Last night president Barack Obama gave a special address to the United States on the very real and very dangerous threat of defaulting on their debt that his country is looking at. In a rare prime-time address Obama warned American citizens of the dangers of defaulting and why the problem has not been addressed.

Unless action is taken, the United States will default on its debt one week from now. Congress has been working on raising the debt ceiling, a routine decision they have done numerous times since 1970, so that the US can borrow more money to pay off its bills.

Jack Layton has stepped down as leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. He made the announcement yesterday in a public address.

His voice was substantially more weary and raspy than during the election campaign that saw the NDP improve their seat total from 37 to 102.

The reason is because doctors have diagnosed him with a new form of cancer. They recommended that he step down until he it better.

In the mean-time the NDP will elect an interim leader. Hull/Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel is recommended by Layton to lead the party until he returns.

It was the grand opening bash for the 25th Nuits D’Afrique Festival and the Metropolis was buzzing with electric atmosphere. The lively crowd was instantly energized when the Soul Makossa Gang played their first riffs, and people began smiling and pulsating to an African disco beat. After a few tunes, bandleader and legendary saxophonist Manu Dibango took the stage. We were now in the presence of greatness.

Read by Danny Aubry

Produced by Erica Bridgeman

Stories written by Nikita Smith, Jacqueline Di Bartolomeo, Chris Hanna and Sofia Gay

Marriage bureaus in the state of New York were in high demand Sunday, as hundreds of gay and lesbian couples lined up on the first day the legalization of same-sex marriage came into effect in the state.

Two grandmothers were the first same-sex couple to be legally wed in the state. The couple said their vows against the backdrop of the Niagara Falls in western New York.