Statistics
United States
The Americas/Africa
Asia/Europe
Business/Culture Mixbag
100
Having the most in the world, almost as many as the population of a small country, this country holds 2,292,133 prisoners.
What is the United States
100
The economy is picking up steam. In December employment had risen by 200,000 dropping the unemployment rate to this number, the lowest since early 2009.
What is 8.5%
100
The government of Nigeria is sending thousands of troops to it's north in order to fight militants who have emerged from a small cult in the past decade. Their name "Western Learning in Forbidden" is more commonly known as this, in Hausa.
What is Boko Haram
100
The ruling party of this nation, despite 300 years of prosperous union, have moved for a referendum on independence in 2014.
What is Scotland (voting to leave the United Kingdom)
100
Lenin is said to have sneered that a capitalist will sell you the rope to hang him. The quote may be spurious, but it contains a grain of truth. Capitalists quite often invent the technology that destroys their own business. 2012 for this company will be a picture-perfect example.
What is Kodak
200
With a staggering 55.4 tonnes per person, this nation can claim the highest per capita carbon dioxide emissions
What is Qatar
200
During his tenure at Bane Capital, Mitt Romney left from 2001-2002 in order to manage this venture.
What is The Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Games
200
The French have re-opened an investigation into who shot down the president of Rwanda's plane in 1994, an event which catalyzed the Rwandan Genocide. The French however, are worried not about the President of Rwanda and Burundi who died on the plane but rather this other passenger.
Who is the (French national) Pilot
200
In a move that is going to "revolutionize" the efficiency and delivery of public services, a retina scanning, unique identity scheme, is set to ID 400 million people by the end of the year in this nation.
What is India
200
These two prominent New Yorkers were in the center of a controversy this week. One constructed a lavish suite in a hospital and the other, responding to that apparent controversy, simply brushed his shoulders off.
Who is Jay-Z and Mayor Bloomberg
300
At a staggering 10.5% of GDP, this country spends the most amount, proportionately, on Defense
What is Saudi Arabia
300
Internal strife and external hostility are plaguing this organization, America's labor watchdog. Republican candidates whimsically state Obama's actions with this committee are unconstitutional.
What is the National Labor Relations Board
300
Scared of recent instability in what the international community and the west hopes will be a stable and democratic example for the region, the US has sent a group of military "experts" to help this wobbly African government (country name).
What is South Sudan
300
With unemployment at 16% and set to rise to 19% by the end of this year, the newly elected leaders are scrambling put a stop to the continual cycle of unrest that discourages investment and encourages protest in this country.
What is Tunisia
300
The Obama administration said it would not support central elements of efforts in Congress to enforce these laws, all but killing the current versions of the legislation. Ironic, seeing the fervor on the internet over the bill
What is Internet Copyrights
400
With 56.3% of the lower house of parliament, this nation can claim the proportionally most number of women representatives in government.
What is Rwanda
400
Reagan appointed him to a federal judgeship. He served as acting attorney-general under George Bush Jr. He backed a law allowing investigators to interrogate terrorism suspects without informing them of their rights. This is not the CV of a republican judicial candidate, but rather this man.
Who is Attorney-General Eric Holder; He is taking on 34 states for voter id laws.
400
A tax increase of 30% has been applied to cars with less than 65% local content. This is an unusually blatant act of protectionism, and sure to be reviewed by the World Trade Organization, for which this nation is usually a big supporter.
What is Brazil; President Dilma Rousseff claims the country is suffering form "de-industrializaiton"
400
After more than two years of wrangling, sordid media revelations and political point-scoring, on Jan. 9th the High Court in Malaysia finally handed down a not-guilty verdict for Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the opposition, for this alleged crime.
What is Sodomy
400
Controversy has been surrounding the new bio-pic "The Iron Lady". Certain critics are particularly upset with the portrayal of former Prime Minister Thatcher as exhibiting this condition.
What is Dementia
500
These two countries, the top two in the world, together produce 50x more than the third place country in each category. These two are the top two producers of fruits and vegetables.
What is India and China
500
First Lady Michelle Obama can add “actress” to her repertoire after making a cameo appearance in this hit TV series.
What is iCarly
500
Deforestation in the Amazon of Brazil has began to uncover something strange, leading experts to rethink their "knowledge" of the south.
What are city foundations
500
It's hard to believe that a modern, secular, democratic constitution still includes two clauses allowing 1. people of "any race" to be disbarred from voting and 2. allow the federal parliament to make "special laws" for "any race" it likes. Either way, a panel has recently recommended a referendum on these clauses in this country.
What is Australia
500
Two part question: After a three-year hiatus, Director Sam Mendes will return to the silver screen. Mendes, has been nominated for a total of 18 Oscars for his various films. He will be returning to direct this movie, twelve years after winning best director for this movie (One of Kapil's favorites)
What is Skyfall (2012-James Bond), and American Beauty.