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 02.14.08

Obama wins three more primaries.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is now the winner of eight consecutive nominating contests. That's after he swept the Mid-Atlantic primaries yesterday, winning Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. The Illinois senator's success has reportedly put him ahead of his rival, Senator Hillary Clinton in the number of delegates earned. Obama apparently has 1,215 delegates and Clinton has 1,190. A candidate must receive 2,025 delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination.

And Republican White House hopeful John McCain has beat out former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in all three of yesterday's GOP primaries. The former governor is vowing to stay in the race, pledging to be a solid, conservative, pro-life candidate as an alternative to McCain.

A man who's suspected in some of the deadliest terror attacks around the world and is now dead. Imad Mughniyeh reportedly died in an explosion in Syria earlier today. Mughniyeh was a Hezbollah commander who was considered to be a role model for Osama bin Laden. Hezbollah is blaming Israel for the man's death, but Israeli officials are denying involvement. Mughniyeh was suspected in the 1983 bombing on the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon and the 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 847.

Pro-baseball pitcher Roger Clemens is facing his accusers today at a congressional panel who've accused him of using steroids. That panel is examining performance-enhancing drug-use in baseball. Clemens' former trainer, Brian McNamee will be there along with Charlie Scheeler, an investigator for that eye-opening report that alleged dozens of players had used the drugs. McNamee says he injected Clemens with performance enhancers.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.05.08

Voters go to the polls for Super Tuesday.

Voters from coast to coast are heading to the polls on this Super Tuesday... a pivotal day for the Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls. Twenty-four states are voting in what is nearly a national polling day. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are in a virtual dead heat nationally for the Democratic presidential nomination.

On the Republican side, Arizona senator John McCain is heading into today as the front-runner. But former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is stepping up his attacks on McCain, declaring he's the true conservative. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who's still in the race, is aiming for a strong showing in the South.

Meanwhile, John McCain has won a key endorsement from former New York Governor George Pataki. That backing, coupled with the support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, could play an important role in today's vote.

Former New York Yankees Pitcher Roger Clemens is on Capitol Hill today to testify about whether he used performance-enhancing drugs. His appearance comes one day after his Yankees teammate and workout partner, Andy Pettitte, gave a deposition there yesterday. Both players are part of a hearing next week that will reportedly focus on allegations made by the Mitchell Report that Clemens was injected more than a dozen times with human growth hormone and steroids. The 45-year-old pitcher has denied ever taking any drugs.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.07.08

Barack Obama, John McCain lead in N.H.

A new poll out shows Senator Barack Obama leading over Senator Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. The state will hold its primaries tomorrow. Obama, who won last week's Iowa caucuses, stands at 39 percent. Clinton is at 29 percent. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain leads former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney by a narrower margin...32 to 26 percent. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is in third place at 14 percent.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is blaming former prime minister Benazir Bhutto for her own assassination. Musharraf says it was her fault to stand up outside the car. Bhutto was killed last month while she was standing in an armored moving car after rallying supporters for parliamentary elections. Those elections have now been postponed. Her head was above the roof and unprotected. The cause of her death is still not clear. Musharraf says he welcomes an international investigation.

The U.S. Supreme Court is taking up the issue of lethal injection today. It will hear arguments in a death penalty case to decide whether the lethal injections used to execute criminals cause unacceptable pain. The court's ruling is expected by the end of June. It could decide if the current lethal drug combination is constitutional or whether states have to come up with alternatives that pose less risk of pain and suffering.

In sports, former major-league pitcher Roger Clemens is suing his ex-trainer for defamation over allegations of steroid use. The trainer reportedly injected Clemens with steroid and human growth hormones between 1998 and 2001. The lawsuit claims the trainer was threatened with jail if he didn't connect the pitcher to steroids. Both men are expected to testify under oath next week before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.