UPI - United Press International, Inc. Since 1907, United Press International (UPI) has been a leading provider of critical information to media outlets, businesses, governments and researchers worldwide. Email this author.

London Says Kabul Attacks Were ‘cowardly’

LONDON, Aug. 19 (UPI) — London condemned the “vicious and cowardly” suicide attacks Friday near a British compound in Afghanistan on the country’s Independence Day. On Friday, Afghanistan marked its 92nd year of independence from Great Britain. Independence Day was marked by twin suicide attacks near the British Council in Kabul, leaving at least three […]

Strong Storm Strikes Minnesota

BEMIDJI, Minn., Aug. 19 (UPI) — A thunderstorm packing powerful winds toppled trees, utility poles and utility lines, and flooded roadways in Minnesota early Friday, officials said. The storm hit between 1 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. In Bemidji and areas to the east, the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office said. Falling trees struck several unoccupied cars, […]

'Memphis 3' Ordered Released In Arkansas

JONESBORO, Ark., Aug. 19 (UPI) — A judge in Arkansas Friday ordered the release of the “West Memphis Three” after they entered guilty pleas in the 1993 deaths of three 8-year-old Cub Scouts. Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin pleaded guilty in a Jonesboro, Ark., courtroom to three counts of first-degree murder, while Jessie Misskelley pleaded […]

‘Memphis 3′ Ordered Released In Arkansas

JONESBORO, Ark., Aug. 19 (UPI) — A judge in Arkansas Friday ordered the release of the “West Memphis Three” after they entered guilty pleas in the 1993 deaths of three 8-year-old Cub Scouts. Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin pleaded guilty in a Jonesboro, Ark., courtroom to three counts of first-degree murder, while Jessie Misskelley pleaded […]

6th Indiana Stage Collapse Victim Dies

MUNCIE, Ind., Aug. 19 (UPI) — The death toll from the collapse of a stage at the Indiana State Fair rose to six Friday. Ball State University senior Jennifer Haskell, 22, of Muncie, was injured in the Saturday accident as a storm toppled the stage, the Muncie Star-Press reported. “After a long courageous battle, Jenny […]

GOP Primary Voters Say Tea Party A Plus

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (UPI) — Most Republicans say the oft-criticized Tea Party movement will be a plus for their party in next year’s U.S. presidential race, Rasmussen Reports said Friday. Fifty-eight percent of likely Republican primary voters said they believe the grassroots movement will help Republicans next year, while 22 percent said the movement would […]

Sudan Challenges South Kordofan Claims

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Aug. 19 (UPI) — Khartoum announced that it forwarded a letter to the United Nations challenging allegations of war crimes committed in South Kordofan. Dafalla al-Haj, the Sudanese representative to the United Nations, said a recent report from U.N. human rights officials on South Kordofan state was based on hearsay and didn’t reflect […]

Al-Qaida Emerging In Sinai?

JERUSALEM, Aug. 19 (UPI) — Attacks on civilians in Israel show a complete disregard for human life, Human Rights Watch said, as some analysts suggest al-Qaida may be at work in Egypt. Gunmen dressed in Egyptian military uniforms killed at least six Israelis and injured dozens more in a series of attacks Thursday in southern […]

Turkey Expands Presence In Northern Iraq

ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 19 (UPI) — Turkey targeted Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq for a second day, broadening the reach of its fight against the rebels, officials said. The attacks Thursday came as Turkey said it’s turning intelligence outposts into operations garrisons to fight the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as PKK, to northern Iraq, where […]

Colombian Police Capture Lead Drug Lord

BOGOTA, Aug. 19 (UPI) — Colombian police in the western part of the country arrested a leading drug trafficker who is wanted for extradition to the United States, officials said. Guillermo Ruedo Toledo, alias El Profe, was captured in a joint operation between local police and Colombian anti-narcotics authorities in the capital of Valle del […]