Senate Democrats End Filibustering of Presidential Appointees

In a so called "nuclear" move, Senate Democrats blocked filibusters on presidential appointees.

Their new rule also changes the votes need to approve a nominee from sixty down to just fifty-one.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid made the announcement, saying it was to end gridlocks.

While the ruling limits Republicans from blocking appointees with a direct filibuster, there are other ways left open to them.

It could also force Republicans to take more drastic moves and block lower legislation as a bartering tool.

This means that the Democrat's move will most likely cause even more gridlocks within the Senate.

Supermarket Collapse Kills 6 in Latvia

At least 53 people have been killed and many missing in a supermarket collapse in Riga, Latvia.

The collapse happened in the evening, during one of the busiest times for the store.

As the ceiling came down it brought with it walls, shattered windows, and glass doors.

Twenty minutes later, as first responders were beginning to search for survivors, another section
of the roof collapsed, killing 3 firefighters.

Rescue efforts have continued since Thursday the 21st.  A third section of the roof collapsed on Saturday but no rescue workers were injured.

Latvia has declared 3 days of mourning for victims of the collapse and Pres. Andris Berzens has urged for an independent team of experts to investigate it.  http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/23/world/europe/latvia-roof-collapse-president/ 

Updated by blessinggiver on 11/24/13 at 09:14

Volcano Creates New Island for Japan

A new island has formed in Japan's Bonin Islands.

The island erupted out of the Pacific Ocean, with an ash plume of two thousand feet.

Officials say that the volcano is about a thousand feet long by six hundred and fifty feet.

It is located in the same chain as Iwo Jima, about six hundred and fifty miles south of Tokyo.

If it can stay above the waves, Japan plans to have a contest to give the island a name.