UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.25.08

Egpyt closes off parts of border to Gaza.

Egypt is now sealing off parts of its border with Gaza. That's after tens of thousands of Palestinians have crossed back and forth with little interference for the past two days. Earlier this week, Palestinians breached a border crossing, allowing them to get supplies since Israel sealed its border with Gaza a week ago. Egyptian soldiers in riot gear formed a human chain today while other soldiers rolled out barbed wire. The U.S. and Israel have been pressuring the country to close open border areas because they're worried that terrorists with weapons could travel undetected from Egypt into the Palestinian territory.

Washington leaders have agreed on a stimulus plan to give American taxpayers rebates of $600 or more, but people may not see that money for a while. Government officials say it could be May or June before Americans get any real cash. That's because the IRS has to cut the checks, and the agency is now in the middle of the '07 tax-filing season. However, nothing can get started until the bill is passed by the House and Senate. Congressional leaders say they hope to have legislation on the President's desk by the middle of next month.

Democrat Dennis Kucinich is reportedly dropping out of the presidential race. The congressman from Cleveland told a newspaper yesterday that he would make his withdrawal announcement today. The 61 year old has been an outspoken Iraq war critic who's consistently voted against funding the war and led anti-war efforts in Congress. Kucinich has said he won't endorse another candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

An explosion in Beirut today has killed four people, including Lebanon's top anti-terror investigating officer. The attack, which wounded 38 others, happened in a Christian neighborhood northeast of the capital. Violence has escalated in Lebanon as pro and anti-Syrian lawmakers in parliament are locked in a battle to elect a president. The country has been without a leader since November when pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud (a-meel la-hood) stepped down at the end of his term.

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.