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 01.14.08

Romney leads in Michigan primary.

The top GOP White House hopefuls are making last-minute efforts to win over Michigan voters before tomorrow's primary there. The most recent polls show former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in the lead over Arizona Senator John McCain. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is currently in third place. Romney, who's a Michigan native, has spent $2 million in ads for Michigan...the most of any of the candidates. He and his rivals are focusing on the state's economic concerns, trying to ease fears and convince voters the situation can be improved.

On the Democratic side, the issue of race is heating up between presidential hopefuls and Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Yesterday, Clinton accused Obama of distorting what she said last week to Fox News about the 1960s U.S. civil rights movement. Some have interpreted what Clinton said as giving U.S. President Lyndon Johnson more credit than Martin Luther King for advancing the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Obama responded to Clinton's claim saying it was quote ludicrous, but said the former first lady had offended some Americans with her comment.

Peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas could begin as early as today. The two agreed yesterday to authorize discussions. The announcement comes three days after President Bush visited Israel and the Palestinian territories to promote peace efforts. The core issues that still need to be worked out include Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the right of Palestinian refugees to return to Israel, and the future status of Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, President Bush is in Saudi Arabia today to garner support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. He's also encouraging U.S.-led efforts to contain Iran on his Middle East tour. Bush is asking his Arab allies to provide diplomatic and financial backing to Palestinian leaders who are negotiating with Israel. The President will make a stop in Egypt tomorrow before returning to Washington on Wednesday.

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 01.10.08

Bush expects Mideast peace treaty by next year.

President Bush is predicting that a Middle East peace treaty would be signed by the time he leaves office in 2009. This comes as Bush visits Israel and the Palestinian territories this week and meets with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The President said both men realize the importance of democratic states living together in peace.

New Mexico governor Bill Richardson is reportedly quitting the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. The governor finished fourth place in both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. A Democratic strategist says the lack of votes and money Richardson received during his campaign are forcing him to drop out.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is apparently beginning to research whether to jump into the presidential race. Sources say data is being gathered but the mayor hasn't begun analyzing it. Bloomberg has reportedly decided on early March as a timetable for making a decision. It's been widely speculated that the mayor is interested in running for the White House as an independent.

Six U.S. soldiers are dead following a house explosion in Iraq. They were killed yesterday when a bomb exploded in a booby-trapped house while on patrol north of Baghdad. Four soldiers were also wounded in the attack. The incident was the first involving multiple deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq since September.