Massive demand for Michael Jackson memorial tickets - - More than half a million fans from around the world applied for 17,500 free tickets to Michael Jackson's public memorial service next week, organizers said on Friday as a massive security operation got underway.

Honduras rulers reject OAS call for Zelaya return - TEGUCIGALPA - Honduras's interim rulers spurned a demand from the Organization of American States on Friday to restore leftist President Manuel Zelaya to power, deepening Central America's worst political crisis in decades.

Palin to resign as Alaska governor in surprise move - ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate in 2008, said on Friday she will resign this month, an unexpected move that could signal a run for higher office.

An Afghan View Of The Surge - Rangina Hamidi, CEO of Kandahar Treasures, which sells handmade embroidery, talks about the surge in Helmand province. She says that to defeat the Taliban, American troops must help Afghanistan build infrastructure and maintain security.

Marines Fan Out In Afghanistan Push - Some 4,000 Marines, along with several hundred British and Afghan troops, are fanning out in the valley of Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, establishing small outposts. So far, there's been little fighting with Taliban militants, although Marines did meet stiff resistance in one area.

Alaska Gov. Palin To Resign - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was Republican Sen. John McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential campaign, says she will resign from office July 26.

Iranian cleric says UK embassy staff face trial - TEHRAN - A senior Iranian cleric warned on Friday that detained British embassy staff would face trial for their alleged role in post-election unrest, and EU countries summoned Iranian envoys to protest against the detentions.

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State Welfare Rolls Feel Impact Of Recession - Welfare caseloads have been going up in most states over the past year, but not in all of them. In fact, cases are going down in some of the hardest-hit areas. That's raised questions about whether the program is an adequate safety net for families in need.

Jackson Memorial Is Tuesday; L.A. Rushes To Plan - In Los Angeles, city officials are scrambling over the holiday weekend to try to figure out how to accommodate a public memorial service for Michael Jackson at a venue that can hold no more than 20,000 people.

Global Downturn Hits Mexico Harder Than Most - The global recession has hit Mexico harder than most other countries in the region. Mexico is suffering a drop in exports to the United States, a decline in remittances from Mexicans living and working in the United States, the continuing impact of swine flu on tourism, and the shrinking of the oil sector.

U.S. Missiles Kill 15 in Pakistan - Missiles fired from U.S. Predator drones killed at least 15 people at a militant training facility in the South Waziristan tribal region, a stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud, the chief of the Pakistan Taliban.

Climate Declaration to Get Boost - Thirteen of the largest nations and the EU plan to embrace "an aspirational goal" of reducing emissions of global-warming gases by 50% by 2050.

Merkel Seeks End to Cycle of Crises - Germany's Merkel will urge G-8 leaders to break the cycle of bubbles and crises by tempering economic growth and taming financial markets when good times return.

Number of Hungry People Soars - The U.S. Agriculture Department said the number of hungry people in 70 poor nations soared 10.8% last year and will climb at least 1.7% this year.

70-Year-Old Reservist, Surgeon Returns To Iraq - Col. Hector Henry is one of only three doctors over the age of 70 who have agreed to come out of retirement and serve active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, according to the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Command. The urologist, City Council member and grandfather of three says he promised his wife it would be his last tour.

The Acai Berry Scam. - ad - Beware of the online scams with companies promoting acai. After Oprah promoted acai, a number of unscrupulous companies have popped up and have invaded the Internet. It's truly "Buyer Beware".

U.S. sounds out Arabs on Israel gestures: diplomats - JERUSALEM - The United States and its Western allies are sounding out Arab governments to see if they might ease sanctions on Israel if it stopped building Jewish settlements on Palestinian territory, diplomats said on Friday.

U.S. drone kills 10 in Pakistan, copter crash kills 26 - WANA, Pakistan - A U.S. drone aircraft fired missiles on Friday into Pakistan's South Waziristan region, killing 10 militants, officials said, ahead of an expected Pakistani military offensive in the area.

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Israeli sub sails Suez, signaling reach to Iran - JERUSALEM - An Israeli submarine sailed the Suez Canal to the Red Sea as part of a naval drill last month, defense sources said on Friday, describing the unusual maneuver as a show of strategic reach in the face of Iran.

Medici lawyer says Kohn didn't get Madoff payments - /VIENNA - 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.

Drug-Cartel Links Haunt Mexican Election - The candidacy of Mario Anguiano, running for governor in Mexico, shows how blasé some voters have become about allegations of ties between their politicians and the drug underworld.