Obama: "Anywhere, Anytime" to Debate McCain on Foreign Policy

Barack Obama, May 16, 2008

UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.26.08

NY Philharmonic gives concert in North Korea.

The New York Philharmonic is now the first major American cultural group to have performed in North Korea. The orchestra began the performance earlier today with North Korea's national anthem and continued with The Star-Spangled Banner. Both reportedly received standing ovations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il apparently wasn't in attendance. The U.S. government agreed on the Philharmonic's visit when there was major progress to end the country's nuclear weapons program.

Thousands of Palestinian protesters are calling for an end to an Israeli blockade on Gaza. They're burning tires and forming a human chain with nearly 40 thousand people along the strip's 25-mile length. Israel has threatened to use deadly force if the march became an attempt to surge across the border into Israeli territory. Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas violently took control of Gaza in June.

The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is projected to grow as more soldiers leave Iraq. That's according to the Defense Department that says 4 thousand more soldiers will be deployed there by last summer. The move would bring U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan to an all-time high...about 32 thousand forces. Government officials say forces in Iraq will start to leave this summer because the temporary troop buildup is over there in July. About 140 thousand troops are predicted after the drawdown happens.

Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens could learn by the end of the week whether he'll be referred to the Justice Department for a perjury investigation. Clemens has testified before a House committee saying he never used steroids or human growth hormone. But his words contradict the testimony of his former trainer Brian McNamee. It's unclear whether the Justice Department would be asked to investigate only Clemens or also McNamee.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.17.08

Fed chief may support stimulus effort for economy.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke may encourage lawmakers today to stimulate the economy. Legislators are scheduled to question the Fed chief on steps to avoid a possible recession. Democratic lawmakers say Bernanke has already told members of Congress this week that some kind of fiscal stimulus is needed. But analysts say he'll avoid supporting any particular tax or spending policies. Doing so could spark criticism from legislators who oppose them which would put the Fed's reputation for independence at risk.

The Food and Drug Administration is declaring that cold medicines are too risky for babies and toddlers. It hasn't declared yet whether the remedies are okay for older children to continue using. The FDA says the drugs pose serious and potentially life-threatening side effects for children under two. Health groups also say that there's no evidence that oral drugs actually cure cold symptoms in children so young.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is vowing to wage a war to stop Gaza militants from firing rockets into Israel. Militants have fired about 70 rockets at southern part of the country in the past couple of days. In response, an Israeli air strike killed at least two people in Gaza and destroyed a truck. The strike reportedly intended to target a Palestinian rocket position. This is the latest in a surge violence that began after President Bush visited the area last week to spur talks on a Palestinian statehood.

The former adviser to President Bush is dismissing Senator Hillary Clinton's Michigan primary win. During a conference yesterday, Karl Rove said Clinton's victory showed signs of weakness. The former First Lady, who was the only major candidate to appear on the Democratic presidential primary ballot, received about 55 percent of the vote. Another 40 percent of those voting opted for the "uncommitted option." Rove said she ran against quote nobody and nobody got 40 percent of the vote. He also took aim at Clinton's rival, Senator Barak Obama, and questioned his lack of national experience.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.11.08

John Kerry endorses Obama for president.

Senator John Kerry is endorsing Senator Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Kerry made the announcement yesterday, saying the Illinois senator will bring the country together. The endorsement may be seen as a blow to former Senator John Edwards who's running against Obama for the White House. Edwards was Kerry's running mate in the 2004 election when Kerry was the Democratic presidential candidate.

Democrat Dennis Kucinich is calling for a recount of the New Hampshire primary. The Ohio congressman says he's concerned about the integrity of Tuesday's results after reports and allegations have surfaced questioning its credibility. Kucinich won less than 2 percent of the vote. In a letter yesterday, he said he doesn't expect significant changes in his vote total but wants assurance that all of the voters had all of their votes counted.

The Israeli government says it endorses President Bush's call for a speedy peace agreement with Palestine. However, the government cautioned that it doesn't see the final establishment of a Palestinian state this year. Bush visited the region this week in an attempt to move the process ahead. A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says the country hopes for a historic agreement in 2008 that would outline the framework of a future Palestinian state.

And scientists say they've identified more than 200 proteins in the human body that help the AIDS virus multiply and spread. That discovery gives researchers many more possibilities for developing new drugs to combat the disease. Scientists say HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS, depends on proteins in the body to fuel its growth.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.09.08

Clinton, McCain win in N.H.

Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain are the frontrunners after yesterday's primaries in New Hampshire. Clinton, who finished in third place in Iowa, rebounded to the top, overcoming Senator Barack Obama. Exit polls show female and older voters gave Clinton that much-needed boost. On the Republican side, McCain easily won over second-place finisher Mitt Romney. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who was the winner of the Iowa caucuses, finished third in New Hampshire.

And a new poll out shows McCain's stance on the Iraq war and independent voters helped him win in New Hampshire. The Arizona senator is a strong supporter of President Bush's troop buildup there. Exit polls show that McCain did well with voters who put the war at the top of their agenda. He also scored high among independents, attracting 38 percent of those votes, compared to his to rival Mitt Romney who garnered 16 percent of independents.

President Bush is visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories today in an attempt to forge ahead with the peace process there. However, no breakthroughs are expected in the three days of talks. The discussions follow up on an international conference Bush hosted in Annapolis, Maryland last November. In the next few days, the President will try to push Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to move ahead with promises made to try to forge a two-state accord before his term ends next January.

Iran is calling a conflict video released by the U.S. fabricated. The four-minute video shows a confrontation between the two nations, where small Iranian boats swarmed around U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf. A spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy reportedly says the tape was compiled using file pictures, and the audio had been made up. Another Iranian official downplayed the incident, saying it wasn't serious. However, the U.S. is calling the event a significant confrontation.