Nation and World news from Belleville, IL

Nation/World

Power of Moore tornado dwarfs Hiroshima bomb

A local resident allowed by security officers into an otherwise sealed off neighborhood walks past the rubble of destroyed homes, one day after a tornado moved through Moore, Okla., Tuesday, May 21, 2013. The huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds up to 200 mph.

Everything had to come together just perfectly to create the killer tornado in Moore, Okla.: wind speed, moisture in the air, temperature and timing. And when they did, the awesome energy released over that city dwarfed the power of the atomic bomb...

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Archive by category ''Nation/World

NATIONAL POLITICS

Senate panel approves immigration bill

Far-reaching legislation that grants a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses.
WORLD

Suicide at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Some 1,500 visitors were cleared out of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after a man put a letter on the altar of the 850-year-old monument Tuesday, pulled out a gun and shot himself in the head.

WORLD

Japan mulls talks with NKorea, surprising allies

Japan's government is looking into re-opening official talks with North Korea to resolve questions over the abductions of Japanese citizens decades ago, raising concerns among allies who fear Tokyo's focus on that issue might weaken efforts to reign in Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

44 minutes ago
WORLD

North Korea sends leader's special envoy to China

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dispatched a high-profile official and close confidant to travel to China on Wednesday as a special envoy while Beijing is under pressure to rein in its belligerent neighbor.
WORLD

Protesters hurl firebombs as Chile leader speaks

Bands of young people hurling firebombs and stones clashed with police outside Chile's congress Tuesday after thousands of students and workers staged a protest march before President Sebastian Pinera's final state of the nation speech.
BUSINESS

First Look: New Xbox elegant, but much unknown

Will gamers want One?

59 minutes ago
NATIONAL POLITICS

Early vote points to close race as LA picks mayor

An early count of mail-in ballots Tuesday pointed to a close race for Los Angeles mayor.
BUSINESS

Apple case seen as possible spur to tax action

Now that tech darling Apple Inc. has been dragged front and center into the debate over the U.S. tax code, lawmakers are hoping that the spotlight on such a high-profile company could be the catalyst for Congress to take action to close loopholes or reform the law.
BUSINESS

Bernanke testimony to be studied for policy clues

When Ben Bernanke testifies about the U.S. economy Wednesday, the Federal Reserve chairman's words will be examined for any clues that the Fed might soon taper - or increase - its support for the economy.

2 hours ago
BUSINESS

US auto factories cutting back on summer downtime

Detroit auto factories are forgoing their traditional two-week summer break and speeding up production to meet buyers' growing demand for new cars and trucks.

2 hours ago