Public Land Management Act of 2009, There are 650,734 acres within this wilderness. Elevations range from 4,000 feet to just below the Mt. Whitney summit at 14,497 feet. There are numerous peaks over 12,000 feet. Deep canyons, lofty peaks, meadows, lakes and expansive alpine terrain characterize this wilderness. The south and middle fork of the San Joaquin River, the North Fork of the Kings river and many creeks that flow into the Owens valley to the east originate here. The John Muir Wilderness is heavily visited and has use limits in the form of trailhead quotas on all the trailheads accessing the wilderness from both the east and west side of the Sierra Nevada. There are over 590 miles of maintained trails and the John Muir trail andWhat happens in Europe doesn't stay in Europe

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has been lobbying heavily for US interests behind the scenes [EPA]

New York, New York - Some years back, the Comedy Channel featured a map illustrating how most Americans see the world. The biggest part of it was pictured as "US"; the rest of the world was shown as "THEM".

This may be true of public understanding - in part, because of the way our media works or doesn't work - but it's not true of the way our government operates as an often stealth force in global affairs.

Inside Story - Saving the euro

For many, the crisis in Europe resembles the saying "What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" - they see it as a clash of countries