Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolas Maduro returned from visiting cancer-stricken President Hugo Chavez in Cuba and announced the nation would be devaluing it’s currency against the U.S. dollar by 32 percent.
The move raises the official exchange rate of their currency, the bolivar, from 4.3 to 6.3 for every U.S. dollar. Continue reading
A 29-year-old woman died as a result of complications from a late-term abortion in Germantown, Maryland Thursday.
The woman was under the medical care of Dr. LeRoy Carhart who has been connected to previous deaths including the 2005 death of Christin Gilbert in Wichita, Kansas. Continue reading
In data released Thursday afternoon, the Federal Reserve revealed that its holdings of U.S. government debt had increased to an all-time record of $1,696,691,000,000 as of the close of business on Wednesday. Continue reading
China surpassed the U.S. to become the world’s biggest trading nation last year as measured by the sum of exports and imports of goods, official figures from both countries show. Continue reading
In a sudden announcement that caught Catholics around the world off guard, Pope Benedict XVI said he will resign at the end of February, becoming the first pontiff to step down in nearly 600 years. Continue reading
Scientists have dismissed fears an asteroid due to whiz past the Earth on Friday will ‘destroy London’ – but it could take out vital telecommunications satellites.
Scientists say they are sure there is no chance of the 150ft (45.7m) wide space rock hitting the planet. Continue reading
A homicide bomber blew himself up in the northern Mali town of Gao, marking the first time the Islamic terrorists attempting to overthrow the government have used traditional terrorist-style tactics. The terrorist rushed soldiers riding a motorcycle before blowing himself up with an explosive belt. One soldier was moderately injured.
Gao is the most populated city in northern Mali. Islamists had control of the city and region until French forces drove them into the surrounding mountains. Continue reading
Government officials throughout the northeast U.S. are telling residents to “stock up” on supplies and to prepare for extended power outages as a massive winter storm moves into the region.
The National Weather Service says two separate weather systems are combining over New England and says the storm could be “historic.” The storm will start Friday and is not expected to peak until Saturday morning somewhere over Massachusetts. Continue reading
Nine women who had been giving vaccinations for polio to the poor in Nigeria have been gunned down by terrorists.
A gunman on a motor tricycle rushed toward vaccinators in the northern city of Kano and killed the women while they were doing their job. A half hour later, gunmen hit a clinic just outside Kano as the vaccinators were preparing to start their day. Continue reading
A bombing at a marketplace has killed at least six people in northern Pakistan.
Government officials say that dozens were also wounded in the attack in the Orakzai tribal region. The blast occurred close to government buildings but also near a group of anti-Taliban tribal members. Officials could not say if the government installation or the anti-Talibanists were the intended victims. Continue reading
