Why Newt Gingrich Converted to Catholicism

Visitors to the Basilica of the National Shrine in northeast Washington often do a double take when they see Newt Gingrich and his familiar shock of white hair slip into a pew for the noon Mass on Sundays. The former Speaker of the House is known for many things, but religious zeal is not one of them. In fact, the social conservatives who fueled his Republican revolution in 1994 often complained about Gingrich’s lack of interest in issues like abortion or school prayer.

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No ‘silver bullet’ to health care overhaul, Obama says

There is no "silver bullet" solution to health care overhaul, President Obama said on Saturday, but the system needs to change to avoid "a world of hurt" down the road. “There is no perfect, painless silver bullet out there that solves everyone’s problem, that gives everyone perfect health care for free.

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U.S. ‘Soviet-style’ education system not cutting it

Our educational system is essentially a Soviet-style government-run monopoly that could only be loved by the likes of Lenin and Stalin. Now, I know that’s a strong opening statement, but consider this: The government decides where your kids go to school; what curriculum they’ll study; and even develops long-term educational plans just like the Communists devised five-year plans. This kind of “one-size-fits-all” approach really punishes kids.

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Vulture Restaurants: Serving Up Clean Carcasses, Free of Charge

For the small number of vulture lovers the world over, good news comes this summer from Sindh, Pakistan. In June, a new “vulture restaurant” opened to provide safe food for the endangered birds — no reservations needed, but it’s always a fierce fight for the flesh. Similar vulture ventures have already been successful in South Africa, India and Nepal, where one region in which a restaurant started to provide vultures with clean carcasses saw a doubling of nesting pairs in just two years, according to Bird Conservation Nepal

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Clinton wraps up Africa tour in Cape Verde

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Cape Verde on Friday, the final stop on her seven-nation Africa tour in which she emphasized good governance and urged officials to implement reforms. Clinton is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Pedro Maria Neves before returning to the United States. The Obama administration describes the island nation on the western coast as an African success story

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WTO rules China must open markets

The United States hailed a World Trade Organization ruling to open Chinese markets and ease controls on the import of U.S. films, DVDs, music downloads and books. “Today, a WTO panel handed a significant victory to America’s creative industries,” U.S

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