China announced that its economy had grown by 10.3 percent in 2010, the biggest annual gain since the beginning of the global financial crisis, but the news brought about fears of ongoing inflation and sent Asian stock markets down. Date released on Thursday has helped support the push for a stronger Chinese currency, something officials [...]

The U.S. House on Tuesday began debate over a Republican-backed repeal of healthcare reform with the deadly shootings in Tucson serving as backdrop to the battle on the hill. As promised in November’s election campaigns, Republicans vowed to repeal the healthcare reform bill passed by the Obama administration. Both parties were careful to reign in [...]

The archives of President John F. Kennedy are going online for easy access for researchers and anyone else wanting to see authentic pieces of American history. It is the first time a presidential library has digitized all of its documents and put them online. Word of the initiative came last week from the John F. [...]

A ceremony scheduled for May 1 to move Pope John Paul II one-step closer to sainthood is expected to draw as many as 2 million people to Rome. Speaking in Rome Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI said anyone who knew or looked up to his predecessor will shared of the joy of the beatification, the last [...]

Portugal has successfully borrowed more than$1.6 billion through a bond auction that created healthy demand, but investors want high returns for putting their money into the debt-rattled European nation. The bond auction was a key indicator of whether Portugal will end up needing a financial bailout like those granted to Ireland and Greece. The Portuguese [...]

Oil was flowing again through the trans-Alaska pipeline on Wednesday, but at just two-thirds of the capacity from before a leak caused it to be shut down for more than three days. The shutdown was the second-longest ever for the pipeline, which carries about 13 percent of the oil produced in the United States. On [...]

Nearly 90 people are missing following a rush of floodwater through Australia’s Lockyer Valley near the Queensland capitol of Brisbane. Officials said Tuesday that a flash flood had released a rush of water into the valley and damaged cars like tin toys. The flooding killed at least 12 people and 78 more were missing. At [...]

German authorities lifted the ban for some farmers imposed last week due to elevated dioxin levels in eggs, poultry and pork. Conversely, at least 140 pigs were ordered to slaughter by German authorities due to dioxin contamination. The dioxin levels in their fleshy tissue were at least 50 percent above the maximum levels allowed. Originally, [...]

Illinois state lawmakers pass Internet Tax Bill HB 3659, that could cost Illinois citizens thousands of jobs. Last week, Illinois House of Representatives passed tax legislations concerning internet taxes. The bill focuses on out of state merchants such as Amazon.com and online retailer Overstock that do not occupy a physical dwelling in the state of [...]

Taking over control in the U.S. House after four years in the minority, Republicans vowed to cut spending by $50 to $60 billion, shrink the deficit and put the American people in charge. “The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions,” said newly elected House Speaker John [...]

As many as 100 jackdraws, a relative of crows, were found dead in the streets of the Swedish town of Falkoping, according to an English-language website based in Sweden and the Swedish National Veterinary Institute. A veterinarian who lives in the area theorized the birds were startled by fireworks, fell to the ground, and were [...]

Residents in the town of St. George in Australia faced evacuation as floodwaters threatened to overtake the area. Residents were put on high alert following a weather bureau advisory of its risk of flood for the location. Officials in the town of St. George spent much of the town preparing for the worse. The hospital [...]