Did Bush attack Obama in Israel

At the Israeli Knesset, President George W. Bush compares those who would talk to Iran as Nazi appeasers.

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 02.15.08

Shooting leaves seven dead at Illinois university.

Seven people are dead following a shooting rampage at Northern Illinois University yesterday. More than a dozen others are wounded. The alleged gunman, Steven Kazmierczak, opened fire on a geology class before turning the gun on himself. Kazmierczak was reportedly a former graduate and undergraduate student at the university. A preliminary investigation shows the man had no contact with university police while he was a student there.

Former President George H.W. Bush will endorse John McCain in his bid for the Oval Office. This comes just one day after former Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney endorsed the Arizona senator. McCain will most likely travel to Texas next week to accept Bush's nod. The endorsement is reportedly aimed especially at Texas where voters will weigh in next month.

The House has failed to renew a surveillance measure that President Bush says is vital to tracking terrorists. The Senate approved the measure earlier this week, but it's set to expire Saturday at midnight without the House's vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to schedule a vote on the legislation before breaking yesterday for a week's recess. The bill would give government the ability to work with telecommunications companies to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists calls and emails. Under the legislation, those companies would receive retroactive protection from lawsuits over wiretapping and privacy. Many House Democrats oppose that immunity.

However, the House did vote to issue contempt citations to two Bush aides. White House chief of staff Josh Bolten and former White House lawyer Harriet Miers refused to cooperate in an investigation into the controversial firings of those U.S. attorneys, citing President Bush's executive privilege. Bush has invoked the privilege that protects all former and current White House officials from testifying about this issue. The contempt citations were the first approved by Congress against the executive branch since the Reagan administration.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.04.08

Bush send Congress $3.1 trillion budget.

Congress received a $3.1 trillion budget from President Bush earlier today. The proposal, for the 2009 fiscal year, would provide a big boost in defense spending and protect his signature tax cuts. It would save in the area of government health care, by slowing the growth of Medicare and Medicaid. However, Bush's spending blueprint would still generate huge budget deficits...about $400 billion for this year and next. Democrats attacked his plan saying the budget leads to more deficit, debt, tax cuts and more cutbacks in critical services.

A new poll shows Senator Hillary Clinton losing ground to Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. This comes on the eve of the critical Super Tuesday nominating contests. The two are now virtually tied, which indicates the New York Senator has lost a comfortable lead nationally that she's held for months. Analysts say endorsements from Oprah Winfrey, Maria Shriver, and Caroline Kennedy has given Obama a lot of momentum in this campaign. On the Republican side, the survey shows Arizona senator John McCain as the clear Republican front-runner.

One person is dead following a suicide blast earlier today at an Israeli shopping center.
Eleven others are wounded. An Israeli police officer may have prevented a second suicide bombing from happening in the same place when the officer shot a man wearing an explosives belt. That man had been knocked down by the initial blast. A number of Palestinian militant groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack was the first in Israel in more than a year.

And the New York Giants scored a last-minute touchdown over the New England Patriots to win last night's Super Bowl, 17 to 14. The upset shattered the Patriots' hope of becoming the first team since 1972 to complete a National Football League season undefeated. The win gives New York its first NFL title since 1991. Giants' quarterback Eli Manning was named the game's Most Valuable Player, a year after his brother, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, took the same honor.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.29.08

Bush talks about economy, Iraq war in speech.

President Bush used his last State of the Union speech to call for a boost in the uncertain economy. He also spoke about recent progress in the Iraq war. In his address to the nation last night, he called on lawmakers to pass an economic stimulus plan quickly. Bush also said he would cut or eliminate more than 150 wasteful government programs in his budget for 2009, saving $18 billion. And he demanded Congress to rein in pork barrel spending, which is money for special projects often slipped into bills at the last minute.

Arizona Senator John McCain and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney are neck in neck in the Republican primary as Florida voters head to the polls today. If McCain wins the state, his status as front-runner will be sealed. If Romney wins, the race for the GOP presidential nomination is anyone's game. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, who's concentrated his campaign in the Sunshine state, is reportedly trailing behind both McCain and Romney.

Senator Edward Kennedy says he and the Clintons will remain friends despite his endorsement yesterday of Senator Barack Obama for president. Kennedy says he doesn't harbor any ill feelings toward his old friends, Hillary and Bill. Senator Hillary Clinton is Obama's chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination. At a rally yesterday, Kennedy said Illinois senator's ready to be president on day one.

And Bill Gates signed an agreement with the city of Paris today to form a digital partnership. That means the founder of Microsoft's foundation will train the unemployed in computers and give advice about starting-up the partnership. They'll also support corporations that develop software solutions to help protect the environment.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.28.08

Bush to announce earmark changes tonight.

President Bush is expected to announce big changes tonight in the way lawmakers earmark money for their own special projects. Bush will deliver his last State of the Union address as president this evening to the nation. He'll reportedly sign an executive order tomorrow that says Congress should debate spending items in the open and hold a public vote. Besides the issue of earmarks, the President is expected to talk about Iraq, the economy, permanent extensions of his tax cuts and free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama.

Lebanon is declaring a day of mourning today after eight people were killed overnight in anti-government rioting. Dozens of others were wounded. The violence happened in Beirut's mostly Shi'ite southern suburbs. Demonstrators reportedly took to the streets, setting fire to vehicles, to protest cuts in electricity. However, Lebanon's pro-Western government accuses protestors of deliberately trying to create violence.

Five U.S. soldiers are dead following a roadside bomb attack in Iraq. Today's incident in the northern city of Mosul was one of the deadliest attacks against U.S. troops in months. The U.S. military says Al Qaeda has regrouped in northern provinces after being driven away from western areas like Anbar and from around Baghdad during security crackdowns.

Senator Edward Kennedy will endorse Senator Barack Obama for president. Kennedy reportedly intends to announce his support for the Illinois senator later today. His niece, Caroline Kennedy, who's daughter of the late president, has already endorsed Obama. She wrote in the New York Times saying the first-time senator seems to be able to inspire people the way her father did a half century ago.

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 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS 01.17.08

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds' marriage ends.

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds are calling it quits just two weeks after their wedding. In a joint statement the pair tell People magazine they've decided to "forego a legal ceremony." The actor and film executive had a wedding ceremony near Bora Bora New Years Day, but because it was not in the U.S., it wasn't official. Edmonds and Murphy say they've now decided just to stay friends.

Jenna Bush is reportedly planning a spring wedding. Sources tell People magazine the President's daughter will marry Henry Hager on May 10. One source says the ceremony will take place at President Bush's Crawford, Texas Ranch. She's apparently already picked her bridesmaids. Bush and Hager were engaged last August.

The cast of "Mad Money" rang in the opening bell at the NASDAQ yesterday. Katie Holmes, Queen Latifah, and Diane Keaton were all in New York for the special occasion. It's all part of the promotion for their new film. "Mad Money" is about 3 federal reserve employees trying to steal money. It also stars Ted Danson and Adam Rothenberg. The movie hits theaters tomorrow.

"Atonement" is getting high praise from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. It grabbed 14 BAFTA nominations including best film, best lead actress for Keira Kightley and best actor for James McAvoy. The film's director Joe Wright and screenwriter Christopher Hampton also earned nods. The awards will be announced at a ceremony in London on February 10.

Stars are preparing for the release of a new sci-fi thriller. Lizzy Caplan and Jessica Lucas attended the LA premiere of their new film "Cloverfield" last night. Actress Lindsay Lohan also stepped out into the spotlight for the special screening. The movie is about a monster attack taking place in New York. "Cloverfield" is heading to theaters tomorrow.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 01.15.08

Bush pushes for more oil production.

President Bush is calling on oil producing countries to put more oil on the world market. Earlier today, the President met with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, whose country holds the world's largest oil supply. He warned that soaring oil prices could cause an economic slowdown in the U.S., and increased production would be helpful to American consumers. OPEC, which is the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, will meet next month to consider increasing output.

Meanwhile, a special commission is urging the government to raise federal gasoline taxes by as much as 40 cents per gallon over five years. The commission, which conducted a two-year study, says increasing those taxes would ease traffic congestion and repair the nation's decaying bridges and roads. This comes after the devastating bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August. Under the recommendation, the current tax of 18.4 cents per gallon for unleaded gas would be increased annually, anywhere from 5 to 8 cents each year.

And federal investigators have concluded that steel plates on that interstate bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis last year are to blame for the disaster. The plates were reportedly not sufficient to hold the structure together. The collapse claimed the lives of 13 people. About 100 others were injured. The National Transportation Safety Board is planning to call on states today to do safety checks on gusset plates in bridges any time they add weight to a structure. Thirty years ago, additional pavement was added to the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis that increased its weight.

Michigan voters are heading to the polls today for the state's GOP primary. Polls show former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has a narrow lead over Senator John McCain. Mike Huckabee is currently in third place. All of the Republican presidential frontrunners are pledging to turn around Michigan's struggling economy. The state has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at 7.4 percent. That's compared to 5 percent nationally.

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.

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.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.21.07

Schwarzenegger suing federal government.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is planning to sue the federal government. That's after it decided not to allow a California plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project would have allowed the state to cut emissions faster than a new federal plan the president signed into law earlier this week. President Bush says the decision to nix the project is based on the fact that the new legislation allows for a national strategy. Schwarzenegger says he would like to set a higher standard for California.

Republican Tom Tancredo is bowing out of the presidential race. Instead, he says he'll endorse Mitt Romney's candidacy. Tancredo is a fierce opponent of illegal immigration and kept the issue active in many GOP debates he participated in. However, his campaign struggled to gain popularity. A poll released earlier this week showed the Colorado congressman registered less than one percent support nationally.

Belgium is tightening its security today amid fears of a possible terrorist attack in that country. Fourteen suspected Islamic militants have been arrested in connection with an armed plot to free an Al Qaeda suspect from jail. Authorities believe the weapons and explosives could also be used for other means. There are now increased police patrols at Brussels' international airport, on trains and in shopping centers.

At least 50 people are dead after an attack in a mosque in northern Pakistan. Dozens of others are injured. The bomb targeted a former Pakistani interior minister reportedly over his supervision of militants in the country's tribal areas. The blast left bloody clothes, shoes and pieces of flesh scattered across the mosque.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.18.07 (500th Post)

House passes spending bill to fund war, agencies.

Money for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq is no longer likely to be cut. That's because the House approved a $516 billion spending bill yesterday that funds the wars in both of those countries as well as 14 Cabinet agencies. President Bush says he'll sign the measure if $40 billion more is added by the Senate for the Iraq war. The Senate is expected to debate the bill today, and analysts predict that it'll pass. The measure mostly falls within Bush's budget, but does shift billions of dollars into politically sensitive programs he sought to cut.

Bill Clinton says former President George H.W. Bush will pitch in to help him and his wife when they move into the White House. The Democratic president hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton will apparently dispatch Clinton and Bush on an around-the-world mission to repair the damage done to America's reputation by Bush's son, President George W. Bush. Clinton added that that would be his wife's number one priority as president. There's no comment yet on whether George H.W. Bush would chip in when his son leaves office next year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he'll become prime minister if the man he's backing for president wins elections. Dmitry Medvedev is Putin's choice as successor. Yesterday, he was officially confirmed as the presidential candidate for the United Russia Party. Shortly after, Medvedev asked Putin to serve as prime minister if elected. The 42-year-old presidential candidate is expected to win in elections scheduled for next March.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced trip to Iraq earlier today. She visited the volatile northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, then went onto Baghdad to meet with Iraqi officials there. It was reported that she was also meeting with President Jalal Talabani there. The trip comes as Turkish troops recently crossed into Iraq to attack Kurdish separatist rebels. It's a conflict that the U.S., Iraq, and the Kurdish Regional Government don't want to spiral out of control.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.13.07

No fireworks in last night's Republican debate.

Last night's debate among Republican presidential candidates in Iowa lacked any brutal exchanges. That's despite previous meetings that resembled more of a street-fighting scene. The debate focused on education and economic issues while hot-button topics like illegal immigration weren't discussed. Nor was Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton mentioned, who's been a top target in most of the recent GOP debates.

For a second time in three months, President Bush vetoed a children's health bill. The bill would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program by $35 billion over five years and would have boosted its enrollment to about 10 million children. Bush said he vetoed the bill for the same reasons as the previous one, saying that it raised cigarette taxes and provided coverage for children of middle-class families, instead of the working poor. This was the President's seventh veto in seven years.

Democratic lawmakers say they're closing in on a budget deal that would give President Bush as much as $70 billion in war funding. The deal would lack a key condition Democrats had attached to previous funding bills that called for most U.S. troops to come home from Iraq by the end of 2008. That omission would be a significant legislative victory for Bush. Democratic sources say the president is likely to get new money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before Congress adjourns for the year

Former Vice-President Al Gore says the U.S. is principally responsible for blocking progress at the United Nations Climate Conference. Gore made at the comment at the conference earlier today and urged delegates there to take immediate action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. The U.S., Japan and several other governments don't accept a draft document that suggests industrialized nations cut emissions by 25 to 40 percent by the year 2020. They say specific targets would limit the scope of future talks.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.12.07

Obama and Clinton now tied in New Hampshire.

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama has inched ahead in New Hampshire while the popularity of his rival, Senator Hillary Clinton has slightly dropped. That's according to a poll released today. The shift comes a month before the first presidential primary. Clinton fell 5 percentage points since a previous survey in November. Obama has gained 8 percentage points. Meanwhile, the poll shows that Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee has yet to catch fire in New Hampshire despite a dramatic jump in some Iowa and national surveys.

President Bush's list of pardons doesn't include his vice-president's former top aide, Scooter Libby. Libby was convicted in the case of the leaked identity of a CIA operative. Yesterday, Bush issued pardons to 29 convicts, including carjackers and drug dealers, and reduced the prison sentence of one more. The move is an end-of-the-year presidential tradition. In July, Bush commuted Libby's 2 and a half-year sentence, sparing him from serving any prison time.

A new poll shows more Americans are worried about the economy rather than the war in Iraq. Fifty-seven percent believe the nation is in a recession. That's the first time in more than four years that a majority believes that. The economy is now the biggest issue in the presidential campaign. Following the economy, Poll respondents said health care and illegal immigration were of concern.

Rescuers are searching for survivors after two car bombs ripped through Algeria's capital yesterday. The attack leveled government and U.N. buildings. Officials say at least 26 are dead, but the actual toll is still unclear. At least 10 U.N. staffers were among those killed. Rescuers are working around the clock to try to pull people who are trapped. Al-Qaeda militant have claimed responsibility for the attack.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.07.07

CIA says interrogation tapes were destroyed.

The CIA reportedly destroyed tapes of terror suspect interrogations. CIA Director Michael Hayden says the interrogations were videotaped in 2002 and then destroyed in 2005...fearing the footage would be leaked to the public. The Agency apparently wanted to protect the identities of the questioners. Senator Patrick Leahy called the destruction "troubling." Hayden says the House and Senate intelligence committee leaders knew of the tapes and knew that the CIA planned to get rid of them. He added that the interrogation practices were all legal.

President Bush has unveiled a plan to help struggling homeowners. Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said yesterday the plan will help about 1.2 million Americans facing possible foreclosures. It will reportedly freeze interest rates on many adjustable rate mortgages for many homeowners. Those who will be affected by the plan are those with loans agreed to from January 2005 through July 2007 that are expected to adjust between January of next year and July 2010.

NASA says the Atlantis space shuttle will stay grounded until at least Saturday. The crew planned on taking off yesterday afternoon but had to be delayed because of problems with the fuel gauges. Mnagers of the space mission have decided to wait until the weekend giving engineers more time to carefully fix the problem. Atlantis is set to visit the International Space Station to deliver a European lab module...used to increase research capabilities.

Shopping malls around the U.S. are expected to start looking at ways to keep shoppers safe. This comes after a man opened fire at a Nebraska mall killing 8 people and himself. A spokesman for the International Council of Shopping Malls says there are often copycats in situations like this and it's important to consider having extra security officers and securing entrances.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 12.05.07

Bush says Iran is still a danger.

President Bush says there'll be no change in U.S. policy on Iran. That's after a report was released this week saying the country halted a secret nuclear weapons program four years ago and hadn't resumed work as of this year. Bush said he still believes Iran is dangerous and the international community must remain vigilant.

Meanwhile, Iran has welcomed that new U.S. intelligence report. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the report a "declaration of victory" for the country's nuclear program. Another government official said that his government would welcome any countries wanting to correct their views toward Iran. Officials didn't address the intelligence report's finding Iran was actively trying to build nuclear weapons before 2003.

Republican Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is calling on his supporters to end what's known as "push-polling." Push-polling is a tactic that offers negative information about a candidate's rivals in ads. A group founded by some of Huckabee's supporters launched a series of automated calls to Iowa Republican voters over the weekend. But the group's executive director says he doesn't plan on stopping since the effort is completely independent from Huckabee for president campaign. The former Arkansas governor oftentimes boasts about running an above-the-mud campaign that doesn't smear his GOP rivals.

A staff member of Senator Maria Cantwell is facing child sex charges. The 28-year-old staffer was arrested by federal agents last Friday after he allegedly tried to arrange to have sex with a 13-year-old boy. A spokesman for the Democratic Washington Senator said the man was immediately fired. He added that Cantwell has zero tolerance for crimes against children.

MOMMAS TEACH YOUR CHILDRENS WELL

Bush, "Childrens Do Learn"