiya on the mainland. Apart from a light-house and a small heliport, the island is uninhabited.
Coordinates: 29°23′N 48°26′E / 29.383°N 48.433°E / 29.383; 48.433
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Australia
Australia (
/əˈstreɪljə/), officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent as well as the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area. Neighbouring countries include Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea to the north; the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia to the north-east; and New Zealand to the south-east.
For at least 40,000 years before European settlement in the late 18th century, Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians, who belonged to one or more of roughly 250 language groups. After discovery by Dutch explorers in 1606, Australia's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788. The population grew steadily in subsequent decades; the continent was explored and an additional five self-governing Crown Colonies were established.
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Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (i/ˌæzərbaɪˈdʒɑːn/ AZ-ər-by-JAHN; Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Respublikası) is the largest country in the Caucasus region located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south. The exclave of Nakhchivan is bounded by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, while having a short borderline with Turkey to the northwest.
Azerbaijan has an ancient and historic cultural heritage. Aside from having been the first Muslim-majority country to have operas, theater and plays, Azerbaijan today is among the Muslim-majority countries where support for secularism and tolerance is the highest. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world, was established in 1918, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991. Shortly thereafter, during the Nagorno-Karabakh War, neighboring Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, its surrounding territories and the enclaves of Karki, Yukhary Askipara, Barkhudarly and Sofulu. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, which emerged in Nagorno-Karabakh, continues to be not diplomatically recognized by any nation and the region is still considered a de jure part of Azerbaijan, despite being de facto independent since the end of the war. Azerbaijan has come under repeated international criticism for its record on human rights.
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Bahrain
Bahrain ( pronunciation) (Arabic: البحرين, al-Baḥrayn) (Persian: بحرين, Baḥrain), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain (Arabic: مملكة البحرين, Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn), is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,234,571, including 666,172 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.
Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands, the largest being Bahrain Island, at 55 km (34 mi) long by 18 km (11 mi) wide. Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway. The peninsula of Qatar is to the southeast across the Gulf of Bahrain. The planned Qatar Bahrain Causeway will link Bahrain and Qatar and become the world's longest marine causeway.
Known for its oil and pearls, Bahrain is also home to many large structures, including the Bahrain World Trade Center and the Bahrain Financial Harbour, with a proposal in place to build the 1,022 m (3,353 ft) high Murjan Tower. The Qal'at al-Bahrain (the harbour and capital of the ancient land of Dilmun) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit.
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Bangladesh
Coordinates: 23°N 90°E / 23°N 90°E / 23; 90
Bangladesh (i/ˈbɑːŋɡlədɛʃ/ or i/bæŋɡləˈdɛʃ/ (Anglicized pronunciation); Bengali: বাংলাদেশ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh (Bengali: গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ Gônoprojatontri Bangladesh) is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India and Burma and by the Bay of Bengal to the south. The capital (and largest city) is Dhaka, located in central Bangladesh. The official state language is Bengali. The name Bangladesh means "Land of Bengal" or "Country of Bengal" the in the Bengali language, from Bangla "Bengal" and desh holding a dual meaning of "land" and "country" as English "country," German land, French pays, etc.
The borders of present-day Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal during the reign and demise of the British India. Its map was chartered by Sir Cyril Radcliffe during the creation of Pakistan and India in 1947, when the region became East Pakistan, part of the newly formed nation of Pakistan. Due to political exclusion and economic exploitation by the politically dominant West Pakistan, popular agitation grew against West Pakistan and led to the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, after the Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence on 26 March 1971. With the intervention of the Indian Army, the war came to an end on 16 December 1971 with the surrender of the Pakistan Army at Ramna Race Course.
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Barbados
Coordinates: 13°10′N 59°33′W / 13.167°N 59.55°W / 13.167; -59.55
Barbados (i/bɑrˈbeɪdɒs/ or /bɑrˈbeɪdoʊs/) is a sovereign island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is 34 kilometres (21 mi) in length and up to 23 kilometres (14 mi) in width, covering an area of 431 square kilometres (166 sq mi). It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres (62 mi) east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about 168 kilometres (104 mi) east of the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and 400 kilometres (250 mi) north-east of Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados is outside of the principal Atlantic hurricane belt.
Barbados was initially visited by the Spanish around the late 1400s to early 1500s and first appears on a Spanish map from 1511. The Spanish explorers may have plundered the island of whatever native peoples resided therein to become slaves. The Portuguese visited in 1536, but they too left it unclaimed, with their only remnants being an introduction of wild hogs for a good supply of meat whenever the island was visited. The first English ship, the Olive Blossom, arrived in Barbados in 1624. They took possession of it in the name of the British king James I. Two years later in 1627 the first permanent settlers arrived from England and it became an English and later British colony.
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Basra
Basra (Arabic: البصرة; BGN: Al Baṣrah) is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009. Basra is also Iraq's main port, although it does not have deep water access, which is handled at the port of Umm Qasr.
The city is part of the historic location of Sumer, the home of Sinbad the Sailor, and a proposed location of the Garden of Eden. It also played an important role in early Islamic history, being built in 636 CE, or 14 AH. It is Iraq's second largest and most populous city after Baghdad.
The city was called by many names throughout its history, Basrah being the most common. Although some Chaldean Christians argue that the name has Akkadian roots, other sources claim that the name is derived from the Persian word Bas-rah, which means "where many paths meet". During the pre-Islamic era, the area was known to the Arabs as al-Khariba due to the existence of an ancient city called al-Kharba. After the present city was built, it was called by many names, including "the mother of Iraq", "the reservoir of Arabs", "the prosperous city", and "al-Faiha".
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Bayan Palace
Bayan Palace is the main palace of the Amir of Kuwait. It is located in the Bayan area. The palace is an internationally acclaimed architectural achievement. This is the palace where the head of states from other countries come and reside when they are on their visits. The palace from inside has beautiful artificial greenery, large office and residential buildings and a majestic mosque.
Coordinates: 29°18′2″N 48°1′55″E / 29.30056°N 48.03194°E / 29.30056; 48.03194
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Belgium
Belgium (i/ˈbɛldʒəm/ BEL-jəm), officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO. Belgium covers an area of 30,528 square kilometres (11,787 sq mi), and it has a population of about 11 million people. Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers, mostly Flemish (about 60%), and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons (about 40%), plus a small group of German-speakers. Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region. A German-speaking Community exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political conflicts are reflected in the political history and a complex system of government.
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Belize
Belizei/bəˈliːz/ (formerly British Honduras) is a country located on the north eastern coast of Central America and it is the only country in the area where English is the official language, although Kriol and Spanish are more commonly spoken. Belize is bordered to the north by Mexico, south and west by Guatemala, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea. Its mainland is about 290 kilometres (180 mi) long and 110 kilometres (68 mi) wide.
With 22,960 square kilometres (8,860 sq mi) of land and a population of only 333,200 inhabitants (2010 est.), Belize possesses the lowest population density in Central America. The country's population growth rate of 2.21% (2008 est.), however, is the highest in the region and one of the highest in the western hemisphere. Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species, and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place within the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages and it is the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage but as a part of the Western Caribbean Zone, it also shares a common heritage with the Caribbean portions of other Central American countries. In general, Belize is considered to be a Central American nation with strong ties to both the Caribbean and Latin America. Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA).
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Benin
Benini/bɨˈniːn/ (formerly, Dahomey), officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, by Nigeria to the east and by Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin. The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city. Benin covers an area of approximately 110,000 square kilometers (42,000 sq mi), with a population of approximately 9.05 million. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with substantial employment and income arising from subsistence farming.
The official language of Benin is French, however, indigenous languages such as Fon and Yoruba are commonly spoken. The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism, followed closely by Islam, Vodun and Protestantism. Benin is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie, the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority.
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Bhutan
Coordinates: 27°25′01″N 90°26′06″E / 27.417°N 90.435°E / 27.417; 90.435
Bhutan (Dzongkha: འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, tr ʼbrug-yul, "Druk Yul"; Devanagari भूटान, Bhūṭān), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China. Bhutan is separated from the nearby country of Nepal to the west by the Indian state of Sikkim, and from Bangladesh to the south by the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal.
Bhutan existed as a patchwork of minor warring fiefdoms until the early 17th century, when the area was unified by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who fled religious persecution in Tibet and cultivated a separate Bhutanese identity. In the early 20th century, Bhutan came into contact with the British Empire, after which Bhutan continued strong bilateral relations with India upon its independence. In 2006, Business Week rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world, based on a global survey.
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Brazil
Brazili/brəˈzɪl/ (Portuguese: Brasil, IPA: [bɾaˈziw]), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil, listen (help·info)), is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people. It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone country in the world.
Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 7,491 km (4,655 mi). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas region of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay. Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile.
Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom and the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves was formed. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.Independence was achieved in 1822 with the formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. The country became a presidential republic in 1889, when a military coup d'état proclaimed the Republic, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to the ratification of the first constitution in 1824. Its current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a Federal Republic. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the 5,564 Municipalities.
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British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1922 the British Empire held sway over about 458 million people, one-fifth of the world's population at the time, and covered more than 33,700,000 km2 (13,012,000 sq mi), almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its political, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was often said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire" because its span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous territories.
During the Age of Discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal and Spain pioneered European exploration of the globe, and in the process established large overseas empires. Envious of the great wealth these empires generated, England, France and the Netherlands began to establish colonies and trade networks of their own in the Americas and Asia. A series of wars in the 17th and 18th centuries with the Netherlands and France left England (and then, following union between England and Scotland in 1707, Great Britain) the dominant colonial power in North America and India. The loss of the Thirteen Colonies in North America in 1783 after a war of independence deprived Britain of some of its oldest and most populous colonies.
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Brunei
Bruneii/bruːˈnaɪ/, officially the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace (Malay: Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: نڬارا بروني دارالسلام), is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, and it is separated into two parts by the Sarawak district of Limbang. It is the only sovereign state completely on the island of Borneo, with the remainder of the island belonging to Malaysia and Indonesia. Brunei's population was 401,890 in July 2011.
The official national history claims that Brunei can trace its beginnings to the 7th century, when it was a subject state of the Srivijayan empire under the name P'o-li. It later became a vassal state of Majapahit empire before converting to Islam in the 15th century. At the peak of its empire, the sultanate had control that extended over the coastal regions of modern-day Sarawak and Sabah, the Sulu archipelago, and the islands off the northwest tip of Borneo. The thalassocracy was visited by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and fought the Castille War in 1578 against Spain. Its empire began to decline with the forced ceding of Sarawak to James Brooke and the ceding of Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company. After the loss of Limbang, Brunei finally became a British protectorate in 1888, receiving a resident in 1906. In the years after the Japanese wartime occupation during World War II, it formalised a constitution and fought an armed rebellion. Brunei regained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984. Economic growth during the 1970s and 1990s, averaging 56% from 1999 to 2008, has transformed Brunei Darussalam into a newly industrialised country.
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Bubiyan Island
Bubiyan Island (Arabic: جزيرة بوبيان) is the largest island in the Kuwaiti coastal island chain situated in the north-western corner of the Persian Gulf, with an area of 863 square kilometres (333 sq mi). The island is uninhabited.
It is separated from the mainland in the northeast by Khawr Abd Allah and from the mainland in the southwest by Khawr as Sabiyah. The latter channel trends around the northern end of Bubiyan Island, separating it from Warbah Island. 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) northwest of Ras al Barshah, the southernmost point, Bubiyan is linked to the mainland by a concrete girder bridge over the Khawr as Sabiyah channel, 2.38 kilometres (1.48 mi) long, built in 1983, which is for military use only[citation needed]. During the Persian Gulf War of 1991 the bridge was destroyed, but has been rebuilt. The island itself has been converted to a military base in 1991 and serves as one ever since.
In November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1992), and 833 (1993) which formally ended an earlier claim to Bubiyan Island.
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso (i/bərˌkiːnə ˈfɑːsoʊ/ bər-KEE-nə FAH-soh; French: [buʁkina faso]) – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest. The country's capital is Ouagadougou.
Its size is 274,200 square kilometres (105,900 sq mi) with an estimated population of more than 15,757,000. Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed on 4 August 1984, by President Thomas Sankara, to mean "the land of upright people" in Mòoré and Dioula, the major native languages of the country. Figuratively, "Burkina" may be translated, "men of integrity", from the Mòoré language, and "Faso" means "fatherland" in Dioula. The inhabitants of Burkina Faso are known as Burkinabè (
/bərˈkiːnəbeɪ/ bər-KEE-nə-bay).
Burkina Faso was populated between 14,000 and 5000 BC by hunter-gatherers in the country's northwestern region. Farm settlements appeared between 3600 and 2600 BC. What is now central Burkina Faso was principally composed of Mossi kingdoms. These Mossi Kingdoms would become a French protectorate in 1896. After gaining independence from France in 1960, the country underwent many governmental changes until arriving at its current form, a semi-presidential republic. The president is Blaise Compaoré.
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Burma
Burmai/ˈbɜrmə/ BUR-mə, also known as Myanmar i/ˌmjɑːnˈmɑr/ MYAHN--MAR, is a country in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. One-third of Burma's total perimeter of 1,930 kilometres (1,200 mi) forms an uninterrupted coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. At 676,578 km2 (261,227 sq mi), it is the 40th largest country in the world and the second largest country in Southeast Asia. Burma is also the 24th most populous country in the world with over 60.28 million people.
Burma is home to some of the early civilizations of Southeast Asia including the Pyu and the Mon. In the 9th century, the Burmans of the Kingdom of Nanzhao, entered the upper Irrawaddy valley and, following the establishment of the Pagan Empire in the 1050s, the Burmese language and culture slowly became dominant in the country. During this period, Theravada Buddhism gradually became the predominant religion of the country. The Pagan Empire fell due to the Mongol invasions (1277–1301), and several warring states emerged. In the second half of the 16th century, the country was reunified by the Taungoo Dynasty which for a brief period was the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia. The early 19th century Konbaung Dynasty ruled over an area that included modern Burma as well as Manipur and Assam. The country was colonized by Britain following three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824–1885).
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Cambodia
Cambodia (i/kæmˈboʊdiə/;Khmer: ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា, Kampuchea, IPA: [kɑmˈpuˈciə]), officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. With a total landmass of 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 sq mi), it is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
With a population of over 14.8 million, Cambodia is the 68th most populous country in the world. The official religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced by around 95% of the Cambodian population. The country minority groups include Vietnamese, Chinese, Chams and 30 various hill tribes. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh; the political, economic, and cultural center of Cambodia. The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni, a monarch chosen by the Royal Throne Council, as head of state. The head of government is Hun Sen, who is currently the longest serving leader in South East Asia and has ruled Cambodia for over 25 years.
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Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon (French: République du Cameroun), is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean. The country is called "Africa in miniature" for its geological and cultural diversity. Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. The highest point is Mount Cameroon in the southwest, and the largest cities are Douala, Yaoundé, and Garoua. Cameroon is home to over 200 different linguistic groups. The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi, and for its successful national football team. French and English are the official languages.
Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest. Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões ("River of Prawns"), the name from which Cameroon derives. Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century, and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms. Cameroon became a German colony in 1884.
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Canada
Canada ( /ˈkænədə/) is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean. Spanning over 9,900,000 km2 (3,800,000 sq mi), Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the longest land border in the world.
The land that is now Canada has been inhabited for millennia by various Aboriginal peoples. Beginning in the late 15th century, British and French colonial expeditions explored, and later settled, along the region's Atlantic coast. France ceded nearly all of its colonies in North America in 1763 after the Seven Years' War. In 1867, with the union of three British North American colonies through Confederation, Canada was formed as a federal dominion of four provinces. This began an accretion of provinces and territories and a process of increasing autonomy; the Canada Act 1982 severed the vestiges of legal dependence on Britain.
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Chad
Chadi/ˈtʃæd/ (French: Tchad, Arabic: تشاد Tšād), officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west. Due to its distance from the sea and its largely desert climate, the country is sometimes referred to as the "Dead Heart of Africa".
Chad is divided into multiple regions: a desert zone in the north, an arid Sahelian belt in the centre and a more fertile Sudanese savanna zone in the south. Lake Chad, after which the country is named, is the largest wetland in Chad and the second largest in Africa. Chad's highest peak is the Emi Koussi in the Sahara, and N'Djamena, (formerly Fort-Lamy), the capital, is the largest city. Chad is home to over 200 different ethnic and linguistic groups. Arabic and French are the official languages. Islam and Christianity are the most widely practiced religions.
Beginning in the 7th millennium BC, human populations moved into the Chadian basin in great numbers. By the end of the 1st millennium BC, a series of states and empires rose and fell in Chad's Sahelian strip, each focused on controlling the trans-Saharan trade routes that passed through the region. France conquered the territory by 1920 and incorporated it as part of French Equatorial Africa.
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Chagos Archipelago
The Chagos Archipelago ( /ˈtʃɑːɡoʊs/ or /ˈtʃɑːɡəs/; formerly Bassas de Chagas and later also Oil Islands, known as Foalhavahi ފޯޅަވަހި in Dhivehi, as Phehandweep फेहंद्वीप in Hindi and other North Indian languages, and as Paeikaana Theevukal பேகான தீவுகள் in Tamil), is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean; situated some 500 kilometres (310 mi) due south of the Maldives archipelago. This chain of islands are the southernmost archipelago of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge a long submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean. The Chagos also form a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Maldives and the Lakshadweep. The islands and their surrounding waters are also a vast oceanic Environment Preservation and Protection Zone (EPPZ) (Fisheries Conservation and Management Zone (FCMZ) of 544,000 square kilometres (210,000 sq mi)), an area twice the size of the UK's land surface.
Officially part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, the Chagos were home to the Chagossians for more than a century and a half until the United Kingdom evicted them in the early 1970s in order to allow the United States to build a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands. Since 1971, only the atoll of Diego Garcia is inhabited, and only by military and civilian contracted personnel.
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China
China (i/ˈtʃaɪnə/; Chinese: 中国; pinyin: Zhōngguó; see also Names of China), officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is the world's most-populous country, with a population of over 1.3 billion. Covering approximately 9.6 million square kilometres, the East Asian state is the world's second-largest country by land area, and the third- or fourth-largest in total area, depending on the definition of total area.
The People's Republic of China is a single-party state governed by the Communist Party of China. It exercises jurisdiction over 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four directly controlled municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing), and two mostly self-governing special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau). Its capital city is Beijing. The PRC also claims Taiwan—which is controlled by the Republic of China (ROC), a separate political entity—as its 23rd province, a claim controversial due to the complex political status of Taiwan and the unresolved Chinese Civil War. The PRC government denies the legitimacy of the ROC.
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Christmas Island
Coordinates: 10°29′S 105°38′E / 10.483°S 105.633°E / -10.483; 105.633 The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, 360 km (220 mi) south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, 975 km (606 mi) ENE of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and 2,748 km (1,708 mi) west of the Territorian city of Darwin.
Christmas Island has a population of 1,403 residents who live in a number of "settlement areas" on the northern tip of the island: Flying Fish Cove (also known as Kampong), Silver City, Poon Saan, and Drumsite.
The island’s geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of significant interest to scientists and naturalists. 63% of its 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi) is an Australian national park. There exist large areas of primary monsoonal forest.
Phosphate, deposited originally as dead marine organisms (not guano as often thought), has been mined on the island for many years.
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Comoros
The Comorosi/ˈkɒməroʊz/ (Arabic: جزر القمر, Ǧuzur al-Qumur/Qamar), officially the Union of the Comoros (Comorian: Udzima wa Komori, French: Union des Comores, Arabic: الاتحاد القمري al-Ittiḥād al-Qumurī/Qamarī) is a sovereign, archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar. Other countries near to the Comoros are Tanzania to the northwest and the Seychelles to the northeast. The capital is Moroni on Grande Comore.
At 1,862 km2 (719 sq mi) (excluding Mayotte), the Comoros is the third-smallest African nation by area. The population (excluding Mayotte) is estimated at 798,000. Its name derives from the Arabic word قمر qamar ("moon"). The archipelago is notable for its diverse culture and history, as a nation formed at the crossroads of many civilizations. It is the southernmost member state of the Arab League. Though in the contested island of Mayotte the sole official language is French, the "Union of the Comoros" has three official languages: Comorian, Arabic, and French.
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Cyprus
Cyprusi/ˈsaɪprəs/ (Greek: Κύπρος, Kýpros, IPA: [ˈcipɾos]; Turkish: Kıbrıs, IPA: [ˈkɯbɾɯs]), officially the Republic of Cyprus (Greek: Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía, IPA: [cipɾiaˈci ðimokɾaˈtia]; Turkish: Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti, IPA: [ˈkɯbɾɯs dʒumhuɾijeˈti]), is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria, Lebanon, northwest of Israel and north of Egypt. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the European Union.
The earliest known human activity on the island dates back to around the 10th millennium BC. Archaeological remains from this period include the well-preserved Neolithic village of Khirokitia, which has been declared a World Heritage Site with an "enhanced protection" status in the event of armed conflict by UNESCO, along with the archaeological sites of Paphos and the Painted Churches of the Troodos Region. Cyprus is home to some of the oldest water wells in the world.
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Denmark
The Kingdom of Denmark (Danish: Kongeriget Danmark, pronounced [ˈkɔŋəʁiːəð ˈdanmɑɡ̊] (
listen)) is a constitutional monarchy and sovereign state consisting the country of Denmark in northern Europe and two autonomous constituent countries, the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland in North America. The kingdom is a unitary state with some power being devolved from Denmark proper to Greenland and the Faroe Islands; this polity is referred to as the Danish Realm. Denmark proper is the hegemonial area, where judicial, executive, and legislative power resides. The Faroe Islands are defined to be a community of people within the kingdom, and the Greenlandic people are defined as a separate people with the right to self-determination.
Denmark is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, located southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. The country consists of a large peninsula, Jutland and many islands, most notably Zealand, Funen, Lolland, Falster and Bornholm, as well as hundreds of minor islands often referred to as the Danish Archipelago.
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Djibouti
Djibouti (Arabic: جيبوتي Jībūtī, French: Djibouti, Somali: Jabuuti, Afar: Gabuuti), officially the Republic of Djibouti (Arabic: جمهورية جيبوتي Jumhūriyyat Jībūtī, French: République de Djibouti, Afar: Gabuutih Ummuuno, Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Jabuuti), is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east. Djibouti, which had a population of 818,159 at the 2009 census, is one of the least populous countries in Africa.Islam is the largest religion in the country, practiced by 94% of the population. The land was known as Obock and French Somaliland (Côte française des Somalis) in the 19th century; in 1967, it changed its name to Afars and Issas after new treaties with France. The territory was declared an independent nation in 1977 and changed its name to the "Republic of Djibouti" after its principal city. Djibouti joined the United Nations on September 20, 1977. While Djibouti is an independent sovereign state, it maintains deep French relations, and through various military and economic agreements with France, it receives continued security and economic assistance.
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East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (tiˈmɔr ˈlɛʃteɪ), commonly known as East Timori/ˌiːst ˈtiːmɔr/ (Tetum: Timór Lorosa'e, Portuguese: Timor-Leste), is a sovereign state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor. The small country of 15,410 km² (5,400 sq mi) is located about 640 km (400 mi) northwest of Darwin, Australia.
East Timor was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, and was known as Portuguese Timor until Portugal's decolonization of the country. In late 1975, East Timor declared its independence, but later that year was invaded and occupied by Indonesia and was declared Indonesia's 27th province the following year. In 1999, following the United Nations-sponsored act of self-determination, Indonesia relinquished control of the territory and East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on May 20, 2002. East Timor is one of only two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being the Philippines.
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Egypt
Egypti/ˈiːdʒɪpt/ (Arabic: مصر, Miṣr, Egyptian Arabic: [mɑsˤɾ] ; Coptic: Ⲭⲏⲙⲓ, Kīmi ; Sahidic Coptic: ⲕⲏⲙⲉ, Kēme), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: جمهوريّة مصر العربيّة (help·info), is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world. Covering an area of about 1,010,000 square kilometers (390,000 sq mi), Egypt is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.
Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its over 81 million people live near the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with most spread across the densely populated centres of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
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Eritrea
Eritrea ( /ˌɛrɨˈtreɪ.ə/ or /ˌɛrɨˈtriːə/;Ge'ez: ኤርትራ ʾErtrā, Arabic: إرتريا Iritrīyā), officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea is the Italian form of the Greek name Ἐρυθραίᾱ (Erythraíā), meaning "red [land]". The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The northeast and east of the country has an extensive coastline on the Red Sea, directly across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands are part of Eritrea. Eritrea's size is approximately 117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi) with an estimated population of 6 million.
Together with northern Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the Red Sea coast of Sudan, Eritrea is considered the most likely location of the land known to the ancient Egyptians as Punt (or "Ta Netjeru", meaning "God's Land"), whose first mention dates to the 25th century BC. The ancient Puntites were a nation of people that had close relations with Pharaonic Egypt during the times of Pharaoh Sahure and Queen Hatshepsut.
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Failaka Island
Failaka Island (Arabic: جزيرة فيلكا jazīrät failakä) is an island that belongs to Kuwait in the Persian Gulf. The island is 20 km off the coast of Kuwait City in the Persian Gulf. The name 'Failaka' is thought to be derived from the ancient Greek φυλάκιο(ν) - fylakio(n) "outpost".
During the Dilmun era (from ca. 3000 BC), which saw the establishment of neighboring Bahrain, the island of Failaka was already developing its own unique culture and religious pantheon. Worship of the sun appears to have been practiced (see Shamash). Human sacrifice may also have taken place.
At some point following Alexander the Great's initial advance through the region in 331 BC or in the period 324/3 BC when he returned to Mesopotamia, the ancient Greeks colonized the island, which they named Ikaros after the Greek island in the Aegean Sea and the mythical hero Icarus, apparently in the belief that the island had a similar shape of its Aegean counterpart. Some elements of Greek mythology were mixed with the local cults.
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France
France (Englishi/ˈfræns/ FRANSS or /ˈfrɑːns/ FRAHNSS; French: [fʁɑ̃s] ( listen)), officially the French Republic (French: République française [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as l’Hexagone ("The Hexagon") because of the geometric shape of its territory. It is the largest western European country and it possesses the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world, covering 11,035,000 km2 (4,260,000 sq mi), just behind that of the United States (11,351,000 km2 / 4,383,000 sq mi).
Over the past 500 years, France has been a major power with strong cultural, economic, military and political influence in Europe and around the world. During the 17th and 18th centuries, France colonised great parts of North America and Southeast Asia; during the 19th and early 20th centuries, France built the second largest colonial empire of the time, including large portions of North, West and Central Africa, Southeast Asia, and many Caribbean and Pacific Islands.
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Gabon
Gabon ( /ɡəˈbɒn/; French pronunciation: [ɡabɔ̃]), officially the Gabonese Republic (French: République Gabonaise) is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west. It covers a land area of nearly 270,000 km² and has an estimated population of 1,500,000. Its capital and largest city is Libreville.
Since its independence from France on August 17, 1960, Gabon has been ruled by three presidents. In the early 1990s, Gabon introduced a multi-party system and a new democratic constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed many governmental institutions. Gabon is also a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2010-2011 term.
Low population density together with abundant natural resources and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest HDI and the third highest GDP per capita (PPP) (after Equatorial Guinea and Botswana) in the region.
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Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip (Arabic: قطاع غزة Qiṭāʿ Ġazzah, IPA: [qitˤaːʕ ɣazza]) lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, within the Middle East (at 31 25 N, 34 20 E). The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest, 11km long, and Israel on the east and north, 51km long. It is about 41 kilometres (25 mi) long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres (4–7.5 mi) wide, with a total area of 360 square kilometres (140 sq mi). It has a 40 km coastline onto the Mediterranean Sea, but has no maritime claims due to Israeli administration. The territory takes its name from Gaza-city, its main city and administrative center.
The Gaza Strip has a temperate climate, with mild winters, and dry and hot summers, subject to drought. The terrain is flat or rolling, with dunes near the coast. The highest point is Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda), at 105 metres above sea level. Main resources are arable land (about a third of the strip is irrigated), and recently discovered natural gas. Environmental issues include desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; and depletion and contamination of underground water resources.
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German Empire
The German Empire (German: Deutsches Kaiserreich) is the common name given to the state officially named the Deutsches Reich (literally: "German Realm"), designating Germany from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.
The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent territories (most of them ruled by royal families). While the Kingdom of Prussia contained most of the population and most of the territory of the Reich; the Prussian leadership became supplanted by German leaders and Prussia itself played a lesser role. As Dwyer (2005) points out, Prussia's "political and cultural influence had diminished considerably" by the 1890s. Its three largest neighbors were rivals Imperial Russia to the east and France to the west and ally Austria-Hungary to the south.
After 1850, Germany industrialized rapidly, with a foundation in coal, iron (and later steel), chemicals and railways. From a population of 41 million people in 1871, it grew to 68 million in 1913. From a heavily rural nation in 1815, it was now predominantly urban. During its 47 years of existence, the German Empire operated as an industrial, technological and scientific giant, receiving more Nobel Prizes in science than Britain, France, Russia and the United States combined.
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Grenada
Grenada (i/ɡrɨˈneɪdə/) is an island country and Commonwealth realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Grenada is also known as the "Island of Spice" because of the production of nutmeg and mace crops of which Grenada is one of the world's largest exporters. Its size is 344 square kilometres (133 sq mi), with an estimated population of 110,000. Its capital is St. George's. The national bird of Grenada is the critically endangered Grenada Dove.
Grenada was first sighted by Europeans in 1498 during the third voyage of Christopher Columbus to the new world. At the time the indigenous Island Caribs (Kalinago) who lived there called it Camahogne. The Spaniards did not permanently settle on Camahogne. The English failed in their attempt at settlement in 1609.
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Guinea
Guineai/ˈɡɪni/, officially the Republic of Guinea (French: République de Guinée), is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea (Guinée française), it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Guinea has almost 246,000 square kilometres (94,981 sq mi) and a population of 10,057,975. It forms a crescent by curving from its western border on the Atlantic Ocean toward the east and the south. Its northern border is shared with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali, the southern one with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire. The Niger River's source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea.
Guinea is geographically divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures. Conakry is the capital, largest city and economic centre. The other major cities in the country include Kankan, Nzérékoré, Kindia, Labe, Guéckédou, Mamou and Boke.
Guinea's 10 million people belong to twenty-four ethnic groups. The largest and most prominent groups are the Fula 40%, Mandingo 30%, and Susu 20%.
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Guyana
Coordinates: 5°00′N 58°45′W / 5°N 58.75°W / 5; -58.75
Guyana (i/ɡaɪˈænə/ gy-AN-ə), officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and (for over 200 years) the British. It is the only state of the Commonwealth of Nations on mainland South America, and the only one on that continent where English is an official language.It is one of the few Caribbean countries that is not an island. It is also a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which has its secretariat headquarters in Guyana's capital, Georgetown. Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 26 May 1966, and became a republic on 23 February 1970. In 2008 the country joined the Union of South American Nations as a founding member.
Historically, the region known as "Guiana" or "Guyana" comprised the large shield landmass north of the Amazon River and east of the Orinoco River known as the "Land of many waters". Historical Guyana is made up of three Dutch colonies: Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice. Modern Guyana is bordered to the east by Suriname, to the south and southwest by Brazil, to the west by Venezuela, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean.
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Hawalli Governorate
Hawally (Arabic: حولي) is one of the six governorates of Kuwait, consisting of the following districts :
The current governor of the Hawally governorate is Abdallah Abdulrahman Al Fares.
A 2005 estimate reports the population of Hawally to be 393,861 (source:).
As of 31 December 2007 Hawally population is estimated to be 714,876 (source PACI:).
Qadsia SC and Al-Salmiya SC are situated in Hawalli governate.
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Hong Kong
Coordinates: 22°16′42″N 114°09′32″E / 22.27833°N 114.15889°E / 22.27833; 114.15889
Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港) is one of two special administrative regions (SARs) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is known for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of 1,104 km2 (426 sq mi) and a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong's population is 95 percent ethnic Chinese and 5 percent from other groups. Hong Kong's Han Chinese majority originate mainly from the cities of Guangzhou and Taishan in the neighbouring Guangdong province.
Hong Kong became a colony of the British Empire after the First Opium War (1839–42). Originally confined to Hong Kong Island, the colony's boundaries were extended in stages to the Kowloon Peninsula in 1860 and then the New Territories in 1898. It was occupied by Japan during the Pacific War, after which the British resumed control until 1997, when China resumed sovereignty. The region espoused minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism during the colonial era. The time period greatly influenced the current culture of Hong Kong, often described as "East meets West", and the educational system, which used to loosely follow the system in England until reforms implemented in 2009.
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Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa (Amharic: የአፍሪካ ቀንድ?, Arabic: القرن الأفريقي, Somali: Geeska Afrika, Tigrinya: ቀርኒ ኣፍሪቃ?) (alternatively Northeast Africa, and sometimes Somali Peninsula; shortened to HOA) is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent. Referred to in ancient and medieval times as Bilad al Barbar ("Land of the Berbers"), the Horn of Africa denotes the region containing the countries of Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia.
It covers approximately 2,000,000 km² (770,000 sq mi) and is inhabited by roughly 100 million people (Ethiopia: 85 million, Somalia: 9.3 million, Eritrea: 5.2 million, and Djibouti: 0.86 million). Regional studies on the Horn of Africa are carried out, among others, in the fields of Ethiopian Studies as well as Somali Studies.
The Horn of Africa is almost equidistant from the equator and the Tropic of Cancer. It consists chiefly of mountains uplifted through the formation of the Great Rift Valley, a fissure in the Earth's crust extending from Turkey to Mozambique and marking the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates. Most of the region is mountainous which arose through faults resulting from the Rift Valley, with the highest peaks in the Semien Mountains of northwestern Ethiopia.[citation needed]
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India
India (i/ˈɪndiə/), officially the Republic of India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west;China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.
Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four of the world's major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.
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Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula (or, more generally, by southern and western Asia); on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, by Antarctica). The ocean is named after the geographic location of India.
As one component of the interconnected global ocean, the Indian Ocean is delineated from the Atlantic Ocean by the 20° east meridian running south from Cape Agulhas, and from the Pacific by the meridian of 146°55' east. The northernmost extent of the Indian Ocean is approximately 30° north in the Persian Gulf. This ocean is nearly 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) wide at the southern tips of Africa and Australia; its area is 73,556,000 square kilometres (28,350,000 sq mi), including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
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Indonesia
Indonesia (i/ˌɪndəˈniːʒə/ IN-də-NEE-zhə or /ˌɪndoʊˈniːziə/ IN-doh-NEE-zee-ə), officially the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Republik Indonesia Indonesian pronunciation: [rɛpʊblɪk ɪndɔnɛsɪa]), is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 17,508 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, 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. The Indonesian economy is the world's 17th largest economy by nominal GDP.
The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the 7th century, when Srivijaya and then later Majapahit traded with China and India. Local rulers gradually absorbed foreign cultural, religious and political models from the early centuries CE, and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Indonesian history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders brought Islam, and European powers brought Christianity and fought one another to monopolize trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery. Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia secured its independence after World War II. Indonesia's history has since been turbulent, with challenges posed by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.
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Iran
Coordinates: 32°N 53°E / 32°N 53°E / 32; 53
Iran (i/ɪˈrɑːn/ or /aɪˈræn/;Persian: ایران [ʔiˈɾɒn] ( listen)), officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persian: جمهوری اسلامی ایران Jomhuri-ye Eslāmi-ye Irān), is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran", which in Persian means "Land of the Aryans", has been in use natively since the Sassanian era. It came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia ( /ˈpɜrʒə/ or /ˈpɜrʃə/). Both "Persia" and "Iran" are used interchangeably in cultural contexts; however, "Iran" is the name used officially in political contexts.
The 18th-largest country in the world in terms of area at 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi), Iran has a population of around 79 million. It is a country of particular geopolitical significance owing to its location in the Middle East and central Eurasia. Iran is bordered on the north by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. As Iran is a littoral state of the Caspian Sea, which is an inland sea, Kazakhstan and Russia are also Iran's direct neighbors to the north. Iran is bordered on the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan, on the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, on the west by Iraq and on the northwest by Turkey. Tehran is the capital, the country's largest city and the political, cultural, commercial and industrial center of the nation. Iran is a regional power, and holds an important position in international energy security and world economy as a result of its large reserves of petroleum and natural gas. Iran has the second largest proven natural gas reserves in the world and the fourth largest proven petroleum reserves.
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Iraq
Iraq (/ɪˈræk/ ori/ɪˈrɑːk/; Arabic: العراق al-‘Irāq); officially the Republic of Iraq (Arabic: جمهورية العراق (help·info) Jumhūriyyat al-‘Irāq), is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.
Iraq borders Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Jordan to the southwest and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (36 mi) on the northern Persian Gulf. The capital city, Baghdad is in the center-east of the country.
Two major rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, run through the center of Iraq, flowing from northwest to southeast. These provide Iraq with agriculturally capable land and contrast with the steppe and desert landscape that covers most of Western Asia.
Historically, Iraq was the center of the Abbasid Arabic Islamic Empire. Iraq has been known to the west by the Greek toponym 'Mesopotamia' (Land between the rivers) and has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC. The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is often referred to as the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of writing, law and the wheel. At different periods in its history, Iraq was the center of the indigenous Akkadian, Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Abbasid empires. It was also part of the Achaemenid, Hellenistic, Parthian, Sassanid, Roman, Rashidun, Umayyad, Mongol, Safavid, Afsharid, and Ottoman empires, and under British control as a League of Nations mandate.
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Israel
Coordinates: 31°N 35°E / 31°N 35°E / 31; 35
Israel, officially the State of Israel ( /ˈɪzriːəl/ or /ˈɪzreɪəl/; Hebrew: מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, Medīnat Yisrā'el, IPA: [me̞diˈnät jisʁäˈʔe̞l] ( listen); Arabic: دَوْلَة إِسْرَائِيل, Dawlat Isrāʼīl, IPA: [dawlat ʔisraːˈʔiːl]), is a parliamentary republic in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan and the West Bank in the east, Egypt and the Gaza Strip on the southwest, and the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea to the south, and it contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Israel is defined as a Jewish and Democratic State in its Basic Laws and is the world's only Jewish-majority state.
Following the adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 29 November 1947 recommending the adoption and implementation of the United Nations plan to partition Palestine, on 14 May 1948 David Ben-Gurion, the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization and president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, declared the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz Israel, to be known as the State of Israel, a state independent from the British Mandate for Palestine. Neighboring Arab states invaded the next day in support of the Palestinian Arabs. Israel has since fought several wars with neighboring Arab states, in the course of which it has occupied the West Bank, Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. Portions of these territories, including east Jerusalem, have been annexed by Israel, but the border with the neighboring West Bank has not yet been permanently defined.[neutrality is disputed] Israel has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, but efforts to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict have so far not resulted in peace.
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Jamaica
Coordinates: 18°10′57″N 77°19′18″W / 18.1823878°N 77.3217773°W / 18.1823878; -77.3217773
Jamaica (i/dʒəˈmeɪkə/), officially the Commonwealth of Jamaica, is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 234 kilometres (145 mi) in length, up to 80 kilometres (50 mi) in width, and 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi) in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taíno name for the island was Xaymaca, meaning the "Land of Wood and Water" or the "Land of Springs".
Once a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it became an English colony in 1655 under the name "Jamaica". It achieved full independence from Britain on August 6, 1962. With 2.8 million people, it is the third most populous anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada. It remains a Commonwealth realm in concert with the Monarchy of Jamaica holding ultimate executive power, where Queen Elizabeth II is the current head of state and Queen of Jamaica.Kingston is the country's largest city and the capital.
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Japan
Japani/dʒəˈpæn/ (Japanese: 日本 Nihon or Nippon; formally 日本国 Nippon-koku or Nihon-koku, literally the State of Japan) is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan's name mean "sun-origin", which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Rising Sun".
Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū and Shikoku, together accounting for ninety-seven percent of Japan's land area. Japan has the world's tenth-largest population, with over 127 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the de facto capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.
Archaeological research indicates that people lived in Japan as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan is in Chinese history texts from the 1st century AD. Influence from other nations followed by long periods of isolation has characterized Japan's history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Russo-Japanese War and World War I allowed Japan to expand its empire during a period of increasing militarism. The Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937 expanded into part of World War II in 1941, which came to an end in 1945 following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since adopting its revised constitution in 1947, Japan has maintained a unitary constitutional monarchy with an emperor and an elected parliament called the Diet.
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Jordan
Jordan ( /ˈdʒɔr.dən/;Arabic: اَلأُرْدُنّ, Al-'Urdunn), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Arabic: اَلمَمْلَكَة اَلأُرْدُنِيَّة اَلهَاشِمِيَّة), Al-Mamlakah Al-Urdaniyyah Al-Hashimiyyah) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing control of the Dead Sea with the latter. Jordan's only port is at its south-western tip, at the Gulf of Aqaba, which is shared with Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Over half of Jordan is covered by the Arabian Desert. However, the western part of Jordan is arable land and forests. Jordan is part of the Fertile Crescent. The capital city is Amman. According to the CIA World Factbook, Jordan has the second highest life expectancy in the Middle East, after Israel. The average life expectancy is one position behind the United Kingdom, although the age remains exactly the same (80.05 years).
The precursor to modern Jordan was founded in 1921 as the Hashemite Emirate, and it was recognized by the League of Nations as a state under the British mandate in 1922 known as The Emirate of Transjordan. In 1946, Jordan became an independent sovereign state officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. After capturing the West Bank area of Cisjordan during the 1948–49 war with Israel, Abdullah I took the title King of Jordan and Palestine, and he officially changed the country's name to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in April 1949.
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Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan (i/ˌkɑːzəkˈstɑːn/ or /ˌkæzəkˈstæn/) (Kazakh: Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, pronounced [qɑzɑqstɑ́n]; Russian: Казахстан [kəzɐxˈstan]), officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Europe. The ninth largest country in the world by land area, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of 2,727,300 square kilometres (1,053,000 sq mi) is larger than Western Europe. It is neighbored clockwise from the north by Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and also borders on a significant part of the Caspian Sea. Although Kazakhstan does not share a border with Mongolia, its most easterly point is only 38 kilometres (24 mi) from Mongolia's western tip. The terrain of Kazakhstan ranges from flatlands, steppes, taigas, rock-canyons, hills, deltas, and snow-capped mountains to deserts. With 16.6 million people (2011 estimate) Kazakhstan has the 62nd largest population in the world, though its population density is less than 6 people per square kilometre (15 per sq. mi.). The capital was moved in 1998 from Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, to Astana.
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Kenya
Kenya ( /ˈkɛnjə/ or /ˈkiːnjə/), officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator. With the Indian Ocean to its south-east, it is bordered by Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, South Sudan to the north-west, Ethiopia to the north and Somalia to the north-east. Kenya has a land area of 580,000 km2 and a population of nearly 41 million, representing 42 different peoples and cultures. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a significant landmark and second among Africa's highest mountain peaks. Kenya's capital and largest city is Nairobi.
Kenya has a warm and humid climate along its coastline on the Indian Ocean which changes to wildlife-rich savannah grasslands moving inland towards the capital Nairobi. Nairobi has a cool climate that gets colder approaching Mount Kenya, which has three permanently snow-capped peaks. The warm and humid tropical climate reappears further inland towards lake Victoria, before giving way to temperate forested and hilly areas in the western region. The North Eastern regions along the border with Somalia and Ethiopia are arid and semi-arid areas with near-desert landscapes. Lake Victoria, the world's second largest fresh-water lake (after Lake Superior in the US and Canada) and the world's largest tropical lake, is situated to the southwest and is shared with Uganda and Tanzania. Kenya is famous for its safaris and diverse world-famous wildlife reserves such as Tsavo National Park, the Maasai Mara, Nakuru National Park, and Aberdares National Park.
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Khafji
Ras Al Khafji (رأس الخفجي) or Khafji (الخفجي) is a town on the border between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It lies in what was before 1970 a neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The Japanese-owned Arabian Oil Company Ltd signed a concession agreement with the government of Saudi Arabia in December 1957 and with the government of Kuwait in July 1958 for exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in the offshore Neutral Zone. The Arabian Oil Company discovered the Kafji oil field in 1960 and the Hout oil field in 1963.
It was only after the discovery of these oil deposits off-shore of Khafji that a permanent demarcation of the neutral zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia was established, with Khafji formally located within Saudi Arabia.[citation needed] However, the agreement concluded that both states would still maintain joint rights to all natural resources within the designated neutral zone. With the termination of the Arabian Oil Company lease to explore and extract within the area, operations within the Khafji Fields reverted to a joint venture between shareholder companies representing both states, with production being split on a 50:50 agreement between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
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Kuwait
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwaiti/kuːˈweɪt/ (Arabic: دولة الكويت, Dawlat al-Kuwayt) is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic أكوات ākwāt, the plural of كوت kūt, meaning a fortress built near water. The country covers an area of 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 sq mi) and has a population of about 3.5 million.
Historically, the region was the site of Characene, a major Parthian port for trade between Mesopotamia and India. The Bani Utbah tribe were the first permanent Arab settlers in the region, and laid the foundation of the modern emirate. By the 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, and after World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's large oil fields were discovered in the late 1930s.
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Kuwait City
Kuwait City (Arabic: مدينة الكويت, transliteration: Madīnat al-Kuwayt), is the capital of Kuwait. It has a population of 2.38 million in the metropolitan area. Located at the heart of the country on the shore of the Persian Gulf, and containing Kuwait's parliament (Majlis Al-Umma), most governmental offices, the headquarters of most Kuwaiti corporations and banks, it is the political, cultural and economic center of the emirate.
Kuwait City’s trade and transportation needs are served by Kuwait International Airport, Mina Al-Shuwaik (Shuwaik Port) and Mina Al Ahmadi (Ahmadi Port) 50 kilometers to the south, on the Persian Gulf coast.
Kuwait City was first settled in the early 18th century by the Al-Sabāh clan, later the ruling family of Kuwait and a branch of the Al-Utūb tribe (that also included the Al-Khalīfah clan, the ruling family of Bahrain), and their leader, Sheikh Sabāh I. Its name may have derived from an earlier abandoned fort located there, called "Kūt" (كوت) – Arabic for a fortress by the sea.
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Kuwait Towers
The Kuwait Towers are three towers of reinforced concrete in Kuwait City. The main tower is 187 metres high and serves as a restaurant and water tower. It also has a Viewing Sphere which rises to 123 metres above sea level and completes a full turn every 30 minutes. The second tower is 145.8 metres high and serves as a water tower. The third tower houses equipment to control the flow of electricity and illuminates the two larger towers. The towers hold 4,500 cubic metres of water.
The towers were designed by Sune Lindström and Malene Björn and built by Energoprojekt, a company from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and Vatrostalna, a company from Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. . They opened to the public in March 1979. In 1991, after the liberation of Kuwait City during the First Gulf War, the towers were surveyed for structural damage. Substantial shell and bullet damage to the towers' exteriors was found. Interior damage was mainly to electrical gear, mostly lift equipment. Some of the large triangular glazed panels were also damaged by shell fire.
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Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan ( /ˈkɜrɡɨstæn/ KUR-gi-stan;Kyrgyz & Russian: Кыргызстан, Kyrgyzstan, or Киргизия, Kirgiziya), officially the Kyrgyz Republic is a nation located in Central Asia. Landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Its capital and largest city is Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan is officially a democratic parliamentary republic. A revolution in April 2010 overthrew the former president Kurmanbek Bakiyev and resulted in the adoption of a new constitution and the appointment of an interim government. Presidential elections were held in November 2011.
Kyrgyzstan is one of the active members of the Turkic Council and the TÜRKSOY community. The national language, Kyrgyz, is also closely related to the other Turkic languages, with which it shares strong cultural and historical ties.
Additionally, Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Community, the Non-aligned movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
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Laos
Laos ((i/ˈlaʊs/, /ˈlɑː.ɒs/, /ˈlɑː.oʊs/, or /ˈleɪ.ɒs/) Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, pronounced [sǎː.tʰáː.laʔ.naʔ.lat páʔ.sáː.tʰiʔ.páʔ.tàj páʔ.sáː.són.láːw] Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west. Its population was estimated to be 6.5 million in 2012.
Laos traces its history to the Kingdom which existed from the 14th to the 18th century when it split into three separate kingdoms. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three kingdoms, Luang Phrabang, Vientiane and Champasak, uniting to form what is now known as Laos. It briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a constitutional monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a long civil war ended the monarchy, when the Communist Pathet Lao movement came to power in 1975.
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Lebanon
Lebanon (i/ˈlɛbənɒn/ or /ˈlɛbənən/; Arabic: لبنان Libnān or Lubnān, Lebanese Arabic: [lɪbˈneːn]), officially the Lebanese Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية al-Jumhūrīyah al-Libnānīyah, Lebanese Arabic: [elˈʒʊmhuːɾɪjje l.ˈlɪbneːnɪjje]), is a country in the East Mediterranean. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south. Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has dictated its rich history, and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity.
The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than 7,000 years—predating recorded history. Lebanon was the home of the Phoenicians, a maritime culture that flourished for nearly 2,500 years (3000–539 BC). Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the five provinces that comprise modern Lebanon were mandated to France. The French expanded the borders of Mount Lebanon, which was mostly populated by Maronite Catholics and Druze, to include more Muslims. Lebanon gained independence in 1943, and established a unique political system, known as confessionalism, a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities – Bechara El Khoury who became independent Lebanon's first President and Riad El-Solh, who became Lebanon's first prime minister, are considered the founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and are national heroes for having led the country's independence. French troops withdrew from Lebanon in 1946.
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Lesotho
Lesotho (i/lɨˈsuːtuː/ li-SOO-too), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, completely surrounded by its only neighboring country, the Republic of South Africa. It is just over 30,000 km2 (11,583 sq mi) in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name Lesotho translates roughly into the land of the people who speak Sesotho. About 40% of the population live below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day.
The earliest known inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. They were largely replaced by Wasja-speaking tribes during Bantu migrations. The Sotho-Tswana people colonized the general region of South Africa between the 3rd and 11th centuries.
The present Lesotho (then called Basutoland) emerged as a single polity under king Moshoeshoe I in 1822. Moshoeshoe, a son of Mokhachane, a minor chief of the Bakoteli lineage, formed his own clan and became a chief around 1804. Between 1821 and 1823, he and his followers settled at the Butha-Buthe Mountain, joining with former adversaries in resistance against the Lifaqane associated with the reign of Shaka Zulu from 1818 to 1828.[citation needed]
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Libya
Libya (Arabic: ليبيا Lībyā), Berber: ⵍⵉⴱⵢⴰ) is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west.
With an area of almost 1.8 million square kilometres (700,000 sq mi), Libya is the third largest country in Africa by area, and the 17th largest in the world. The largest city, Tripoli, is home to 1.7 million of Libya's 6.4 million people. The three traditional parts of the country are Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica.
In 2009 Libya had the highest HDI in Africa and the fourth highest GDP (PPP) per capita in Africa, behind Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Libya has the 10th-largest proven oil reserves of any country in the world and the 17th-highest petroleum production.
As a result of the Libyan civil war, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, which had at that time been in existence for 34 years, collapsed and Libya entered a period of governance by a transitional administration called the National Transitional Council. The NTC has stated its intention to oversee the first phase of a transition to constitutional democracy, after which it claims it will dissolve in favor of a representative legislature.
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Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (i/ˈlɪktənstaɪn/ LIK-tən-styn; German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein, German pronunciation: [ˈfʏʁstn̩tuːm ˈlɪçtn̩ʃtaɪn]) is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi), and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan. Liechtenstein has the highest gross domestic product per person in the world when adjusted by purchasing power parity, and has the world's lowest external debt. Liechtenstein also has the second lowest unemployment rate in the world at 1.5% (Monaco is first).
Liechtenstein is the smallest yet the richest (by measure of GDP per capita) German-speaking country in the world and the only country to lie entirely within the Alps. It is known as a principality as it is a constitutional monarchy headed by a prince. Liechtenstein is divided into 11 municipalities. Much of its terrain is mountainous, making it a winter sports destination. Many cultivated fields and small farms characterize its landscape both in the south (Oberland, upper land) and in the north (Unterland, lower land). The country has a strong financial sector located in the capital, Vaduz, and has been identified as a tax haven. It is a member of the European Free Trade Association and part of the European Economic Area, the Schengen Area but not of the European Union.
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Luxembourg
Luxembourg (i/ˈlʌksəmbɜrɡ/ LUKS-əm-burg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg, French: Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, German: Großherzogtum Luxemburg, Dutch: Groothertogdom Luxemburg), is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland ("good country") in the south. Luxembourg has a population of over half a million people in an area of approximately 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi). A representative democracy with a constitutional monarch, it is ruled by a grand duke. It is now the world's only remaining sovereign grand duchy. The country has a highly developed economy, with the world's highest GDP (nominal) per capita according to the IMF. Its historic and strategic importance dates back to its founding as a Roman era fortress site and Frankish count's castle site in the Early Middle Ages. It was an important bastion along the Spanish Road when Spain was the principal European power influencing the whole western hemisphere and beyond in the 16th–17th centuries.
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Macau
Coordinates: 22°10′N 113°33′E / 22.167°N 113.55°E / 22.167; 113.55
Macau (Chinese: 澳門), also spelled Macao ( /məˈkaʊ/), is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, the other being Hong Kong. Macau lies on the western side of the Pearl River Delta across from Hong-Kong which is to the east, bordering Guangdong province to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east and south.
The territory's economy is heavily dependent on gambling and tourism, but also includes manufacturing.
Macau is a former Portuguese colony, and is both the first and last European colony in China. Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the handover on 20 December 1999. The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operates with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer. Macau was first lent by the Chinese empire as a trading port in the 16th century, and had to administer the city under Chinese authority and sovereignty. In 1887, Macau became a colony of the Portuguese empire and its sovereignty transferred to the Portuguese.
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Madagascar
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic, Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara [republiˈkʲan madaɡasˈkʲarə̥], French: République de Madagascar) is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar (the fourth-largest island in the world), as well as numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from India around 88 million years ago, allowing plants and animals on the island to evolve in complete isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot in which over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by human settlement.
Initial human settlement of Madagascar occurred from 350 BCE and 550 CE by Austronesian peoples arriving on outrigger canoes from Borneo who were later joined around 1000 CE by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique Channel. Other groups continued to settle on Madagascar over time, each one making lasting contributions to Malagasy cultural life. The Malagasy ethnic group is often divided into eighteen or more sub-groups of which the largest are the Merina of the central highlands.
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Malaysia
Malaysia (i/məˈleɪʒə/ mə-LAY-zhə or i/məˈleɪsiə/ mə-LAY-see-ə) is a federal constitutional monarchy in Southeast Asia. It consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a total landmass of 329,847 square kilometres (127,350 sq mi) separated by the South China Sea into two similarly sized regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Land borders are shared with Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, and maritime borders exist with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. In 2010 the population exceeded 27.5 million, with over 20 million living on the Peninsula.
Malaysia has its origins in the Malay Kingdoms present in the area which, from the 18th century, became subject to the British Empire. The first British territories were known as the Straits Settlements, whose establishment was followed by the Malay kingdoms becoming British protectorates. The territories on Peninsular Malaysia were first unified as the Malayan Union in 1946. Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948, and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963, with si being added to give the new country the name Malaysia. However, less than two years later in 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation. Since independence, Malaysia has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with GDP growing an average 6.5% for almost 50 years. The economy has traditionally been fuelled by its natural resources, but is expanding in the sectors of science, tourism, commerce and medical tourism.
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Maldives
Maldives (i/ˈmɒldaɪvz/ or /ˈmɒldiːvz/), (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ, Dhivehi Raa'je), officially Republic of Maldives (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ, Dhivehi Raa'jeyge Jumhooriyya), also referred to as the Maldive Islands, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean formed by a double chain of twenty-six atolls oriented north-south off India's Lakshadweep Islands, between Minicoy Island and Chagos Archipelago. It stands in the Laccadive Sea, about 700 kilometres (430 mi) south-west of Sri Lanka and 400 kilometres (250 mi) south-west of India. During the colonial era, the Dutch referred to the country as "Maldivische Eilanden" in their documentation, while "Maldive Islands" is the anglicised version of the local name used by the British, which later came to be written "Maldives".
The archipelago is located on top of the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range in the Indian Ocean. Maldives also form a terrestrial ecoregion together with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep. The atolls of Maldives encompass a territory spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres (35,000 sq mi), making it one of the world's most geographically dispersed countries. Its population of 328,536 (2012) inhabits 200 of its 1,192 islands. Maldives' capital and largest city Malé had a population of 103,693 in 2006. It is located at the southern edge of North Malé Atoll, in the Kaafu Atoll. It is also one of the Administrative divisions of the Maldives. Traditionally it was the King's Island where the ancient Maldive Royal dynasties were enthroned.
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Mali
Malii/ˈmɑːli/, officially the Republic of Mali (French: République du Mali, French pronunciation: [maˈli]), is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with a population of 14.5 million. Its capital is Bamako. Mali consists of eight regions and its borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahara, while the country's southern part, where the majority of inhabitants live, features the Niger and Sénégal rivers. The country's economic structure centers around agriculture and fishing. Some of Mali's natural resources are gold, uranium, livestock, and salt. About half the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.
Present-day Mali was once part of three West African empires that controlled trans-Saharan trade: the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire (from which Mali is named), and the Songhai Empire. In the late 19th century, during the Scramble for Africa, France seized control of Mali making it a part of French Sudan. French Sudan (then known as the Sudanese Republic) joined with Senegal in 1959, achieving independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. Shortly thereafter, following Senegal's withdrawal from the federation, the Sudanese Republic declared itself the independent Republic of Mali. After a long period of one-party rule, a 1991 coup led to the writing of a new constitution and the establishment of Mali as a democratic, multi-party state. On 22 March, 2012, a group of junior soldiers seized control of the country's presidential palace and declared the government dissolved and its constitution suspended. On 6 April, 2012, rebels from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) declared the secession of a new state, Azawad, from Mali.
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Mauritania
Mauritaniai/mɔrɪˈteɪniə/ (Arabic: موريتانيا Mūrītānyā; Berber: Muritanya / Agawej; Wolof: Gànnaar; Soninke: Murutaane; Pulaar: Moritani; French: Mauritanie), officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country in West Africa and in the Maghreb. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara (controlled by Morocco) in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest. It is named after the ancient Berber Kingdom of Mauretania, which later became a province of the Roman Empire, even though the modern Mauritania covers a territory far to the south of the old Berber kingdom that had no relation with it. The capital and largest city is Nouakchott, located on the Atlantic coast.
The government of Mauritania was overthrown on 6 August 2008, in a military coup d'état led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On 16 April 2009, General Aziz resigned from the military to run for president in the 19 July elections, which he won. In Mauritania about 20% of the population live on less than US$1.25 per day.
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Mauritius
Coordinates: 20°12′S 57°30′E / 20.2°S 57.5°E / -20.2; 57.5
Mauritiusi/məˈrɪʃəs/ (Mauritian Creole: Moris; French: Maurice, pronounced: [mɔˈʁis]), officially the Republic of Mauritius (Mauritian Creole: Republik Moris; French: République de Maurice) is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 870 kilometres (540 mi) east of Madagascar. In addition to the island of Mauritius, the Republic includes the islands of Cargados Carajos, Rodrigues, Tromelin and the Agalega Islands. Mauritius Island is part of the Mascarene Islands, with the French island of Réunion 170 km (110 mi) to the southwest and the island of Rodrigues 570 km (350 mi) to the east. The area of Mauritius is 2040 km2; its capital city is Port Louis.
The United Kingdom took control of the islands in 1810, from France during the Napoleonic Wars, and Mauritius became independent from the UK in 1968. It is a parliamentary republic and is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the African Union, La Francophonie and the Commonwealth of Nations.
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Mayotte
Mayotte (French: Mayotte, pronounced: [majɔt]; Shimaore: Maore, IPA: [maˈore]; Malagasy: Mahori) is an overseas department and region of France consisting of a main island, Grande-Terre (or Mahoré), a smaller island, Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), and several islets around these two. The archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, namely between northwestern Madagascar and northeastern Mozambique. Mayotte's area is 374 square kilometres (144 sq mi), and with its estimated 194,000 people is very densely populated (520 /km2 or 1,300 /sq mi). Its biggest city and prefecture is Mamoudzou. The territory is geographically part of the Comoro Islands, but has been politically separate since a 1974 referendum in which it elected to remain under French rule. The territory is also known as Mahoré, the native name of its main island, especially by advocates of its inclusion in the Union of Comoros. In a 2009 referendum, the population overwhelmingly approved accession to status of department (95.2% voted in favour of departmental status). On March 31, 2011, Mayotte became an overseas department.
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Miskan Island
Miskan Island (Arabic: مسكان)is a small, uninhabited island in the Persian Gulf off Kuwait. It is to the south of Bubiyan Island. It is about 1.2 kilometers long and 800 meters wide (area about 0.75 km²). The distance between it and Failaka Island, which lies to the south, is approximately 3.2 kilometers. The distance between Miskan and the nearest part of mainland Kuwait is about 24 kilometers. Miskan Island is devoid of any vital activity save a lighthouse managed by Ibrahem Bu-Rashid who lived in the island along with his family to guide ships sailing in the Persian Gulf at night. This island is important because it is a link in a chain of islands along Kuwait's coastline from north to south, which provide Kuwait with a defensive frontline. .
Coordinates: 29°29′9″N 48°15′5″E / 29.48583°N 48.25139°E / 29.48583; 48.25139
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Monaco
Monacoi/ˈmɒnəkoʊ/, officially the Principality of Monaco (French: Principauté de Monaco; Monégasque: Principatu de Múnegu; Italian: Principato di Monaco; Occitan: Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city state, located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. Bordered by France on three sides, with one side bordering the Mediterranean Sea, its center is about 16 km (9.9 mi) from Italy, and is only 15 km (9.3 mi) north east of Nice, France. It has an area of 1.98 km2 (0.76 sq mi), and a population of 35,986, making Monaco the second smallest and the most densely populated country in the world. Monaco has a land border of only 4.4 km (2.7 mi), a coastline of 4.1 km (2.5 mi), and a width that varies between 1.7 km (1.1 mi) and 349 metres (382 yards). The highest point in the country is a narrow pathway named Chemin des Révoires on the slopes of Mont Agel, in the Les Révoires district, which is 161 metres (528 feet) above sea level. Monaco's most populated Quartier is Monte Carlo, and the most populated Ward is Larvotto/Bas Moulins. After a recent expansion of Port Hercules, Monaco's total area is 2.05 km2 (0.79 sq mi), with new plans to extend the district of Fontvieille, with land reclaimed from the Mediterranean Sea.
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Mongolia
Mongoliai/mɒŋˈɡoʊliə/ (Mongolian: Монгол улс (help·info), literally Mongol country/state) is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only 38 kilometres (24 mi) from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest city, is home to about 45% of the population. Mongolia's political system is a parliamentary republic.
The area of what is now Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Rouran, the Gökturks and others. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. After the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongols returned to their earlier pattern of constant internal conflict and occasional raids on the Chinese borderlands. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Mongolia came under the influence of Tibetan Buddhism. At the end of the 17th century, all of Mongolia had been incorporated into the area ruled by the Qing Dynasty. During the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Mongolia declared independence, but had to struggle until 1921 to firmly establish de facto independence from the Republic of China, and until 1945 to gain international recognition.
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Morocco
Morocco (Arabic: المغرب al-Maghrib ; Berber: ⵍⵎⴻⵖⵔⵉⴱ / ⴰⵎⴻⵔⵔⵓⴽElmeɣrib / Amerruk), officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of about 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², including the disputed region of the Western Sahara, seen by and mostly administered by Morocco as the Southern Provinces. Morocco is part of the Maghreb region, in addition to Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, and Libya, with which it shares cultural, historical and linguistic ties.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament. The King of Morocco holds vast executive powers, including the power to dissolve the parliament. Executive power is exercised by the government but more importantly by the king himself. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Assembly of Representatives and the Assembly of Councillors. The king can also issue decrees called dahirs which have the force of law. The latest Parliamentary elections were held in November 25, 2011, and were considered by some neutral observers to be mostly free and fair. Voter turnout in these elections was estimated to be 43% of registered voters, but only about 25% of Moroccan adult citizens actually voted. The rest either chose not to vote or they were not registered as voters. The political capital is Rabat, but the largest city is Casablanca; other main cities include Marrakesh, Tetouan, Tangier, Salé, Fes, Agadir, Meknes, Oujda, Kenitra, and Nador.
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Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique (Portuguese: Moçambique or República de Moçambique, pronounced: [ʁɛˈpublikɐ di musɐ̃ˈbiki]), is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest. The capital city is Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques.
Between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, Bantu-speaking peoples migrated from farther north and west. Swahili, and later also Arab, commercial ports existed along the coasts until the arrival of Europeans. The area was explored by Vasco da Gama in 1498 and colonized by Portugal in 1505. Mozambique became independent in 1975, and became the People's Republic of Mozambique shortly thereafter. It was the scene of an intense civil war lasting from 1977 to 1992.
Mozambique is endowed with rich and extensive natural resources. The country's economy is based largely on agriculture, but with industry, mainly food and beverages, chemical manufacturing, aluminium and petroleum production, is growing fast. The country's tourism sector is also growing. South Africa is Mozambique's main trading partner and source of foreign direct investment. Portugal, Spain, and Belgium are also among the country's most important partners. Since 2001 Mozambique is one of the world's top ten for annual average GDP growth. However, Mozambique still has one of the lowest GDP per capita, one of the worst human development index and one of the highest inequality in the world, as well as having the world's lowest life expectancy.
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NASA
Coordinates: 38°52′59″N 77°0′59″W / 38.88306°N 77.01639°W / 38.88306; -77.01639
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research. Since February 2006, NASA's mission statement has been to "pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research." On September 14, 2011, NASA announced that it had selected the design of a new Space Launch System that it said would take the agency's astronauts farther into space than ever before and provide the cornerstone for future human space exploration efforts by the U.S.
NASA was established by the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 29, 1958, replacing its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The agency became operational on October 1, 1958. U.S. space exploration efforts have since been led by NASA, including the Apollo moon-landing missions, the Skylab space station, and later the Space Shuttle. Currently, NASA is supporting the International Space Station and is overseeing the development of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Commercial Crew vehicles. The agency is also responsible for the Launch Services Program (LSP) which provides oversight of launch operations and countdown management for unmanned NASA launches.
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Nepal
Nepal (नेपाल) (i/nɛˈpɔːl/ ne-PAWLNepali: नेपाल [neˈpal] ( listen)), officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. Specifically, the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim border Nepal, while across the Himalayas lies the Tibetan Autonomous Region. With an area of 147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 27 million (and 2 million absentee workers living abroad), Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolis. Kathmandu Valley itself has estimated population of 5 million.
Nepal has a rich geography. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, called Sagarmatha in Nepali. It contains more than 240 peaks over 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized.
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New Zealand
New Zealand (Māori: Aotearoa) is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses ‒ that of the North and South Islands ‒ as well as numerous smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometres (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. Because of its remoteness, it was one of the last lands to be settled by humans.
During its long isolation, New Zealand developed a distinctive biodiversity of both animal and plant life. Most notable are the large number of unique bird species, many of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and introduced mammals. With a mild maritime climate, the land was mostly covered in forest. The country's varied topography and its sharp mountain peaks owe much to the tectonic uplift of land and volcanic eruptions caused by the Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates clashing beneath the earth's surface.
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Niger
Niger (French pronunciation: [niʒɛʁ], but occasionally pronounced as /niːˈʒɛər/ ori/ˈnaɪdʒər/), officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east. Niger covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2, making it the largest nation in West Africa, with over 80 percent of its land area covered by the Sahara desert. The country's predominantly Islamic population of just above 15,000,000 is mostly clustered in the far south and west of the nation. The capital city is Niamey, located in the far southwest corner of Niger.
Niger is a developing country, and consistently ranks as one of the lowest ranks of the United Nations' Human Development Index (HDI), 186th of 187 countries in 2011. Much of the non-desert portions of the country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification. The economy is concentrated around subsistence and some export agriculture clustered in the more fertile south, and the export of raw materials, especially uranium ore. Niger remains handicapped by its landlocked position, desert terrain, poor education and poverty of its people, lack of infrastructure, poor health care, and environmental degradation.
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Nigeria
Nigeriai/naɪˈdʒɪəriə/, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
In terms of religion Nigeria is roughly split half and half between Muslims in the North and Christians in the South; a very small minority practice traditional religion. Since 2002 there have been a spate of clashes, particularly in the North of the country, between government forces and the Islamists Boko Haram, militant jihadists who seek to establish sharia law.
The people of Nigeria have an extensive history. Archaeological evidence shows that human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BCE. The area around the Benue and Cross River is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium.
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North Korea
Coordinates: 40°00′N 127°00′E / 40°N 127°E / 40; 127 The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK; Chosŏn'gŭl: 조선민주주의인민공화국), commonly referred to as "North Korea" ( listen), 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, or Yalu, and the Tumen rivers form the border between North Korea and China. A section of the Tumen River in the far northeast is the border with Russia.
The peninsula was governed by the Korean Empire until it was annexed by Japan after the Russo-Japanese War in 1910. It was divided into Soviet- and American-occupied zones in 1945, after the end of World War II. North Korea refused to participate in a United Nations–supervised election held in the south in 1948, which led to the creation of separate Korean governments for the two occupation zones. North and South Korea each claimed sovereignty over the whole Korean Peninsula, which led to the Korean War of 1950. The Armistice Agreement of 1953 ended the fighting; but the two countries are officially still at war against each other, for a peace treaty was never signed. Both states were accepted into the United Nations in 1991.
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Northern Cyprus
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti), commonly called Northern Cyprus, is a self-declared state that comprises the northeastern part of the island of Cyprus. Recognised only by Turkey, Northern Cyprus is considered by the international community to be occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
Northern Cyprus extends from the tip of the Karpass Peninsula in the north east, westward to Morphou Bay and Cape Kormakitis (the Kokkina/Erenköy exclave marks the westernmost extent of the area), and southward to the village of Louroujina/Akıncılar. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital of both states.
Tensions between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot populations in Cyprus culminated in 1974 with a coup d'état, an attempt to annex the island to Greece, and an invasion by Turkey in response. This resulted in the partitioning of the island, the resettlement of many of its inhabitants, and a unilateral declaration of independence by the north in 1983. Due to its lack of recognition, Northern Cyprus is heavily dependent on Turkey for economic, political and military support.
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Norway
Norwayi/ˈnɔrweɪ/ (Norwegian: Norge (Bokmål) or Noreg (Nynorsk)), officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and the subantarctic Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of 385,252 square kilometres (148,747 sq mi) and a population of about 5 million. It is the second least densely populated country in Europe. The majority of the country shares a border to the east with Sweden; its northernmost region is bordered by Finland to the south and Russia to the east; in its south Norway borders the Skagerrak Strait across from Denmark. The capital city of Norway is Oslo. Norway's extensive coastline, facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea, is home to its famous fjords.
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Oman
Oman (i/oʊˈmɑːn/ oh-MAAN; Arabic: عمان ʻUmān), officially called the Sultanate of Oman (Arabic: سلطنة عُمان Salṭanat ʻUmān), is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam enclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries.
For a period, Oman was a moderate regional power, formerly having a sultanate extending across the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, and modern day Pakistan, and far south to Zanzibar on the coat of south-east Africa. Over time, as its power declined, the sultanate came under heavy influence from the United Kingdom, though Oman was never formally part of the British Empire, or a British protectorate. The Omani royal family claim that Oman has been ruled by the Al Said dynasty since 1744, although without substantial proof. Oman has long-standing military and political ties with the United Kingdom and the United States, although it maintains an independent foreign policy.
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Pakistan
Pakistan (i/ˈpækɨstæn/ or i/pɑːkiˈstɑːn/; Urdu: پاکستان) (Urdu pronunciation: [paːkɪˈst̪aːn] (
listen)), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Urdu: اسلامی جمہوریۂ پاکستان), is a sovereign country in South Asia. It sits at the crossroads of the strategically important regions of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. It has a 1,046-kilometre (650 mi) coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by India to the east, Afghanistan to the west and north, Iran to the southwest and China in the far northeast. It is separated from Tajikistan by Afghanistan's narrow Wakhan Corridor in the north, and it shares a marine border with Oman.
The territory of modern Pakistan was the site of several ancient cultures, including the Neolithic Mehrgarh and the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilisation, and has undergone invasions or settlements by Hindu, Persian, Indo-Greek, Islamic, Turco-Mongol, Afghan and Sikh cultures. Thus the area has been ruled by numerous empires and dynasties, including the Indian Mauryan Empire, the Persian Achaemenid Empire, the Arab Umayyad Caliphate, the Mongol Empire, the Mughal Empire, the Durrani Empire, the Sikh Empire and the British Empire. As a result of the Pakistan Movement led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and India's struggle for independence, Pakistan was created in 1947 as an independent nation for Muslims from the regions in the east and west of India where there was a Muslim majority. Initially a dominion, Pakistan adopted a new constitution in 1956, becoming an Islamic republic. A civil war in 1971 resulted in the secession of East Pakistan as the new country of Bangladesh.
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Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (PNG; Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands (the western portion of the island is a part of the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua). It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in a region defined since the early 19th century as Melanesia. The capital is Port Moresby.
Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth. According to recent data, 841 different languages are listed for the country, although 11 of these have no known living speakers. . (A detailed series of language maps of Papua New Guinea may be found at Ethnologue) There may be at least as many traditional societies,out of a population of about 6.2 million. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18% of its people live in urban centres. The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically, and many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior of Papua New Guinea.
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Parthian Empire
The Parthian (pronounced /ˈpɑrθiən/) Empire (247 BC – 224 AD), also known as the Arsacid (/ˈɑrsəsɪd/) Empire (Modern Persian: اشکانیان Ashkāniān), was a major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Persia. Its latter name comes from Arsaces I of Parthia who, as leader of the Parni tribe, founded it in the mid-3rd century BC when he conquered the Parthia region in Iran's northeast, then a satrapy (province) in rebellion against the Seleucid Empire. Mithridates I of Parthia (r. c. 171–138 BC) greatly expanded the empire by seizing Media and Mesopotamia from the Seleucids. At its height, the Parthian Empire stretched from the northern reaches of the Euphrates, in what is now south-eastern Turkey, to eastern Iran. The empire, located on the Silk Road trade route between the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean Basin and Han Empire of China, became a center of trade and commerce.
The Parthians largely adopted the art, architecture, religious beliefs, and royal insignia of their culturally heterogeneous empire, which encompassed Persian, Hellenistic, and regional cultures. For about the first half of its existence, the Arsacid court adopted elements of Greek culture, though it eventually saw a gradual revival of Iranian traditions. The Arsacid rulers were titled the "King of Kings", as a claim to be the heirs to the Achaemenid Empire; indeed, they accepted many local kings as vassals where the Achaemenids would have had centrally appointed, albeit largely autonomous, satraps. The court did appoint a small number of satraps, largely outside Iran, but these satrapies were smaller and less powerful than the Achaemenid potentates. With the expansion of Arsacid power, the seat of central government shifted from Nisa, Turkmenistan to Ctesiphon along the Tigris (south of modern Baghdad, Iraq), although several other sites also served as capitals.
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Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf is located in Western Asia between Iran (Persia) and the Arabian Peninsula. It is an extension of the Indian Ocean.
The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers. In 1991, the Persian Gulf again was the background for what was called the "Persian Gulf War" or the "Gulf War" when Iraq invaded Kuwait and was subsequently pushed back, despite the fact that this conflict was primarily a land conflict.
The Persian Gulf has many good fishing grounds, extensive coral reefs, and abundant pearl oysters, but its ecology has come under pressure from industrialization, and in particular, oil and petroleum spillages during wars in the region.
Historically and internationally known as the Persian Gulf, this body of water is sometimes controversially referred to as the Arabian Gulf or simply The Gulf by most Arab states, although neither of the latter two terms are recognized internationally. The name Gulf of Iran (Persian Gulf) is used by the International Hydrographic Organization.
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Philippines
The Philippinesi/ˈfɪlɨpiːnz/ FI-lə-peenz (Filipino: Pilipinas [ˌpɪlɪˈpinɐs]), officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (Filipino: Republika ng Pilipinas) is a sovereign country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila.
With an estimated population of about 98 million people, the Philippines is the 7th most populated Asian country and the 12th most populated country in the world. An additional 12.5 million Filipinos live overseas. Multiple ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands. In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Malay, Hindu, and Islamic societies. Trade introduced Chinese cultural influences which remain to this day.
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Qatar
Qatar (i/ˈkɑːtɑr/ or i/kəˈtɑr/;Arabic: قطر [ˈqɑtˤɑr]; local vernacular pronunciation: [ɡɪtˤɑr]), also known as the country or State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. A strait of the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby island state of Bahrain.
Qatar has been ruled as an absolute monarchy by Al Thani family since the mid-19th century. Formerly a British protectorate noted mainly for pearling, it became independent in 1971, and has become one of the region's wealthiest states due to its enormous oil and natural gas revenues. In 1995, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became Emir when he seized power from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in a peaceful coup d'état. The most important positions in Qatar are held by the members of the Al Thani family, or close confidants of the al-Thani family. Beginning in 1992, Qatar has built intimate military ties with the United States, and is now the location of U.S. Central Command’s Forward Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Center.
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Rodrigues
Rodrigues (French: îles Rodrigues) named after Dom Diogo Rodrigues is a semi-autonomous island part of the Republic of Mauritius located in the Indian Ocean, about 650 kilometres (400 mi) north-east of Mauritius. It is the is part of the Mascarene Islands which include Mauritius, Cargados Carajos shoals and the french island Réunion, other nearby island countries and territories include Tromelin, Agalega, Comoros, Mayotte and the Seychelles to the far north-west. The area of Rodrigues is 108 km2, it is of volcanic origin surrounded by coral reef, just off its coast lie some tiny uninhabited islands and islets. The island used the be the tenth district of Mauritius before it gained autonomous status in 2001 and is governed by the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. The capital of the island is Port Mathurin.
As of 2011, the island's population was about 37,922. Its inhabitants are Mauritian citizens.English is the official language of the island, though people also speak French, Indian languages and some oriental languages are also spoken, the lingua franca is Rodriguan Creole. The main religion is Roman Catholicism with small minorities of other religions. Most of the inhabitants are of mixed African and French descent. Its economy is based mainly on fishing, farming, handicraft and a developing tourism sector.
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Russia
Russiai/ˈrʌʃə/ or /ˈrʊʃə/ (Russian: Россия, tr. Rossiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijə] ( listen)), also officially known as the Russian Federation (Russian: Российская Федерация, tr. Rossiyskaya Federatsiya; IPA: [rɐˈsʲijskəjə fʲɪdʲɪˈratsɨjə] ( listen)), is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects. From northwest to southeast, Russia shares borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland (both via Kaliningrad Oblast), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, and North Korea. It also has maritime borders with Japan by the Sea of Okhotsk, and the US state of Alaska by the Bering Strait. At 17,075,400 square kilometres (6,592,800 sq mi), Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one eighth of the Earth's inhabited land area. Russia is also the eighth most populous nation with 143 million people. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning nine time zones and incorporating a wide range of environments and landforms. Russia has the world's largest reserves of mineral and energy resources and is the largest producer of oil and natural gas globally. Russia has the world's largest forest reserves and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's fresh water.
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Réunion
Réunion (French: La Réunion, IPA: [la 'ʁeynjɔ̃] ( listen); previously Île Bourbon) is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.
Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France. Like the other overseas departments, Réunion is also one of the 27 regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic with the same status as those situated on the European mainland.
Réunion is an outermost region of the European Union and, as an overseas department of France, is part of the Eurozone.
Before the arrival of the Portuguese in the early sixteenth century, there is little to Réunion's recorded history. Arab traders were familiar with it by the name Dina Morgabin,. The island possibly features on a map from 1153 AD by Al Sharif el-Edrisi. The island may also have been visited by Swahili or Malay sailors.
The first European discovery of the area was made around 1507 by Portuguese explorers, but the specifics are unclear. The uninhabited island may have been first sighted by the expedition led by Don Pedro Mascarenhas, who gave his name to the island group around Réunion, the Mascarenes. Réunion itself was dubbed Santa Apolonia after a favorite saint, which suggests that the date of the Portuguese discovery may have been February 9, her saint day. Diego Lopes de Sequeira is claimed to have landed on the island in 1509.
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Saint Lucia
Saint Luciai/seɪnt ˈluːʃə/ (French: Sainte-Lucie) is a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km2 (238.23 sq mi) and has a population of 174,000 (2010). Its capital is Castries. Two Nobel laureates, Arthur Lewis, an economist, and Derek Walcott, a poet and playwright, have come from the island. It is the nation with the second most such honorees per capita after the Faroe Islands.
One of the Windward Islands, it was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse by the French, the first European colonizers. They signed a treaty with the native Carib people in 1660. England took control of the island from 1663 to 1667; in ensuing years, it was at war with France 14 times and rule of the island changed frequently (it was seven times each ruled by the French and British). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island. Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the West Indies".
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Salmiya
Salmiya (Arabic السالمية; transliterated al-Sālmiah) is a district of the Hawalli Governorate in the State of Kuwait.
Salmiya is located 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) southeast of Kuwait City and is one of the largest areas in Kuwait consisting of both commercial and residential areas. As of January 2007, Salmiya contains a population of 223,646 and is arguably Kuwait's flagship district being a major cultural and commercial hub. It is well connected to the rest of the country having a multitude of significant highways and roads passing through it en-route to the capital, Kuwait City.
Salmiya is administratively divided into 12 blocks. The blocks located closer to the interior of the district tend to be mostly residential, while those located beside the Persian Gulf coastline have a great deal of commercial and up-scale residential real estate. The interior residential areas boast a huge population of foreigners consisting mainly of those from the Indian sub-continent and other Arabs who are not native to the Persian Gulf area.[citation needed]
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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia (i/ˌsaʊdi əˈreɪbi.ə/ or i/ˌsɔːdiː əˈreɪbi.ə/; Arabic: السعودية as-Su‘ūdīyah[citation needed] or incorrectly as-Sa‘ūdīyah, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Arabic: المملكة العربية السعودية al-Mamlakah al-‘Arabīyah as-Su‘ūdīyah Arabic pronunciation (help·info)), is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab world, after Algeria. It is bordered by Jordan, and Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. The Red Sea lies to its west, and the Persian Gulf lies to the east. Saudi Arabia has an area of approximately 2,250,000 km2 (870,000 sq mi), and it has an estimated population of 27 million, of which 9 million are registered foreign expatriates and an estimated 2 million are illegal immigrants. Saudi nationals comprise an estimated 16 million people.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded by Abdul-Aziz bin Saud (known for most of his career as Ibn Saud) in 1932, although the conquests which eventually led to the creation of the Kingdom began in 1902 when he captured Riyadh, the ancestral home of his family, the House of Saud, referred to in Arabic as the Al Saud. The Saudi Arabian government, which has been an absolute monarchy since its inception, refers to its system of government as being Islamic, though this is contested by many due to its strong basis in Salafism, a minority school of thought in Islam. The kingdom is sometimes called "The Land of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Al-Masjid al-Haram (in Mecca), and Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (in Medina), the two holiest places in Islam.
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Senegal
Senegali/ˌsɛnɨˈɡɔːl/ (French: le Sénégal), officially the Republic of Senegal (République du Sénégal, IPA: [ʁepyblik dy seneɡal]), is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north. Senegal is externally bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south; internally it almost completely surrounds The Gambia, namely on the north, east and south, exempting Gambia's short Atlantic Ocean coastline. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi), and has an estimated population of about 13 million. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.
Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, is located at the westernmost tip of the country on the Cap-Vert peninsula. About 500 kilometres (300 mi) off the coast, in the Atlantic Ocean, lie the Cape Verde Islands. During the 17th and 18th centuries, numerous trading posts, belonging to various colonial empires, were established along the coast. The town of St. Louis became the capital of French West Africa (Afrique occidentale française, or AOF) before it was moved to Dakar in 1902. Dakar later became its capital in 1960 at the time of independence from France.
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Seychelles
Seychelles (i/seɪˈʃɛlz/ say-SHELZ; French: [sɛʃɛl]), officially the Republic of Seychelles (French: République des Seychelles; Creole: Repiblik Sesel), is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar.
Other nearby island countries and territories include Zanzibar to the west, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega and Réunion to the south, Comoros and Mayotte to the southwest. Seychelles, with an estimated population of 86,525, has the smallest population of any African state. It also has the highest Human Development Index in Africa.
Scholars assume that Austronesian seafarers, and later Maldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles. Remains of Maldivian mariner presence from the 12th century were found in Silhouette Island. The earliest recorded sighting by Europeans took place in 1502 by the Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama, who passed through the Amirantes and named them after himself (islands of the Admiral).
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Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone (i/siːˌɛrə liːˈoʊn/), officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the northeast, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. Sierra Leone is a constitutional representative democratic republic and covers a total area of 71,740 km2 (27,699 sq mi) Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. As of 2011, Sierra Leone has an estimated population of 6 million[1] (2011 United Nations estimte). Freetown is the capital, largest city as well as its economic, commercial, educational, cultural and political centre. Bo is the country's second largest city and the second major economic and commercial centre.
Sierra Leone is divided into four geographical regions: the Northern Province, Eastern Province, Southern Province and the Western Area; which are subdivided into fourteen districts. The districts have their own directly elected local government known as district council, headed by a council chairman. The country's six municipalities of Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Koidu Town and the coastal town of Bonthe have their own directly elected city councils headed by mayors.
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Singapore
Singapore (i/ˈsɪŋəpɔər/ SI-ngə-pohr), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, 137 kilometres (85 mi) north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, 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 highly urbanised but almost half of the country is covered by greenery. More land is being created for development through land reclamation.
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Solomon Islands
Solomon Islandsi/ˈsɒləmən ˈaɪləndz/ is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of 28,400 square kilometres (11,000 sq mi). The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal. The nation of the Solomon Islands is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The Solomon Islands are believed to have been inhabited by Melanesian people for many thousands of years. Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to arrive in Solomon Islands in 1568 and named them Islas Salomón. The United Kingdom established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in 1893. In the Second World War there was fierce fighting between the Americans and the Japanese in the Solomon Islands campaign of 1942–45, including the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. The Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of the Solomon Islands, at present Elizabeth II, as the head of state. Gordon Lilo Darcy is the eleventh and current Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands.
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Somalia
Somalia ( /soʊˈmɑːliə/ soh-MAH-lee-ə; Somali: Soomaaliya; Arabic: الصومال aṣ-Ṣūmāl), officially the Somali Republic (Somali: Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, Arabic: جمهورية الصومال Jumhūriyyat aṣ-Ṣūmāl) and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory. The internationally recognized Transitional Federal Government controls only a small part of the country. Somalia has been characterized as a failed state and is one of the poorest and most violent states in the world.
Somalia lies in the easternmost part of Africa. It is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden with Yemen to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Ethiopia to the west. It has the longest coastline on the continent, and its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. Hot conditions prevail year-round, along with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rainfall.
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Somaliland
Somaliland (Somali: Soomaaliland, Arabic: صوماللاند Ṣūmālilānd or أرض الصومال Arḍ aṣ-Ṣūmāl) is an unrecognised self-declared de facto sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent on June 26, 1960 as the State of Somaliland, before uniting with the Trust Territory of Somalia (the former Italian Somaliland) on July 1, 1960 to form the Somali Republic.
Somaliland is bordered by Ethiopia in the south and west, Djibouti in the northwest, the Gulf of Aden in the north, and the autonomous Puntland region of Somalia to the east.
In 1988, the Siad Barre regime committed massacres against the people of Somaliland, which were among the events that led to the Somali Civil War. The war left the economic and military infrastructure severely damaged. After the collapse of the central government in 1991, the local government, led by the Somali National Movement (SNM), declared independence from the rest of Somalia on May 18 of the same year.
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South Africa
Coordinates: 30°S 25°E / 30°S 25°E / -30; 25
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of Africa. It is divided into nine provinces and has 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline. To the north of the country lie the neighbouring territories of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe; to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland; while Lesotho is an enclave surrounded by South African territory.
South Africa is multi-ethnic and has diverse cultures and languages. Eleven official languages are recognised in the constitution. Two of these languages are of European origin: South African English and Afrikaans, a language which originated mainly from Dutch that is spoken by the majority of white and Coloured South Africans. Though English is commonly used in public and commercial life, it is only the fifth most-spoken home language. All ethnic and language groups have political representation in the country's constitutional democracy comprising a parliamentary republic; unlike most parliamentary republics, the positions of head of state and head of government are merged in a parliament-dependent President.
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South Korea
South Korea ( listen), officially the Republic of Korea (Hangul: 대한민국; Hanja: 大韓民國; Daehan Minguk listen), is a sovereign state in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name "Korea" is derived from Goryeo, a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages (an initial "G" in Korean is pronounced like an English "K").
Its neighbors are China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the Korea Strait to the south. South Korea lies in the north temperate zone with a predominantly mountainous terrain. It covers a total area of 99,392 square kilometers and has a population of almost 50 million. The capital and largest city is Seoul, with a population of 9,794,304.
Archaeological findings show that the Korean Peninsula was occupied by the Lower Paleolithic period.Korean history begins with the founding of Gojoseon in 2333 BC by the legendary Dan-gun. Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea under Silla 668 AD, Korea went through the Goryeo Dynasty and Joseon Dynasty as one nation until the end of the Korean Empire in 1910, when it was annexed by Japan. After liberation and occupation by Soviet and U.S. forces at the end of World War II, the nation was divided into North and South Korea. The latter was established in 1948 as a democracy, though political turmoil and times of military rule and martial law characterized much of the period until the foundation of the Sixth Republic in 1987.
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South Ossetia
South Ossetia ( /əˈsɛtiə/ə-SET-ee-ə or /ɒˈsiːʃə/o-SEE-shə; Ossetic: Хуссар Ирыстон, Xussar Iryston; Georgian: სამხრეთ ოსეთი, Samxret Oseti; Russian: Южная Осетия, Yuzhnaya Osetiya) or Tskhinvali Region (Georgian: ცხინვალის რეგიონი, Tsxinvalis regioni; Russian: Цхинвальский регион, Tskhinvalskiy region) is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic.
South Ossetians declared independence from Georgia in 1990, calling themselves the Republic of South Ossetia. The Georgian government responded by abolishing South Ossetia's autonomy and trying to retake the region by force. This led to the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War. Georgian fighting against those controlling South Ossetia occurred on two other occasions, in 2004 and 2008. The last conflict led to the 2008 South Ossetia war, during which Ossetian and Russian forces gained full, de facto control of the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast.
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Spain
Spain (i/ˈspeɪn/ SPAYN; Spanish: España, pronounced: [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a sovereign state and a member of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar; to the north and north east by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal.
Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. Furthermore, the town of Llívia is a Spanish exclave situated inside French territory. With an area of 504,030 square kilometres (194,610 sq mi), it is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France, and the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France.
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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (i/ʃriː ˈlɑːŋkə/, /sriːˈlɑːŋkə/, or /sriːˈlæŋkə/;Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකාව, Tamil: இலங்கை), is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent in South Asia. Known until 1972 as Ceylon ( /sɨˈlɒn/, /seɪˈlɒn/, or /siːˈlɒn/), Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the Maldives.
As a result of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia. It was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. Sri Lanka has also been a center of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times, being the nation where the Buddhist teachings were first written down as well as the oldest continually Buddhist country. Sri Lanka boasts a diverse range of cultures, languages and religions. The Sinhalese people form the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs, Malays and the aboriginal Vedda people.
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State of Palestine
Palestine (Arabic: فلسطين Filasṭīn/Falasṭīn/Filisṭīn), officially declared as the State of Palestine (Arabic: دولة فلسطين, Dawlat Filasṭin), is a state that was proclaimed in exile in Algiers on 15 November 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) National Council (PNC) adopted the unilateral Palestinian Declaration of Independence. At the time of the 1988 declaration, the PLO did not exercise control over any territory, and its claimed territory remains under Israeli occupation. It claims the Palestinian territories (defined according to the 1967 borders), and has designated Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, despite Israeli control.
The 1974 Arab League summit designated the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and reaffirmed their right to establish an independent state of urgency." The PLO has had observer status at the United Nations as a "non-state entity" since 22 November 1974, which entitles it to speak in the UN General Assembly but not to vote. After the Declaration of Independence, the UN General Assembly officially "acknowledged" the proclamation and voted to use the designation "Palestine" instead of "Palestine Liberation Organization" when referring to the Palestinian permanent observer. In spite of this decision, the PLO does not participate at the UN in its capacity of the State of Palestine's government. Since 1998, the PLO is arranged for seating in the UN General Assembly immediately after non-member states, and before all other observers.
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Sudan
Sudan (i/suːˈdæn/ or /suːˈdɑːn/;Arabic: السودان, as-Sūdān), officially the Republic of the Sudan (Arabic: جمهورية السودان, Jumhūrīyat as-Sūdān), sometimes called North Sudan, is an Arab state in North Africa (sometimes also considered to be part of the Middle East). It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, and Libya to the northwest. The population of Sudan is a combination of indigenous inhabitants of Nile Valley, and descendants of migrants from the Arabian Peninsula. Due to the process of Arabisation common throughout the rest of the Arab World, today Arab culture predominates in Sudan. The majority of the population of Sudan adheres to Islam. The Nile divides the country between east and west sides.
The people of Sudan have a long history extending from antiquity which is intertwined with the history of Egypt. Sudan suffered seventeen years of civil war during the First Sudanese Civil War (1955–1972) followed by ethnic, religious and economic conflicts between the Muslim Arab northern Sudanese and the mostly animist and Christian Nilotes of Southern Sudan. This led to the Second Sudanese Civil War in 1983. Because of continuing political and military struggles, Sudan was seized in a bloodless coup d'état by colonel Omar al-Bashir in 1989, who thereafter proclaimed himself President of Sudan. The civil war ended with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement which granted autonomy to what was then the southern region of the country. Following a referendum held in January 2011, South Sudan seceded on 9 July 2011 with the consent of Sudan's President al-Bashir.
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Suriname
Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname (Dutch: Republiek Suriname, Dutch pronunciation: [ˌrepyˈblik ˌsyriˈnaːmə]), is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. Suriname was first colonized by the British, and captured by the Dutch in 1667, who governed it as the colony of Suriname until 1954. The country of Suriname achieved independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in which Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles, and the Netherlands itself cooperated on a basis of equality since 1954, on 25 November 1975.
At just under 165,000 km2 (64,000 sq mi) Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America (French Guiana comprises less territory, but is French territory). It has an estimated population of approximately 560,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.
The name Suriname may derive from a Taino (Arawak-speaking) group called "Surinen" who first inhabited the region prior to European arrival.
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Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland (Umbuso weSwatini), and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique. The nation, as well as its people, are named after the 19th century king Mswati II.
Swaziland is a small country, no more than 200 kilometres (120 mi) north to south and 130 kilometres (81 mi) east to west. The western half is mountainous, descending to a lowveld region to the east. The eastern border with Mozambique and South Africa is dominated by the escarpment of the Lebombo Mountains. The climate is temperate in the west, but may reach 40 °C (104 °F) in summer in the lowveld. Rainfall occurs mainly in the summer and may reach 2 metres (6.6 ft) in the west.
The area that Swaziland now covers has been continuously inhabited since prehistory. Today, the population is primarily ethnic Swazis whose language is siSwati, though English is spoken as a second language. The Swazi people descend from the southern Bantu who migrated from Central Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Anglo-Boer War saw the United Kingdom make Swaziland a protectorate under its direct control. Swaziland gained independence in 1968. Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and the Commonwealth of Nations. The head of state is the king, who appoints the prime minister and a small number of representatives for both chambers of parliament. Elections are held every five years to determine the majority of the representatives. A new constitution was adopted in 2005.
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Sweden
Sweden (i/ˈswiːdən/ SWEE-dən; Swedish: Sverige [ˈsværjɛ] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige (help·info)), is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Øresund.
At 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union by area, with a total population of about 9.4 million. Sweden has a low population density of 21 inhabitants per square kilometre (54 /sq mi) with the population mostly concentrated to the southern half of the country. About 85% of the population live in urban areas. Sweden's capital city is Stockholm, which is also the largest city.
Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire. The empire grew to be one of the great powers of Europe in the 17th and early 18th century. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, practicing "non-participation in military alliances during peacetime and neutrality during wartime". However, Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995 and is a member of the OECD.
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Syria
Syria (/ˈsɪriə/ ( listen) SIRR-ee-ə; Arabic: سورية Sūriyya or سوريا Sūryā; Syriac: ܣܘܪܝܐ; Kurdish: Sûrî), officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic: الجمهورية العربية السورية al-Jumhūriyyah al-‘Arabīyah as-Sūriyyah Arabic pronunciation (help·info)), is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
In English, the name Syria was formerly synonymous with the Levant, known in Arabic as Sham, while the modern state encompasses the sites of several ancient kingdoms and empires, including the Eblan civilization of the third millennium BC. In the Islamic era, its capital city, Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, was the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate, and a provincial capital of the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt.
The population of Syria is 74% Sunni, 12% Alawi, 10% Christian, and 3% Druze. Combined, 87% of the Syrian population is Muslim, while the other 10% is Christian, which includes mainly Arab Christians but also Assyrians and Armenians. Major ethnic minorities in Syria include Kurds (9%), Assyrians, Armenians, Turkmens and Circassians. The majority of the population is Arab (90%).
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Taiwan
Taiwan (i/ˌtaɪˈwɑːn/ TY-WAHN; Chinese: 臺灣 or 台灣; pinyin: Táiwān; see below), officially the Republic of China (ROC; Chinese: 中華民國; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó), is a state in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China now governs the island of Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa), which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other minor islands. Neighboring states include the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taipei is the capital city and economic and cultural centre of the country, and New Taipei is the most populous city.
The earliest evidence of inhabitation of Taiwan dates back to the late Paleolithic era. The island of Taiwan was mainly inhabited by Taiwanese aborigines before being colonized in the 17th century by the Dutch and the Spanish Empire. The first Han Chinese polity on Taiwan began when Koxinga's troops defeated Dutch forces and established the Kingdom of Tungning. The island was subsequently ruled by the Qing Dynasty after the kingdom's defeat in the Battle of Penghu in 1683, a period that lasted for over 200 years. Following Japan's victory over the Qing Dynasty in the first Sino-Japanese war, Taiwan was ceded to Japan under the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.
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Tajikistan
Tajikistan (i/tɑːˈdʒiːkɨstɑːn/, /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/, or /tæˈdʒiːkiːstæn/; Тоҷикистон [ˈtɔjikɪsˈtɔn]), officially the Republic of Tajikistan (Tajik: Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Cumhuriyi Tocikiston; Persian: جمهوری تاجیکستان Jomhuri-ye Tajikestan; Russian: Республика Таджикистан, Respublika Tadzhikistan), is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. It borders Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east. Gilgit Baltistan as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan are separated from Tajikistan by the narrow Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan in the south.
Most of Tajikistan's population belongs to the Persian-speaking Tajik ethnic group, who share language, culture and history with Afghanistan and Iran. Once part of the Samanid Empire, Tajikistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union in the 20th century, known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic (Tajik SSR). Mountains cover over 90% of this Central Asian republic.
After independence, Tajikistan suffered from a devastating civil war which lasted from 1992 to 1997. Since the end of the war, newly established political stability and foreign aid have allowed the country's economy to grow. Trade in commodities such as cotton, aluminium and uranium has contributed greatly to this steady improvement.
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Tanzania
Coordinates: 6°18′25″S 34°51′14″E / 6.307°S 34.854°E / -6.307; 34.854 Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( /ˌtænzəˈniːə/ Swahili: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern border lies on the Indian Ocean.
Tanzania is a state composed of 26 regions (mikoa), including those of the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar. The head of state is President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, elected in 2005. Since 1996, the official capital of Tanzania has been Dodoma, where Parliament and some government offices are located. Between independence and 1996, the main coastal city of Dar es Salaam served as the country's political capital. Today, Dar es Salaam remains the principal commercial city of Tanzania and the de facto seat of most government institutions. It is the major seaport for the country and its landlocked neighbours.
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Thailand
Thailand ( /ˈtaɪlænd/ TY-land or /ˈtaɪlənd/;Thai: ประเทศไทย, RTGS: Prathet Thai), officially the Kingdom of Thailand (Thai: ราชอาณาจักรไทย, RTGS: Ratcha Anachak Thai; IPA: [râːt.tɕʰā ʔāːnāːtɕàk tʰāj] ( listen)), formerly known as Siam (Thai: สยาม; RTGS: Sayam), is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in 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 country is a constitutional monarchy, headed by King Rama IX, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who, having reigned since 1946, is the world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. The king of Thailand is titled Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, the Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths.
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The Bahamas
The Bahamasi/bəˈhɑːməz/, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is a country consisting of more than 3,000 islands, cays, and islets. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States (nearest to the state of Florida). Its land area is 13,939 km2 (5,382 sq mi), with a population of 353,658. Its capital is Nassau. Geographically, the Bahamas lie in the same island chain as Cuba, Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands; the designation of Bahamas refers normally to the Commonwealth and not the geographic chain.
Originally inhabited by the Lucayans, a branch of the Arawakan-speaking Taino people, the Bahamas were the site of Columbus' first landfall in the New World in 1492. Although the Spanish never colonized the Bahamas, they shipped the native Lucayans to slavery in Hispaniola. The islands were mostly deserted from 1513 to 1648, when English colonists from Bermuda settled on the island of Eleuthera.
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The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambiai/ˈɡæmbiə/, is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
The country is situated around the Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the country's centre and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is 11,295 km² with an estimated population of 1.7 million.
On 18 February 1965, Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom and joined the Commonwealth of Nations. Banjul is Gambia's capital, but the largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.
Gambia shares historical roots with many other West African nations in the slave trade, which was the key factor in the placing and keeping of a colony on the Gambia River, first by the Portuguese and later by the British. Since gaining independence in 1965, Gambia has enjoyed relative political stability, with the exception of a brief period of military rule in 1994.
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Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republici/ˈtoʊɡoʊ/, is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately 57,000 square kilometres (22,000 sq mi) with a population of approximately 6.7 million.
Togo is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture, with a climate that provides good growing seasons. The official language is French, with many other languages spoken in Togo, particularly those of the Gbe family. The largest religious group in Togo are those with indigenous beliefs, and there are significant Christian and Muslim minorities. Togo is a member of the United Nations, African Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, La Francophonie and Economic Community of West African States.
From the 11th to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a major trading centre for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared Togoland a protectorate. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960.
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Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga (Tongan: Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a sovereign state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over 700,000 square kilometres (270,000 sq mi) of ocean in the South Pacific. Fifty-two of the islands are inhabited.
The Kingdom stretches over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 mi) in a north-south line located at about a third of the distance from New Zealand to Hawaii.
Tonga also became known as the Friendly Islands because of the friendly reception accorded to Captain James Cook on his first visit there in 1773. He happened to arrive at the time of the ʻinasi festival, the yearly donation of the first fruits to the Tuʻi Tonga, the islands' paramount chief, and received an invitation to the festivities. According to the writer William Mariner, in reality the chiefs had wanted to kill Cook during the gathering, but could not agree on a plan.
Tonga is also the only island nation in the region to have avoided formal colonisation. In 2010, Tonga took a decisive step towards becoming a fully functioning constitutional monarchy after legislative reforms paved the way for its first ever fully representative elections which resulted in the election of Noble Sialeʻataongo Tuʻivakanō as its first democratically elected Prime Minister.
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Tunisia
Tunisia (USi/tuːˈniːʒə/ two-NEE-zhə or UK /tjuːˈnɪziə/ tew-NIZ-iə; Arabic: تونس Tūnis pronounced [ˈtuːnɪs]), officially the Republic of Tunisia (Arabic: الجمهورية التونسية al-Jumhūriyyah at-Tūnisiyyah), is the northernmost country in Africa. It is an Arab Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area is almost 165,000 square kilometres (64,000 sq mi), with an estimated population of just under 10.7 million. Its name is derived from the capital Tunis located in the northeast.
Tunisia is the smallest country in North Africa. The south of the country is composed of the Sahara desert, with much of the remainder consisting of particularly fertile soil and 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) of coastline.
Tunisia has relations with both the European Union—with whom it has an association agreement—and the Arab world. Tunisia is also a member of the Arab Maghreb Union, the Arab League, and the African Union. Tunisia has established close relations with France in particular, through economic cooperation, industrial modernization, and privatisation programs.
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Turkey
Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye), known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( Türkiye Cumhuriyeti (help·info)), is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia (mostly in the Anatolian peninsula) and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the northwest; Greece to the west; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia, Azerbaijan (the exclave of Nakhchivan) and Iran to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the southeast. The Mediterranean Sea and Cyprus are to the south; the Aegean Sea is to the west; and the Black Sea is to the north. The Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles (which together form the Turkish Straits) demarcate the boundary between East Thrace and Anatolia; they also separate Europe and Asia.
Turkey is one of the six independent Turkic states. The vast majority of the population are Muslims. The country's official language is Turkish, whereas Kurdish and Zazaki languages are spoken by Kurds and Zazas, who constitute 18% of the population.
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Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan (i/tɜrkˈmɛnɨstæn/ or i/tɜrkmɛnɨˈstɑːn/; Turkmen: Türkmenistan), formerly also known as Turkmenia (Russian: Туркмения), is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR). Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states. It is bordered by Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, Uzbekistan to the east and northeast, Kazakhstan to the north and northwest and the Caspian Sea to the west.
Turkmenistan's GDP growth rate of 11% in 2010[update] ranks 4th in the world, but these figures are subject to wide margins of error. It possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources. Although it is wealthy in natural resources in certain areas, most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert.
The Turkmen government operates as a single-party system. Turkmenistan was ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov (called "Türkmenbaşy" — "leader of the Turkmens") until his sudden death on 21 December 2006. Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was elected the new president on 11 February 2007.
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Tuvalu
Tuvalu (i/tuːˈvɑːluː/ too-VAH-loo or /ˈtuːvəluː/ TOO-və-loo), formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls spread out from 6° to 10° south. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. Its population of 10,544 makes it the third-least populous sovereign state in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. In terms of physical land size, at just 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City at 0.44 km2 (0.17 sq mi), Monaco at 1.98 km2 (0.76 sq mi) and Nauru at 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi).
The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people. In 1568 Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña sailed through the islands and is understood to have sighted Nui during his expedition in search of Terra Australis. In 1819 the island of Funafuti was named Ellice's Island; the name Ellice was applied to all nine islands after the work of English hydrographer Alexander George Findlay (1812–1876). The islands came under Britain's sphere of influence in the late 19th century, when the Ellice Islands were declared a British protectorate by Captain Gibson, R. N. of HMS Curaçao between 9th and 16 October 1892. The Ellice Islands were administered as British protectorate by a Resident Commissioner from 1892 to 1916 as part of the British Western Pacific Territories (BWPT), and later as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony from 1916 to 1974.
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Uganda
Coordinates: 1°17′N 32°23′E / 1.28°N 32.39°E / 1.28; 32.39
Uganda ( /juːˈɡændə/ yew-GAN-də or /juːˈɡɑːndə/ yew-GAHN-də), officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, which is also shared by Kenya and Tanzania.
Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country including the capital Kampala.
The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country. Uganda gained independence from Britain on 9 October 1962.
The official languages are English and Swahili, although multiple other languages are spoken in the country.
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United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emiratesi/juːˌnaɪtɨd ˌærəb ˈɛmɪrɨts/ (Arabic: دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة, Al Imārāt al ‘Arabīyah al Muttaḥidah), sometimes simply called the Emirates or the UAE, is a country situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south, as well as sharing sea borders with Qatar to the west and Iran to the north.
The UAE is a federation of seven emirates (equivalent to principalities), each governed by a hereditary emir, with a single national president. The constituent emirates are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain. The capital is Abu Dhabi, which is also the state's center of political, industrial, and cultural activities.
Prior to independence in 1971, the UAE was known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a 19th-century truce between the local sheikhs, hereditary rulers of the territories, and the United Kingdom. The term Pirate Coast was also used by some to refer to the emirates from the 18th to the early 20th century, owing to the preponderance of pirates operating from Emirati ports.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
The United Kingdom is a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system, with its seat of government in the capital city of London. It is a country in its own right and consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are three devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Associated with the UK, but not constitutionally part of it, are three Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom has fourteen overseas territories. These are remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in 1922, encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface and was the largest empire in history. British influence can still be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former territories.
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Uzbekistan
Uzbekistani/ʊzˌbɛkɨˈstɑːn/, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi, Ўзбекистон Республикаси) is the only doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of only two such countries worldwide. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south. Before 1991, it was part of the Soviet Union.
Uzbekistan is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia.
Once part of the Persian Samanid and later Timurid empires, the region was conquered in the early 16th century by Uzbek nomads, who spoke an Eastern Turkic language. Most of Uzbekistan’s population today belong to the Uzbek ethnic group and speak the Uzbek language, one of the family of Turkic languages.
Uzbekistan was incorporated into the Russian Empire in the 19th century, and in 1924 became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, known as the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Uzbek SSR). It became independent on 31 August 1991 (officially, from the following day).
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Vatican City
Vatican Cityi/ˈvætɨkən ˈsɪti/, or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano (pronounced [ˈstaːto della t͡ʃitˈta del vatiˈkaːno]), is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of just over 800. This makes Vatican City the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population.
Vatican City State was established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri, on behalf of Pope Pius XI and by Prime Minister and Head of Government Benito Mussolini on behalf of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. Vatican City State is distinct from the Holy See, which dates back to early Christianity and is the main episcopal see of 1.2 billion Latin and Eastern Catholic adherents around the globe. Ordinances of Vatican City are published in Italian; official documents of the Holy See are issued mainly in Latin. The two entities have distinct passports: the Holy See, not being a country, issues only diplomatic and service passports, whereas Vatican City State issues normal passports. In each case very few passports are issued.
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Venezuela
Venezuela (i/ˌvɛnɨˈzweɪlə/ VEN-ə-ZWAY-lə), officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish: República Bolivariana de Venezuela [repuˈβlika βoliβaˈɾjana ðe βeneˈswela]), is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south. Its northern coastline of roughly 2,800 kilometres (1,700 mi) includes numerous islands in the Caribbean Sea, and in the north east borders the northern Atlantic Ocean. Caribbean islands such as Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Curaçao, Bonaire, Aruba and the Leeward Antilles lie near the Venezuelan coast. Venezuela's territory covers around 916,445 square kilometres (353,841 sq mi) with an estimated population of 29,105,632. Venezuela is considered a state with extremely high biodiversity, with habitats ranging from the Andes mountains in the west to the Amazon Basin rainforest in the south, via extensive llanos plains and Caribbean coast in the center and the Orinoco River Delta in the east.
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Vietnam
Vietnam ( listen), formally the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam; listen), is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. With an estimated 91.5 million inhabitants as of 2012, it is the world's 13th-most-populous country, and the eighth-most-populous Asian country. The name Vietnam translates as "South Viet", and was officially adopted in 1945. The country is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east.
The Vietnamese became independent from Imperial China in 938 AD, following the Battle of Bạch Đằng River. Successive Vietnamese royal dynasties flourished as the nation expanded geographically and politically into Southeast Asia, until the Indochina Peninsula was colonized by the French in the mid-19th century. The First Indochina War eventually led to the expulsion of the French in 1954, leaving Vietnam divided politically into two states, North and South Vietnam. Conflict between the two sides intensified, with heavy foreign intervention, during the Vietnam War, which ended with a North Vietnamese victory in 1975.
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Warbah Island
Warbah Island (Arabic: جزيرة وربة) is an island belonging to Kuwait, located in the Persian Gulf, near the mouth of the Euphrates River. It is located roughly 100 metres (110 yd) east of the Kuwaiti mainland, 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) north of Bubiyan Island and 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south of the Iraqi mainland. It is roughly 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long and 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) wide with a total area of 37 square kilometres (14 sq mi). The island is essentially a large mud flat.
The island has no permanent inhabitants although the government maintains a coastguard post, named M-1 on the island which is partially funded by the United Nations.
In November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 833 (1993) which formally ended an earlier claim to Warbah Island.
Near the island in early December 2002, in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq, an Iraqi ship opened fire on two Kuwaiti coastguard patrol boats, causing them to collide. A US serviceman and two Kuwaiti coastguards were injured in the attack, no mention was made of the reason for the US serviceman's presence.
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West Bank
The West Bank (Arabic: الضفة الغربية aḍ-Ḍaffah l-Ġarbiyyah, Hebrew: הגדה המערבית, HaGadah HaMa'aravit also known as Hebrew: יהודה והשומרון Yehuda ve-Ha'Shomron (Judea and Samaria)) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The West Bank also contains a significant coastline along the western bank of the Dead Sea. Since 1967, most of the West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation and is referred to as Judea and Samaria Area by Israel. A smaller part of the West Bank is administered by the Israeli civilian authorities as part of Jerusalem District.
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Western Sahara
Coordinates: 25°N 13°W / 25°N 13°W / 25; -13
Western Sahara (USi/ˌwɛstərn səˈhærə/, UK /ˌwɛstən səˈhɑrə/; Arabic: الصحراء الغربية Aṣ-Ṣaḥrā’ al-Gharbīyah; Spanish: Sahara Occidental), is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to 266,000 square kilometres (103,000 sq mi). It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The population is estimated at just over 500,000, many of whom live in El Aaiún (also called Laâyoune), the largest city in Western Sahara.
A colony of Spain since the late 19th century, the Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963. In 1965, the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on Western Sahara, asking Spain to decolonise the territory. One year later, a new resolution was passed by the General Assembly requesting that a referendum be held by Spain on self-determination. In 1975, Spain relinquished the administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco, which had formally claimed the territory since 1957, and Mauritania. A war erupted between those countries and the Sahrawi national liberation movement Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) (exiled government in Tindouf, Algeria). Mauritania withdrew in 1979 and Morocco eventually secured effective control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources.
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Yemen
The Republic of Yemen (Arabic: الجمهورية اليمنية al-Jumhūrīyah al-Yamanīyah), commonly known as Yemeni/ˈjɛmən/ (Arabic: اليَمَن al-Yaman), is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east. Yemen is considered one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. Its capital and largest city is Sana'a. Yemen's territory includes over 200 islands, the largest of which is Socotra, about 415 km (258 mi) to the south of mainland Yemen, off the coast of Somalia. It is the only state in the Arabian Peninsula to have a purely republican form of government. Approximately 53% of Yemenis are Sunnis, while 45% are Zaydi Shias.
One etymology derives Yemen from yamin, meaning "on the right side", as the south is on the right when facing the sunrise. Another derives Yemen from yumn, meaning "felicity", as the region is fertile. The Romans called it Arabia Felix (Happy Arabia) as opposed to Arabia Deserta (Deserted Arabia), which was their term for northern Arabia.
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Zanzibar
Zanzibar ( /ˈzænzɨbɑr/; from Arabic: زنجبار Zanjibār, from Persian: زنگبار Zangibār "Coast of Blacks"; zangi [black-skinned] + bār [coast]) is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, 25–50 kilometres (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, informally referred to as Zanzibar), and Pemba. Other nearby island countries and territories include Comoros and Mayotte to the south, Mauritius and Réunion to the far southeast, and the Seychelles Islands about 1,500 km to the east. Arab and Portuguese traders visited the region in early times, and it was controlled by Omanis in the 18th and 19th centuries. Britain established a protectorate (1890) that became an independent sultanate in December 1963 and a republic after an uprising in January 1964. In April 1964 it joined Tanganyika to form a new republic that was renamed Tanzania in October 1964. The capital of Zanzibar, located on the island of Unguja, is Zanzibar City, and its historic centre, known as Stone Town, is a World Heritage Site.
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Ali Abdullah Saleh
Ali Abdullah Saleh (Arabic: علي عبدالله صالح; born 21 March 1942) is a Yemeni politician who was President of Yemen from 1990 to 2012. Saleh previously served as President of the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) from 1978 until 1990; upon the unification of North Yemen and South Yemen in 1990, he became President of Yemen.
After more than 33 years in power, Saleh signed the Gulf Cooperation Council agreement in November 2011, paving the way for his vice president to become acting president until February 21, 2012; at that point the vice president would be elected to the presidency. On January 22, 2012, the Yemeni parliament passed a law that granted Saleh immunity from being prosecuted and he left Yemen for treatment in the United States. Saleh stepped down and formally ceded power to his deputy Abd Rabbuh Mansur Al-Hadi at the Presidential Palace on 27 February 2012.
Saleh was born in the town of Bait el-Ahmar, in the Al-Ahmar family of the small Sanhan tribe, a tribe whose territories lie some 20 kilometers southeast of the capital Sana'a (the Al-Ahmar family of Sanhan is often falsely confounded with the same-named ruling family of the Hashid tribal confederacy, a confederacy to which the Sanhan tribe belongs). Saleh is a Zaydi Shia Muslim. He is a "non-Hashimi" Zaydi (not a direct descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's grandfather), and would not have been eligible to rule under the Zaydi Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen that ruled the country until 1962.
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Arab people
Arab people, also known as Arabs (Arabic: عرب, ʿarab), are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing an important part of Arab identity.
The word "Arab" has had several different, but overlapping, meanings over the centuries (and sometimes even today). In addition to including all Arabized people of the world (with language tending to be the acid test), it has also at times been used exclusively for bedouin (Arab nomads [although a related word, "`a-RAB," with the Arabic letter "alif" in the second syllable, once was sometimes used when this specific meaning was intended] and their now almost entirely settled descendants). It is sometimes used that way colloquially even today in some places. Townspeople once were sometimes called "sons of the Arabs." As in the case of other ethnicities or nations, people identify themselves (or are identified by others) as "Arabs" to varying degrees. This may not be one's primary identity (it tends to compete with country, religion, sect, etc.), and whether it is emphasized may depend upon one's audience.
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Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.
Native ethnic groups of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan self-identify themselves as Asian. They are also recognized as Asian by Russians and Chinese.[citation needed]
This self-identification is based phenotypically, and on cultural differences from Russians, as these countries used to be parts of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, and therefore have significant Russian populations. Another reason for such self-identification is patriotic: "the native people of the Center of Asia - are undoubtedly Asians".[citation needed]
In parts of anglophone Africa, especially East Africa and South Africa, and in parts of the Anglophone Caribbean, the term "Asian" is more commonly associated with people of South Asian origin, particularly Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans.
Notably, the Australian Census includes Central Asia, a region that is often considered to be part of the Greater Middle East. The Australian Census includes four regions of Asia in its official definition. Defined by the 2006–2011 Australian Census, three broad groups have the word Asian included in their name: Central and Southern Asian, South-East Asian and North-East Asian. Russians are classified as Southern and Eastern Europeans while Middle Easterners are classified as North African and Middle Easterners.
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Egyptians
Egyptians (Egyptian Arabic: مَصريين IPA: [mɑsˤɾejˈjiːn]; Arabic: مِصريّون miṣriyūn) are the inhabitants and citizens of Egypt sharing a common culture and a dialect of Arabic.
Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to the Mediterranean and enclosed by desert both to the east and to the west. This unique geography has been the basis of the development of Egyptian society since antiquity. If regarded as a single ethnic group, the Egyptian people constitute one of the world's largest.
The daily language of the Egyptians is the local variety of Arabic, known as Egyptian Arabic or Masri, Also a sizable minority of Egyptian speak Sa'idi Arabic in Upper Egypt. Egyptians are predominantly adherents of Sunni Islam with a Shia minority and a significant proportion who follow native Sufi orders. A sizable minority of Egyptians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church, whose liturgical language, Coptic, is the last stage of the indigenous Egyptian language.
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Jørn Utzon
Jørn Oberg Utzon, (Danish pronunciation: [jɶɐ̯n ˈud̥sʌn]), AC (9 April 1918 – 29 November 2008) was a Danish architect, most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When it was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, Utzon became only the second person to have received such recognition for one of his works during his lifetime. Other noteworthy works include Bagsværd Church near Copenhagen and the National Assembly Building in Kuwait. He also made important contributions to housing design, especially with his Kingo Houses near Helsingør.
Utzon was born in Copenhagen, the son of a naval engineer, and grew up in Aalborg, Denmark, where he became interested in ships and a possible naval career. As a result of his family's interest in art, from 1937 he attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where he studied under Kay Fisker and Steen Eiler Rasmussen. Following his graduation in 1942, he joined Gunnar Asplund in Stockholm where he worked together with Arne Jacobsen and Poul Henningsen. He took a particular interest in the works of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. After the end of World War II and the German Occupation of Denmark, he returned to Copenhagen.
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List of Kuwaitis
This is a list of Kuwaitis who are notable.
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Martin Dempsey
General Martin E. Dempsey, USA (born March 14, 1952) is the 18th and current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He previously served 149 days as the 37th Chief of Staff of the Army from April 11, 2011, to September 7, 2011. Prior to that, he served as Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, from December 8, 2008, to April 11, 2011, as Acting Commander, U.S. Central Command, from March 24, 2008, to October 30, 2008, as Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command, from August 2007 to March 23, 2008, and as Commanding General, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq (MNSTC-I), from August 2005 to August 2007. As Chairman, Dempsey is the highest ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces. He assumed his current assignment on October 1, 2011.
Dempsey attended John S. Burke Catholic High School in Goshen, New York, and received a commission as an Armor officer upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1974. As a company-grade officer, he served in 1st Squadron, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment as the S-1 OIC. He went on to be the Executive Officer of the 3rd Brigade 3rd Armored Division during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. He then commanded the 4th Battalion of the 67th Armored Regiment "Bandits" from 1992–1995 in the 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Hesse, Germany.
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Mohamed ElBaradei
Mohamed Mustafa ElBaradei (Arabic: محمد مصطفى البرادعى, Muḥammad Muṣṭafā al-Barādʿī, Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [mæˈħæmmæd mosˈtˤɑfɑ (ʔe)lbæˈɾædʕi]; born June 17, 1942) is an Egyptian law scholar and diplomat. He was the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an intergovernmental organization under the auspices of the United Nations, from December 1997 to November 2009. ElBaradei and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. ElBaradei was also an important figure in the 2011 Egyptian revolution which ousted the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
ElBaradei was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. He was one of five children of Mostafa ElBaradei, an attorney who headed the Egyptian Bar Association and often found himself at odds with the regime of President Gamal Abdel Nasser. ElBaradei's father was also a supporter of democratic rights in Egypt, supporting a free press and an independent judiciary.
ElBaradei is married to Aida El-Kachef, an early-childhood teacher. They have two children: a daughter, Laila, who is a lawyer living in London; and a son, Mostafa, who is an IT manager living in Cairo. They also have one granddaughter, Maya.
wn.com/Mohamed_ElBaradei -
Muhammad
Muhammad (c. 26 April 570 – 8 June 632; also transliterated as Mohammad, Mohammed, or Muhammed; Arabic: محمد), full name: Muhammad Ibn `Abd Allāh Ibn `Abd al-Muttalib (Arabic: محمد بن عبدالله بن عبد المطلب ) was a leader from Mecca who unified the tribes of Arabia into a single religious polity under Islam. He is believed by Muslims and Bahá'ís to be a messenger and prophet of God. Muslims believe that Islam was not his own invention but was revealed by God, and most consider him to be the last prophet of God Muslims thus consider him the restorer of an uncorrupted original monotheistic faith (islām) of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets.
Born in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca, he was orphaned at an early age and brought up under the care of his uncle Abu Talib. He later worked mostly as a merchant, as well as a shepherd, and was first married by age 25. Being in the habit of periodically retreating to a cave in the surrounding mountains for several nights of meditation and prayer, he later reported that it was there, at age 40, that he received his first revelation from God. Three years after this event Muhammad started preaching these revelations publicly, proclaiming that "God is One", that complete "surrender" to Him (lit. islām) is the only way (dīn) acceptable to God, and that he himself was a prophet and messenger of God, in the same vein as other Islamic prophets.
wn.com/Muhammad -
Sabah I bin Jaber
Sheikh Abu Abdullah Sabah I bin Jaber Al Sabah (Sabah I; c. 1652–1762 (or 1718 or 1764) (Arabic: أبو سلمان صباح الأول)) was the first Ruler of Kuwait's ruling al-Sabah dynasty. The official Kuwaiti history states that he was unanimously chosen for the position of sheikh...
In the beginning of the 18th century, an Arabic tribe known as "Bani Anizah" settled in the region that is now Kuwait. Sabah bin Jabir was a member of this tribe after establishing himself and other families under the umbrella of the Bani Anizah (hence al-Sabah dynasty of Kuwait as it became known later). The patriarch of the Al-Sabah family, Sabah bin Jaber, migrated from his homeland, with the patriarch of the Al-Khalifa family, Khalifa bin Mohamed, looking for fertile lands to settle on. They headed towards the southern borders of Iraq (under control of the Ottoman Empire during that time). There they first went to Um Qasr, a small Iraqi city in the north. According to a tradition preserved by the Al-Sabah family, the reason why the ancestors of their section and those of the Al-Khalifa section came to Kuwait was that they had been expelled by the Turks from Umm Qasr upon Khor Zubair, an earlier seat from which they had been accustomed to prey as brigands upon the caravans of Basra and as pirates upon the shipping of the Shatt Al Arab . Upon reaching Kuwait, they entered under the umbrella of the Utub, to which the Al Bin Ali tribe belongs, which was inhabiting Kuwait before their arrivals by many years.
wn.com/Sabah_I_bin_Jaber -
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (Arabic: صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي Ṣaddām Ḥusayn ʿAbd al-Maǧīd al-Tikrītī; 28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. A leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and later, the Baghdad-based Ba'ath Party and its regional organisation Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region, which espoused ba'athism, a mix of Arab nationalism and Arab socialism, Saddam played a key role in the 1968 coup, later referred to as the 17 July Revolution, that brought the party to long-term power of Iraq.
As vice president under the ailing General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, and at a time when many groups were considered capable of overthrowing the government, Saddam created security forces through which he tightly controlled conflict between the government and the armed forces. In the early 1970s, Saddam nationalized oil and other industries. The state-owned banks were put under his control, leaving the system eventually insolvent mostly due to the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War, and UN sanctions. Through the 1970s, Saddam cemented his authority over the apparatuses of government as oil money helped Iraq's economy to grow at a rapid pace. Positions of power in the country were filled with Sunnis, a minority that made up only a fifth of the population.
wn.com/Saddam_Hussein -
Sune Lindström
Sune Lindström (1906 - 1989) was a Swedish architect. He was best known for designing the Kuwait Towers in Kuwait City
He studied at the Royal Institute of Technology between 1926 and 1931.
wn.com/Sune_Lindström -
World War I
World War I (WWI), which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939 (World War II), and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. It involved all the world's great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and Russia) and the Central Powers (originally centred around the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy; but, as Austria–Hungary had taken the offensive against the agreement, Italy did not enter into the war). These alliances both reorganised (Italy fought for the Allies), and expanded as more nations entered the war. Ultimately more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. More than 9 million combatants were killed, largely because of enormous increases in lethality of weapons, thanks to new technology, without corresponding improvements in protection or mobility. It was the sixth-deadliest conflict in world history, subsequently paving the way for various political changes such as revolutions in the nations involved.
wn.com/World_War_I
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Big Meets Bigger - Kuwait - (1/4)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:56
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
At 23 stone, party-loving Carley Brookes loves instant food and refuses to do any exercise. Twenty-two-stone Darran Mansfield has been told by his doctor that he is on the brink of full-blown diabetes, yet he's too stubborn to change his unhealthy ways. So will witnessing the effects of living an ultra-lazy lifestyle in Kuwait and meeting a 51-stone recluse have a big enough impact to get the Brits to radically turn their lives around? www.bbc.co.uk
http://wn.com/Big_Meets_Bigger_Kuwait_1_4
At 23 stone, party-loving Carley Brookes loves instant food and refuses to do any exercise. Twenty-two-stone Darran Mansfield has been told by his doctor that he is on the brink of full-blown diabetes, yet he's too stubborn to change his unhealthy ways. So will witnessing the effects of living an ultra-lazy lifestyle in Kuwait and meeting a 51-stone recluse have a big enough impact to get the Brits to radically turn their lives around? www.bbc.co.uk
Why are you in Kuwait?
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 10:18
- Updated: 20 Dec 2012
READ ME! *FAQ* To see my blog post on my life in Kuwait and for more FAQ please watch the video, scroll through the comments OR read my bloggie! makeupgameonpoint.com So here's a little inside info on my life here in Kuwait! The company I work for is an American aviation company and we work WITH the US military. That's all that needs to be said about what I do, no disclosing the company name or my salary, so please do not ask! Please understand that I will only share any information that I am WILLING to share. No I will not give you information on what I do or how much money I make, nor can I get you a job lol. And also, please be respectful when leaving comments about the culture here. It's no secret that a lot of Americans are not very aware of other cultures around the world, if you have a question scroll through the comments someone might have already answered it :) Thanks guys for allowing me to share the experience with you all! Other than that, enjoy! Some other places I've been blessed to visit while I'm here: Bahrain,Paris, Germany, Dubai, Qatar and much more in the future, God willing. Yes I do have friends here and have had the pleasure of working with local photographers and models here :) It's an amazing experience! More of these videos coming soon! Catch ya later!
http://wn.com/Why_are_you_in_Kuwait?
READ ME! *FAQ* To see my blog post on my life in Kuwait and for more FAQ please watch the video, scroll through the comments OR read my bloggie! makeupgameonpoint.com So here's a little inside info on my life here in Kuwait! The company I work for is an American aviation company and we work WITH the US military. That's all that needs to be said about what I do, no disclosing the company name or my salary, so please do not ask! Please understand that I will only share any information that I am WILLING to share. No I will not give you information on what I do or how much money I make, nor can I get you a job lol. And also, please be respectful when leaving comments about the culture here. It's no secret that a lot of Americans are not very aware of other cultures around the world, if you have a question scroll through the comments someone might have already answered it :) Thanks guys for allowing me to share the experience with you all! Other than that, enjoy! Some other places I've been blessed to visit while I'm here: Bahrain,Paris, Germany, Dubai, Qatar and much more in the future, God willing. Yes I do have friends here and have had the pleasure of working with local photographers and models here :) It's an amazing experience! More of these videos coming soon! Catch ya later!
- published: 30 Jun 2012
- views: 60628
- author: lilpumpkinpie05
CineFlex Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:30
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Aerial Shots of Kuwait are available from Cinemagic. Contact us on www.cinemagics.com
http://wn.com/CineFlex_Kuwait
Aerial Shots of Kuwait are available from Cinemagic. Contact us on www.cinemagics.com
- published: 10 Mar 2012
- views: 121706
- author: Cinemagics
Pomp and ceremony for Amir of Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:47
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, has arrived in Windsor for his three-day state visit to the UK, being hosted by the Queen.
http://wn.com/Pomp_and_ceremony_for_Amir_of_Kuwait
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, has arrived in Windsor for his three-day state visit to the UK, being hosted by the Queen.
- published: 27 Nov 2012
- views: 6229
- author: telegraphtv
Kuwait Uprising: Gulf oldest monarchy under attack
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:55
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
While countries like Egypt may now be turning another page in its Arab Spring revolution, one of the oldest Gulf Monarchies is still on page one. Largely unnoticed in the West, Kuwait's rulers are cracking down on protesters and blocking the opposition's political moves. But all of this is energizing the resistance even more - as RT's Lucy Kafanov reports. RT LIVE rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com Follow us on Twitter twitter.com Follow us on Google+ plus.google.com RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Uprising_Gulf_oldest_monarchy_under_attack
While countries like Egypt may now be turning another page in its Arab Spring revolution, one of the oldest Gulf Monarchies is still on page one. Largely unnoticed in the West, Kuwait's rulers are cracking down on protesters and blocking the opposition's political moves. But all of this is energizing the resistance even more - as RT's Lucy Kafanov reports. RT LIVE rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com Follow us on Twitter twitter.com Follow us on Google+ plus.google.com RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.
- published: 08 Dec 2012
- views: 12458
- author: RussiaToday
Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:28
- Updated: 11 Dec 2012
Some of the photo's I took while in Kuwait 22nd October-9th November 2011. Places include Salmiya, Marina Waves, Kuwait City, Kuwait Towers, 360 Mall & The Scientific Centre. Hope you Enjoy! Please leave comments or thumbs up if you like it. Thanks :D
http://wn.com/Kuwait
Some of the photo's I took while in Kuwait 22nd October-9th November 2011. Places include Salmiya, Marina Waves, Kuwait City, Kuwait Towers, 360 Mall & The Scientific Centre. Hope you Enjoy! Please leave comments or thumbs up if you like it. Thanks :D
- published: 13 Jan 2012
- views: 35241
- author: barrbcow
Kuwait city
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:58
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Tour around kuwait city malls , museums ..... here are some photos of kuwait !! some of the photos are old and please note the photos are not mine !! This is my First Video ... Hope you like it .......
http://wn.com/Kuwait_city
Tour around kuwait city malls , museums ..... here are some photos of kuwait !! some of the photos are old and please note the photos are not mine !! This is my First Video ... Hope you like it .......
- published: 04 Dec 2008
- views: 193847
- author: badory94
Inside Story - Kuwait in crisis
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 24:50
- Updated: 15 Dec 2012
A political crisis brews after opposition groups promise to bring down controversial new parliament. Inside Story with James Bays speaks to Fahad Shulemi, a security analyst and former Kuwaiti army colonel; Joseph Kechichian, an independent Middle East analyst and columnist for Gulf News; and Salem Al-Ghadouri, the deputy secretary of the Civil Democratic movement of Kuwait, and a political activist.
http://wn.com/Inside_Story_Kuwait_in_crisis
A political crisis brews after opposition groups promise to bring down controversial new parliament. Inside Story with James Bays speaks to Fahad Shulemi, a security analyst and former Kuwaiti army colonel; Joseph Kechichian, an independent Middle East analyst and columnist for Gulf News; and Salem Al-Ghadouri, the deputy secretary of the Civil Democratic movement of Kuwait, and a political activist.
- published: 03 Dec 2012
- views: 2017
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Emmy Eats Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 11:47
- Updated: 20 Dec 2012
Eating a new part of the world - the Middle East - on this episode of Emmy Eats Kuwait. *Note: This was filmed before I left Japan.
http://wn.com/Emmy_Eats_Kuwait
Eating a new part of the world - the Middle East - on this episode of Emmy Eats Kuwait. *Note: This was filmed before I left Japan.
- published: 02 Sep 2012
- views: 157144
- author: emmymadeinjapan
Plus One and Draw A Smile feed Kuwait's less fortunate
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:31
- Updated: 14 Dec 2012
PLUS ONE and DRAW A SMILE are hard at work ensuring that everyone in Kuwait has a chance to eat a delicious and healthy meal. They have been providing meals to impoverished neighborhoods and low paid workers all across the country. Dari of Hashtag Burgers started PLUS ONE where you the customer need add just 1 KD to your order to buy a meal for someone in need. BiBi a school teacher started DRAW A SMILE which travels to areas of need and provides everything from hot meals to hygiene products. Amr of Solo Pizza Napulitana, Noor of Scrumptious, Hussien of Meals on Wheels, Yousef Bibi's son, Rakan from Chocolateness and others have joined the initiative to ensure that those who normally can't enjoy what many of us take for granted like a good meal and the mundane comforts in life get the joy pf doing just that. Music: Handbook www.soundcloud.com/handbook 1. With You This Far 2. Protector 3. What it used to be
http://wn.com/Plus_One_and_Draw_A_Smile_feed_Kuwait's_less_fortunate
PLUS ONE and DRAW A SMILE are hard at work ensuring that everyone in Kuwait has a chance to eat a delicious and healthy meal. They have been providing meals to impoverished neighborhoods and low paid workers all across the country. Dari of Hashtag Burgers started PLUS ONE where you the customer need add just 1 KD to your order to buy a meal for someone in need. BiBi a school teacher started DRAW A SMILE which travels to areas of need and provides everything from hot meals to hygiene products. Amr of Solo Pizza Napulitana, Noor of Scrumptious, Hussien of Meals on Wheels, Yousef Bibi's son, Rakan from Chocolateness and others have joined the initiative to ensure that those who normally can't enjoy what many of us take for granted like a good meal and the mundane comforts in life get the joy pf doing just that. Music: Handbook www.soundcloud.com/handbook 1. With You This Far 2. Protector 3. What it used to be
- published: 01 Aug 2012
- views: 5646
- author: tjcfilms2011
Kuwait Dances to Gangnam Style
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:15
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Drama Club in A University in Kuwait, dances to Psy 's Gangnam Style
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Dances_to_Gangnam_Style
Drama Club in A University in Kuwait, dances to Psy 's Gangnam Style
- published: 16 Oct 2012
- views: 45114
- author: TheEgyptianTeen
The Stream - The Stream - Kuwait's demand for democracy
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 35:01
- Updated: 09 Dec 2012
With ongoing protests and calls for an election boycott, is Kuwait plunging into turmoil?
http://wn.com/The_Stream_The_Stream_Kuwait's_demand_for_democracy
With ongoing protests and calls for an election boycott, is Kuwait plunging into turmoil?
- published: 12 Nov 2012
- views: 2716
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Kuwait goes crazy for Kim Kardashian
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:56
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Forget Sandy and Katrina; it was hurricane Kim that swept Kuwait over the past few days. As seen on fan footage and in images uploaded to social media sites, Kuwaitis went crazy for Kim Kardashian during her recent visit to the Gulf country. The US reality TV star was in the country to launch her milkshake franchise "Millions of Milkshakes" and her clothing line at the local branch of Dorothy Perkins. Prior to her public appearance, the US ambassador had his opportunity to keep up with the Kardashian as the two were seen in what seemed to be quite a formal meeting which left the American media wondering what was on the agenda. Kim is on a Middle East tour which invloves Bahrain and Kuwait and has recently been the center of some controversy due to what were seen as political tweets during the recent Israeli-Gaza conflict.
http://wn.com/Kuwait_goes_crazy_for_Kim_Kardashian
Forget Sandy and Katrina; it was hurricane Kim that swept Kuwait over the past few days. As seen on fan footage and in images uploaded to social media sites, Kuwaitis went crazy for Kim Kardashian during her recent visit to the Gulf country. The US reality TV star was in the country to launch her milkshake franchise "Millions of Milkshakes" and her clothing line at the local branch of Dorothy Perkins. Prior to her public appearance, the US ambassador had his opportunity to keep up with the Kardashian as the two were seen in what seemed to be quite a formal meeting which left the American media wondering what was on the agenda. Kim is on a Middle East tour which invloves Bahrain and Kuwait and has recently been the center of some controversy due to what were seen as political tweets during the recent Israeli-Gaza conflict.
- published: 01 Dec 2012
- views: 18564
- author: AlArabiya
Boots in Kuwait !
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:33
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Scripted, edited and directed by Sayood Follow on Twitter @Sayood
http://wn.com/Boots_in_Kuwait_!
Scripted, edited and directed by Sayood Follow on Twitter @Sayood
- published: 20 Jan 2012
- views: 357088
- author: TheTwinzTv
Kuwait's Guinness Record Fireworks Show (HD) - 11/10/2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 20:33
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Here is a 20 minute sample about Kuwait awesome firework show which awarded Guinness Record with 77282 of fireworks at a cost around 15 million USD (4 million KWD) Crazy! Enjoy!
http://wn.com/Kuwait's_Guinness_Record_Fireworks_Show_HD_11_10_2012
Here is a 20 minute sample about Kuwait awesome firework show which awarded Guinness Record with 77282 of fireworks at a cost around 15 million USD (4 million KWD) Crazy! Enjoy!
- published: 11 Nov 2012
- views: 58873
- author: cseti1985
Dust/Sandstorm Camp Buehring Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:16
- Updated: 07 Dec 2012
Dust/Sandstorm Camp Buehring Kuwait reported to be a 1000 feet high... even blocked out the sun.. .. Remember to wear your PPE
http://wn.com/Dust_Sandstorm_Camp_Buehring_Kuwait
Dust/Sandstorm Camp Buehring Kuwait reported to be a 1000 feet high... even blocked out the sun.. .. Remember to wear your PPE
- published: 03 Jun 2012
- views: 12922
- author: Elijah Foster
M7md Ghazi - #7 How To Drive in Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:27
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
www.facebook.com this is my 7th video on youtube showing how to drive in Kuwait in funny way. please like , comment and share * NOTE: all the characters in this video are fictitious, with my respect to everyone * www.twitter.com/M7mdGhazi
http://wn.com/M7md_Ghazi_7_How_To_Drive_in_Kuwait
www.facebook.com this is my 7th video on youtube showing how to drive in Kuwait in funny way. please like , comment and share * NOTE: all the characters in this video are fictitious, with my respect to everyone * www.twitter.com/M7mdGhazi
- published: 24 Jul 2011
- views: 48405
- author: Mohamed Ghazi
MATTE BLUE Lamborghini LP640 from Kuwait - Driving in London
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:06
- Updated: 17 Dec 2012
Facebook: on.fb.me Twitter: www.twitter.com Car Blog: www.shmee150.co.uk My Vlogs bit.ly ------------------------------------------ INFO BELOW! ------------------------------------------ Camera: Sony CX700 amzn.to Location: London Here you can see a matte blue Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Coupe from Kuwait that has been seen all over Europe this summer. I saw the car myself down in Cannes in early July but it is now in London so here are a few shots of it as it drives around Knightsbridge. Thanks for watching, Tim
http://wn.com/MATTE_BLUE_Lamborghini_LP640_from_Kuwait_Driving_in_London
Facebook: on.fb.me Twitter: www.twitter.com Car Blog: www.shmee150.co.uk My Vlogs bit.ly ------------------------------------------ INFO BELOW! ------------------------------------------ Camera: Sony CX700 amzn.to Location: London Here you can see a matte blue Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Coupe from Kuwait that has been seen all over Europe this summer. I saw the car myself down in Cannes in early July but it is now in London so here are a few shots of it as it drives around Knightsbridge. Thanks for watching, Tim
- published: 01 Sep 2012
- views: 7192
- author: Shmee150
Kuwait Hip Hop Cipher Volume 1 Acapella
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 10:18
- Updated: 20 Dec 2012
This is the first of two Kuwait Hip Hop Cyphers presented by TJC Films and Big D. On this volume all the rappers go acapella. It is a gathering of Kuwait Hip Hop's finest and was a blast. Big D, Emcee Element, John Skywalker, LC, Traphique, Djiby, KIlla D, Shane and Chaotic Lp all spit on this one. There will be even more artists in Vol 2 which features the beat boxing brilliance of Duffy as most of the background music the rappers used to flow over. It has been filmed and just needs to be edited. Stay tuned as it will be up very soon!
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Hip_Hop_Cipher_Volume_1_Acapella
This is the first of two Kuwait Hip Hop Cyphers presented by TJC Films and Big D. On this volume all the rappers go acapella. It is a gathering of Kuwait Hip Hop's finest and was a blast. Big D, Emcee Element, John Skywalker, LC, Traphique, Djiby, KIlla D, Shane and Chaotic Lp all spit on this one. There will be even more artists in Vol 2 which features the beat boxing brilliance of Duffy as most of the background music the rappers used to flow over. It has been filmed and just needs to be edited. Stay tuned as it will be up very soon!
- published: 23 Jul 2012
- views: 37840
- author: tjcfilms2011
Big Meets Bigger - Kuwait - (2/4)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:56
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
At 23 stone, party-loving Carley Brookes loves instant food and refuses to do any exercise. Twenty-two-stone Darran Mansfield has been told by his doctor that he is on the brink of full-blown diabetes, yet he's too stubborn to change his unhealthy ways. So will witnessing the effects of living an ultra-lazy lifestyle in Kuwait and meeting a 51-stone recluse have a big enough impact to get the Brits to radically turn their lives around? www.bbc.co.uk
http://wn.com/Big_Meets_Bigger_Kuwait_2_4
At 23 stone, party-loving Carley Brookes loves instant food and refuses to do any exercise. Twenty-two-stone Darran Mansfield has been told by his doctor that he is on the brink of full-blown diabetes, yet he's too stubborn to change his unhealthy ways. So will witnessing the effects of living an ultra-lazy lifestyle in Kuwait and meeting a 51-stone recluse have a big enough impact to get the Brits to radically turn their lives around? www.bbc.co.uk
- published: 10 Oct 2012
- views: 10998
- author: Julia Wright
Stand up Sayood #14 marriage in Kuwait !
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:32
- Updated: 19 Dec 2012
Scripted, edited and directed by : Sayood , follow @Sayood
http://wn.com/Stand_up_Sayood_14_marriage_in_Kuwait_!
Scripted, edited and directed by : Sayood , follow @Sayood
- published: 02 Aug 2012
- views: 41161
- author: TheTwinzTv
![Kuwait Fireworks 2012 - Part 1-3 [HD]](http://web.archive.org./web/20121230112651im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lj9O2kQHVik/default.jpg "Kuwait Fireworks 2012 - Part 1-3 [HD]")
Kuwait Fireworks 2012 - Part 1-3 [HD]
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:17
- Updated: 13 Dec 2012
Kuwait on 10-11-2012 (Saturday) marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular $15-million fireworks display which earned the wealthy Gulf state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Fireworks_2012_Part_1-3_HD_
Kuwait on 10-11-2012 (Saturday) marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular $15-million fireworks display which earned the wealthy Gulf state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- published: 11 Nov 2012
- views: 14200
- author: nishadveliath
Kuwait Hip Hop Cipher Vol 2 Beatbox and Beats
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:13
- Updated: 13 Dec 2012
This is the second of two Kuwait Hip Hop Cyphers presented by TJC Films and Big D. On this volume all the rappers rap to the amazing beatbox of Duffy or over a hip hop instrumental. It was a wholeother vibe than volume 1. It was another sweet gathering of Kuwait Hip Hop's dopest rappers. Deep Raw, D-ZL, Emcee Element, Solo, Mejudice, Armani, Scarbenface, Bugzy all took turns flowing on this one. Don't forget to watch !olume 1 Acapella!
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Hip_Hop_Cipher_Vol_2_Beatbox_and_Beats
This is the second of two Kuwait Hip Hop Cyphers presented by TJC Films and Big D. On this volume all the rappers rap to the amazing beatbox of Duffy or over a hip hop instrumental. It was a wholeother vibe than volume 1. It was another sweet gathering of Kuwait Hip Hop's dopest rappers. Deep Raw, D-ZL, Emcee Element, Solo, Mejudice, Armani, Scarbenface, Bugzy all took turns flowing on this one. Don't forget to watch !olume 1 Acapella!
- published: 23 Jul 2012
- views: 19648
- author: tjcfilms2011
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The Stream - The Stream - Kuwait's demand for democracy
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 35:01
- Updated: 27 Dec 2012
With ongoing protests and calls for an election boycott, is Kuwait plunging into turmoil?
http://wn.com/The_Stream_The_Stream_Kuwait's_demand_for_democracy
With ongoing protests and calls for an election boycott, is Kuwait plunging into turmoil?
- published: 12 Nov 2012
- views: 2880
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Kuwait Uprising: Gulf oldest monarchy under attack
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:55
- Updated: 28 Dec 2012
While countries like Egypt may now be turning another page in its Arab Spring revolution, one of the oldest Gulf Monarchies is still on page one. Largely unnoticed in the West, Kuwait's rulers are cracking down on protesters and blocking the opposition's political moves. But all of this is energizing the resistance even more - as RT's Lucy Kafanov reports. RT LIVE rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com Follow us on Twitter twitter.com Follow us on Google+ plus.google.com RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Uprising_Gulf_oldest_monarchy_under_attack
While countries like Egypt may now be turning another page in its Arab Spring revolution, one of the oldest Gulf Monarchies is still on page one. Largely unnoticed in the West, Kuwait's rulers are cracking down on protesters and blocking the opposition's political moves. But all of this is energizing the resistance even more - as RT's Lucy Kafanov reports. RT LIVE rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com Follow us on Twitter twitter.com Follow us on Google+ plus.google.com RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.
- published: 08 Dec 2012
- views: 13057
- author: RussiaToday
Kuwait Marks Golden Jubilee of Constitution's Ratification
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 12:51
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($15-million) fireworks display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Marks_Golden_Jubilee_of_Constitution's_Ratification
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($15-million) fireworks display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- published: 10 Nov 2012
- views: 10826
- author: kuwaittimesdaily
Kuwaiti Author: I Fear for Women's Rights in Light of Rise of Arab Islamic Movements to Power
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:59
- Updated: 22 Sep 2012
Kuwaiti Author Ibtihal Al-Khatib Fears for Women's Rights Following Rise of Islamic Movements to Power Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) - August 14, 2012 www.memri.org www.memri.org http Follow MEMRI on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow MEMRI on Twitter: twitter.com
http://wn.com/Kuwaiti_Author_I_Fear_for_Women's_Rights_in_Light_of_Rise_of_Arab_Islamic_Movements_to_Power
Kuwaiti Author Ibtihal Al-Khatib Fears for Women's Rights Following Rise of Islamic Movements to Power Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) - August 14, 2012 www.memri.org www.memri.org http Follow MEMRI on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow MEMRI on Twitter: twitter.com
- published: 30 Aug 2012
- views: 4561
- author: MEMRITVVideos
Plus One and Draw A Smile feed Kuwait's less fortunate
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:31
- Updated: 29 Dec 2012
PLUS ONE and DRAW A SMILE are hard at work ensuring that everyone in Kuwait has a chance to eat a delicious and healthy meal. They have been providing meals to impoverished neighborhoods and low paid workers all across the country. Dari of Hashtag Burgers started PLUS ONE where you the customer need add just 1 KD to your order to buy a meal for someone in need. BiBi a school teacher started DRAW A SMILE which travels to areas of need and provides everything from hot meals to hygiene products. Amr of Solo Pizza Napulitana, Noor of Scrumptious, Hussien of Meals on Wheels, Yousef Bibi's son, Rakan from Chocolateness and others have joined the initiative to ensure that those who normally can't enjoy what many of us take for granted like a good meal and the mundane comforts in life get the joy pf doing just that. Music: Handbook www.soundcloud.com/handbook 1. With You This Far 2. Protector 3. What it used to be
http://wn.com/Plus_One_and_Draw_A_Smile_feed_Kuwait's_less_fortunate
PLUS ONE and DRAW A SMILE are hard at work ensuring that everyone in Kuwait has a chance to eat a delicious and healthy meal. They have been providing meals to impoverished neighborhoods and low paid workers all across the country. Dari of Hashtag Burgers started PLUS ONE where you the customer need add just 1 KD to your order to buy a meal for someone in need. BiBi a school teacher started DRAW A SMILE which travels to areas of need and provides everything from hot meals to hygiene products. Amr of Solo Pizza Napulitana, Noor of Scrumptious, Hussien of Meals on Wheels, Yousef Bibi's son, Rakan from Chocolateness and others have joined the initiative to ensure that those who normally can't enjoy what many of us take for granted like a good meal and the mundane comforts in life get the joy pf doing just that. Music: Handbook www.soundcloud.com/handbook 1. With You This Far 2. Protector 3. What it used to be
- published: 01 Aug 2012
- views: 5739
- author: tjcfilms2011
US Soldier Home From Kuwait Surprises His Father in Law
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:18
- Updated: 29 Dec 2012
soldier surprise homecoming military coming home army navy marines airforce air force airman sailor airmen usmc marine corps afghanistan iraq kuwait overseas deployment R&R; on leave mom dad husband wife daughter son children kids troops usaf tears cries father child soldiers school graduation kid deployed returning dogs welcome blog welcomehomeblog.com Lanka His "Home (nightclub)" Forces Sinhala Bryan Tamil Adams Daddy Spirit News Special "Spirit (Willie Nelson Album)" Live Family
http://wn.com/US_Soldier_Home_From_Kuwait_Surprises_His_Father_in_Law
soldier surprise homecoming military coming home army navy marines airforce air force airman sailor airmen usmc marine corps afghanistan iraq kuwait overseas deployment R&R; on leave mom dad husband wife daughter son children kids troops usaf tears cries father child soldiers school graduation kid deployed returning dogs welcome blog welcomehomeblog.com Lanka His "Home (nightclub)" Forces Sinhala Bryan Tamil Adams Daddy Spirit News Special "Spirit (Willie Nelson Album)" Live Family
- published: 25 Aug 2012
- views: 50281
- author: WelcomeHomeSoldier
Kuwait Celebrates 50th Constitution Anniversary (Guinness World Record - Fireworks) FULL VIDEO
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 63:27
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
KUWAIT CITY, November 10, (Agencies): The festive celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the ratification of Kuwait's Constitution were held Saturday afternoon at the coastal Gulf Road, with huge public participation. The celebrations commenced with a popular march in the Gulf Road. Citizenry and residents of different age categories have taken part in the march. Then French Aircraft team conducted an impressive fly-past. Kites-lover had also their touch in the celebrations with another fly-past with their eye-catching colorful kites. Marine vessels and boats had their own performance in the Gulf waters. These spectacular and daring displays have attracted hilarious applause from excited fans. The Gulf Road and the whole celebration areas were decorated with colorful flags and banners. Kuwait's Constitution was issued on November 11, 1962 by a decree from the then-Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the 11th ruler of Kuwait. Kuwait's sky was lit up Saturday night with a spectacular huge fireworks show. The Gulf Road has been divided into 9 celebration zones starting from Ruby waterfront and extending all the way to the Green Island. Each zone has two information booths, providing people with any information or assistance required. Over 25 different companies and organizations had been involved in the planning of the events, and over 1000 young Kuwaitis had volunteered for the day, to serve refreshments, provide information, brochures, etc. Surprises The KD 4.163 ...
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Celebrates_50th_Constitution_Anniversary_Guinness_World_Record_Fireworks_FULL_VIDEO
KUWAIT CITY, November 10, (Agencies): The festive celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the ratification of Kuwait's Constitution were held Saturday afternoon at the coastal Gulf Road, with huge public participation. The celebrations commenced with a popular march in the Gulf Road. Citizenry and residents of different age categories have taken part in the march. Then French Aircraft team conducted an impressive fly-past. Kites-lover had also their touch in the celebrations with another fly-past with their eye-catching colorful kites. Marine vessels and boats had their own performance in the Gulf waters. These spectacular and daring displays have attracted hilarious applause from excited fans. The Gulf Road and the whole celebration areas were decorated with colorful flags and banners. Kuwait's Constitution was issued on November 11, 1962 by a decree from the then-Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the 11th ruler of Kuwait. Kuwait's sky was lit up Saturday night with a spectacular huge fireworks show. The Gulf Road has been divided into 9 celebration zones starting from Ruby waterfront and extending all the way to the Green Island. Each zone has two information booths, providing people with any information or assistance required. Over 25 different companies and organizations had been involved in the planning of the events, and over 1000 young Kuwaitis had volunteered for the day, to serve refreshments, provide information, brochures, etc. Surprises The KD 4.163 ...
- published: 11 Nov 2012
- views: 11062
- author: lightflix
" SARVA DHARMA SWAROOPA SAI " - ARABIAN CHOIR - 10 JULY 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 64:30
- Updated: 13 Sep 2012
A "Prashanthi" pilgrimage by the Region 94 of the Sai Organisation comprising the countries from Middle East and Gulf has enveloped Prasanthi Nilayam with Islamic Fervor. Devotees from Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and United Arab Emirates, provided an Arabic flavour in Prasanthi Nilayam
http://wn.com/_SARVA_DHARMA_SWAROOPA_SAI_ARABIAN_CHOIR_10_JULY_2012
A "Prashanthi" pilgrimage by the Region 94 of the Sai Organisation comprising the countries from Middle East and Gulf has enveloped Prasanthi Nilayam with Islamic Fervor. Devotees from Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and United Arab Emirates, provided an Arabic flavour in Prasanthi Nilayam
- published: 17 Jul 2012
- views: 28105
- author: RadioSai GlobalHarmony
Iraq was trapped in Kuwait war Zardari efforts to reconcile matter between Iran and Sudia
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:13
- Updated: 29 Dec 2012
complete program: www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/Iraq_was_trapped_in_Kuwait_war_Zardari_efforts_to_reconcile_matter_between_Iran_and_Sudia
US Army Dad Returns From Kuwait, Surprises Daughter
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:48
- Updated: 28 Dec 2012
The man you are about to be introduced to is just one out of millions that serve our country each and every day.Colonel Michael Zarbo with the US Army has been in Kuwait for the past 5 months. He came to Warner Park Saturday morning to surprise his 16-year-old daughter Victoria who was in the Scenic City for a softball tournament. But what he didn't realize was that his family had plans of their own. "It's a commitment, it's a sacrifice. But its something that I just feel like I was put on this planet to do," says Colonel Zarbo.Zarbo will spend the day in Chattanooga with his family, then deploy back to Kuwait in a few days. You can see the soldier surprise in the video above.
http://wn.com/US_Army_Dad_Returns_From_Kuwait,_Surprises_Daughter
The man you are about to be introduced to is just one out of millions that serve our country each and every day.Colonel Michael Zarbo with the US Army has been in Kuwait for the past 5 months. He came to Warner Park Saturday morning to surprise his 16-year-old daughter Victoria who was in the Scenic City for a softball tournament. But what he didn't realize was that his family had plans of their own. "It's a commitment, it's a sacrifice. But its something that I just feel like I was put on this planet to do," says Colonel Zarbo.Zarbo will spend the day in Chattanooga with his family, then deploy back to Kuwait in a few days. You can see the soldier surprise in the video above.
- published: 29 Oct 2012
- views: 41946
- author: newschannelnine
Kuwait city - new trailer montage 2012
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:09
- Updated: 26 Dec 2012
Disclaimer: yes i made this video clip , but i do not own enything from that clips . No copyright infringement intended. Everything belongs to their respective owners ... ( Hi Tech Media - alialiq8 ) ( CineFlex Kuwait - CINEMAGICS ) I have tried to work a video clips about my country Kuwait , but unfortunately, I did not have a high quality clips to completion this work , so i found in youtube some creative entrepreneurs beautiful and unique that deserves praise and thanks, so i used some video clips for my work , notice: Special thanks to those creators the owners of these video clips , and out of respect for the privacy rights of others, I have to remind them here in the Description ... www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/Kuwait_city_new_trailer_montage_2012
Disclaimer: yes i made this video clip , but i do not own enything from that clips . No copyright infringement intended. Everything belongs to their respective owners ... ( Hi Tech Media - alialiq8 ) ( CineFlex Kuwait - CINEMAGICS ) I have tried to work a video clips about my country Kuwait , but unfortunately, I did not have a high quality clips to completion this work , so i found in youtube some creative entrepreneurs beautiful and unique that deserves praise and thanks, so i used some video clips for my work , notice: Special thanks to those creators the owners of these video clips , and out of respect for the privacy rights of others, I have to remind them here in the Description ... www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
- published: 03 May 2012
- views: 4940
- author: gothica940
Kuwaiti Students Protesting Against MOE P.1 Of 2
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 13:35
- Updated: 12 Dec 2012
Welcome to The EXTREME Protest! Students from Middle School & High School protest against Ahmad AL-Melaifi & The Ministry Of Education in front of their building in Shuwaikh. The Protest officially started at 8 AM of this morning as the protesters began to increase in just a few minutes! It is in our Kuwaiti Constitution that it is LEGAL to speak our mind respectfully about anything we find wrong or unfair. The current Educational System "The Unified System" which was created by a previous minister a few years ago, is an unfair & hard system that makes students take all subjects & go through all Final Tests in a row allowing minimum time to study & get prepared for taking the test. Now everyone accepted that system when it first got Established a few years ago but last week, MOE announced the new MARKS layout which diminishes the student's graduating chances after the 12th Grade. I am Jack AL-Mazeedi, The Voice Of The Voiceless Of Kuwait :) Stay tuned for more footage of today's EXTREME Protest in Part 2 :) -------------------------------- Thanks for watching....Comment, Like & Subscribe :) Catch The EXTREME Show ReLOADED weekly on Fridays as it uploads at 10 PM (YouTube Local Time) OR Saturday Morning 8 AM KSA for my Arabian Viewers :D ++Follow me on Twitter @JackALMAZEEDI Also Use #TheEXTREMEShow to discuss the episodes Become a fan of The EXTREME Show on FaceBook: www.tinyurl.com
http://wn.com/Kuwaiti_Students_Protesting_Against_MOE_P1_Of_2
Welcome to The EXTREME Protest! Students from Middle School & High School protest against Ahmad AL-Melaifi & The Ministry Of Education in front of their building in Shuwaikh. The Protest officially started at 8 AM of this morning as the protesters began to increase in just a few minutes! It is in our Kuwaiti Constitution that it is LEGAL to speak our mind respectfully about anything we find wrong or unfair. The current Educational System "The Unified System" which was created by a previous minister a few years ago, is an unfair & hard system that makes students take all subjects & go through all Final Tests in a row allowing minimum time to study & get prepared for taking the test. Now everyone accepted that system when it first got Established a few years ago but last week, MOE announced the new MARKS layout which diminishes the student's graduating chances after the 12th Grade. I am Jack AL-Mazeedi, The Voice Of The Voiceless Of Kuwait :) Stay tuned for more footage of today's EXTREME Protest in Part 2 :) -------------------------------- Thanks for watching....Comment, Like & Subscribe :) Catch The EXTREME Show ReLOADED weekly on Fridays as it uploads at 10 PM (YouTube Local Time) OR Saturday Morning 8 AM KSA for my Arabian Viewers :D ++Follow me on Twitter @JackALMAZEEDI Also Use #TheEXTREMEShow to discuss the episodes Become a fan of The EXTREME Show on FaceBook: www.tinyurl.com
- published: 06 Oct 2011
- views: 4825
- author: Jack AL-Mazeedi
'On the Road' Video: US army leaves Iraq, settles in neighboring Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:39
- Updated: 28 Dec 2012
The last US military convoy has left Iraq's territory on Sunday, finalizing the pullout. The motorcade of 110 armored vehicles carrying 500 officers and soldiers, accompanied by a helicopter patrol, has crossed into Kuwait. The nine-year war and occupation cost 4500 American lives and 500 of the lives of their allies. The death toll for the Iraqis is estimated between 100 and 150000, while some 1.75 million people fled the country. RT on Twitter twitter.com RT on Facebook www.facebook.com
http://wn.com/'On_the_Road'_Video_US_army_leaves_Iraq,_settles_in_neighboring_Kuwait
The last US military convoy has left Iraq's territory on Sunday, finalizing the pullout. The motorcade of 110 armored vehicles carrying 500 officers and soldiers, accompanied by a helicopter patrol, has crossed into Kuwait. The nine-year war and occupation cost 4500 American lives and 500 of the lives of their allies. The death toll for the Iraqis is estimated between 100 and 150000, while some 1.75 million people fled the country. RT on Twitter twitter.com RT on Facebook www.facebook.com
- published: 18 Dec 2011
- views: 82917
- author: RussiaToday
Kuwait Fireworks 2012 - Part 1-3 [HD]
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:17
- Updated: 13 Dec 2012
Kuwait on 10-11-2012 (Saturday) marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular $15-million fireworks display which earned the wealthy Gulf state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
http://wn.com/Kuwait_Fireworks_2012_Part_1-3_HD_
Kuwait on 10-11-2012 (Saturday) marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular $15-million fireworks display which earned the wealthy Gulf state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- published: 11 Nov 2012
- views: 14791
- author: nishadveliath
حرىق - دجاج تكا Fire on Gulf Road Salmiya Kuwait
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 27:23
- Updated: 31 Aug 2012
Chicken Tikka Kuwait on Fire 10th of October, 2011, Salmiya ,Kuwait, Time was morning 5:30.... kuwait fire salmiya 2011,burning salmiya 2011, flame ,salmiya fire 2011,salmiya caught by fire on 2011,burning salmiya kuwait 2011 Fire on Gulf Road Salmiya STC Mothercare Salmiya Kuwait on Fire 10 10 2011 HD video here www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/حرىق_دجاج_تكا_Fire_on_Gulf_Road_Salmiya_Kuwait
Chicken Tikka Kuwait on Fire 10th of October, 2011, Salmiya ,Kuwait, Time was morning 5:30.... kuwait fire salmiya 2011,burning salmiya 2011, flame ,salmiya fire 2011,salmiya caught by fire on 2011,burning salmiya kuwait 2011 Fire on Gulf Road Salmiya STC Mothercare Salmiya Kuwait on Fire 10 10 2011 HD video here www.youtube.com
- published: 10 Oct 2011
- views: 9060
- author: fashionpkupdates
Kuwait port encroaches on territory :Iraq
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:23
- Updated: 04 Sep 2012
Kuwait's proposed Mubarak al Kabeer port on the island of Bubiyan encroaches on its territorial waters says the Iraqi government. It will also block two of its shipping lanes -lifelines for its crucial import and export trade. Al Jazeera's Omar al Saleh reports from Baghdad.
http://wn.com/Kuwait_port_encroaches_on_territory_Iraq
Kuwait's proposed Mubarak al Kabeer port on the island of Bubiyan encroaches on its territorial waters says the Iraqi government. It will also block two of its shipping lanes -lifelines for its crucial import and export trade. Al Jazeera's Omar al Saleh reports from Baghdad.
- published: 31 May 2011
- views: 13345
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
The Collective Insanity of Our Society 1/3
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 15:10
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
On the Friday Edition of the Alex Jones Show, Alex talks about the latest developments in the fast moving effort by the United States and Israel to attack Iran, including the quiet deployment of US troops to the Middle East, including 15000 stationed in Kuwait. Alex also talks about the NDAA, news that United Nations troops have brought a deadly super bug to the Northen Hemisphere. www.infowars.com www.prisonplanet.tv
http://wn.com/The_Collective_Insanity_of_Our_Society_1_3
On the Friday Edition of the Alex Jones Show, Alex talks about the latest developments in the fast moving effort by the United States and Israel to attack Iran, including the quiet deployment of US troops to the Middle East, including 15000 stationed in Kuwait. Alex also talks about the NDAA, news that United Nations troops have brought a deadly super bug to the Northen Hemisphere. www.infowars.com www.prisonplanet.tv
- published: 14 Jan 2012
- views: 26638
- author: TheAlexJonesChannel
Fireworks light up skies in dazzling display, set new record
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:49
- Updated: 22 Dec 2012
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($15-million) fireworks display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. "I am happy to verify that with 77282 fireworks, a new Guinness world record has been set tonight" in Kuwait City
http://wn.com/Fireworks_light_up_skies_in_dazzling_display,_set_new_record
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($15-million) fireworks display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. "I am happy to verify that with 77282 fireworks, a new Guinness world record has been set tonight" in Kuwait City
- published: 10 Nov 2012
- views: 169936
- author: kuwaittimesdaily
![2012 Kuwait Open (ms-sf) RYU Seung Min - JOO Se Hyuk [Full Match|Short Form]](http://web.archive.org./web/20121230112651im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5oPrzoEII7Q/default.jpg "2012 Kuwait Open (ms-sf) RYU Seung Min - JOO Se Hyuk [Full Match|Short Form]")
2012 Kuwait Open (ms-sf) RYU Seung Min - JOO Se Hyuk [Full Match|Short Form]
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:57
- Updated: 11 Aug 2012
Get Worldwide Table Tennis News in TableTennista tabletennista.com 2012 ITTF World Tour, Kuwait Open, Feb 14-18, Kuwait City, KUW Men's Singles - Semi Final: RYU Seung Min (KOR) - JOO Se Hyuk (KOR) *** Credits & Many Thanks to ITTF ***
http://wn.com/2012_Kuwait_Open_ms-sf_RYU_Seung_Min_JOO_Se_Hyuk_Full_Match|Short_Form_
Get Worldwide Table Tennis News in TableTennista tabletennista.com 2012 ITTF World Tour, Kuwait Open, Feb 14-18, Kuwait City, KUW Men's Singles - Semi Final: RYU Seung Min (KOR) - JOO Se Hyuk (KOR) *** Credits & Many Thanks to ITTF ***
- published: 19 Feb 2012
- views: 7494
- author: janus770
Pr Tinu George & Pr Samuel Wilson at Kuwait Part - 3
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 48:17
- Updated: 21 Dec 2012
Pr Tinu George & Pr Samuel Wilson at Kuwait Part - 3 Pr. Tinu George Founder of Elshaddai Ministry India preaching at Kuwait Convention Venue: Kuwait Preacher: Pr. Tinu George Church: Jesus is Alive Global Worship Centre, Kottarakara, Kollam Website: www.pastortinugeorge.org
http://wn.com/Pr_Tinu_George_Pr_Samuel_Wilson_at_Kuwait_Part_3
Pr Tinu George & Pr Samuel Wilson at Kuwait Part - 3 Pr. Tinu George Founder of Elshaddai Ministry India preaching at Kuwait Convention Venue: Kuwait Preacher: Pr. Tinu George Church: Jesus is Alive Global Worship Centre, Kottarakara, Kollam Website: www.pastortinugeorge.org
- published: 20 Jun 2012
- views: 8485
- author: inspireads123
Pr Tinu George & Pr Samuel Wilson at Kuwait Part - 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 30:50
- Updated: 11 Dec 2012
Pr. Tinu George and Pr. Samuel Wilson preaching at Kuwait Convention Venue: Kuwait Preacher: Pastor Tinu George Website: www.pastortinugeorge.org Church: Jesus is Alive Global Worship Center
http://wn.com/Pr_Tinu_George_Pr_Samuel_Wilson_at_Kuwait_Part_1
Pr. Tinu George and Pr. Samuel Wilson preaching at Kuwait Convention Venue: Kuwait Preacher: Pastor Tinu George Website: www.pastortinugeorge.org Church: Jesus is Alive Global Worship Center
- published: 20 Jun 2012
- views: 6659
- author: inspireads123
Kuwait shuts down Al Jazeera office
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:52
- Updated: 23 Nov 2012
Kuwaiti authorities have closed down the office of the Al Jazeera news channel in Kuwait City. In a statement, Kuwait's ministry on Information described Al Jazeera's coverage as "intervention in a Kuwaiti domestic issue". It follows a police crackdown on Wednesday in which four Kuwaiti MPs and at least a dozen others were injured. Al jazeera's Shiulie Ghosh reports
http://wn.com/Kuwait_shuts_down_Al_Jazeera_office
Kuwaiti authorities have closed down the office of the Al Jazeera news channel in Kuwait City. In a statement, Kuwait's ministry on Information described Al Jazeera's coverage as "intervention in a Kuwaiti domestic issue". It follows a police crackdown on Wednesday in which four Kuwaiti MPs and at least a dozen others were injured. Al jazeera's Shiulie Ghosh reports
- published: 13 Dec 2010
- views: 8935
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Highlights of 1st half match between Azkals-Kuwait 1st leg World Cup Qualifier
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:47
- Updated: 16 Oct 2012
http://wn.com/Highlights_of_1st_half_match_between_Azkals-Kuwait_1st_leg_World_Cup_Qualifier
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Moorish lighting manufacturer chandelier Moroccan lamps Morocco Lantern
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 7:54
- Updated: 28 Sep 2012
www.sainttropezboutique.us Manufacturer, supplier of quality handmade Moroccan lighting fixtures including Moroccan lamps, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan ceiling lights, Moroccan pendant. Whether you are building, designing or decorating your residential home, hospitality hotel, restaurant, lounge, luxury resort, Spa, Moroccan hammam bathhouse, Moroccan majlis, private yacht, commercial building or restoring a Spanish colonial revival historic building, we will help you achieve your Moorish decorating and Moroccan style architectural design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al Khaymah, Beirut, Marshall Islands, Bahamas,Turks & Caicos Islands, Caribbean, Fiji, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Maldives island, and much more.
http://wn.com/Moorish_lighting_manufacturer_chandelier_Moroccan_lamps_Morocco_Lantern
www.sainttropezboutique.us Manufacturer, supplier of quality handmade Moroccan lighting fixtures including Moroccan lamps, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan ceiling lights, Moroccan pendant. Whether you are building, designing or decorating your residential home, hospitality hotel, restaurant, lounge, luxury resort, Spa, Moroccan hammam bathhouse, Moroccan majlis, private yacht, commercial building or restoring a Spanish colonial revival historic building, we will help you achieve your Moorish decorating and Moroccan style architectural design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al Khaymah, Beirut, Marshall Islands, Bahamas,Turks & Caicos Islands, Caribbean, Fiji, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Maldives island, and much more.
- published: 19 Jul 2010
- views: 7414
- author: sttropezboutique
Moroccan lamps Lights Chandelier lantern pendant lights wall sconces Moroccan design
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:02
- Updated: 14 Oct 2012
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer, dealer, exporter, supplier of high end Moroccan lights, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan pendant lights, Moroccan wall sconce, Moroccan ceiling lights traditionally handcrafted in Morocco. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al ...
http://wn.com/Moroccan_lamps_Lights_Chandelier_lantern_pendant_lights_wall_sconces_Moroccan_design
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer, dealer, exporter, supplier of high end Moroccan lights, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan pendant lights, Moroccan wall sconce, Moroccan ceiling lights traditionally handcrafted in Morocco. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al ...
- published: 25 Aug 2010
- views: 3064
- author: sttropezboutique
GREETINGS FROM AS SALIMIYAH!
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 0:28
- Updated: 17 Nov 2012
http://wn.com/GREETINGS_FROM_AS_SALIMIYAH!
Moroccan Lamps Manufacturer Moroccan lantern chandelier pendant lights sconces
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:50
- Updated: 16 Dec 2012
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer of quality handcrafted Moroccan lights including Moroccan lamp, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan pendant lights, Moroccan wall sconces, Moroccan garden lantern, Moorish patio lamp, Moroccan ceiling lights. Whether you are building, designing or decorating your residential home, hospitality hotel, restaurant, lounge, luxury resort, Spa, Moroccan hammam bathhouse, Moroccan majlis, private yacht, commercial building or restoring a Spanish colonial revival historic building, we will help you achieve your Moorish decorating and Moroccan style architectural design dreams. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your ...
http://wn.com/Moroccan_Lamps_Manufacturer_Moroccan_lantern_chandelier_pendant_lights_sconces
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer of quality handcrafted Moroccan lights including Moroccan lamp, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan pendant lights, Moroccan wall sconces, Moroccan garden lantern, Moorish patio lamp, Moroccan ceiling lights. Whether you are building, designing or decorating your residential home, hospitality hotel, restaurant, lounge, luxury resort, Spa, Moroccan hammam bathhouse, Moroccan majlis, private yacht, commercial building or restoring a Spanish colonial revival historic building, we will help you achieve your Moorish decorating and Moroccan style architectural design dreams. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your ...
- published: 22 Aug 2010
- views: 1269
- author: sttropezboutique
Moroccan Lamps Manufacturer Dealer Retail Store Importer Exporter Morocco.mov
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:01
- Updated: 20 Dec 2012
www.moorishlightings.com is a manufacturer, exporter, retail store, wholesaler of contemporary & traditional Moroccan lanterns. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al Khaymah, Beirut, Marshall Islands, Bahamas,Turks & Caicos Islands, Caribbean, Fiji, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Maldives island, and ...
http://wn.com/Moroccan_Lamps_Manufacturer_Dealer_Retail_Store_Importer_Exporter_Moroccomov
www.moorishlightings.com is a manufacturer, exporter, retail store, wholesaler of contemporary & traditional Moroccan lanterns. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al Khaymah, Beirut, Marshall Islands, Bahamas,Turks & Caicos Islands, Caribbean, Fiji, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Maldives island, and ...
- published: 20 Sep 2010
- views: 730
- author: moorishlightings
Akidah Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jailani (1/6)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:12
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
Aqidah Islam Akidah Syeikh Abdul Qadir al-Jailani Di sini akan saya sebutkan dengan ringkas apa yang menjadi akidah Syeikh 'Abdul Qadir al-Jailani, berdasarkan keterangan yang terdapat di dalam kitab beliau al-Ghunyah dan yang lainnya. Syeikh Jailani Mengikuti 'Akidah Salaf Syeikh 'Abdul Qadir al-Jailani seringkali menyatakan: Akidah (keyakinan) kami adalah 'akidah (kaum) Salafush Soleh dan akidah para Sahabat. (Siyar A 'lamin Nubala', XX/442) Imam Az-Zahabi berkata: "Tidak ada seorangpun para ulama terkemuka yang riwayat hidup dan karamahnya lebih banyak kisah hikayat, selain Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jailani, dan banyak di antara riwayat-riwayat itu yang tidak benar bahkan ada yang mustahil terjadi". (Siyar A'lamin Nubala XX/451). Syeikh Rabi' bin Hadi Al Madkhali berkata dalam kitabnya, Al Haddul Fashil, hal.136: "Aku telah mengenal pasti akidah beliau (Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jailani) di dalam kitabnya yang bernama Al Ghunyah. (Lihat kitab Al-Ghunyah I/83-94). Maka aku mengetahui bahawa dia sebagai seorang Salafi. Beliau menetapkan nama-nama dan sifat-sifat Allah dan akidah-akidah lainnya di atas manhaj Salaf. Beliau juga membantah kelompok-kelompok Syiah, Rafidhah,Jahmiyyah, Jabariyyah, Salimiyah, dan kelompok lainnya dengan manhaj Salaf." (At Tashawwuf Fii Mizanil Bahtsi Wat Tahqiq, hal. 509, karya Syeikh Abdul Qadir bin Habibullah As Sindi, Penerbit Darul Manar, Cet. II, 8 Zulkaidah 1415 H/ 8 April 1995 M.)
http://wn.com/Akidah_Syeikh_Abdul_Qadir_Al-Jailani_1_6
Aqidah Islam Akidah Syeikh Abdul Qadir al-Jailani Di sini akan saya sebutkan dengan ringkas apa yang menjadi akidah Syeikh 'Abdul Qadir al-Jailani, berdasarkan keterangan yang terdapat di dalam kitab beliau al-Ghunyah dan yang lainnya. Syeikh Jailani Mengikuti 'Akidah Salaf Syeikh 'Abdul Qadir al-Jailani seringkali menyatakan: Akidah (keyakinan) kami adalah 'akidah (kaum) Salafush Soleh dan akidah para Sahabat. (Siyar A 'lamin Nubala', XX/442) Imam Az-Zahabi berkata: "Tidak ada seorangpun para ulama terkemuka yang riwayat hidup dan karamahnya lebih banyak kisah hikayat, selain Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jailani, dan banyak di antara riwayat-riwayat itu yang tidak benar bahkan ada yang mustahil terjadi". (Siyar A'lamin Nubala XX/451). Syeikh Rabi' bin Hadi Al Madkhali berkata dalam kitabnya, Al Haddul Fashil, hal.136: "Aku telah mengenal pasti akidah beliau (Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jailani) di dalam kitabnya yang bernama Al Ghunyah. (Lihat kitab Al-Ghunyah I/83-94). Maka aku mengetahui bahawa dia sebagai seorang Salafi. Beliau menetapkan nama-nama dan sifat-sifat Allah dan akidah-akidah lainnya di atas manhaj Salaf. Beliau juga membantah kelompok-kelompok Syiah, Rafidhah,Jahmiyyah, Jabariyyah, Salimiyah, dan kelompok lainnya dengan manhaj Salaf." (At Tashawwuf Fii Mizanil Bahtsi Wat Tahqiq, hal. 509, karya Syeikh Abdul Qadir bin Habibullah As Sindi, Penerbit Darul Manar, Cet. II, 8 Zulkaidah 1415 H/ 8 April 1995 M.)
- published: 08 Apr 2009
- views: 37289
- author: nasiruddien
Ansar Al Sunnah Meeting 42.wmv
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 11:49
- Updated: 25 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/Ansar_Al_Sunnah_Meeting_42wmv
No 9 - "Izba"
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:52
- Updated: 27 Aug 2010
Jan "Izba" Izbiński - live by Vislav
http://wn.com/No_9_Izba
kmn izba wytrzezwien
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:11
- Updated: 17 Dec 2012
http://wn.com/kmn_izba_wytrzezwien
Al Arabi vs Al Salmiyah
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:25
- Updated: 26 Aug 2010
هدف علي مراد من كرة هوائيه في مرمى السالميه - العربي و السالمية - كرة يد
http://wn.com/Al_Arabi_vs_Al_Salmiyah
هدف علي مراد من كرة هوائيه في مرمى السالميه - العربي و السالمية - كرة يد
- published: 24 Apr 2009
- views: 960
- author: TmiamiK
Syria: Execution of a Civilian by Ansar Al-Sunna insurgents in Deraa
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 2:26
- Updated: 18 Dec 2012
(18+ Documenting Crimes Against Humanity in Syria) (Not for Shock) (30/08/12) Deraa Regin: Rebels belonging to Ansar Al-Sunna an Al Qaeda affiliated militant group executed a kidnapped Alawite whom they claim to be a 'Shabiha' and a policeman. They do not provide any idenitifcation and the man, who appears to have been tortured, is wearing civilian clothing. The victim is likely to have been a civilian, one of many executed by insurgent groups fighting in Syria. Many are killed purely on the basis of the political or religious (Christian, Druze, Shiite or Alawite) beliefs and their fate is completely ignored by Western journalists and human rights organisations despite the growing frequency of such killings. The gunmen all of whom are clad in black and who state their goal as 'Jihad' claim to belong to Ansar Al-Sunna. The name is identical to that of a militant Jihadist group which took part in the Sunni insurgency in Iraq and whose members fought and continue to fight under the banner of Islamic State of Iraq (Al Qaeda in Iraq). (YT moderators: My videos are designed to raise awareness of crimes against humanity in Syria. They are never posted for the sake of shock or sensationalism. They are often the only copies available to English speaking audiences. I implore you to bear that in mind should they be flagged for political reasons.)
http://wn.com/Syria_Execution_of_a_Civilian_by_Ansar_Al-Sunna_insurgents_in_Deraa
(18+ Documenting Crimes Against Humanity in Syria) (Not for Shock) (30/08/12) Deraa Regin: Rebels belonging to Ansar Al-Sunna an Al Qaeda affiliated militant group executed a kidnapped Alawite whom they claim to be a 'Shabiha' and a policeman. They do not provide any idenitifcation and the man, who appears to have been tortured, is wearing civilian clothing. The victim is likely to have been a civilian, one of many executed by insurgent groups fighting in Syria. Many are killed purely on the basis of the political or religious (Christian, Druze, Shiite or Alawite) beliefs and their fate is completely ignored by Western journalists and human rights organisations despite the growing frequency of such killings. The gunmen all of whom are clad in black and who state their goal as 'Jihad' claim to belong to Ansar Al-Sunna. The name is identical to that of a militant Jihadist group which took part in the Sunni insurgency in Iraq and whose members fought and continue to fight under the banner of Islamic State of Iraq (Al Qaeda in Iraq). (YT moderators: My videos are designed to raise awareness of crimes against humanity in Syria. They are never posted for the sake of shock or sensationalism. They are often the only copies available to English speaking audiences. I implore you to bear that in mind should they be flagged for political reasons.)
- published: 31 Aug 2012
- views: 4223
- author: SyrianRebelWatch
35:01
The Stream - The Stream - Kuwait's demand for democracy
With ongoing protests and calls for an election boycott, is Kuwait plunging into turmoil?...
published: 12 Nov 2012
author: AlJazeeraEnglish
The Stream - The Stream - Kuwait's demand for democracy
With ongoing protests and calls for an election boycott, is Kuwait plunging into turmoil?
- published: 12 Nov 2012
- views: 2880
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
2:55
Kuwait Uprising: Gulf oldest monarchy under attack
While countries like Egypt may now be turning another page in its Arab Spring revolution, ...
published: 08 Dec 2012
author: RussiaToday
Kuwait Uprising: Gulf oldest monarchy under attack
While countries like Egypt may now be turning another page in its Arab Spring revolution, one of the oldest Gulf Monarchies is still on page one. Largely unnoticed in the West, Kuwait's rulers are cracking down on protesters and blocking the opposition's political moves. But all of this is energizing the resistance even more - as RT's Lucy Kafanov reports. RT LIVE rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com Follow us on Twitter twitter.com Follow us on Google+ plus.google.com RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark.
- published: 08 Dec 2012
- views: 13057
- author: RussiaToday
12:51
Kuwait Marks Golden Jubilee of Constitution's Ratification
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($...
published: 10 Nov 2012
author: kuwaittimesdaily
Kuwait Marks Golden Jubilee of Constitution's Ratification
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($15-million) fireworks display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- published: 10 Nov 2012
- views: 10826
- author: kuwaittimesdaily
3:59
Kuwaiti Author: I Fear for Women's Rights in Light of Rise of Arab Islamic Movements to Power
Kuwaiti Author Ibtihal Al-Khatib Fears for Women's Rights Following Rise of Islamic Moveme...
published: 30 Aug 2012
author: MEMRITVVideos
Kuwaiti Author: I Fear for Women's Rights in Light of Rise of Arab Islamic Movements to Power
Kuwaiti Author Ibtihal Al-Khatib Fears for Women's Rights Following Rise of Islamic Movements to Power Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) - August 14, 2012 www.memri.org www.memri.org http Follow MEMRI on Facebook: on.fb.me Follow MEMRI on Twitter: twitter.com
- published: 30 Aug 2012
- views: 4561
- author: MEMRITVVideos
8:31
Plus One and Draw A Smile feed Kuwait's less fortunate
PLUS ONE and DRAW A SMILE are hard at work ensuring that everyone in Kuwait has a chance t...
published: 01 Aug 2012
author: tjcfilms2011
Plus One and Draw A Smile feed Kuwait's less fortunate
PLUS ONE and DRAW A SMILE are hard at work ensuring that everyone in Kuwait has a chance to eat a delicious and healthy meal. They have been providing meals to impoverished neighborhoods and low paid workers all across the country. Dari of Hashtag Burgers started PLUS ONE where you the customer need add just 1 KD to your order to buy a meal for someone in need. BiBi a school teacher started DRAW A SMILE which travels to areas of need and provides everything from hot meals to hygiene products. Amr of Solo Pizza Napulitana, Noor of Scrumptious, Hussien of Meals on Wheels, Yousef Bibi's son, Rakan from Chocolateness and others have joined the initiative to ensure that those who normally can't enjoy what many of us take for granted like a good meal and the mundane comforts in life get the joy pf doing just that. Music: Handbook www.soundcloud.com/handbook 1. With You This Far 2. Protector 3. What it used to be
- published: 01 Aug 2012
- views: 5739
- author: tjcfilms2011
1:18
US Soldier Home From Kuwait Surprises His Father in Law
soldier surprise homecoming military coming home army navy marines airforce air force airm...
published: 25 Aug 2012
author: WelcomeHomeSoldier
US Soldier Home From Kuwait Surprises His Father in Law
soldier surprise homecoming military coming home army navy marines airforce air force airman sailor airmen usmc marine corps afghanistan iraq kuwait overseas deployment R&R; on leave mom dad husband wife daughter son children kids troops usaf tears cries father child soldiers school graduation kid deployed returning dogs welcome blog welcomehomeblog.com Lanka His "Home (nightclub)" Forces Sinhala Bryan Tamil Adams Daddy Spirit News Special "Spirit (Willie Nelson Album)" Live Family
- published: 25 Aug 2012
- views: 50281
- author: WelcomeHomeSoldier
63:27
Kuwait Celebrates 50th Constitution Anniversary (Guinness World Record - Fireworks) FULL VIDEO
KUWAIT CITY, November 10, (Agencies): The festive celebrations of the 50th anniversary of ...
published: 11 Nov 2012
author: lightflix
Kuwait Celebrates 50th Constitution Anniversary (Guinness World Record - Fireworks) FULL VIDEO
KUWAIT CITY, November 10, (Agencies): The festive celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the ratification of Kuwait's Constitution were held Saturday afternoon at the coastal Gulf Road, with huge public participation. The celebrations commenced with a popular march in the Gulf Road. Citizenry and residents of different age categories have taken part in the march. Then French Aircraft team conducted an impressive fly-past. Kites-lover had also their touch in the celebrations with another fly-past with their eye-catching colorful kites. Marine vessels and boats had their own performance in the Gulf waters. These spectacular and daring displays have attracted hilarious applause from excited fans. The Gulf Road and the whole celebration areas were decorated with colorful flags and banners. Kuwait's Constitution was issued on November 11, 1962 by a decree from the then-Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the 11th ruler of Kuwait. Kuwait's sky was lit up Saturday night with a spectacular huge fireworks show. The Gulf Road has been divided into 9 celebration zones starting from Ruby waterfront and extending all the way to the Green Island. Each zone has two information booths, providing people with any information or assistance required. Over 25 different companies and organizations had been involved in the planning of the events, and over 1000 young Kuwaitis had volunteered for the day, to serve refreshments, provide information, brochures, etc. Surprises The KD 4.163 ...
- published: 11 Nov 2012
- views: 11062
- author: lightflix
64:30
" SARVA DHARMA SWAROOPA SAI " - ARABIAN CHOIR - 10 JULY 2012
A "Prashanthi" pilgrimage by the Region 94 of the Sai Organisation comprising the countrie...
published: 17 Jul 2012
author: RadioSai GlobalHarmony
" SARVA DHARMA SWAROOPA SAI " - ARABIAN CHOIR - 10 JULY 2012
A "Prashanthi" pilgrimage by the Region 94 of the Sai Organisation comprising the countries from Middle East and Gulf has enveloped Prasanthi Nilayam with Islamic Fervor. Devotees from Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and United Arab Emirates, provided an Arabic flavour in Prasanthi Nilayam
- published: 17 Jul 2012
- views: 28105
- author: RadioSai GlobalHarmony
2:13
Iraq was trapped in Kuwait war Zardari efforts to reconcile matter between Iran and Sudia
complete program: www.youtube.com...
published: 24 Dec 2012
author: atensari
Iraq was trapped in Kuwait war Zardari efforts to reconcile matter between Iran and Sudia
complete program: www.youtube.com
- published: 24 Dec 2012
- views: 12
- author: atensari
1:48
US Army Dad Returns From Kuwait, Surprises Daughter
The man you are about to be introduced to is just one out of millions that serve our count...
published: 29 Oct 2012
author: newschannelnine
US Army Dad Returns From Kuwait, Surprises Daughter
The man you are about to be introduced to is just one out of millions that serve our country each and every day.Colonel Michael Zarbo with the US Army has been in Kuwait for the past 5 months. He came to Warner Park Saturday morning to surprise his 16-year-old daughter Victoria who was in the Scenic City for a softball tournament. But what he didn't realize was that his family had plans of their own. "It's a commitment, it's a sacrifice. But its something that I just feel like I was put on this planet to do," says Colonel Zarbo.Zarbo will spend the day in Chattanooga with his family, then deploy back to Kuwait in a few days. You can see the soldier surprise in the video above.
- published: 29 Oct 2012
- views: 41946
- author: newschannelnine
3:09
Kuwait city - new trailer montage 2012
Disclaimer: yes i made this video clip , but i do not own enything from that clips . No co...
published: 03 May 2012
author: gothica940
Kuwait city - new trailer montage 2012
Disclaimer: yes i made this video clip , but i do not own enything from that clips . No copyright infringement intended. Everything belongs to their respective owners ... ( Hi Tech Media - alialiq8 ) ( CineFlex Kuwait - CINEMAGICS ) I have tried to work a video clips about my country Kuwait , but unfortunately, I did not have a high quality clips to completion this work , so i found in youtube some creative entrepreneurs beautiful and unique that deserves praise and thanks, so i used some video clips for my work , notice: Special thanks to those creators the owners of these video clips , and out of respect for the privacy rights of others, I have to remind them here in the Description ... www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
- published: 03 May 2012
- views: 4940
- author: gothica940
13:35
Kuwaiti Students Protesting Against MOE P.1 Of 2
Welcome to The EXTREME Protest! Students from Middle School & High School protest against ...
published: 06 Oct 2011
author: Jack AL-Mazeedi
Kuwaiti Students Protesting Against MOE P.1 Of 2
Welcome to The EXTREME Protest! Students from Middle School & High School protest against Ahmad AL-Melaifi & The Ministry Of Education in front of their building in Shuwaikh. The Protest officially started at 8 AM of this morning as the protesters began to increase in just a few minutes! It is in our Kuwaiti Constitution that it is LEGAL to speak our mind respectfully about anything we find wrong or unfair. The current Educational System "The Unified System" which was created by a previous minister a few years ago, is an unfair & hard system that makes students take all subjects & go through all Final Tests in a row allowing minimum time to study & get prepared for taking the test. Now everyone accepted that system when it first got Established a few years ago but last week, MOE announced the new MARKS layout which diminishes the student's graduating chances after the 12th Grade. I am Jack AL-Mazeedi, The Voice Of The Voiceless Of Kuwait :) Stay tuned for more footage of today's EXTREME Protest in Part 2 :) -------------------------------- Thanks for watching....Comment, Like & Subscribe :) Catch The EXTREME Show ReLOADED weekly on Fridays as it uploads at 10 PM (YouTube Local Time) OR Saturday Morning 8 AM KSA for my Arabian Viewers :D ++Follow me on Twitter @JackALMAZEEDI Also Use #TheEXTREMEShow to discuss the episodes Become a fan of The EXTREME Show on FaceBook: www.tinyurl.com
- published: 06 Oct 2011
- views: 4825
- author: Jack AL-Mazeedi
1:39
'On the Road' Video: US army leaves Iraq, settles in neighboring Kuwait
The last US military convoy has left Iraq's territory on Sunday, finalizing the pullout. T...
published: 18 Dec 2011
author: RussiaToday
'On the Road' Video: US army leaves Iraq, settles in neighboring Kuwait
The last US military convoy has left Iraq's territory on Sunday, finalizing the pullout. The motorcade of 110 armored vehicles carrying 500 officers and soldiers, accompanied by a helicopter patrol, has crossed into Kuwait. The nine-year war and occupation cost 4500 American lives and 500 of the lives of their allies. The death toll for the Iraqis is estimated between 100 and 150000, while some 1.75 million people fled the country. RT on Twitter twitter.com RT on Facebook www.facebook.com
- published: 18 Dec 2011
- views: 82917
- author: RussiaToday
8:17
Kuwait Fireworks 2012 - Part 1-3 [HD]
Kuwait on 10-11-2012 (Saturday) marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spect...
published: 11 Nov 2012
author: nishadveliath
Kuwait Fireworks 2012 - Part 1-3 [HD]
Kuwait on 10-11-2012 (Saturday) marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular $15-million fireworks display which earned the wealthy Gulf state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- published: 11 Nov 2012
- views: 14791
- author: nishadveliath
Vimeo results:
2:36
One Day on Earth - Motion Picture Trailer
To See to latest screening locationsplease visit: www.onedayonearth.org/movietickets
ONE ...
published: 13 Jul 2011
author: One Day on Earth
One Day on Earth - Motion Picture Trailer
To See to latest screening locationsplease visit: www.onedayonearth.org/movietickets
ONE DAY ON EARTH creates a picture of humanity by recording a 24-hour period throughout every country in the world. We explore a greater diversity of perspectives than ever seen before on screen. We follow characters and events that evolve throughout the day, interspersed with expansive global montages that explore the progression of life from birth, to death, to birth again. In the end, despite unprecedented challenges and tragedies throughout the world, we are reminded that every day we are alive there is hope and a choice to see a better future together.
Founded in 2008, ONE DAY ON EARTH set out to explore our planet’s identity and challenges in an attempt to answer the question: Who are we?
Please help us tell this story: 101010donate.org
Many thanks to the contributors of One Day on Earth, Vimeo, Ning, United Nations, and the 60+ non-profits for making this happen.
Director: Kyle Ruddick
Producer: Brandon Litman
Co-producer: Daniel Lichtblau
Production Supervisor: Gina Nemirofsky
Editors: Michael Martinez & Javier Alvarez
Trailer Editor: Michael Martinez
MUSIC BY:
Joseph Minadeo
and Beirut
Images and Stories in this trailer by:
350.org
Abdessamad Idrissi
Ada & Kris Chmielewski
Aditya Kolli
Adonis Pulatus
Alex M
Alexander
Alexandros Hadjicostas
Ali Azhari
Ben Klein
Black Pencil Project
Brandon Litman
Bronek Kaminski
Bryon Evans
Capi Baigorria
Chi Kong Lui
Chris Todd
Christian Ducken
Clifford W Klima
Daniel Chung
Daniel Lichtblau
David Ahrendts
David Aufdembrinke
Demeocq
Dimitri Ellerington
Dimitris Christopoulos
Enrico Trippa
Even Q
Fendi Shareef
Franz Walter
Gema Interiano
Gregory Hall
Hae Jung Hofman
Husam Al-Sayed
Itcho
James Travis III
Jay Galvan
John Miller
John Rinker
Jon Carr
Jonathan Sterkenburg
Juan Garcia
Juhani Väihkönen
Karl Hillcoat-Williams
Kieran Ball
Kreshnik Berisha
Kyle Ruddick
Luke Younge
Marcel van der Steen
Mark Eby
Michael Diiorio
Michael Martinez
Miklos Volner
Moaez Saeed
Mohammadreza Shams
Napali
NASA
Nita Deda
Olakunle Idowu
Ombajo Misava Edward
Paul Johannessen
Peter Beier
Philippe Kiener
Phil Klein
Ramda Yanurzha
Ray Paunovich
Renee van der Sluis
Richard Liston VIII
Rick Rashid
Ryan Green
Siraj Shahjahan
Steve Romano
Suporn Shoosongdej
Tamir Naber
Tato Carrillo
TEDxRainier
Tej Gyan Foundation
Tim Courson
Todd Brown
Torsten Lohrmann
UNDP Bahrain
UNDP Congo
UNDP Kenya
UNDP Kuwait
UNDP Nepal
United Nations Development Programme
Video Volunteers
Wes Davis
Yll Citaku
Zeenat Munir
3:20
ATHAN - THE CALL TO PRAYER
Details :
http://www.behance.net/gallery/ATHAN-THE-CALL-TO-PRAYER/2055134...
published: 26 Aug 2011
author: infofillers©
ATHAN - THE CALL TO PRAYER
Details :
http://www.behance.net/gallery/ATHAN-THE-CALL-TO-PRAYER/2055134
0:27
Wataniya TV Idents
Client: Wataniya Telecom
Production: Doors Productions
Direction: Linus Lundin, Alzain A...
published: 31 Jul 2011
author: Linus Lundin
Wataniya TV Idents
Client: Wataniya Telecom
Production: Doors Productions
Direction: Linus Lundin, Alzain Alhumaidhi
Producer: Alzain Alhumaidhi
Cinematographer, Motion Design: Linus Lundin
www.linuslundin.se
1:07
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
An imagined place or state of things where everything radiates perfectio...
published: 11 Jun 2012
author: MINNA PARIKKA
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
An imagined place or state of things where everything radiates perfection.
Like Utopia, the A/W 2012 collection is inspired by the alluring dream of a place, where
everything radiates perfection. "In my perfect world stiffness is forbidden and unique
expression is encouraged. Sterile perfection and still harmony are not interesting - they don't
touch, tease or tempt. It is the variety of colours, personality and contrasts that make life
beautiful. My collection is for women who wish to forget the over-seriousness and be
adventurous. Because you never know where a pair of my shoes will take you."
UTOPIA is a strong collection of daring shapes, vivid colours and material combinations
fused with the crucial element of playfulness. From the bunny ears on the Angora pump to
the sleek feline shape of Pfeiffer, the personality of each shoe bursts with meticulously
tailored details. The collection also reimagines Parikka's recognizable signature heart shape
cutout and drip features in startlingly fresh and sophisticated forms.
Curved block heels and double platforms with orange welted edges strike a harmonic match.
Additional contrasts reveal more of the collection’s character. Reptile patterns comfortably
run with patent, nappa and suede. Classic shades including warm tan, vibrant blue, jet black
and crushed clay red are combined with extravagant dashes of neon pink or orange on the
heel breasts.
The styles vary from pumps and ankle boots to thigh high boots and heavier duty winter
boots, with heel heights extending from 6 to 12 cm. The perfect world is to be fully explored
without compromise.
The Helsinki-based label is going from strength to strength, with stockists in over 20
countries, including Poste Mistress in London, Anthropologie in the U.S., Tsvetnoy
Department Store in Moscow and Al Ostoura in Kuwait.
Since 2006, Minna Parikka's shoes and accessories have graced the feet and bodies of women
all over the world, with celebrity fans including the likes of Lady Gaga, Fergie, Beth Ditto,
Dita von Teese and Paloma Faith. Parikka's playful designs have also been featured in
publications such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Tatler and Grazia and praised by fashion
editors and stylists alike.
Youtube results:
27:23
حرىق - دجاج تكا Fire on Gulf Road Salmiya Kuwait
Chicken Tikka Kuwait on Fire 10th of October, 2011, Salmiya ,Kuwait, Time was morning 5:30...
published: 10 Oct 2011
author: fashionpkupdates
حرىق - دجاج تكا Fire on Gulf Road Salmiya Kuwait
Chicken Tikka Kuwait on Fire 10th of October, 2011, Salmiya ,Kuwait, Time was morning 5:30.... kuwait fire salmiya 2011,burning salmiya 2011, flame ,salmiya fire 2011,salmiya caught by fire on 2011,burning salmiya kuwait 2011 Fire on Gulf Road Salmiya STC Mothercare Salmiya Kuwait on Fire 10 10 2011 HD video here www.youtube.com
- published: 10 Oct 2011
- views: 9060
- author: fashionpkupdates
6:23
Kuwait port encroaches on territory :Iraq
Kuwait's proposed Mubarak al Kabeer port on the island of Bubiyan encroaches on its territ...
published: 31 May 2011
author: AlJazeeraEnglish
Kuwait port encroaches on territory :Iraq
Kuwait's proposed Mubarak al Kabeer port on the island of Bubiyan encroaches on its territorial waters says the Iraqi government. It will also block two of its shipping lanes -lifelines for its crucial import and export trade. Al Jazeera's Omar al Saleh reports from Baghdad.
- published: 31 May 2011
- views: 13345
- author: AlJazeeraEnglish
15:10
The Collective Insanity of Our Society 1/3
On the Friday Edition of the Alex Jones Show, Alex talks about the latest developments in ...
published: 14 Jan 2012
author: TheAlexJonesChannel
The Collective Insanity of Our Society 1/3
On the Friday Edition of the Alex Jones Show, Alex talks about the latest developments in the fast moving effort by the United States and Israel to attack Iran, including the quiet deployment of US troops to the Middle East, including 15000 stationed in Kuwait. Alex also talks about the NDAA, news that United Nations troops have brought a deadly super bug to the Northen Hemisphere. www.infowars.com www.prisonplanet.tv
- published: 14 Jan 2012
- views: 26638
- author: TheAlexJonesChannel
1:49
Fireworks light up skies in dazzling display, set new record
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($...
published: 10 Nov 2012
author: kuwaittimesdaily
Fireworks light up skies in dazzling display, set new record
Kuwait marked the golden jubilee of its constitution with a spectacular KD 4.16-million ($15-million) fireworks display which earned the state a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. "I am happy to verify that with 77282 fireworks, a new Guinness world record has been set tonight" in Kuwait City
- published: 10 Nov 2012
- views: 169936
- author: kuwaittimesdaily
7:54
Moorish lighting manufacturer chandelier Moroccan lamps Morocco Lantern
www.sainttropezboutique.us Manufacturer, supplier of quality handmade Moroccan lighting fi...
published: 19 Jul 2010
author: sttropezboutique
Moorish lighting manufacturer chandelier Moroccan lamps Morocco Lantern
www.sainttropezboutique.us Manufacturer, supplier of quality handmade Moroccan lighting fixtures including Moroccan lamps, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan ceiling lights, Moroccan pendant. Whether you are building, designing or decorating your residential home, hospitality hotel, restaurant, lounge, luxury resort, Spa, Moroccan hammam bathhouse, Moroccan majlis, private yacht, commercial building or restoring a Spanish colonial revival historic building, we will help you achieve your Moorish decorating and Moroccan style architectural design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al Khaymah, Beirut, Marshall Islands, Bahamas,Turks & Caicos Islands, Caribbean, Fiji, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Maldives island, and much more.
- published: 19 Jul 2010
- views: 7414
- author: sttropezboutique
3:02
Moroccan lamps Lights Chandelier lantern pendant lights wall sconces Moroccan design
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer, dealer, exporter, supplier of high...
published: 25 Aug 2010
author: sttropezboutique
Moroccan lamps Lights Chandelier lantern pendant lights wall sconces Moroccan design
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer, dealer, exporter, supplier of high end Moroccan lights, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan pendant lights, Moroccan wall sconce, Moroccan ceiling lights traditionally handcrafted in Morocco. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al ...
- published: 25 Aug 2010
- views: 3064
- author: sttropezboutique
0:28
GREETINGS FROM AS SALIMIYAH!
...
published: 30 Oct 2011
author: cardsforall
GREETINGS FROM AS SALIMIYAH!
- published: 30 Oct 2011
- views: 2
- author: cardsforall
2:50
Moroccan Lamps Manufacturer Moroccan lantern chandelier pendant lights sconces
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer of quality handcrafted Moroccan lig...
published: 22 Aug 2010
author: sttropezboutique
Moroccan Lamps Manufacturer Moroccan lantern chandelier pendant lights sconces
www.sainttropezboutique.us is the leading manufacturer of quality handcrafted Moroccan lights including Moroccan lamp, Moroccan lantern, Moroccan chandelier, Moroccan pendant lights, Moroccan wall sconces, Moroccan garden lantern, Moorish patio lamp, Moroccan ceiling lights. Whether you are building, designing or decorating your residential home, hospitality hotel, restaurant, lounge, luxury resort, Spa, Moroccan hammam bathhouse, Moroccan majlis, private yacht, commercial building or restoring a Spanish colonial revival historic building, we will help you achieve your Moorish decorating and Moroccan style architectural design dreams. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your ...
- published: 22 Aug 2010
- views: 1269
- author: sttropezboutique
1:01
Moroccan Lamps Manufacturer Dealer Retail Store Importer Exporter Morocco.mov
www.moorishlightings.com is a manufacturer, exporter, retail store, wholesaler of contempo...
published: 20 Sep 2010
author: moorishlightings
Moroccan Lamps Manufacturer Dealer Retail Store Importer Exporter Morocco.mov
www.moorishlightings.com is a manufacturer, exporter, retail store, wholesaler of contemporary & traditional Moroccan lanterns. Whether you are an architect, Interior design professional, Home builder, developer who is currently working on Moorish style home, Spanish colonial home or simply planning or designing with a Moroccan flair in mind, a combination of Moroccan tile and Moroccan architectural elements, such as Moorish tiles, Moorish lighting, Moroccan wood lattice screens, Moroccan doors, iron work, fountains, or carved plaster, will help you achieve the look you want. You can choose from our handmade Moroccan tile and Moorish architectural elements, or if your project has specific needs, we can work closely with you to customize colors, shapes and dimensions to help you incorporate Moorish style and Moroccan decor within your project's specifications.Whether you are designing your home, hotel, restaurant, resort, Spa or yacht, we will help you achieve your design dreams. Saint Tropez Boutique proudly worked with several interior designers, architects, developers worldwide including UAE, Dubai, Al Ain,Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ajman, Emirates, Saudi Arabia, jeddah, kuwait, Riyadh, Amman, Aqaba, Aleppo, Mecca, Medinah,Masqat-Matrah, Sharjah, Muscat, Jordan, Doha, Qatar, Sohar, Damascus, Manamah, as-Salimiyah, Kuwait, Egypt, Ras al Khaymah, Beirut, Marshall Islands, Bahamas,Turks & Caicos Islands, Caribbean, Fiji, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Maldives island, and ...
- published: 20 Sep 2010
- views: 730
- author: moorishlightings
9:12
Akidah Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jailani (1/6)
Aqidah Islam Akidah Syeikh Abdul Qadir al-Jailani Di sini akan saya sebutkan dengan ringka...
published: 08 Apr 2009
author: nasiruddien
Akidah Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jailani (1/6)
Aqidah Islam Akidah Syeikh Abdul Qadir al-Jailani Di sini akan saya sebutkan dengan ringkas apa yang menjadi akidah Syeikh 'Abdul Qadir al-Jailani, berdasarkan keterangan yang terdapat di dalam kitab beliau al-Ghunyah dan yang lainnya. Syeikh Jailani Mengikuti 'Akidah Salaf Syeikh 'Abdul Qadir al-Jailani seringkali menyatakan: Akidah (keyakinan) kami adalah 'akidah (kaum) Salafush Soleh dan akidah para Sahabat. (Siyar A 'lamin Nubala', XX/442) Imam Az-Zahabi berkata: "Tidak ada seorangpun para ulama terkemuka yang riwayat hidup dan karamahnya lebih banyak kisah hikayat, selain Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jailani, dan banyak di antara riwayat-riwayat itu yang tidak benar bahkan ada yang mustahil terjadi". (Siyar A'lamin Nubala XX/451). Syeikh Rabi' bin Hadi Al Madkhali berkata dalam kitabnya, Al Haddul Fashil, hal.136: "Aku telah mengenal pasti akidah beliau (Syeikh Abdul Qadir Al Jailani) di dalam kitabnya yang bernama Al Ghunyah. (Lihat kitab Al-Ghunyah I/83-94). Maka aku mengetahui bahawa dia sebagai seorang Salafi. Beliau menetapkan nama-nama dan sifat-sifat Allah dan akidah-akidah lainnya di atas manhaj Salaf. Beliau juga membantah kelompok-kelompok Syiah, Rafidhah,Jahmiyyah, Jabariyyah, Salimiyah, dan kelompok lainnya dengan manhaj Salaf." (At Tashawwuf Fii Mizanil Bahtsi Wat Tahqiq, hal. 509, karya Syeikh Abdul Qadir bin Habibullah As Sindi, Penerbit Darul Manar, Cet. II, 8 Zulkaidah 1415 H/ 8 April 1995 M.)
- published: 08 Apr 2009
- views: 37289
- author: nasiruddien
6:11
kmn izba wytrzezwien
...
published: 20 Feb 2009
author: meverick050234
kmn izba wytrzezwien
- published: 20 Feb 2009
- views: 347464
- author: meverick050234
3:06
Izba Wytrzeźwień
...
published: 25 Sep 2009
author: Gorzów Przystań
Izba Wytrzeźwień
- published: 25 Sep 2009
- views: 1617
- author: Gorzów Przystań
2:26
Syria: Execution of a Civilian by Ansar Al-Sunna insurgents in Deraa
(18+ Documenting Crimes Against Humanity in Syria) (Not for Shock) (30/08/12) Deraa Regin:...
published: 31 Aug 2012
author: SyrianRebelWatch
Syria: Execution of a Civilian by Ansar Al-Sunna insurgents in Deraa
(18+ Documenting Crimes Against Humanity in Syria) (Not for Shock) (30/08/12) Deraa Regin: Rebels belonging to Ansar Al-Sunna an Al Qaeda affiliated militant group executed a kidnapped Alawite whom they claim to be a 'Shabiha' and a policeman. They do not provide any idenitifcation and the man, who appears to have been tortured, is wearing civilian clothing. The victim is likely to have been a civilian, one of many executed by insurgent groups fighting in Syria. Many are killed purely on the basis of the political or religious (Christian, Druze, Shiite or Alawite) beliefs and their fate is completely ignored by Western journalists and human rights organisations despite the growing frequency of such killings. The gunmen all of whom are clad in black and who state their goal as 'Jihad' claim to belong to Ansar Al-Sunna. The name is identical to that of a militant Jihadist group which took part in the Sunni insurgency in Iraq and whose members fought and continue to fight under the banner of Islamic State of Iraq (Al Qaeda in Iraq). (YT moderators: My videos are designed to raise awareness of crimes against humanity in Syria. They are never posted for the sake of shock or sensationalism. They are often the only copies available to English speaking audiences. I implore you to bear that in mind should they be flagged for political reasons.)
- published: 31 Aug 2012
- views: 4223
- author: SyrianRebelWatch
5:19
ᅞᅞᅞᅞᅞ
tinyurl.com...
published: 22 Apr 2011
author: BrandtMorain
ᅞᅞᅞᅞᅞ
tinyurl.com
- published: 22 Apr 2011
- views: 5066119
- author: BrandtMorain
Vimeo results:
2:36
One Day on Earth - Motion Picture Trailer
To See to latest screening locationsplease visit: www.onedayonearth.org/movietickets
ONE ...
published: 13 Jul 2011
author: One Day on Earth
One Day on Earth - Motion Picture Trailer
To See to latest screening locationsplease visit: www.onedayonearth.org/movietickets
ONE DAY ON EARTH creates a picture of humanity by recording a 24-hour period throughout every country in the world. We explore a greater diversity of perspectives than ever seen before on screen. We follow characters and events that evolve throughout the day, interspersed with expansive global montages that explore the progression of life from birth, to death, to birth again. In the end, despite unprecedented challenges and tragedies throughout the world, we are reminded that every day we are alive there is hope and a choice to see a better future together.
Founded in 2008, ONE DAY ON EARTH set out to explore our planet’s identity and challenges in an attempt to answer the question: Who are we?
Please help us tell this story: 101010donate.org
Many thanks to the contributors of One Day on Earth, Vimeo, Ning, United Nations, and the 60+ non-profits for making this happen.
Director: Kyle Ruddick
Producer: Brandon Litman
Co-producer: Daniel Lichtblau
Production Supervisor: Gina Nemirofsky
Editors: Michael Martinez & Javier Alvarez
Trailer Editor: Michael Martinez
MUSIC BY:
Joseph Minadeo
and Beirut
Images and Stories in this trailer by:
350.org
Abdessamad Idrissi
Ada & Kris Chmielewski
Aditya Kolli
Adonis Pulatus
Alex M
Alexander
Alexandros Hadjicostas
Ali Azhari
Ben Klein
Black Pencil Project
Brandon Litman
Bronek Kaminski
Bryon Evans
Capi Baigorria
Chi Kong Lui
Chris Todd
Christian Ducken
Clifford W Klima
Daniel Chung
Daniel Lichtblau
David Ahrendts
David Aufdembrinke
Demeocq
Dimitri Ellerington
Dimitris Christopoulos
Enrico Trippa
Even Q
Fendi Shareef
Franz Walter
Gema Interiano
Gregory Hall
Hae Jung Hofman
Husam Al-Sayed
Itcho
James Travis III
Jay Galvan
John Miller
John Rinker
Jon Carr
Jonathan Sterkenburg
Juan Garcia
Juhani Väihkönen
Karl Hillcoat-Williams
Kieran Ball
Kreshnik Berisha
Kyle Ruddick
Luke Younge
Marcel van der Steen
Mark Eby
Michael Diiorio
Michael Martinez
Miklos Volner
Moaez Saeed
Mohammadreza Shams
Napali
NASA
Nita Deda
Olakunle Idowu
Ombajo Misava Edward
Paul Johannessen
Peter Beier
Philippe Kiener
Phil Klein
Ramda Yanurzha
Ray Paunovich
Renee van der Sluis
Richard Liston VIII
Rick Rashid
Ryan Green
Siraj Shahjahan
Steve Romano
Suporn Shoosongdej
Tamir Naber
Tato Carrillo
TEDxRainier
Tej Gyan Foundation
Tim Courson
Todd Brown
Torsten Lohrmann
UNDP Bahrain
UNDP Congo
UNDP Kenya
UNDP Kuwait
UNDP Nepal
United Nations Development Programme
Video Volunteers
Wes Davis
Yll Citaku
Zeenat Munir
3:20
ATHAN - THE CALL TO PRAYER
Details :
http://www.behance.net/gallery/ATHAN-THE-CALL-TO-PRAYER/2055134...
published: 26 Aug 2011
author: infofillers©
ATHAN - THE CALL TO PRAYER
Details :
http://www.behance.net/gallery/ATHAN-THE-CALL-TO-PRAYER/2055134
0:27
Wataniya TV Idents
Client: Wataniya Telecom
Production: Doors Productions
Direction: Linus Lundin, Alzain A...
published: 31 Jul 2011
author: Linus Lundin
Wataniya TV Idents
Client: Wataniya Telecom
Production: Doors Productions
Direction: Linus Lundin, Alzain Alhumaidhi
Producer: Alzain Alhumaidhi
Cinematographer, Motion Design: Linus Lundin
www.linuslundin.se
1:07
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
An imagined place or state of things where everything radiates perfectio...
published: 11 Jun 2012
author: MINNA PARIKKA
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
A/W 2012 "UTOPIA"
An imagined place or state of things where everything radiates perfection.
Like Utopia, the A/W 2012 collection is inspired by the alluring dream of a place, where
everything radiates perfection. "In my perfect world stiffness is forbidden and unique
expression is encouraged. Sterile perfection and still harmony are not interesting - they don't
touch, tease or tempt. It is the variety of colours, personality and contrasts that make life
beautiful. My collection is for women who wish to forget the over-seriousness and be
adventurous. Because you never know where a pair of my shoes will take you."
UTOPIA is a strong collection of daring shapes, vivid colours and material combinations
fused with the crucial element of playfulness. From the bunny ears on the Angora pump to
the sleek feline shape of Pfeiffer, the personality of each shoe bursts with meticulously
tailored details. The collection also reimagines Parikka's recognizable signature heart shape
cutout and drip features in startlingly fresh and sophisticated forms.
Curved block heels and double platforms with orange welted edges strike a harmonic match.
Additional contrasts reveal more of the collection’s character. Reptile patterns comfortably
run with patent, nappa and suede. Classic shades including warm tan, vibrant blue, jet black
and crushed clay red are combined with extravagant dashes of neon pink or orange on the
heel breasts.
The styles vary from pumps and ankle boots to thigh high boots and heavier duty winter
boots, with heel heights extending from 6 to 12 cm. The perfect world is to be fully explored
without compromise.
The Helsinki-based label is going from strength to strength, with stockists in over 20
countries, including Poste Mistress in London, Anthropologie in the U.S., Tsvetnoy
Department Store in Moscow and Al Ostoura in Kuwait.
Since 2006, Minna Parikka's shoes and accessories have graced the feet and bodies of women
all over the world, with celebrity fans including the likes of Lady Gaga, Fergie, Beth Ditto,
Dita von Teese and Paloma Faith. Parikka's playful designs have also been featured in
publications such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Tatler and Grazia and praised by fashion
editors and stylists alike.
photo: AP / Altaf Qadri
29 Dec 2012
Police in India have sealed off much of the capital, Delhi, and issued an appeal for calm after the death of a woman who was gang-raped in the city. The 23-year old woman, who has not been identified, died early on Saturday at a hospital in Singapore, where she had been taken for specialist treatment. Her body is to be flown back to India for burial ... Gatherings of more than five people have been banned in the city centre ... ....(size: 4.9Kb)
photo: US Navy / HMC Josh Ives
27 Dec 2012
Imperial adventures are nothing new in the Middle East. Neither is their glorification, as Peter O’Toole’s pained Lawrence of Arabia eternally reminds us. But for a decade or so now, things have been heating up, as if to coincide with climate change and fears of declining petroleum reserves ... The Belly for Belligerence? ... The question loomed over beltway intelligentsia like an ephemeral Gordian knot ... We’re All Hawks Now ... While George W ... ....(size: 9.3Kb)
photo: AP / Ben Curtis
28 Dec 2012
The president of Central African Republic (CAR) has urgently called on France and other foreign powers to help his government fend off rebels who are quickly seizing territory and approaching the capital. Speaking to crowds in Bangui, a city of some 600,000, Francois Bozize on Thursday pleaded with foreign powers to do what they could. He pointed in particular to France, Central African Republic's former colonial ruler ... 516 Share ... News ... ....(size: 19.5Kb)
photo: AP / Itsuo Inouye
29 Dec 2012
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling. A millennium before the English statesmen Edmund Burke, regarded as the father of Western Conservatism and who wrote, "good order is the foundation of all things," Japan's Seventeen-Article Constitution began with this conservative principle. "Harmony is to be cherished, and opposition for opposition's sake must be avoided as a matter of principle." ... militarism, those protesting U.S....(size: 9.7Kb)
photo: WN / Janice Sabnal
27 Dec 2012
Washington. Six people, including two young children, were left dead in weather-related accidents, as winter snowstorms complicated travel for many Americans in the Midwest and Northeast on Wednesday. Snow totals in parts of Indiana ranged from 6 to 12 inches, CNN reported. About 350 snowploughs were clearing roads throughout the city. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told residents they should avoid nonessential travel ... IANS ... ....(size: 2.2Kb)
The Star
30 Dec 2012
WASHINGTON. Former US president George H.W. Bush is on the mend and has been released from intensive care, a spokesman said Saturday ... "The Bushes thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes." ... Bush, a Republican, served just a single term in the White House from 1989 to 1993, despite sending US troops to victory in Iraq in the first Gulf War and expelling Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait ... ....(size: 1.9Kb)
noodls
30 Dec 2012
(Source. The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc). Pictured above at the 1993 NFF Annual Awards Dinner, L-R. NFF Chairman Jon F. Hanson, General H. Pictured above at the 1993 NFF Annual Awards Dinner, L-R. NFF Chairman Jon F. Hanson, General H ... Forces during Operation Desert Storm and the 1991 successful defense of Kuwait after its invasion by Iraq....(size: 2.4Kb)
noodls
30 Dec 2012
1 ... Abdulaziz Al Anbari (58) is a living legend of Kuwait football, having enabled his national team to claim their one and only AFC Asian Cup, in 1980, and to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain, which was the diminutive Middle Eastern nation's first and last appearance on football's greatest stage. The player remained a loyal servant to Al Kuwait SC throughout his club career, winning numerous national trophies in their colours....(size: 7.4Kb)
Seattle Post
30 Dec 2012
London, UK (PRWEB) December 29, 2012. Yesterday the Kuwait Times cited Muna Al-Fuzai expressing perfectly what millions of people with chronic condition think. “My New Year wishes are about having and wishing others good health and happiness. If you are sick, then no amount of money or a cruise on the sea in a fancy yacht or a first class trip around the world can help you feel any better.” ... The article titled ‘Daily inspiration ... Dr ... 1 ... Dr....(size: 4.5Kb)
STL Today
30 Dec 2012
JANUARY. Don Carter, 85 • Bowling great who flourished as a genuine sports celebrity during the game’s golden age on TV. Jan. 5. Etta James, 73 • Blues singer best known for her performance of the enduring classic “At Last.” Jan. 20 ... Jan. 22 ... 26 ... Jan. 31. FEBRUARY ... Feb. 1 ... 3 ... Feb. 11 ... Feb. 24. Lynn D ... 25 ... Norman Schwarzkopf, 78 • He capped an illustrious military career by commanding U.S.-led coalition forces that invading Iraqi forces out of Kuwait....(size: 8.9Kb)
The Guardian
30 Dec 2012
All the knights, dames, commanders and members of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year honours list. KNIGHTS BACHELOR. Charles Benedict Ainslie, CBE. Finn Sailor. For services to Sailing. (Cornwall). David John Brailsford, CBE. Performance director, British Cycling ... Formerly Entry Clearance manager, UK Border Agency, British Embassy, Kuwait ... Formerly Second secretary, British Embassy, Kuwait. For services to UK interests in Iraq and Kuwait....(size: 160.0Kb)
Reuters
29 Dec 2012
ABC News
29 Dec 2012
He was 12 years old lying naked on a medical examination table at a hospital in Kuwait City ... And when Anderson's poignant article and that photograph appeared in the New Yorker, Ali Abbas became a celebrity, and his celebrity brought him to the attention of the U.S, military, which then arranged to have him taken by one of its helicopters to Kuwait where he could receive better medical care....(size: 4.3Kb)
Irish Times
29 Dec 2012
Gen Schwarzkopf, a burly Vietnam War veteran known to his troops as Stormin’ Norman, commanded more than 540,000 US and 200,000 allied soldiers in a six-week war that drove Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s army from Kuwait in 1991, capping his 34-year military career ... Little known before Iraqi forces invaded neighbouring Kuwait, he made a splash with quotable comments....(size: 2.6Kb)
The Examiner
29 Dec 2012
Schwarzkopf began his military career at a young age with two tours of duty in Vietnam, three Silver Stars, yet is best known for leading allied forces in the Persian Gulf War beginning in 1991, where he was responsible for pushing Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait ... the Iraqi Army from Kuwait and restoring the rightful government....(size: 3.5Kb)
Tampabay.com
29 Dec 2012
Andrew MeachamRichard DanielsonTampa Bay Times ... H ... The man colleagues affectionately called the Bear, who died Thursday at 78, kept Americans up to date after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait ... a hero ... After Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, Gen ... "Norman Schwarzkopf captured the imaginations of Americans because of his leadership against Saddam Hussein, a brutal dictator, and the successful six-week war in defense of Kuwait's sovereignty." ... ....(size: 7.0Kb)
MSNBC
29 Dec 2012
... he led the Desert Storm blitz that pushed Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait in 1991 and America loved him for it....(size: 0.7Kb)
News24
29 Dec 2012
Schwarzkopf led the Bush-assembled international military coalition that in 1991 routed Iraqi forces who invaded Kuwait. ....(size: 0.8Kb)
This article is about the modern country in the Persian Gulf. For the autonomous former state in southern Arabia, see Qu'aiti.
| State of Kuwait
دولة الكويت
Dawlat al-Kuwait |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Anthem: Al-Nasheed Al-Watani National anthem of Kuwait |
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 |
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| Capital (and largest city) |
Kuwait City 29°22′N 47°58′E / 29.367°N 47.967°E / 29.367; 47.967 |
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| Official language(s) | Arabic | |||||
| Ethnic groups | 33.9% Kuwaiti Arabs 45.9% Other Arabs 13.5% South and East Asian 1.9% Iranian 4.8% Europeans and Americans |
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| Demonym | Kuwaiti | |||||
| Government | Unitary hereditary Constitutional monarchy[1][2] | |||||
| - | Emir | Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah | ||||
| - | Prime Minister | Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah | ||||
| Legislature | Majlis al-Umma | |||||
| Establishment | ||||||
| - | First Settlement | 1613 | ||||
| - | Anglo-Ottoman Convention | 1913 | ||||
| - | Independence from the United Kingdom | 19 June 1961 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 17,820 km2 (157th) 6,880 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | negligible | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2010 estimate | 3,566,437[3] (131st) | ||||
| - | Density | 200.2/km2 (61st) 518.4/sq mi |
||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2011 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $153.501 billion[4] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $41,690[4] | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2011 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $176.667 billion[4] (52nd) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $47,982[4] (16th) | ||||
| HDI (2011) |  0.760[5] (high) (63rd) |
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| Currency | Kuwaiti dinar (KWD) |
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| Time zone | AST / KSA (UTC+3) | |||||
| - | Summer (DST) | not observed (UTC+3) | ||||
| Date formats | dd/mm/yyyy (CE) | |||||
| Drives on the | Right | |||||
| ISO 3166 code | KW | |||||
| Internet TLD | .kw | |||||
| Calling code | 965 | |||||
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait i/kuːˈweɪt/ (Arabic: دولة الكويت, Dawlat al-Kuwayt) is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic أكوات ākwāt, the plural of كوت kūt, meaning a fortress built near water.[6] The country covers an area of 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 sq mi) and has a population of about 3.5 million.[3]
Historically, the region was the site of Characene, a major Parthian port for trade between Mesopotamia and India. The Bani Utbah tribe were the first permanent Arab settlers in the region, and laid the foundation of the modern emirate. By the 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, and after World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's large oil fields were discovered in the late 1930s.
After Kuwait gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961, the state's oil industry saw unprecedented economic growth. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded and annexed by neighboring Iraq. The seven month-long Iraqi occupation came to an end after a direct military intervention by United States-led forces. Around 773 Kuwaiti oil wells were set ablaze by the retreating Iraqi army resulting in a major environmental and economic catastrophe.[7] Kuwait's infrastructure was badly damaged during the war and had to be rebuilt.[8]
Kuwait is a constitutional emirate[1] with a parliamentary system of government, with Kuwait City serving as the country's political and economic capital. The country has the world's fifth largest oil reserves[9] and petroleum products now account for nearly 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income.[1] Kuwait is the eleventh richest country in the world per capita. In 2007, it had the highest human development index (HDI) in the Arab world.[10] Kuwait is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and is designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States.[11]
Contents |
History[link]
Main article: History of Kuwait
 |
This article contains Arabic text, written from right to left in a cursive style with some letters joined. Without proper rendering support, you may see unjoined Arabic letters written left-to-right instead of right-to-left or other symbols instead of Arabic script. |
In the 4th century BC, the ancient Greeks colonized an island off Kuwait's coast, now known as Failaka, and named it "Ikaros".[12] By 123 BC, the region came under the influence of the Parthian Empire and was closely associated with the southern Mesopotamian town of Charax.[13] In 224 AD, the region fell under the control of Sassanid Empire and came to be known as Hajar.[14] By the 14th century, the area comprising modern-day Kuwait became a part of the Islamic caliphate.[15]
The first permanent settlers in the region came from Bani Khalid tribe of Nejd and established the state of Kuwait.[15] In 1756, the people elected Sabah I bin Jaber as the first Emir of Kuwait.[16] The current ruling family of Kuwait, al-Sabah, are descendants of Sabah I. During the rule of the Al-Sabah, Kuwait progressively became a center of trade and commerce. It now served as a hub of trade between India, the horn of Africa, the Nejd, Mesopotamia and the Levant. Until the advent of Japanese pearl farming, Kuwait had one of the largest sea fleets in the Persian Gulf region and a flourishing pearling industry. Trade consisted mainly of pearls, wood, spices, dates and horses.
In 1899, Kuwait entered into a treaty with the United Kingdom that gave the British extensive control over the foreign policy of Kuwait in exchange for protection and annual subsidy.[17] This treaty was primarily prompted by fears that the proposed Berlin-Baghdad Railway would lead to an expansion of German influence in the Persian Gulf. After the signing of the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913, then Emir of Kuwait, Mubarak Al-Sabah, was diplomatically recognized by both the Ottomans and British as the ruler of the autonomous caza of the city of Kuwait and the hinterlands.[18] However, soon after the start of World War I, the British invalidated the convention and declared Kuwait an independent principality under the protection of the British Empire.[19] The 1922 Treaty of Uqair set Kuwait's border with Saudi Arabia and also established the Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone, an area of about 5,180 km² adjoining Kuwait's southern border.
On 19 June 1961, Kuwait became fully independent following an exchange of notes between the United Kingdom and the then Emir of Kuwait, Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah.[18] The Gulf rupee, issued by the Reserve Bank of India, was replaced by the Kuwaiti dinar. The discovery of large oil fields, especially the Burgan field, triggered a large influx of foreign investments into Kuwait. The massive growth of the petroleum industry transformed Kuwait from a poor pearl farming community into one of the richest countries in the Arabian Peninsula and by 1952, the country became the largest exporter of oil in the Persian Gulf region. This massive growth attracted many foreign workers, especially from Egypt and India.
Kuwait settled its boundary disputes with Saudi Arabia and agreed on sharing equally the neutral zone's petroleum reserves, onshore and offshore. After a brief stand-off over boundary issues, Iraq formally recognized Kuwait's independence and its borders in October 1963. During the 1970s, the Kuwaiti government nationalized the Kuwait Oil Company, ending its partnership with Gulf Oil and British Petroleum.
In 1982, Kuwait experienced a major economic crisis after the Souk Al-Manakh stock market crash and decrease in oil price.[20] However, the crisis was short-lived as Kuwait's oil production increased steadily to fill the gap caused by decrease in Iraq's and Iran's oil production levels following the events of the Iran–Iraq War. In 1983, a series of six bomb explosions took place in Kuwait killing five people. The attack was carried out by Shiite Dawa Party to retaliate Kuwait's financial support to Iraq during its war with Iran.[21]
Kuwait had heavily funded Iraq's eight year-long war with Iran. After the war ended, Kuwait declined an Iraqi request to forgive its US$65 billion debt.[22] An economic warfare between the two countries followed after Kuwait increased its oil production by 40 percent.[23] Tensions between the two countries increased further after Iraq alleged that Kuwait was slant drilling oil from its share of the Rumaila field.[23]
On 2 August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded and annexed Kuwait. A long-time ally of Saddam Hussein, Yemen's President, Ali Abdullah Saleh was quick to back Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.[24] Saddam Hussein, then President of Iraq, deposed the Emir of Kuwait, Jaber Al-Sabah, and initially propped up a puppet régime before annexing Kuwait and installing Ali Hassan al-Majid as the new governor of Kuwait.[25] During the Iraqi occupation, about 1,000 Kuwaiti civilians were killed and more than 300,000 residents fled the country.[26] After a series of failed diplomatic negotiations, the United States-led coalition of thirty-four nations fought the Gulf War to remove the Iraqi forces from Kuwait. On 26 February 1991, the coalition succeeded in driving out the Iraqi forces, restoring the Kuwaiti Emir to power.[27] Kuwait paid the coalition forces US$17 billion for their war efforts.[27]
During their retreat from the coalition, the Iraqi armed forces carried out a scorched earth policy by damaging 737 oil wells in Kuwait, of which approximately 600 were set on fire.[28] It was estimated that by the time Kuwait was liberated from Iraqi occupation, about 5 to 6 million barrels (950,000 m3) of oil was being burned in a single day because of these fires.[29]
Oil and soot accumulation had affected the entire Persian Gulf region and large oil lakes were created holding approximately 25 to 50 million barrels (7,900,000 m3) of oil[30] and covering 5% of Kuwait's land area.[28] In total, about 11 million barrels (1,700,000 m3) of oil was released into the Persian Gulf[31] and an additional 2% of Kuwait's 96 billion barrels (1.53×1010 m3) of crude oil reserves were burned by the time the oil fires were brought under control.[32] The fires took more than nine months to extinguish fully and it took Kuwait more than 2 years and US$50 billion in infrastructure reconstruction to reach pre-invasion oil output.[33] Kuwait has since largely recovered from the socio-economic, environmental, and public health effects of the Persian Gulf War.
Politics[link]
Main articles: Politics of Kuwait and Human rights in Kuwait
File:Dempsey and Al-Sabah.jpg
United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey, with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah in 2011.
Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy and has the oldest directly elected parliament among the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Currently the country is under the reign of the Al Sabah family. The head of state is the Emir or Sheikh, a hereditary office. A council of ministers, also known as cabinet ministers, aids the Prime Minister, and appoints and dismisses diplomats. Legislative power is vested in the Emir and the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. The Emir of Kuwait can dissolve the National Assembly and call a national election, or in cases of national emergency can dismiss the National Assembly outright and assume supreme authority over the country. The Emir is the commander in chief of Kuwait's armed forces. The Emir has authority to grant pardon from the death penalty or prison.
The National Assembly consists of fifty elected members, who are chosen in elections held every four years. Government ministers are also granted membership in the parliament and can number up to sixteen excluding the fifty elected members. According to the Constitution of Kuwait, nomination of a new Emir or Crown Prince by the ruling Al-Sabah family has to be approved by the National Assembly. If the nominee does not win the votes of the Assembly, and the Assembly must approve one of them to hold the post. Any amendment to the constitution can be proposed by the Emir but it needs to be approved by more than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly before being implemented.[34]
There have been several conflicts between the Emir, the government and the National Assembly over various policies. The National Assembly was suspended from 1976 to 1981, from 1986 to 1991 and from May 1999 to July 1999, due to irresolvable conflicts between some members of the government and the Assembly.[35] The Assembly was dissolved again in May 2009 by the Emir leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheik Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah and the rest of the Cabinet.[36] Nationwide elections were held on 16 May 2009.[37]
More than two-thirds of those who reside in Kuwait do not hold Kuwaiti citizenship and thus cannot vote in parliamentary elections. Additionally, prior to 2005, only 15% of the Kuwaiti population were allowed to vote, with all "recently naturalized" citizens (i.e., less than thirty years of citizenship) and members of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces excluded. On 16 May 2005, Parliament permitted women's suffrage by a 35–23 vote.
The decision raised Kuwait's eligible voter population from 139,000 to about 339,000. In 2006, the number of Kuwaiti citizens was estimated to be more than 960,000. In 2005, the former Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah announced the appointment of the first female cabinet minister, Massouma Mubarak. She was designated Planning Minister and Minister of State for Administrative Development Affairs.[38] During the 2008 parliamentary elections, 27 of the 275 candidates were women. However, none of them won.[39] In the parliamentary elections on 16 May 2009, 16 female candidates contested for 50 seats for a four-year term. Four female candidates won their seats and became Kuwait's first female lawmakers.[40]
In April 2010, Kuwait's government, unhappy about possible democratic change in Egypt by Mohamed ElBaradei's National Association for Change, deported 17 Egyptians for trying to organize a local chapter of the Association in Kuwait.[41]
Heads of Kuwait[link]
Emir: Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Prime Minister: Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah
Speaker of the National Assembly: Ahmed Al-Sadoun
Judicial Branch: Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Foreign relations and military[link]
Main article: Foreign relations of Kuwait
Kuwait
Embassy
The State of Kuwait became the 111th member state of the United Nations on 14 May 1963. It is a long-standing member of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It is also a key member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), along with Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Having modeled the GCC on the European Union, member states enjoy free trade and citizens of GCC member states can travel to other GCC countries with their civil identification, not requiring visas.
Kuwait's relationship with its neighbors has been influenced by the Sunni-Shia conflict. After the Iranian revolution of 1979, Sunni-majority Kuwait began supporting the Sunni regime of Iraq's Saddam Hussein in its subsequent eight-year war with the hardline Shia regime of Iran. Despite prior tensions, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia provided considerable financial support to Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Kuwait's ties with Iraq remained severed after the 1991 Gulf War, until the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. Kuwait enjoys a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia, which provided considerable support for the deposed royal family of Kuwait. Although fairly cordial, Kuwait's relations with Iran remain hinged on the stability of the Shia-Sunni conflict and rival goals for the control of the Persian Gulf. Kuwait's ties with states that supported Saddam Hussein's invasion, such as Yemen and the Palestine Liberation Organization, remain testy, although Kuwait has always refused to establish ties with Israel.
Kuwait enjoys a strong relationship with the United States, playing host to major U.S. military bases. Following U.S. leadership in the effort to liberate Kuwait, both nations have forged close political and economic relations. Although most Arab nations expressed opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Kuwait supported it and provided its territory as a launching pad for the invasion.
The State of Kuwait spends close to US$ 5 billion for defense. Its military consists of the Kuwaiti Army, with an estimated strength of 15,000 personnel, the Kuwaiti Navy, with 2,000 naval personnel and 400 coast guards, and the Kuwaiti Air Force, with an estimated strength of 2,500 personnel. The Kuwaiti National Guard is the main internal security force. Owing to its demographics and small population, Kuwait has not been able to build a sizeably large military and therefore collaborates extensively with foreign nations to preserve its security. After liberation from Iraq, Kuwait signed long-term defense cooperation agreements with the United States, Britain and France, and purchased military equipment from Egypt, Russia and the People's Republic of China as well.
[edit] Geography and climate
Main articles: Geography of Kuwait and Climate of Kuwait
Located in the north-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area. It lies between latitudes 28° and 31° N, and longitudes 46° and 49° E. The flat, sandy Arabian Desert covers most of Kuwait. The country is generally low lying, with the highest point being 306 m (1,004 ft) above sea-level.[1] It has nine islands, all of which, with the exception of Failaka Island, are uninhabited.[42] With an area of 860 km2 (330 sq mi), the Bubiyan is the largest island in Kuwait and is connected to the rest of the country by a 2,380 m (7,808 ft) long bridge.[43] The land area is considered arable[1] and sparse vegetation is found along its 499 km long coastline.[1] Kuwait City is located on Kuwait Bay, a natural deep-water harbor.
Kuwait has some of the world's richest oil fields with the Burgan field having a total capacity of approximately 70 billion barrels (1.1×1010 m3) of proven oil reserves. During the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires, more than 500 oil lakes were created covering a combined surface area of about 35.7 km2 (13.8 sq mi).[44] The resulting soil contamination due to oil and soot accumulation had made eastern and south-eastern parts of Kuwait uninhabitable. Sand and oil residue had reduced large parts of the Kuwaiti desert to semi-asphalt surfaces.[29] The oil spills during the Gulf War also drastically affected Kuwait's marine resources.[45]
The spring season in March is warm and pleasant with occasional thunderstorms. The frequent winds from the northwest are cold in winter and spring and hot in summer. Southeasterly winds, usually hot and damp, spring up between July and October; hot and dry south winds prevail in spring and early summer. The shamal, a northwesterly wind common during June and July, causes dramatic sandstorms.[46]
| Climate data for Kuwait | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 18 (64) |
21 (70) |
26 (79) |
31 (88) |
38 (100) |
43 (109) |
43 (109) |
44.5 (112.1) |
41 (106) |
35 (95) |
26 (79) |
19 (66) |
32.1 (89.8) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 7 (45) |
9 (48) |
13 (55) |
18 (64) |
24 (75) |
27 (81) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
24 (75) |
19 (66) |
13 (55) |
8 (46) |
18.3 (64.9) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 25.4 (1) |
15.2 (0.598) |
12.7 (0.5) |
15.2 (0.598) |
5.1 (0.201) |
0.20 (0.0079) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.5 (0.098) |
12.7 (0.5) |
17.8 (0.701) |
106.8 (4.205) |
| Source: weather.com[47] | |||||||||||||
-
Sandstorm over Kuwait in April, 2003
-
Topography of Kuwait
-
The Burqan Field
-
Nine Islands of Kuwait
Governorates[link]
Main article: Governorates of Kuwait
Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazah). The governorates are further subdivided into districts.
 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subdivision | Capital | Area km² |
Population Census of 2005 |
Created | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Ahmadi1) | Al Ahmadi | 5 120 | 393 861 | 1946 from Al Asimah | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Asimah (Al Kuwayt)2) | Al Kuwait | 200 | 261 013 | original Governorate | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Farwaniyah | Al Farwaniyah | 190 | 622 123 | 1988 from Al Asimah | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Jahra3) | Al Jahra | 12 130 | 272 373 | 1979 from Al Asimah | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawalli | Hawalli District | 84 | 487 514 | original Governorate | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mubarak Al-Kabeer | Mubarak Al-Kabeer | 94 | 176 519 | November 1999 from Hawalli | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TOTAL | 17 818 | 2 213 403 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1) The Neutral Zone was dissolved on 18 December 1969, and the northern part with 2590 km² was added to Al Ahmadi (with small part in the northwest added to Al Jahra) |
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| 2) including the islands of Failaka, Miskan, and Auhah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3) including the islands of Warbah and Bubiyan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Economy[link]
Main article: Economy of Kuwait
File:Photo lg kuwait.jpg
An oil refinery in Mina-Al-Ahmadi, Kuwait
Kuwait has a GDP (PPP) of US$167.9 billion[48] and a per capita income of US$81,800,[48] making it the 5th richest country in the world, per capita.[10]
According to the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom, Kuwait has the second-most free economy in the Middle East.[49] In March 2007, Kuwait's foreign exchange reserves stood at US$213 billion.[50] The Kuwait Stock Exchange, which has about 200 firms listed, is the second-largest stock exchange in the Arab world with a total market capitalization of US$235 billion.[51] In 2007, the Kuwaiti government posted a budget surplus of US$43 billion.[52]
Kuwait has proven crude oil reserves of 104 billion barrels (15 km³),[48] estimated to be 10% of the world's reserves. According to the Kuwaiti constitution, all natural resources in the country and associated revenues are government property.[53] Being a tax-free country, Kuwait's oil industry accounts for 80% of government revenue. Petroleum and petrochemicals accounts for nearly half of GDP and 95% of export revenues. Increase in oil prices since 2003 resulted in a surge in Kuwait's economy.[54]
Kuwait currently pumps 2.9 million bpd and its full production capacity is a little over 3 million bpd, including oil production in the neutral region that it shares with Saudi Arabia.[55] Kuwait oil production is expected to increase to 4 million bpd by 2020.[56] To realize this production target, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation plans to spend US$51 billion between 2007 to 2012 to upgrade and expand the country's existing refineries.[57] However, the country's economy was badly affected by the global financial crisis of 2008.[58] In 2009, the Central Bank of Kuwait devised a US$5.15 billion stimulus package to help boost the economy.[59]
Other major industries include shipping, construction, cement, water desalination, construction materials and financial services.[48] Kuwait has a well developed banking system and several banks in the country date back to the time before oil was discovered. Founded in 1952, the National Bank of Kuwait is the largest bank in the country and one of the largest in the Arab world.[60] Other prominent financial institutions based in Kuwait include the Gulf Bank of Kuwait and Burgan Bank, which is named after the largest oilfield in the country.
Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. The government is keen on decreasing Kuwait's dependence on oil to fuel its economy by transforming it into a regional trading and tourism hub. The planned US$77 billion Madinat al-Hareer (City of Silk) is the largest real estate development project in the Middle East.[50] The Central Bank issues Kuwait's currency, the Kuwaiti dinar. As of May 2012, the dinar is the highest-valued currency unit in the world.[61]
In 2011, estimated exports stood at US$94.47 billion and imports were around US$22.41 billion.[62] Petroleum, petrochemical products, fertilizers and financial services are major export commodities. Kuwait imports a wide range of products ranging from food products and textiles to machinery. Kuwait's most important trading partners are Japan, United States, India, South Korea, Singapore, China, European Union and Saudi Arabia.[48] Japan is the largest customer of Kuwaiti oil followed by India, Singapore and South Korea.[63]
On 5 January 2010, Kuwait has started the construction of Salmiya Park in Salmiya. The Heads said "it would take at least 4 years to complete Salmiya Park"
Education[link]
Main article: Education in Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is directing its attention towards Inclusive Education, which provides opportunity to all children, irrespective of their social class, including children with special needs. Kuwait education system is marked by several achievements in recent years. As of 2005/06 Kuwait allocates 13 percent of all public expenditure to education, which is comparable to the allocation of public funds to education in many OECD countries but lower than other Arab countries. For the same years the public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 3.9 percent in 2005/12 which is well below the percentage of GDP spent by OECD countries on education.
As of 2005, the literacy rate of Kuwait is 93.3 percent. Kuwait is facing challenges in improving the quality of education at all levels and to build capacities of students' from a young age. The Ministry of Education is also making efforts to incorporate women into the educated workforce through various programs, for instance the 1989 initiative to establish daytime literacy clinics for women. The Kuwaiti government also offers scholarships to students accepted in universities in United States, United Kingdom and other foreign institutes.
There is also higher education, which has improved drastically in the past years. The largest university is Kuwait University which is free for Kuwaitis and has over 1,500 faculty members and approximately 30,000 students. There are also a number of private institutions such as American University of Kuwait, Gulf University for Science and Technology, the Australian University of Kuwait. The American University of The Middle East, Box Hill College Kuwait and Maastricht Business School Kuwait. A new project called "Sabah Al Ahmed University City" is also being initiated and is expected to be completed in a few more years.
Kuwait has the highest literacy rate among the Arab world with 94%, up from 93.3% in 2005 (as stated above).[citation needed]
Demographics[link]
Main article: Demographics of Kuwait
As of 2007, Kuwait's population was estimated to be 3 to 3.5 million people, which included approximately 2 million non-nationals.[64] Kuwaiti citizens are therefore a minority of those who reside in Kuwait. The government rarely grants citizenship to foreigners to maintain status quo.[65] In 2008, 68.4% of the population consisted of expatriates,[66] making the country the 4th highest ratio of expatriates of the world.[67] The net migration rate of the country stood at 16.01, the third highest in the world.[68] The Central Statistical Bureau is the official agency who is obliged to meet the needs of data users through the collection and compilation of the statistical data and the production in a numeric and updated information and reflects the characteristics of the society and its activities in various ways of life with a high degree of accuracy and reliability according to the international standards in force alongside with transparency and dissemination of appropriate periods.[69]
Ethnic groups[link]
About 57% of the population in Kuwait is Arab, 39% South and East Asian, and 4% are classified Bidoon ('without' – stateless Arabs).[18] As of 2009, Kuwait more than 580,000 Indian nationals were residing in Kuwait, making them the single largest expatriate community there.[70][71] In 2003, there were also an estimated 250,000 Pakistanis, 260,000 Egyptians, 100,000 Syrians and 80,000 Iranians in Kuwait.[72] After Kuwait was liberated from the Iraqi invasion and occupation by coalition forces led by The United States of America, most of the 400,000 Palestinians living in Kuwait were expelled because of their government's open support for the Iraqi Forces.[73]
Languages[link]
Kuwait's official language is Modern Standard Arabic. Kuwaiti Arabic, a Gulf Arabic sub-dialect, is Kuwait's colloquial dialect. English is widely understood and often used as a business language.
Religion[link]
Main article: Religion in Kuwait
About 85% of the population in Kuwait identify themselves as Muslims.[74] 87% of Muslims in Kuwait belong to the Sunni and 13% are Shi'as.[75] Majority of the Shias follow the Twelvers school. Despite Islam being the state religion,[76] among the non-Kuwaiti citizens, the country has a large community of Christians (est. 300,000 to 400,000), Hindus (est. 300,000), Buddhists (est. 100,000), and Sikhs (est. 10,000).[77] Hindus account for the largest number of expatriates in Kuwait.[78] However, the sole religion of Kuwaiti Arabs is Islam.
Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists are allowed to build places of worship or other religious facilities.especally the main christian church of kuwait is located in a prime spot in kuwait city.[79] these groups are allowed to practise and can engage in religious activities, including public marriage and other celebrations, without Kuwaiti government interference.[80]
Culture[link]
Main article: Culture of Kuwait
The influence of Islamic and Arab Culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is prominent as well.[81] The most distinctive characteristic of local Kuwaiti culture are diwaniya that is explained below. Briefly, it involves large reception rooms used for male social gatherings attended mostly by family members and close friends.
While, unlike neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the Islamic dress code is not compulsory, many of the older Kuwaiti men prefer wearing dish dasha, an ankle-length white shirt woven from wool or cotton while the minority of women wear abaya, black over-garment covering most parts of the body. This attire is particularly well-suited for Kuwait's hot and dry climate.[82] Western style clothing is very popular among the youth of Kuwait.
Seafood has been the mainstay of the Kuwaiti diet for centuries.[83] The Arabs in the Persian Gulf region played a crucial role in the spice trade between India and Europe and spices have remained an important ingredient of Kuwaiti cuisine. Traditional Kuwaiti cuisine includes machboos diyay, machboos laham, maraq diyay laham which borrows heavily from South Asian cuisine and Arab cuisine. Imawash is another popular dish. As in other Arab states of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait takes part in the tradition of Qarqe'an during the month of Ramadan. About 74.2% of adults aged 15 and over are overweight in Kuwait, making the country the eighth fattest in the world.[84]
Before the discovery of oil, pearling formed a crucial part of Kuwait's economy. Pearl fishery, known as ghaus, suffered decline after the advent of Japanese pearl farming.[85] However, Kuwait's pearl industry laid the foundation of its rich maritime history. Dhows, large wooden ships made from teak wood imported from India,[85] became an indistinct part of Kuwait's maritime fleet and dhow building is still practiced in this Persian Gulf state.[86]
Kuwait's architecture is largely inspired by Islamic architecture. The most prominent landmark in country, the Kuwait Towers, were designed by Swedish architect Sune Lindström and are a unique blend of traditional minaret and modern architectural designs. The National Assembly of Kuwait, another famous landmark building, was designed by the famous Danish architect Jørn Utzon and completed in 1982.
Sawt is the most prominent style of Kuwaiti music and is performed by oud (plucked lute) and mirwas (a drum), with a violin later supplementing the arrangement. The Bedouins are known for an instrument called the rubabah, while the use of oud, tanbarah (string instrument) and habban (bagpipe) are also widespread.[87]
Transportation[link]
Main article: Transport in Kuwait
Kuwait has an extensive, modern and well-maintained network of highways. Roadways extended 5,749 km, of which 4,887 km is paved.[1] In 2000, there were some 552,400 passenger cars, and 167,800 commercial taxis, trucks, and buses in use. On major highways the maximum speed is 120 km/h. Since there is no railway system in the country, most of the people travel by automobiles.[88] The government plans to construct US$11 billion rail network which will include the Kuwait Metropolitan Rapid Transit System Project for its capital.[89][90] Bus services are provided by private company Citybus and state-owned Kuwait Public Transportation Corporation.[91][92]
Kuwait has speed cameras in all highways and main roads and traffic lights, which captures the cars that speed or cross a red light, the Kuwaiti government spent over 450 million USD on these speed cameras in cooperation with the traffic Police. There is only one civil airport in Kuwait.[93] Kuwait International Airport serves as the principal hub for international air travel. State-owned Kuwait Airways is the largest airline in the country. In 2001, the airline carried 2,084,600 passengers on domestic and international flights.[88] In 2004, the first private airline of Kuwait, Jazeera Airways, was launched.[94] In 2005, the second private airline, Wataniya Airways of Kuwait was founded.
Kuwait has one of the largest shipping industries in the Persian Gulf region. The Kuwait Ports Public Authority manages and operates ports across Kuwait.[95] The country’s principal commercial seaports are Shuwaikh and Shuaiba which handled combined cargo of 753,334 TEU in 2006.[96] Mina Al-Ahmadi, the largest port in the country, handles most of Kuwait's oil exports.[97] Construction of another major port located in Bubiyan island started in 2005. The port is expected to handle 1.3 million TEU when operation starts in 2008.[98]
Media[link]
Kuwait has one of the most vocal and transparent media in the Arab World.[8] In 2007, Kuwait was ranked first in the Middle East and the Arab League by Reporters Without Borders in the freedom of press index.[99] Though the government funds several leading newspapers and satellite channels,[100] Kuwaiti journalists enjoy greater freedom than their regional counterparts. The state-owned Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is the largest media house in the country. The Ministry of Information regulates all media and communication industry in Kuwait.[101]
In 1998, there were 15 media stations, which are 6 am and 11 FM radio stations and 13 television stations. In 2000, there were 624 radios and 486 television sets for every 1,000 people. In 2001, there were 165,000 Internet subscribers served by three service providers.[102] Kuwait has ten satellite television channels of which four are controlled by the Ministry of Information. State-owned Kuwait Television (KTV) offered first colored broadcast in 1974 and operates five television channels.[102] Government-funded Radio Kuwait also offers daily informative programming in four foreign languages including Arabic, Urdu, Tagalog and English on the AM and SW.
In 2009, Kuwait had seventeen newspapers companies in circulation. Kuwait is represented by three English dailies: Kuwait Times, Arab Times and Al-Watan Daily. There are 16 Arabic daily newspapers besides the English newspapers.
A press law forbids insulting references to God and Islamic prophet Muhammad. Another law which made leading newspaper publishers eligible for hefty fines for criticizing the ruling family was lifted in 1992. Leading newspapers continue to impose self-restraint while remaining uncritical of the emir.[103] However, no such restraint is observed while criticizing the government.[102]
Celebrations[link]
Each year, the people of Kuwait celebrate 25 and 26 February, as the national and liberation day, respectively.
See also[link]
.svg){kind=small}
- Outline of Kuwait
- Index of Kuwait-related articles
- Architecture of Kuwait
- Human rights in Kuwait
- List of Kuwaitis
- Military of Kuwait
- Telecommunications in Kuwait
- List of companies of Kuwait
- Tourism in Kuwait
- List of birds of Kuwait
- Kuwait Zoo
- Kuwaiti Football Records
- List of football clubs in Kuwait
- Kuwait national football team
- Kuwaiti Premier League
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External links[link]
| Find more about Kuwait on Wikipedia's sister projects: | |
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News stories from Wikinews |
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Source texts from Wikisource |
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Textbooks from Wikibooks |
- The Office of the Emir of Kuwait
- Diwan of the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait
- Kuwait entry at The World Factbook
- Kuwait web resources provided by GovPubs at the University of Colorado–Boulder Libraries
- Kuwait at the Open Directory Project
- The Economy of Kuwait at FedBrain
- Wikimedia Atlas of Kuwait
- Kuwait travel guide from Wikitravel
- Kuwait Directory Kuwait Business Links
- Kuwait Answers website WKuwait Answers Network
- Country Profile from New Internationalist
- Key Development Forecasts for Kuwait from International Futures
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait
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This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
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Wiki Summary
Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait i/kuːˈweɪt/ (Arabic: دولة الكويت, Dawlat al-Kuwayt) is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic أكوات ākwāt, the plural of كوت kūt, meaning a fortress built near water. The country covers an area of 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 sq mi) and has a population of about 3.5 million.
Historically, the region was the site of Characene, a major Parthian port for trade between Mesopotamia and India. The Bani Utbah tribe were the first permanent Arab settlers in the region, and laid the foundation of the modern emirate. By the 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, and after World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's large oil fields were discovered in the late 1930s.
