Hi, I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI news update on this Friday, May 16, 2008. Osama bin Laden is urging his followers to liberate Palestine in a new audio tape he's reportedly released. The Al Qaeda leader's message coincides with Israel's 60 anniversary. In the tape that appears on Jihadist websites, Bin Laden reportedly told listeners that freeing Palestine should be the goal of every Muslim and claimed that Israel has engaged in terror. More than 4 thousand aftershocks have hit China since Monday's devastating earthquake there. Those shocks have triggered landslides, blocked roads, knocked out phone lines, and complicated rescue efforts. The official death toll now stands at more than 22 thousand, but officials warn it could top 50 thousand. But, survivors are still being pulled from the rubble days after the 7.9 magnitude quake rocked the southwest part of the country. Gay and lesbian couples have been given permission to marry in California. That's after California's Supreme Court overturned a state ban on same-sex marriage yesterday. Couples could tie the knot in as little as a month, but the new law may not last long. Religious and social conservatives are pressing to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would undo the Supreme Court ruling and ban gay marriage. (should be photos of Bush speaking from yesterday) Senator Barack Obama is expected to respond directly to President Bush's criticism of his foreign policy vision. Obama's response will come at a campaign event later today in South Dakota. During an address in Israel yesterday, Bush compared leaders who were open to dialogue with nations like Iran to Nazi appeasers in the years leading up to the World War II. The White House has denied the remarks were aimed at Obama. That's all for now. Check out our wrap-up from the White House on upi.com today, and for all of us at UPI, have a nice weekend.

Hello and welcome to a UPI weekly White House wrap-up. This week, President Bush was warmly welcomed in Israel by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Bush and the First Lady paid a visit there to celebrate the country's 60th anniversary and try to advance the Mideast peace process. The President says he hopes to reach a framework for a peace agreement by the end of the year. The U.S. is offering China half a million dollars to help with earthquake relief efforts. Bush spoke to China's president earlier this week to offer his condolences and assistance. The White House says the money is an initial contribution, and the U.S. will consider additional funding when needs become evident. Congress is defying President Bush on his strategic petroleum oil reserve. This week, lawmakers voted to stop filling the reserve in an effort to alleviate increasing gas prices., but Bush is expected to veto the final bill. The President opposes the measure because he says limiting supplies could threaten national security. If deliveries to the reserve are suspended, analysts say people would save about 4 to 5 cents a gallon. That's all for now. Thanks for watching, and see you next week for another White House wrap-up.

Hello, I'm Kristin Volk on this Tuesday, the 15 day of April 2008 with a UPI news headline. At least 60 people are dead after bombs exploded in Baghdad and two other major cities in Iraq today. The deadliest attack happened in the city of Baquba when a car bomb detonated outside of a crowded restaurant. Another attack happened in Anbar province when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant. Two roadside bombs exploded in Baghdad. Republican presidential candidate John McCain is calling for an end to earmarks, a suspension of the gas tax, and government-backed mortgages. The Arizona senator presented his economic-revival plan earlier today, calling it big and ambitious. McCain also wants to create a new, simpler income tax system that offers two basic rates. His Democratic rivals, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have criticized McCain's past economic proposals, saying they won't help ease the credit or housing crisis. Delta and Northwest Airlines have agreed to merge in a multi-billion dollar deal that will create the world's largest airline. If approved by antitrust regulators, the combined company will be called Delta. Delta said the carrier wouldn't close any hub cities of both airlines and serve nearly 400 destinations in 67 countries. But the deal could lead to less competition and higher fares on some routes where the two carriers now compete. A new poll out shows Senator Hillary Clinton has slightly increased her lead over rival Senator Barack Obama in Pennsylvania. The results come one week before the crucial April 22 primary in that state and just after Obama made controversial comments about small-town Americans. The New York Senator reportedly holds a six-point lead over Obama, with Clinton at 49 percent and the Illinois Senator at 43 percent. Clinton's margin is two points higher than it was last week. Thanks for watching today's news headline, and check out our new special segment called Too Elderly to Vote? on upi.com today.

Hi on this Tuesday, April 15, 2008. I'M Rebecca Field with today's UPI entertainment update. Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler are celebrating big wins from last night's Country Music Television Awards last night. Swift took two trophies including the top prize of video of the year for Our Song. Pickler, who couldn't make the ceremony, took 3 awards including breakthrough video窶ヲwhich she accepted via satellite. Other winners included the Rascal Flatts who took best group video for Take Me There and Sugarland who won the duo video award for Stay. Trace Adkins also scored male video of the year for I got My Game on and Brad Paisley took the prize for comedy video for his song Online. Rob Lowe's former nanny is accusing him of sexual harassment. According to a lawsuit filed yesterday, the actor's household employee says he exposed himself to her and touched her inappropriately. This comes several days after Lowe posted a statement on a blog accusing the nanny of extortion窶ヲsaying she had threatened to leak details about him and his wife unless they gave him 1.5 million dollars. The woman worked for the actor and his wife for 7 years on and off. Pete Wentz is rejecting rumors that his fiancテゥ Ashlee Simpson is pregnant. In an email to MTV the fall out boy bassist says the reports are crazy and it's all news to him if Simpson is expecting. Several publications said yesterday that sources had leaked the pregnancy. The couple announced their engagement last week. Toni Braxton is canceling several upcoming shows to rest and recuperate. The singer reportedly called off performances in Las Vegas until at least May. She's apparently going to undergo medical tests to figure out why she has been sick lately. Braxton was hospitalized last week for chest pains. She also has spoken publicly about having a heart condition. That's all for now. Check out a new special segment on upi.com called Too Elderly to Vote?

Hello on this Monday, the 14 day of April 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with today's news update. President Bush will greet Pope Benedict the 16 in a big way tomorrow. The President will pick him up at the airport. It's the first time Bush has greeted a visiting leader this way. Benedict will arrive at Andrews Air Force Base. On Wednesday, 12 thousand people are expected at the White House for the pope's official arrival ceremony. The President of the World Bank is calling for immediate action to deal with rising food prices. Robert Zoellick said yesterday that those increases have caused hunger and deadly violence in several countries. Zoellick urged governments around the world to give $500 million in emergency aid to the U.N. World Food Program. Senator Barack Obama is trying to mend his relationship with small town Pennsylvania voters after he made a comment last week about their bitterness. Obama was at a fundraiser in San Francisco when he said that those in quaint communities who have lost their jobs are bitter and have clung to guns or religion as way to explain their frustrations. His rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, responded saying his comments were elitist. Obama has admitted that his words were not well chosen. Zimbabwe's High Court has ruled that it will not force its electoral commission to release the results of last month's presidential election. The electoral commission has said it's still verifying the votes. Zimbabwe's opposition party says it will appeal the decision and accuses the country's president of withholding the results as a way to stay in power. Thanks for watching today's webcast. And check out our other videos on upi.com including our special segments, our entertainment updates and our wrap-ups from the White House. Reply Forward

Hello on this Friday, the 11 day of April 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. A Marine suspected of killing a pregnant colleague is now in police custody. Authorites arrested Cpl Cesar Laurean yesterday in Mexico after a three-month international manhunt. His fellow Marine's remains were found in January in the backyard of his home in North Carolina. Laurean told police he slept in fields and survived by eating fruit that he found. American Airlines is canceling 595 more flights today to inspect for faulty wiring. The move comes after federal regulators called for new inspections this week after previous repairs failed to meet Federal Aviation Administration standards. In the past three days, the airline has grounded nearly 2,500 flights because of inspection issues. Tens of thousands of passengers have been affected nationwide. Meanwhile, Frontier Airlines has filed for bankruptcy protection. But unlike other airlines that have filed for bankruptcy in recent weeks, the company says it plans to keep running while it reorganizes. The low-cost carrier says it's been affected by rising fuel costs and the credit crisis in financial markets. ATA Airlines, Skybus and Aloha airgroup have all filed for bankruptcy recently. Fire officials in Terre Haute, Indiana are investigating an early morning fire that destroyed Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign headquarters there. Two women were reportedly inside the headquarters when the fire broke out. Both got out safely. There's no word on what caused the fire and where it started. That's all for now. Check out our weekly wrap-up from the White House on upi.com today. For all of us at UPI, have a safe and pleasant weekend.

Hello on this Friday, April 11, 2008. I'm Rebecca Field with today's UPI entertainment update. Many American Idol fans are shocked after last night's elimination. The Australian born singer Michael Johns got the boot on the show after getting the lowest number of viewer votes. The audience started booing when the singer was sent packing. Johns sang Aerosmith's Dream on earlier this week and got pretty good reviews from the show's judges. It was also his first time in the bottom three. Actress Mischa Barton is spending time on probation. A Los Angeles judge sentenced the actress to 3 years unsupervised probation in her DUI case. The actress escaped jail time by pleading no contest to the charge and agreeing on a plea deal with prosecutors. She has also been ordered to take an alcohol education class and pay a nearly 2000 dollar fine. Barton was arrested last year when she was spotted weaving down a highway. Ashlee Simpson's family members are weighing in on her engagement. According to People magazine, her sister Jessica says she couldn't be happier about her sister's upcoming marriage to Pete Wentz. Their Dad, Joe Simpson also confirmed Wentz asked his permission to pop the question, and he told the musician he would be honored to welcomed him to the family. Juan Luis Guerra is celebrating big wins after last night's Latin Billboard Music Awards. The Dominican singer took 3 trophies, including artist of the year and producer of the year. Other winners include Fanny Lu of Columbia...she snagged an award for her song Y Si Te Digo. And Aventura took hot Latin song of the year for Mi Corozoncito. Donny and Marie Osmond are teaming up to host a Mother's day special. The brother and sister duo will reportedly host Teleflora Presents America's Favorite Mom...set to air on NBC on May 11. On the show, the Osmonds will crown a deserving mom...based on online viewer votes. Donny says he and Marie are excited to be involved in honoring America's real treasures. That's all for now. Be sure to check out our weekly report from the White House today on upi.com.

Hello and welcome to a UPI weekly White House wrap-up. This week, President Bush decided to suspend U.S. troops withdrawals from Iraq this summer. But he's also agreed to shorten the tours of duty to one year instead of 15 months. This came as Bush endorsed recommendations by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus. The military will now complete a previously-scheduled withdrawal in July, then impose a 45-day freeze to assess the security situation before considering more cuts. President Bush admitted that he may skip the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. His absence would be in protest of China's human rights record and its crackdown on Tibet. A White House spokesperson did say that Bush might attend some athletic events at the Games in August if he skipped the opening. Former convicts will now receive more help from the government once they're released from prison. President Bush signed the Second Chance Act yesterday, which will assist ex-prisoners to find transitional housing, expand job training and placement services, and provide mentoring. Bush says the bill will help those individuals reclaim their lives. Thanks for watching this UPI wrap-up, and have a nice weekend.

Hello on this Thursday April 10, 2008. I'm Rebecca Field with your UPI entertainment update. Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are making it official. In a statement, Simpson says she and the fallout boy bassist are engaged. Rumors of the couple's plan to wed have been circulating since February when the singer was seen sporting a diamond ring. The two have been dating since fall 2006. Katie Couric may be making an early exit from CBS. The Wall Street Journal reports network executives say the anchor is thinking about leaving her spot on the evening news in January of 2009...even though her contract has her signed on until 2011. Couric left the Today show in 2006 to go to CBS. But ratings for the Evening News have been low...putting the broadcast in a continual third place among it's rivals at NBC and ABC. Sean and Robin Wright Penn are reportedly trying to work things out. E! News says the couple requested proceedings for their divorce be dismissed...their request was granted. The two have been married more than 11 years and have two teenage children together. Wright Penn first filed for divorce last year citing irreconcilable differences. Looks like they're now trying to work those differences out. Some of the fan's favorite pop stars were honored last night. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers recognized big stars at the Annual Pop Music Awards last night in Hollywood. Some of the winners include Fergie and Gwen Stefani who shared the award for song of the year... Fergie for Big Girls Don't Cry and Stefani for The Great Escape. Timbaland was named songwriter of the year and Justin Timberlake also took honors for his songs My Love and Until the end of Time. Lionel Richie and Steve Miller were given lifetime achievement awards. Stars hit the red carpet in another part of LA last night for the premiere of the horror film Prom Night. The film's stars Brittany Snow and Scott Porter attended the event. Along with other cast members like Dana Davis and Jessica Stroup. The thriller is about a prom night gone sour when a killer is on the loose. It hits theaters tomorrow. That's all for now. Tune in tomorrow for another UPI update. Thanks for watching.

Hello on this Thursday, the 10 day of April 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI news update. Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama says he supports China to host the Summer Olympics. But he insisted today that nobody has the right to tell protesters demanding freedom for Tibet to shut up. Protesters have showed up in cities around the world to show sympathy for Tibet. Last month, anti-government riots erupted there as Chinese officials have tightly restricted access to Tibet. Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign is $2.5 million richer today after music legend Elton John played a benefit concert for her last night. John said he's always been a Clinton supporter, believing there's no one more qualified to lead America than her. Seats were filled by fans paying as much as $2300, which is the limit for an individual's contribution to a federal candidate. The New York Senator's husband, former President Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea, preceded John on stage. Prisoners will now receive more help from the government when they're released from prison. President Bush signed the Second Chance Act yesterday, which will assist ex-prisoners to find transitional housing, expand job training and placement services, and provide mentoring. Bush says the bill will help those individuals reclaim their lives. Airline officials say aging U.S. planes are crippling the airline industry. The news comes as American Airlines expects to cancel another 900 flights today for safety inspections. That's in addition to the more than 1,000 flights it canceled yesterday for the same reason. Analysts say an aging fleet of planes will drive up carriers' operating costs because those planes tend to be less fuel-efficient and require more maintenance. Thanks for watching today's headline, and join us tomorrow for another one.