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Rick Perry Says He Is Definitely Running For President

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 11 (UPI) — While Texas Gov. Rick Perry has made no formal announcement, he told Time magazine in an interview he wants to run for president. “I mean I wouldn’t be this far into the process. … The issue of, ‘is this what I want to do?’ was dealt with about 45 […]

More Poor Children Read To In U.S.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) — Half the young children in the United States are read to at least seven times a week by a parent or other family member, the U.S. Census Bureau reports. Statisticians said Thursday in 2009 children ages 1 to 5 in poor families were more likely to be read to than […]

Man Held In Aruba Disappearance Of Robyn Gardner

ORANJESTAD, Aruba, Aug. 11 (UPI) — A man who reported a woman never returned to shore with him after they snorkeled in Aruba is now being held as a suspect in her disappearance, officials said. Gary Giordano, 50, was first considered a witness in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner, 35, of Frederick, Md., but after […]

Romney Engages Angrily With Questioners

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 11 (UPI) — Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney got into a shouting match Thursday with a few liberal hecklers at the Iowa State Fair. The former Massachusetts governor was the target of aggressive questioning at the beginning of a question-and-answer period following a speech, The Hill reported. The event was organized […]

U.N. Reports Illegal Ivorian Executions

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, Aug. 11 (UPI) — There were more than two dozen cases of summary executions in Ivory Coast during the last 30 days, the U.N. mission to the West African nation said. Ivory Coast is struggling to recover for a political crisis that pushed the country to the brink of war. Thousands of […]

Turkey Braces For Syrian Refugee Crisis

ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 11 (UPI) — The Turkish military said it recalled retired officers to serve at border outposts along the Syrian border in anticipation of a massive influx of refugees. The Turkish General Staff announced that it sent duty summons to military officers who have retired within the last five years. Most of them […]

Pelosi Announces 'supercommittee' Picks

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Thursday tapped three former members of her Democratic leadership team for the U.S. debt “supercommittee.” Pelosi’s picks are Reps. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Xavier Becerra, D-Calif. All three are seen as close to the former Democratic speaker of the House, while […]

Pelosi Announces ‘supercommittee’ Picks

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Thursday tapped three former members of her Democratic leadership team for the U.S. debt “supercommittee.” Pelosi’s picks are Reps. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Xavier Becerra, D-Calif. All three are seen as close to the former Democratic speaker of the House, while […]

Hard-liner Said To Take Over Al-Shabaab

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Aug. 11 (UPI) — The Somali Islamist group al-Shabaab, increasingly a target for covert U.S. operations, was reported Thursday to have replaced its longtime leader, Ahmad Abdi Godane, with a seasoned military commander who advocates global jihad. If the reported elevation of Ibrahim Haji Mead, aka Ibrahim al-Afghani, is correct, it would put […]

Sinkhole Forms Under Boston's 'Big Dig'

BOSTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) — Ground under Boston’s “Big Dig” tunnel has settled more than expected, creating a large sinkhole, transportation officials say. Frank DePaola, acting highway administrator for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, revealed the problem Wednesday at a meeting of the agency’s board. He said the sinkhole is not an immediate safety threat, […]