Protests and demonstrations against Barack Obama’s home policy took place in 32 American states last week.

On Saturday the representatives of almost all states of the USA marched in front of the White House and Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. ‘March in Washington’ became the final action in the series of demonstrations held before.

The main issue of all protests is healthcare reform suggested by the American president. People on the streets blames Obama of his commitment to socialistic regime. ‘Born free, but taxed to death’ was one of the mottoes written on numerous signs and flags.

Barack Obama stated in front of 15 thousand people that he would not be influenced with such old-fashioned methods. He said that he was ready to accept any sensible comments and constructive criticism. He needs proposals not fights and arguments.

Barack Obama promised that his healthcare reform wouldn’t lead to budget gap. However, thousands of people worry about Obama’s reckless public spending on stimulus packages, bailout of the banking and car industries and now on new healthcare program.

According to surveys 46 million Americans are not insured at all while 25 million have inadequate health insurance. New health reform should expand the insurance coverage to 97% of American citizens. However, it will put a heavy burden on American taxpayers. It will cost about $900 billion dollars.

The 17-room brick house stays right next to the residency of the American president.
A price of the house with 8 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms is not specified. However local real estate agents believe that houses in this district cost between $1 to $2,5 million. It’s hard to say if Obama factor will be negative or positive one. The thing is that all prospective buyers will have to pass the Secret Service screening. Besides, the whole street is closed by President’s personal security and all neighbors have to check with them to come home or to invite guests over. And what’s also important, Obama’s residency attracts a lot of tourists and attention.
The house has not been promoted as a regular real estate. It is not listed in local mass media and real estate agencies. The whole procedure is much more complicated.
So, you cannot live next to the White House, but it may be the next best thing — at least in Chicago.

The 8th anniversary of famous act of terrorism didn’t bring any unpleasant surprises. Thousands of people gathered in a square near Ground Zero where World Trade Center used to be.
New Yorkers paid tribute to all killed people with a toll and silence minute. The silence minute began at 8 46 am- an exact time when the first airliner crashed into the building of World Trade Center in Manhattan 8 years ago.
This act of terrorism took lives of 2 700 people.
The American president and his wife joined the silence minute in Washington. During his speech in Pentagon Barack Obama announced that he would never stop fighting with al-Qaeda responsible for this loss.
This was the first time when the anniversary has also been designated a national day of service and remembrance.

The researchers from the University of Massachusetts tested US banknotes in different countries including the USA, Canada, Brazil, Japan and China. The conducted research revealed that 90 percent of dollar bills used in the USA show the traces of cocaine. Analysts explain such high figure with the high stress level caused by global economic recession.
The ‘dirty’ money is most common in Washington. However other big American cities like Baltimore, Boston and Detroit also have a high cocaine level.
The research also revealed that China and Japan have the lowest rate of contaminated bills.

American president is losing his supporters. According to the recent social poll Obama’s approval rating dropped to the minimum level of 47 percent.

This time only 29 percent of whole American population approves Obama’s work as a president while 37% of respondents disapprove his performance. Also 52% of Americans said that they somewhat approve performance of American president.

It’s important to notice that Obama’s approval rating has never been so low. Analysts give different suggestions. Let’s compare the USA with a patient being in coma as the USA was in the dark days of February and March. It was helpless, dying, begging for help. And the help came in the person of Barack Obama. He gave the country CPR in the operation room, hurled billions in the bail-out. And then he decided why not to go further? Why not to use the moment and also do a liposuction and a nose job? Why not to push a new environmental and healthcare policy?

And everything would be great, if our patient didn’t begin to wake up, to recover from its disease. It becomes more and more cautious of what is going on with his body… And he doesn’t like it!
Okay, we are done with metaphors for now. Healthcare reform has always been a Gordian Knot of American politics. Almost all American presidents tried to untie it without any success.
46 millions of American people don’t have a health insurance and it is outrageous. And unfortunately for Obama the majority of Americans are still afraid that the overhauling the system can cause more damage than its current state.

Therefore, Obama will have a speech once again. And he will have to be as eloquent, passionate and persuasive as possible unless his rating continues to fall…

The largest wildfire in the north of Los Angeles caused a lot of problems this year. It covers about 150 000 acres and it has never been so close to big population centers before. Firefighters have been battling with this natural disaster for many days and now the situation is more or less stable. By Thursday the fire was reduced by 38 percent and many people were able to return home.

However, it’s not over yet. The fire is still raging on the south-east and threatening residents from that area.
Meanwhile, the investigation of how such huge fire started has begun. There have been no lightings registered in the area that leaves us a human cause. Even a single lighted cigarette or match thrown into dry bush could cause a disaster. However, no such cases have been reported lately.
Fire officials say that the most important thing now is to prevent the fire from spreading to the south-east (large residential area).

Despite the huge progress in containing the fire, officials are being realistic. They compare firefighting with marathon: “We are only on the mile 6 in a 26-mile race. There is a long way to go and it can take two more weeks to battle the fire completely”.

All exposed areas were evacuated and now people can finally return to their houses to see the extent of damage caused by the fire. 64 houses were destroyed and several people were injured. On Sunday the fire-fighting vehicle was overrun by flames and 2 people died.

TJ Lynch is lucky, because his house is intact. He says: “ I do not notice any changes right now, but when the sun rises tomorrow I am sure I’ll see blackened hills damaged by the fire’

On Sunday American president Barack Obama began his 7 days vocation. US President will spend this week on Blue Heron Farm in Massachusets.

Obama will pay for rent of this farm himself. The price of rent is certainly non-disclosed, but according to some sources such objects can cost about $50 000 a week.

Territory of the farm is 28,5 acres. There are 4 building on the territory- main house, barracks, boat barn and warehouse. Besides, Blue Heron Farm has a gold field, tennis court, swimming pool, basketball field and apple-tree orchard.

This controversial case has been examined for 8 years. Jodie Bullock filed an action against Philip Morris when her mother Betty died of lung cancer. Betty had been smoking for 47 years, almost all her life. She had sued Philip Morris 8 years ago accusing him of fraud. Now her daughter really won the case.

According to the jury decision smoker’s daughter will receive $13,8m although Philip Morris denies its guilt saying that the woman could quit smoking anytime.

Initially tobacco giant was supposed to pay much more money- $28m, but after the new trial the penalty was reduced to $13,8m.

This scandal began on Monday. According to recently revealed reports interrogators from CIA went too far trying to find the truth. They are reported to threaten to sexually abuse or even kill the relatives of people suspected in terrorism.

According to the recent Barack Obama’s decision a new controlling unit has to be established. In its turn it will be controlled by FBI. Prosecutor John Durham is now put in charge of investigating if the abuse really took place or not.

The representative of American Civil Liberties Union states that investigation should cover not only interrogators of the low level who implemented the prohibited practices, but also high level officials who established the rules of interrogating and torturing that break the American law.
Of course officials themselves deny any accusations. They insist that such interrogation practices were necessary to get precious and important information. Well, time will show…

Delivering the speech to the Cuban National Assembly Raul Castro, Cuban President emphasized that he would never allow US to dictate its will. He is not going to bargain at the expense of the island’s national interests or any changes in political system. Cuba remains communist. This was his answer to repeated statements of the US officials (particularly US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) concerning Washington’s expectation of Cuban political reform. Having noted the positive shifts in bilateral relations with Obama’s administration, Raul Castro expressed his hopes that change of the Cuban communist system would no longer be one of the prime conditions of further dialogue.
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