As the US counts the cost of hurricane Irene it appears that at least 31 individuals in 8 states have been killed, a great many through drowning. It is estimated that the damages to property have climbed to $13 billion as in excess of 500,000 houses as well as businesses throughout Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, [...]

Authorities in the US are preparing for Hurricane Irene to make landfall as it gathers strength over the Caribbean, inflicting damage in Puerto Rico as well as the Dominican Republic. The National Hurricane Center reported that Irene, presently identified as a category 2 storm, may well intensity to become a category 3, with winds that [...]

American health care insurance firms will have to make available free birth control among other preventative healthcare assistance under regulations unveiled today, this significant decision is backed by US family planning organizations but conservative groups are opposed to it. The requirements outlined by the US Health and Human Services Department form a part of the [...]

Amazon, the online retail giant that began selling books via the internet back in 1995, and now claims to have the largest array of products for sale in the world, is getting into the rental marketplace for electronic educational textbooks for students. The firm revealed recently that e-book versions of college textbooks will be obtainable [...]

Breathing difficulties along with diminished fitness among a number of Afghanistan and Iraq military veterans could be a result of lungs damaged by smoke, toxins and sandstorms, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medecine. Scientists who carried out lung biopsies on 38 military veterans that were experiencing unusual difficulty [...]

In the United States sales of all previously owned homes dropped by 0.8% during June to the lowest level since November 2010 with contract cancellations cited as the primary cause. The number of cancelled contracts rose from May’s 4% to a record amount of 16% as the US real estate market remains depressed. The National [...]

The majority of US citizens would like to see a total ban on smoking in public places, however only 19% think that smoking cigarettes should be made illegal, according to a Gallup poll. In the telephone survey it was found that 59% would support any public ban on cigarette smoking, whereas 10 years ago, 39% [...]

A grizzly bear yesterday mauled and killed a 57 year old man who had been hiking with his wife within Yellowstone national park after it appears the couple surprised the female bear with its cubs. This is the park’s first fatal grizzly attack in 25 years, although the third within the Yellowstone region in just [...]

Consumers in the US have enhanced their credit ratings by repayment of over $100 billion of personal debt remaining from the days of the economic boom. But it would appear they regard credit card payments as more important than mortgage repaymants. Credit bureau TransUnion has attributed this shift in attitudes over personal debt to developments [...]

The prices of gold and silver have hit new record highs, driven by a weaker US dollar and continuing tensions in the Middle East and North Africa. The price of gold climbed as high as $1,518.30 an ounce at one point in morning trading in Europe, prior to dropping back slightly, as gold and silver [...]