NY Philharmonic gives concert in North Korea

Hi, I'm Kristin Volk with you UPI news headline on this Tuesday, the 26 day of February 2008.

The New York Philharmonic is now the first major American cultural group to have performed in North Korea. The orchestra began the performance earlier today with North Korea's national anthem and continued with The Star-Spangled Banner. Both reportedly received standing ovations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il apparently wasn't in attendance. The U.S. government agreed on the Philharmonic's visit when there was major progress to end the country's nuclear weapons program.

Thousands of Palestinian protesters are calling for an end to an Israeli blockade on Gaza. They're burning tires and forming a human chain with nearly 40 thousand people along the strip's 25-mile length. Israel has threatened to use deadly force if the march became an attempt to surge across the border into Israeli territory. Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas violently took control of Gaza in June.

The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is projected to grow as more soldiers leave Iraq. That's according to the Defense Department that says 4 thousand more soldiers will be deployed there by last summer. The move would bring U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan to an all-time high...about 32 thousand forces. Government officials say forces in Iraq will start to leave this summer because the temporary troop buildup is over there in July. About 140 thousand troops are predicted after the drawdown happens.

Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens could learn by the end of the week whether he'll be referred to the Justice Department for a perjury investigation. Clemens has testified before a House committee saying he never used steroids or human growth hormone. But his words contradict the testimony of his former trainer Brian McNamee. It's unclear whether the Justice Department would be asked to investigate only Clemens or also McNamee.

Thanks for watching today's headline. Go to upi.com to watch our latest special segment called "They Got Game Again."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• New
• York
• Philharmonic
• North
• Korea
• Kim
• Jong
• Il
• nuclear
• weapons
• Palestine
• Hamas
• Iraq
• troops
• Clemens
• McNamee

[sillychad18]

how sweet :) don't kill yourself, life really is worth living.

[seka1986]

So what's your point? Kim Jong Il should live a long life and tyranny in North Korea should proceed unabated? Try and use your brain before you speak next time.

[Hairysteed]

20 years ago you would've said "Kim Il Sung must die before there is any change"

Well he did... how much has the country changed?

[grailmastah]

Kristen, you rock, i hope you keep being on tv, you have delayed my suicide by at least three weeks because of your beauty and candor, keep up the good work

[seka1986]

A concert for North Korea's thug leaders. Do you think any of the starving North Koreans even knew about this? It's all a big show. Kim Jong Il must die before there is any change.

[musique55]

I wish our orchestra would tour around too! It's all about the budget of course.