Yahoo! News: Top Stories

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• North Korea fires missiles in 4th of July salvo (AP)

  AP - North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles Saturday into waters off its east coast in a show of military firepower that defied U.N. resolutions and drew global expressions of condemnation and concern.

  
  
• Former NFL quarterback McNair killed in Tennessee (AP)

  AP - Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, whose most noted drive was the final one of the 2000 Super Bowl, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head Saturday afternoon in a downtown condominium. Police said a woman was also shot dead.

  
  
• In NYC, biggest fireworks show in US set to begin (AP)

  AP - Fireworks lit the night sky above New York with a kaleidoscope of colors shooting 1,000 feet into the air on an Independence Day that began with the Statue of Liberty's crown opening to the public for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001.

  
  
• Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' (AP)

  AP - Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday laid the groundwork to take on a larger, national role after leaving state government, citing a "higher calling" with the aim of uniting the country along conservative lines.

  
  
• Marines march in grueling Afghan sun for July 4 (AP)

  AP - Taliban militants were nowhere in sight as the columns of U.S. Marines walked a third straight day across southern Afghanistan. But the desert heat proved an enemy in its own right, with several troops falling victim Saturday to temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

  
  
• More than 1 million seek tix for Jackson memorial (AP)

  AP - More than 1.2 million people have now registered to get tickets for Michael Jackson's memorial service next week.

  
  
• Coroner: Teen 5th killed by apparent serial killer (AP)

  AP - A teenage girl shot while helping her father in their family's small furniture and appliance store died Saturday, becoming the fifth victim of a suspected serial killer terrorizing a small South Carolina community, authorities said.

  
  
• Obama's trip: A mission to reshape US image (AP)

  AP - Determined to change the way the world views the United States, Barack Obama is onto his next foreign mission: rebuilding relations with Russia, proving to global leaders that America is serious about climate change, and outlining his vision for Africa, his father's birthplace.

  
  
• Exiled Honduran president vows return on Sunday (AP)

  AP - Ousted President Manuel Zelaya said Saturday that he would return to Honduras to try to retake office following last week's military-backed coup, despite warnings of a potentially bloody confrontation and the interim government's vow to arrest him and put him on trial.

  
  
• Serena Williams beats sister Venus at Wimbledon (AP)

  AP - Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another foe in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title.

  
  
• McCain says Palin to play leadership role as ex-Governor (Reuters)

  Reuters - Republican Senator John McCain expressed support for his former presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, on Saturday as Washington speculated about why the Alaska governor abruptly announced her resignation.

  
  
• North Korea defies U.S. with new missile launches (Reuters)

  Reuters - 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.

  
  
• Obama says U.S. a strong partner of Iraq despite pullout (Reuters) Reuters - President Barack Obama said on Saturday Iraq faced difficult days ahead after taking control of its towns and cities from U.S. forces but he pledged to remain a strong partner on behalf of the country's security and prosperity.
• Schwarzenegger signals key budget concession (Reuters)

  Reuters - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, optimistic California can finish its budget negotiations in a few days, is willing to reconsider his proposed cuts to education in hopes of averting a cash crisis, the San Francisco Chronicle said on Saturday.

  
  
• Two U.S. soldiers killed in complex Afghan attack (Reuters) Reuters - Two U.S. soldiers were killed when their base in southeast Afghanistan came under attack on Saturday, the U.S. military said, two days after a major operation against the Taliban was launched in the south.
• OAS set to suspend Honduras after coup (Reuters)

  Reuters - The Organization of American States was likely to suspend Honduras on Saturday after a caretaker government refused to restore President Manuel Zelaya who was toppled in a military coup last weekend.

  
  
• Former Beatles, Stones manager Allen Klein dies (Reuters)

  Reuters - Infamous record label owner Allen Klein, who played a key role in the demise of the Beatles and also nabbed control of some of the Rolling Stones' best-known songs, died in New York on Saturday after a battle with Alzheimer's disease, a spokesman said. He was 77.

  
  
• Former NFL star McNair found dead in Nashville (Reuters) Reuters - Former star NFL quarterback Steve McNair was found shot to death in Nashville on Saturday, police said.
• NKorea test-fires seven ballistic missiles: SKorea (AFP)

  AFP - North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast Saturday, South Korean officials said, in an act of defiance apparently timed for the US Independence Day holiday.

  
  
• Two US soldiers, seven Afghan police die in blasts (AFP)

  AFP - Two US soldiers and seven Afghan policemen were killed in separate explosions Saturday, highlighting the level of violence faced by Marines pressing one of the biggest assaults in eight years.