america (6do encyclopedia)



The United States of America is a federal republic located in North America, consisting of 50 states, a federal district, and five major self-governing territories. The country is bordered by Canada to the north, Mexico to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The United States is the third-largest country in the world by land area and population.

The country gained independence from Great Britain in 1776 and has since become one of the most powerful and influential nations in the world. The United States is recognized globally for its cultural contributions, sophisticated economy, technological advancements, and military might.

History:
The history of the United States began with the arrival of Native Americans to the continent at least 15,000 years ago. European exploration and colonization of the Americas started in the 16th century, with the first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607. The 13 British colonies along the East Coast declared their independence in 1776, leading to the Revolutionary War.

The country went through several defining moments in history, such as the American Civil War (1861-1865), which resulted in the abolition of slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s, which aimed to end segregation and to grant equal rights to African Americans.

The United States also gained prominence on the world stage through its involvement in both World War I and II, in which it played a critical role in helping the Allies win. Following World War II, the United States emerged as a superpower and a leader in international affairs.

Geography:
The United States covers a total area of 3.8 million square miles, making it the third-largest country in the world. It is composed of 50 states, with Alaska being the largest state and Rhode Island being the smallest. The country also includes a federal district, Washington D.C., and five territories in the Pacific and the Caribbean.

The United States has diverse topography, including mountain ranges, lowlands, forests, grasslands, and deserts. The country borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Gulf of Mexico is located south of the country, and Canada to the north.

Climate:
The United States experiences various climatic conditions, ranging from tropical climates in Hawaii and Florida to subarctic climates in Alaska and desert climates in the southwest. Overall, the climate is mostly temperate and humid as a result of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean currents.

Economy:
The United States has the largest economy in the world with a GDP of $21.4 trillion in 2019, which constitutes roughly one-quarter of the global economic output. The country has a diverse economy driven by various industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, and energy.

The United States is home to several multinational corporations, such as Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and IBM. The country is also the largest consumer market globally, and international companies often use the United States as their first market entry point.

Politics:
The United States operates as a federal republic with a presidential system of government. The country has a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches.

The President of the United States is the head of state and the head of government and is elected by the citizens every four years. The government is also composed of the Congress, which comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives. The judiciary consists of nine Supreme Court justices who interpret the Constitution and ensure that laws are constitutional.

Culture:
The United States has a rich, diverse, and vibrant culture that is defined by a blend of various ethnicities, religions, and social backgrounds. The country is home to several world-renowned cultural institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Broadway theater district.

The United States is also known for its popular culture, including film, music, television, literature, and sports. Hollywood is the epicenter of the film industry, and the country boasts an array of famous musicians, including Elvis Presley, Madonna, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift.

Sports have a significant cultural impact in the United States, and the country has many popular professional sports leagues, such as the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL).

Conclusion:
The United States of America has a rich history and culture that has influenced the world. The country’s position as a superpower and its democratic values have made it an essential global player in international affairs. The United States has a thriving and diverse economy and is home to many multinational corporations and world-renowned cultural institutions. With its various landscapes and climates, the United States is a country with a wealth of opportunities, resources, and diversity.


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Brazil’s soccer match-fixing scandal has international reach, investigator says

The Toronto Star

23-05-15 23:46


The lead investigator in Brazil's match-fixing investigation has discovered potential evidence of wrongdoing by players from other countries. Foreign authorities are expected to study the findings and start their own investigations. Goias District Attorney Fernando Cesconetto stated that the case of Max Alves, a midfielder for Colorado Rapids, could be prosecuted in the United States. Cesconetto launched the investigation in November, focusing on three matches, and has widened it to 11 games. Evidence showed that players were offered between $10,000 and $20,000 to perform specific actions, such as receiving yellow cards and giving away penalty kicks, leading to potential profits on betting sites.

https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2023/05/15/brazils-soccer-match-fixing-scandal-has-international-reach-investigator-says.html
US special counsel slams FBI probe of Trump-Russia collusion

South China Morning Post

23-05-15 23:19


An independent US prosecutor has criticised the FBI investigation into alleged collusion between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, calling it based on “flimsy evidence and seriously flawed”. Special Counsel John Durham was appointed in 2019 to address allegations that the investigation was a political “witch hunt”, a claim repeated by Trump himself. Durham accused “senior FBI personnel” of lacking “analytical rigour towards the information that they received” and said a “double standard” was shown in the way Trump and 2016 presidential rival Hillary Clinton were investigated.

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3220666/us-special-counsel-john-durham-slams-fbi-investigation-trump-russia-collusion
Buffett’s Berkshire bet almost $1bn on credit card issuer Capital One

Financial Times

23-05-15 23:19


Investment group, Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffet, has placed a $954m bet on Capital One, in the first quarter of 2019. However, Berkshire Hathaway has been dumping billions of dollars worth of stocks at the same time. The investment signals Berkshire Hathaway's comfort with the credit card industry and the health of consumers even as several regional banks have been swept up in financial turmoil. Capital One describes itself as the third-largest issuer of Visa and Mastercard credit cards in the US.

https://www.ft.com/content/d0216077-509f-49dd-9538-1547902de414
American cities reach ‘breaking point’ as migrant crisis heads north

The Sydney Morning Herald

23-05-15 22:55


Asylum seekers are flowing into cities in the US, including Washington, Denver and New York, and the burden on infrastructure is reaching breaking point, according to local leaders. Washington has seen buses filled with dozens of migrants arriving outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence due to Republican governor Greg Abbott’s practice which seeks to give Democratic cities a taste of what border towns are experiencing. Mayor Michael Hancock said Denver has already spent over $17m on supporting migrants to arrive in the Colorado capital. In New York, where more than 4,200 asylum seekers arrived in the past week, Governor Kathy Hochul wants asylum seekers to be housed on federal land.

https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/american-cities-reach-breaking-point-as-migrant-crisis-heads-north-20230516-p5d8mo.html
Anti-corruption newspaper shuts down after ‘press freedom hero’ jailed

Washington Post

23-05-15 22:30


El Periódico, a newspaper that has exposed corruption in the Guatemalan government and other institutions, has closed due to an escalating wave of repression against independent journalism in Central America. In the case of El Periódico, not only is its founder and publisher, José Rubén Zamora, in prison, four of his defense attorneys have also been detained on criminal charges. Six reporters and three columnists are under investigation. Independent media in Central America are facing some of their most difficult moments since several of the region’s countries transitioned from dictatorship to democracy two decades ago. The storied Nicaraguan daily La Prensa, edited by generations of the Chamorro family, also left the country in 2022 after its publisher and journalists were imprisoned or harassed by the government of Daniel Ortega. In El Salvador, the investigative publication El Faro recently moved its administrative headquarters to Costa Rica, saying that its journalists had been targeted with spyware attacks, threats and “fabricated criminal accusations” during President Nayib Bukele’s crackdown on gangs.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/15/guatemala-periodico-closes-gianmattei/
Norway’s $1.4tn oil fund to step up ESG proposals to US companies

Financial Times

23-05-16 04:24


Norway’s $1.4tn oil fund is planning to file more climate-related shareholder proposals with US companies, after testing the strategy this year. The company, which owns an average of 1.5% of all listed firms around the world, filed shareholder motions on climate with four US firms in 2021, but did not publicise them until now. The fund withdrew proposals from Marathon Petroleum and Packaging Corporation of America after both made climate commitments. It won a 28% shareholder vote in favour of its motion at lubricant and fuel additive producer NewMarket and is still awaiting results from chemicals and plastics firm Westlake. The fund’s focus on shareholder proposals reflects an increasingly active approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

Norway’s oil fund became the first major shareholder to declare how it would vote at all the annual meetings of the companies it owns, in advance of those meetings. The fund, which owns an average 1.5% of every publicly-listed company worldwide, has stepped up its demands for companies to set targets ensuring net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Its 2021 trial of shareholder proposals asked companies to adopt such targets. The fund said it may expand the use of such proposals to other ESG issues.

Filing a shareholder proposal was a last resort, the fund said. It relies most heavily on voting at annual meetings and dialogue with companies and boards. The fund has filed 21 shareholder motions at 13 US firms since 2009, including proposals on proxy access and splitting the roles of chief executive and chair. These were aimed at improving corporate governance, rather than specific ESG issues. Companies are “inadequately informed” on ESG and task “overworked” sustainability and reporting teams with identifying issues to address, argued a recent report by the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark resource.


https://www.ft.com/content/62e3c629-44cf-43f7-9682-a056f9b5c634

Debt ceiling showdown: Biden and congressional leaders to meet as McCarthy pushes for faster deal

The Independent

23-05-16 04:03


US President Joe Biden will meet with congressional leaders at the White House in a high-level gathering on Tuesday to discuss the debt ceiling. The meeting will also include Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. The president faces balancing the economic demands of a federal default with growing political friction against the backdrop of the G7 summit in Japan.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-ap-kevin-mccarthy-white-house-congress-b2339512.html
Pence’s allies launch super PAC as he moves toward White House run

Washington Post

23-05-16 02:21


Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence’s allies have launched a super PAC to support a possible presidential candidacy. Pence and advisers have hinted at a June launch for the presidency. The group is called “Committed to America”, and designed to build a positive image for Pence who so far gained little traction against his former boss, Donald Trump, and other would-be Republican candidates in the polls. Pence served Trump for four years in the White House, showing loyalty before breaking with him over pressure to try to overturn the 2020 election results on Jan. 6.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2023/05/16/mike-pence-super-pac-2024-presidential/
Pence allies launching super PAC to back former vice president’s expected 2024 candidacy

The Toronto Star

23-05-16 02:15


A new Super PAC, Committed to America, which is backing former Vice President Mike Pence’s expected candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, will be launched on 15 June. The group will be publicly launched and is seen as a sign that Pence is moving ahead with his expected bid for the GOP nomination, a move that would put him in direct contention with his former boss, former President Donald Trump. The launch comes amid tension between the two leaders as Trump considering running again and Pence courted many of Trump’s supporters while he was in office.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/us/2023/05/15/pence-allies-launching-super-pac-to-back-former-vice-presidents-expected-2024-candidacy.html
Pence allies launching super PAC to back former vice president's expected 2024 candidacy

The Independent

23-05-16 02:15


Former US Vice President Mike Pence is set to receive support for a possible run at the 2024 Republican presidential nomination via new political action committee Committed to America. The launched campaign aims to reintroduce Pence as his "own man, not as vice president, but as a true economic, social and national security conservative," according to co-chairman Scott Reed. However, Pence faces an uphill battle given that fundraising and attention is currently focused on former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/mike-pence-ap-pac-donald-trump-brian-kemp-b2339490.html
Investors lift equity allocations to 5-month high - BofA survey

Reuters

23-05-16 08:36


Investors have increased their equity allocations to a 5-month high, but also increased cash levels to 5.6%, according to a Bank of America survey. Investors remain concerned about a potential credit crunch and inflation levels, with commercial real estate seen as the most likely source of a credit event. Tech stocks are seeing the most investment, with "long big tech" and "short banks" being popular trades. Respondents are also increasingly pessimistic about the economy, with a net 65% expecting a weaker economy, but most still anticipate a "soft landing".

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/global-markets-bofasurvey-urgent-2023-05-16/
Japan stock index hits 33-year high as investors warm to Tokyo story

Financial Times

23-05-16 08:18


Japan's equities have surged to their highest level in 33 years thanks to renewed interest from foreign investors. Japan's Topix index rose almost 0.6% on Tuesday, nearly marking its highest level since Japan's market bubble burst in 1989, with the Nikkei 225 index rising more than 16% since the start of the year and growing hope of higher governance standards. Investors have put a fresh spotlight on Japan after years of anaemic returns that had seen many fund managers steer clear of their capital markets. Some said Tokyo was now an attractive option for investors who wanted to benefit from Chinese economic recovery without the geopolitical risks. However, Bank of America's latest survey indicates a net 11% of fund managers were underweight on Japan.

https://www.ft.com/content/af96b1e8-59bc-4e01-bf43-863953a51dd2
Rudy Giuliani avoids any mention of harassment lawsuit in YouTube show

The Independent

23-05-16 07:48


Rudy Giuliani did not reference allegations of sexual harassment during his latest YouTube show, despite it airing just hours after the accusations. The former New York City mayor instead focused on the Durham report, which concluded that the FBI had insufficient evidence to investigate Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016. Giuliani is facing a $10m lawsuit for sexual assault, harassment, wage theft and other misconduct from his former associate, Noelle Dunphy.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/rudy-giuliani-sexual-assault-youtube-b2339527.html
Court orders South Korean agency to compensate adoptee over his mishandled adoption to US

Associated Press

23-05-16 07:21


South Korea’s largest adoption agency, Holt Children’s Service, has been ordered to pay $74,700 in damages by a civil court for mishandling the adoption of a man who later struggled with legal charges and deportation after suffering an abusive childhood in the United States. Adam Crapser alleged manipulation of paperwork and screening failures; the four-year trial marks the first in which a South Korean adoptee has sued the government and a national adoption agency over fraudulent practices. Despite the ruling, Crapser’s claims against the government were dismissed. His lawyers have stated they will examine the full written decision before deciding whether to appeal. Crapser’s case follows wider criticism of the nation’s past “corruption” in adoption practices and recent calls for investigations into facilitation of marred adoptions and identity laundering to allow more adoptees to launch legal actions.

https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-adoption-adam-crapser-lawsuit-3065e00fc9e7889e3cb4862700d88aef
The consumer wobbles, a bit

Financial Times

23-05-16 06:19


US consumer spending fell by 1.2% YoY in April, according to data released by Bank of America. The decline, the first since February of this year, could suggest the “final, stubborn economic shoe” is dropping, said Unhedged, but analysts said it was important to distinguish a slowdown from wider stress. "Lower-income households continue to outperform higher-income households in terms of YoY spending growth" a BofA note said. Home Depot, Target and Walmart are among the retailers reporting this week. Inflation-beset consumers had thus far refused to cut back spending, but some analysts argued that a change could be on the way.

Anaemic gains in private-label groceries also suggested consumers were not pushing back hard against higher prices from suppliers, said retail analyst Rahul Sharma. Sharma said previous patterns of lower spending around discretionary goods during times of economic downturn were not currently in evidence in the US, but dramatic fluctuations in supply chains and pricing were still possible. Meanwhile, Walmart reported a reduction in price increase requests from suppliers in recent weeks but a continuing shift in sales from discretionary goods to groceries.

Although Uber confirmed that insurance claims made up the largest component of its cost of revenues in most markets, Unhedged readers argued the deeper question was not the costs themselves but the supply and demand dynamics that set the returns, after costs, of Uber versus Airbnb. They made the point that a car ride was a commodity product whose main feature in the eyes of customers was price, whereas houses and apartments had crucial variable features. Airbnb set prices, while Uber customers would pay more for special occasions or geographies where elasticities of preference for price were low.


https://www.ft.com/content/98e93810-3329-486d-ad88-d8bb53ecb347

Republican allies form Super PAC to back Pence presidential bid

Reuters

23-05-16 12:39


A Super PAC called Committed to America has been launched to garner support for former US Vice President Mike Pence for his expected run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Overseen by former US Representative Jeb Hensarling and Republican strategist Scott Reed, the political action committee will begin in Iowa and Dallas. Pence, who is believed to have presidential aspirations, was in the US Capitol during the 6 January 2021 riots when former President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the building. Pence’s loyalty to Trump has caused him to lose broad support among the former president’s staunch Republican supporters.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republican-allies-form-super-pac-back-pence-presidential-bid-2023-05-16/
How Beyoncé makes her fortune – and how she spends it

Telegraph

23-05-16 12:00


Superstar Beyoncé could earn as much as $2.1bn through her Renaissance world tour, adding to the estimated $450m she currently possesses. The vast bulk of Knowles' fortune comes from her expanding beyond recorded music, including international tours, films, fashion and product endorsements. Knowles launched her company, Parkwood Entertainment, in the late 2000s as a creative agency, record label, production company and management company. She sought to control any Beyoncé-related project under the Parkwood umbrella, which has included films, sportswear partnerships with Adidas and endorsement deals with Samsung and L'Oreal.

The global entertainer, who found success at a young age, cofounded Destiny’s Child, managed by her father, Mathew Knowles. Through the popularity of the R&B group, Knowles received a solid financial foundation, enabling her to expand into various other areas such as the creation of her own entertainment enterprise. Now a self-made success, Knowles is almost legendary in status and minimal in her outward-facing social media presence, says Tatiana Cirisano, a music analyst at Midia Research.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/artists/beyonce-billions-how-she-makes-it-spends-it/

AstraZeneca to leave leading U.S. drug lobby group

Reuters

23-05-16 11:38


AstraZeneca has decided to leave the US lobby group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), to pursue other ways of engaging in advocacy at a state and federal level. This follows similar moves by AbbVie and Teva. AstraZeneca will redirect the funds previously used for its PhRMA membership to continue to support its US advocacy efforts with state and federal policymakers, it said.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/astrazeneca-leave-leading-us-drug-lobby-group-2023-05-16/
Congress banned Russian oil and gas imports. Will uranium be next?

Washington Post

23-05-16 11:22


Legislation to ban imports of Russian uranium is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill as lawmakers seek to cut Russia out of the US nuclear fuel supply chain. Congress recently acted to ban Russian oil and gas imports but blocking uranium imports will be harder as 20% of US nuclear fuel comes from Russia. The United States is the world's largest user of nuclear power, and such dependence is a conundrum for lawmakers who want to combat climate change and decrease US dependence on foreign adversaries. The Senate version of the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act bill has garnered strong bipartisan support, reflecting unease over the fact that Russia ranks as the world’s biggest supplier of enriched uranium. Moscow’s state-owned nuclear power conglomerate, Rosatom, has earned billions from US and European customers, yet reports suggest it has also been working to supply the Russian arms industry with components and technology.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/05/16/congress-banned-russian-oil-gas-imports-will-uranium-be-next/