A Goldman Sachs analyst on Tuesday predicted that oil prices could reach $150 to $200 a barrel over the next 6 months to two years, but said that how far prices could climb still "remains a major uncertainty." Oil for June delivery hit a record of more than $120 a barrel Tuesday in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Read More in: The Decline of the U.S.

The risk of a human influenza pandemic remains real and is probably growing as the bird flu virus becomes entrenched in poultry in more countries, health officials warned on Tuesday. The H5N1 avian flu virus has infected flocks in much of Asia, Africa and parts of Europe. Experts fear it could mutate into a form that passes easily from person to person, sparking an influenza pandemic that could kill millions.

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According to a survey conducted by Tel Aviv University, 70 percent of Israeli Jews do not believe in the chances of reaching a deal with the Palestinians despite renewed peace talks. Israel and the Palestinians restarted peace talks at a US conference last November after a seven-year hiatus, but little tangible progress has been made since despite a joint commitment to try to ink a deal by the end of the year.

Read More in: The Struggle for Jerusalem

The United Nations is advising the United States and Europe to cut back on production of biofuels because they are hurting food supply at a time of rising prices. Biofuels compete with food for farming land and help to push up food prices, worsening a global crisis that is affecting millions of poor.

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The decline of the value of the dollar is hurting missionaries and relief workers around the globe. Many Christian workers overseas are struggling to meet expenses. Some have been forced to cut programs and aid.

VeriChip has launched a direct-to-consumer ID chip program known as Health Link. Consumers may now opt to have the RFID chip implanted in their arms, the transponder's unique 16-digit ID number is linked to a database containing that individual's medical records.

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The number of US homes heading toward foreclosure more than doubled in the first quarter from a year earlier, as weakening property values and tighter lending left many homeowners powerless to prevent homes from being auctioned to the highest bidder. Among the hardest hit states were Nevada, Florida and California.

Read More in: The Decline of the U.S.

Housing prices dropped in February at the fastest rate ever, reflecting that the housing slump is gaining momentum and showing no signs of letting up.

Read More in: The Decline of the U.S.

Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official in the Gaza Strip, said on Tuesday that Hamas has 200,000 people who want to blow themselves up inside Israel. Zahar says Israel will pay if it rejects the Egyptian initiative for truce with the Palestinians.

Read More in: The Struggle for Jerusalem

Some Sam's Club, Costco, and warehouse stores are limiting purchases of rice and flour. Some consumers have started hoarding rice, the food staple for half the world, as prices soar and supplies shrink.

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More than 80 percent of American Christians say they have a "moral and biblical obligation" to support the State of Israel, and half say Jerusalem should remain its undivided capital, according to a recent survey.

Read More in: The Decline of the U.S.

Only few weeks before he leaves office, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Libya to negotiate several large arms deals totaling $2.5 billion.

Read More in: The Magog Invasion