4/29/09: Presidential Press Conference

The President gives his third prime time press conference from the East Room of the White House.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.20.08

Obama's momentum grows after two state wins.

Senator Barack Obama is surging ahead in the Democractic presidential race after winning contests in Wisconsin and Hawaii yesterday. Those wins have solidified Obama's lead over rival Senator Hillary Clinton. That makes the contests in Texas and Ohio next month must-win battles for the New York Senator. On the Republican side, John McCain widened his lead yesterday in the GOP race for the presidential nomination. The Arizona senator won victories in Wisconsin and Washington State as expected.

White House hopefuls on both sides are taking a stance on Cuba following President Fidel Castro's resignation yesterday. Democratic Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton say the U.S. should be ready to respond to reforms in that country if the new regime indicates a willingness to change. Castro's brother Raul, who's expected to take over, has raised expectations for modest reforms. But Republicans are insisting that significant benchmarks be met before there's any response from the U.S.

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf says he intends to stay in office and work with the newly elected government. That's despite calls by the opposition to step down. The Pakistan People's Party of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto won most national assembly seats. The party affiliated with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came in second. If those two big opposition parties form a coalition and grab the support of smaller groups and independents, they could gain the two-thirds majority needed to impeach Musharraf.

Space Shuttle Atlantis and its crew are back on the ground. The shuttles touched down earlier today after a 13-day journey to deliver a new European space station lab. NASA wanted Atlantis to return as soon as possible to clear the way for the Navy to shoot down a dying space satellite. That could happen as early as tomorrow.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.19.08

Castro resigns as president.

Fidel Castro is reportedly stepping down as president of Cuba. That's according to a letter he published in a state-run newspaper. Castro says his critical health condition is the main reason for his resignation. The 81-year-old commander in chief was treated for intestinal problems two years ago. Cuban leaders plan to elect a president in the next few days. Castro's brother, Raul, has been publicly named as his successor.

Early poll results indicate the rival party of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has won in yesterday's parliamentary election. The opposition parties of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appear to have grabbed the majority of votes. As results trickled in, thousands of ecstatic Pakistanis took to the streets, waving signs and singing. Musharraf has said he would accept the results and work with the winner to build democracy in the country.

Senator John McCain got a President's Day endorsement from former President George Bush. Bush defended the Arizona senator's conservative positions, calling any attacks on his record absurd and grossly unfair. Many conservatives oppose McCain's stance on issues like immigration and campaign finance. McCain responded to the former president's backing, saying his endorsement would help him enormously to unite the party and move forward.

For many yesterday, it was just a day off from work. But for others, it was a day to celebrate George Washington's birthday. Mount Vernon, which is home to Washington's estate, held a number of events, including tours and a wreath-laying ceremony to honor America's first president. Washington would have been 276 years old.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.18.08

Bush to present plan to boost economy.

President Bush is putting together an economic stimulus package in an effort to jump-start the sagging economy. He's scheduled to unveil his plan later today. That reportedly includes income tax breaks for people...up to $800 for individuals and $1,600 for married couples. Yesterday, Bush discussed options over the phone with lawmakers with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Those on Capitol Hill are reportedly considering smaller rebate checks and more money for the unemployed and people on food stamps.

And time may be running out for Republican presidential hopefully Fred Thompson. Thompson has reportedly admitted that a disappointing finish in tomorrow's GOP primary in South Carolina may end his chance in the race. The former Tennessee senator is hoping that a combination of his Southern roots and conservative views will lead to a breakthrough in South Carolina for his campaign. Thompson came in third in Iowa and received one percent of the vote in New Hampshire.

The CIA says Al-Qaida and followers of a tribal leader are to blame for the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. CIA Director Michael Hayden says fighters allied with Pakistani leader Baitullah Mehsud (By-too-la May-sood), with support from Al-Qaida, plotted Bhutto's assassination. The two groups are also apparently behind the violence that threatens to destabilize Pakistan. Hayden warns that they intend to do more harm to the country in the future.

The Israeli Defense Minister has ordered that border crossings be closed that lead to and from the Gaza Strip. This comes after days of rocket firings into Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza. More than a hundred rockets have reportedly been fired. The Israeli Army has retaliated with military strikes that have apparently killed at least two-dozen Palestinians. The border closings will block food, fuel and medicine from entering Gaza.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.02.08

Pakistan elections delayed.

Officials say parliamentary elections in Pakistan will be delayed. Members of The Election Commission of Pakistan says they'll be pushed back until February 18. Voting was supposed to take place on January 8. This comes following the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Since her death, the country has been filled with violence and rioting. Several election offices have been destroyed as a result of the riots.

With the Iowa caucuses right around the corner, one poll shows Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee are leading the way. The most recent poll out by the Des Moines Register shows Obama has the support of 32% surveyed while Senator Hillary Clinton is at 25%. Former Senator John Edwards is following close behind. The poll also shows Huckabee has a six point lead over Mitt Romney. But Iowa is still anyone's game, a large percent of voters are apparently undecided.

Violent riots and civil unrest is continuing in Nairobi, Kenya following the recent elections. At least 50 people, many of them children were found burned in a church fire there. Victims were apparently seeking refuge from the violence at the church. Riots erupted following the recent presidential election results. President Mwai Kibaki was re-elected, beating out Raila Odinga but a slim lead. At least 148 people have died since results were read.

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is apparently trying to appeal to Christian conservative voters. He's released a commercial in Iowa where he is standing in front of a Christian fish symbol. In the ad Huckabee is addressing the Iowa Christian Alliance, discussing his pro-life position on abortion. With the Iowa caucus tomorrow, he's looking to grab undecided voters.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.31.07

Bhutto's son to lead Pakistan People's Party

Benazir Bhutto's 19 year old son has been named her successor as chairman of the Pakistan People's Party. Officials say Bilawal Zardari will fill the spot for the slain former Pakistani Prime Minister after he finishes his studies. In Bhutto's will she apparently named her husband Asif Ali Zardari to head the party but he'll pass that responsibility on to their son when he's done with school. The Pakistan People's party also says it will participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections planned for January 8.

Meanwhile, U.S. Presidential candidates are attempting to show strength in international relations. Following the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, several candidates are responding to the incident. Former Democratic senator John Edwards said he spoke to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf about the future of Pakistan. Republican candidate John McCain says the elections in the country could be delayed but must move forward. Democratic Senator Barack Obama says those elections should go on as planned or very shortly after.

Violence erupted in Nairobi, Kenya following the re-election of the country's president Mwai Kibaki. In the closest election in Kenyan history, Kibaki was confirmed the winner yesterday...beating out Raila Odinga by only a little more than 230,000 votes. Rioters have been taking the streets for the past few days in anticipation of the results. It only intensified when the winner was announced. Already dozens people have reportedly died in the violence since Saturday.

Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is questioning his rival Mitt Romney's honesty. In an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday, Huckabee called Romney's campaign dishonest and said he can't be trusted in the White House. He also called Romney's political attacks on him and John McCain desperate. Romney has released TV ads recently attacking Huckabee's record on taxes and crime as Arkansas governor.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.10.07

Colorado police investigating links between shooting sprees.

Police are searching for clues in two deadly shooting sprees at Christian religious centers in Colorado yesterday. Five people, including a gunman, are dead. The violence began early Sunday morning when a man opened fire at the Youth with a Mission office in a Denver suburb after being denied a request to spend the night there. More than 12 hours later, a gunman entered the New Life Church in Colorado Springs and opened fire. Investigators reportedly believe the incidents are related, but have no evidence yet to back that up.

The party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will participate in Pakistan's parliamentary elections next month. The party made the announcement yesterday after it failed to convince rival Benazir Bhutto to join a boycott. These had been talk of general opposition boycott after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule on the country last month and dismissed independent judges. But the prospect of that has collapsed since the two largest opposition groups will now field candidates. Greater participation will make the balloting look more open, but having the opposition in the field will take away votes and seats from Musharraf's party. Musharraf has promised the elections will be "free and fair."

Nobel peace prize winner Al Gore says the U.S. presidential election campaign isn't paying attention to climate change and the environment. The former vice president made the comment when he accepted his prize earlier today. He added that if he had been president, he would have pushed climate change to the top of the agenda. Gore also called on China, who stands with the U.S. as the world's biggest carbon emitters, to make changes or stand accountable before history for failure to act.

Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee has jumped from fifth place to the front of the pack in South Carolina. He comes in at 20 percent, which puts him slightly ahead of former New York Rudy Giuliani, who's at 17 percent. At a jam-packed rally in the state this weekend, Huckabee urged his audience to vote in the January 19 GOP primary, saying they need to nail something down after coming out of Iowa and New Hampshire.