AP - Even for a nonconformist, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has defied political logic with her sudden, stunning announcement to leave office more than a year early.

AP - North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast Saturday, South Korea said, a violation of U.N. resolutions and an apparent message of defiance to the United States on its Independence Day.

AP - Militants attacked a U.S. coalition base in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, exploding a truck outside the gates, sparking a two-hour gunbattle and killing two American troops, officials said.