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Poll: Americans Agree With S&P

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (UPI) — Most Americans agree with S&P’s downgrade of U.S. government debt, and barely a quarter are confident the government can improve the economy, a poll indicates. Just 26 percent of respondents in a Washington Post poll said they believe policymakers can right the national economic ship, a sharp drop from 47 […]

Gizmodo Cleared, 2 Charged In IPhone Sale

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 10 (UPI) — The San Mateo County, Calif., district attorney Wednesday filed misdemeanor charges against two men accused of selling a lost iPhone 4 prototype in 2010. However, no one at Gizmodo, the Web site that bought the prototype before it was released by Apple, will be charged, Ars Technica reported. […]

Bachmann, Pawlenty Woo Iowa Primary Voters

CLIVE, Iowa, Aug. 10 (UPI) — U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., toured an advertising firm in Iowa Wednesday, calling for lower taxes and less regulation. Bachmann, a presidential hopeful who was born in Iowa, said Americans need more healthcare choices and blamed the stock market’s recent wild ride on Democratic President Barack Obama and members […]

Palestinians Urged To Talk To Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 10 (UPI) — The Palestinian Authority plan to seek recognition from the U.N. General Assembly will fray its ties to the United States, a diplomat said Wednesday. The diplomat, described as a senior Western representative, met with reporters in Tel Aviv for a not-for-attribution briefing, Haaretz reported. The United States hopes […]

Ex-TSA Employee Pleads Guilty To Hate Crime

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 10 (UPI) — A former Transportation Security Administration employee in Minneapolis pleaded guilty to a hate crime Wednesday in assaulting an elderly Somali man. TSA employees provide security at the nation’s airports. The former TSA employee, George Thompson, 64, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. […]

Death Sentence For Ohio Serial Killer Anthony Sowell

CLEVELAND, Aug. 10 (UPI) — A jury in Ohio has recommended the death penalty for convicted serial killer Anthony Sowell after two days of deliberations. The jury had the options of the death penalty or life in prison without parole for Sowell, convicted July 22 of killing 11 women whose remains were found in and […]

Social Networks Used To Incite British Violence

LONDON, Aug. 10 (UPI) — Rioters used online social networks like Facebook to orchestrate much of the urban violence that has gripped Britain for four days, The Guardian reported. The British newspaper said a 20-year old woman has been charged after allegedly posting an invitation on Facebook to a “riot” in Wakefield, England. West Yorkshire […]

Canada, Colombia Free Trade Deal A Go

BOGOTA, Aug. 10 (UPI) — A free trade agreement between Canada and Colombia will go into effect Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in Bogota Wednesday. Standing beside President Juan Manuel Santos, Harper said negotiations that began in 2008 had been ratified by both governments. A release said the agreement will “help Canadian businesses […]

Three Arrested In Ariz. Airport Bomb Hoax

PHOENIX, Aug. 10 (UPI) — Arizona authorities say three African refugees were arrested after a security check at the Phoenix airport uncovered what appeared to be an explosive device. A U.S. Transportation Security Administration employee discovered a cellphone attached to a container of organic material during a security check on carry-on bags at Phoenix Sky […]

Trio Convicted Of Medicare Fraud

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10 (UPI) — Two pastors of a defunct Los Angeles church and their former employee have been convicted of healthcare fraud, the U.S. Justice Department said. The three were charged in a $14.2 million Medicare fraud scheme. A federal jury in Los Angeles late Tuesday found Christopher Iruke, 60; his wife, Connie […]