UNITED STATES

Anti-G8 demonstrators clashed briefly with Italian police on Saturday in the first big protest ahead of next week's summit of the world's richest nations.

Michael Jackson went from being Gary, Ind.'s most talented kid to one of the most recognizable human beings on the planet.

Sarah Palin, who surprised the U.S. political world last year by becoming Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate, surprised again on Friday by announcing her resignation as Alaska's governor.

North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles on Saturday, South Korea's defense ministry said, in an act of defiance against the United States as Washington cracks down on the secretive state's weapons proliferation.

North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles on Saturday, South Korea's defense ministry said, in an act of defiance toward the United States on its Independence Day that further stoked regional tensions.

China said on Saturday its policy toward foreign acquisitions of domestic firms was fair, explaining that broader national concerns take precedence over the potential benefits to any single company.

Serena Williams beat her sister Venus on Saturday to capture her third Ladies' Singles finals title at Wimbledon's and 11th Grand Slam title.

How will the EU deal with this diplomatic dilemma?

About 10 global and Taiwan financial firms have submitted bids to buy troubled AIG's Taiwanese insurance unit, newspapers said on Saturday, in a deal that could fetch up to over $2 billion.

Oracle Corp's plan to buy computer maker Sun Microsystems will be notified to European Union antitrust authorities this month, a source familiar with the deal said on Friday.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, former Vice Presidential running mate of John McCain during the presidential elections in 2008, said Friday she is resigning on July 26 as governor and will not run for re-election on the position.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin announced Saturday she is resigning from office by the end of the month, after deciding not to seek re-election in 2010.

Several Mexican clients of Stanford Financial Group have sued insurance broker Willis Group Holdings Ltd , contending it was a willing participant in a $7 billion fraud at the Texas-based investment company.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate in 2008, said on Friday she will resign this month and will not run for re-election as governor.

Free tickets for Michael Jackson's public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles will be distributed randomly to people who begin registering on Friday July 3 from 1:00 p.m. EST to Saturday July 4, 9:000 p.m. EST.

The dollar's status as the top global reserve currency is unlikely to be mentioned explicitly in the final communique at next week's Group of Eight summit, a European G8 source involved in preparations for the meeting said on Friday.

Oil dropped a dollar to below $66 a barrel on Friday after unemployment data hardened views economic weakness would sap energy demand and that last month's rally was overdone.

Austrian fund manager Sonja Kohn did not receive any kickbacks from Bernard Madoff to steer Bank Medici customer funds to the swindler's investment business, a Medici lawyer said on Friday.

Hundreds of British troops have seized key canal crossings in a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, military officials said on Friday, part of a new U.S.-led operation to wrest the initiative from insurgents.

For the U.S. military, it's the million dollar question — or rather the $687 billion question, according to a recent estimate of the Iraq war's total cost. Is Iraq now stable enough for them to take a permanent back seat?

Oil fell toward $66 a barrel on Friday, adding to a drop of nearly 4 percent the previous day, as unemployment data hardened views economic weakness would sap energy demand further and that last month's rally was overdone.