The number of Americans living in poverty jumped to 14.3% in 2009, with the ranks of working-age poor reaching the highest since at least 1965, according to the US Census Bureau.

In the ‘show me’ State, actions speak louder than words, reports John Breslin in St Louis, Missouri.

THE news that Ireland is to pay more than €90 million a year in child benefits to EU nationals whose dependants do not live in this country is just another punctuation mark in the evolution of our society.

THE population of the United States is on track to hit 300 million tomorrow morning, and it is causing a stir among environmentalists.

Funnyman Bill Cosby spurred Detroit, Michigan, residents towards self-improvement and community spirit as he addressed an empowerment workshop in the city on Saturday.

THE number of immigrants living in the United States has risen to over 35 million, or 12.4% of the population from 11.1% five years ago, according to figures released by the US Census Bureau yesterday.

Around a million residents and tourists have been warned to leave parts of Florida over fears that Tampa and other parts of the west coast could be submerged by the massive storm surge when Hurricane Charley strikes the state’s central gulf coast today.

The number of Americans claiming Irish ancestry has reportedly dropped significantly.

Fewer births and more deaths from Aids are helping slow world population growth, the US Census Bureau said in a report.

After 40 years The Beatles’ debut appearances on the Ed Sullivan show remain among the most-watched programmes in US history, a study found today.

THE number of people without health insurance in the US rose to 43.6 million last year, a jump of almost 6% from 2001 and the second consecutive annual increase.

In another grim report on the evolution of the global Aids pandemic, experts estimated today that the number of children in the developing world orphaned by the disease will increase from 13.4 million today to 25 million in the next eight years.