Top Stories - AP

LOS ANGELES - A judge said Monday that Michael Jackson's longtime attorney and a family friend should take over the pop singer's estate for now, rejecting a request from Jackson's mother to be put in charge or share control.

URUMQI, China - Chanting "Strike down the criminals," hundreds of paramilitary police with shields, rifles and clubs took control of the streets Monday in the capital of western China's Muslim region, a day after the deadliest ethnic violence in decades.

WASHINGTON - Robert S. McNamara, the cerebral secretary of defense vilified for his role in escalating the Vietnam War, a disastrous conflict he later denounced as "terribly wrong," died Monday. He was 93.

LONDON - The surviving pages of the world's oldest Christian Bible have been reunited — digitally. The early work known as the Codex Sinaiticus has been housed in four separate locations across the world for more than 150 years. But starting Monday, it became available for perusal on the Web at http://www.codexsinaiticus.org so scholars and other readers can get a closer look at what the British Library calls a "unique treasure."

SALEM, Mass. - A woman accused of withholding cancer treatment from her autistic son by not filling prescriptions and misleading his doctors pleaded not guilty Monday to an attempted murder charge in the 9-year-old boy's death.

JERUSALEM - Israeli archaeologists have uncovered an ancient quarry where they believe King Herod extracted stones for the construction of the Jewish Temple 2,000 years ago, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Monday. The archaeologists believe the 1,000-square-foot (100-square-meter) quarry was part of a much larger network of quarries used by Herod in the city.

When the new GI Bill kicks in Aug. 1, the government's best-known education program for veterans will get the biggest boost since its World War II-era creation. But the benefit is hardly the "Government Issue," one-size-fits-all standard the name implies.

CAMBRIDGE, Minn. - A 21-year-old woman faces felony charges after allegedly prank-calling her 69-year-old grandmother 45 times in one day, threatening to kill her. The woman faces five felony counts including harassment. A criminal complaint said she told police she was "bored" and "wanted to have some fun."

LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France - Lance Armstrong jumped from 10th to third place at the Tour de France on Monday, positioning himself for a shot at the yellow jersey after evading trouble on a windy ride along the Mediterranean.

WASHINGTON - Democrat Al Franken has arrived in Washington offering no jokes — just a promise that he is "ready to get to work."

NEW YORK - The U.S. services economy — from retailers and restaurants to real estate brokers — contracted less than expected in June in its best showing since before the financial crisis struck last fall, according to a private trade group's gauge.

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi made his first public appearance in a week Monday, vowing to continue his campaign against a government that he said lacks legitimacy. But his comments suggested he is abandoning massive street protests after they were quashed by a tough crackdown.

PAMPLONA, Spain - Daredevils sprinting with one-ton fighting bulls swallow an exhilarating cocktail of adrenalin and fear. Now, a new brand of jitters has set in at one of the world's great fiestas as businesses ponder the partypooping impact of economic woe.

ORLANDO, Fla. - A witness to the monorail accident that killed a train operator at Walt Disney World over the weekend described it as "a head-on collision" between two trains in a 911 call released Monday.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Honduras' interim government closed its main airport to all flights on Monday after blocking the runway to prevent the return of ousted President Manuel Zelaya. Clashes with his supporters caused the first death in a week of protests.

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe will attend the pop superstar's memorial service.

NEW YORK - Albert Pujols will be in a familiar spot when St. Louis hosts the 80th All-Star game. Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is headed for a brand new situation. Pujols was the leading vote-getter in balloting for the Midsummer Classic announced Sunday by Major League Baseball, giving the Cardinals first baseman the start in his home ballpark.

NEW YORK - A bankruptcy judge has ruled that General Motors Corp. can sell the bulk of its assets to a new company, potentially clearing the way for the automaker to quickly emerge from bankruptcy protection.

JUNEAU, Alaska - As surprised fans and critics of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin traded guesses behind her decision to resign more than a year before her term ends, the former vice presidential candidate offered few hints at her political future, except to say she'd gone fishing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Steve McNair's 20-year-old girlfriend bought a gun a couple of days before she was found dead alongside the slain former NFL quarterback, her relative said Monday.

WIMBLEDON, England - From his front row seat in the Royal Box, Pete Sampras watched as Roger Federer broke his record for most Grand Slam singles titles in men's tennis history.

OCRACOKE, N.C. - Five people working on Independence Day fireworks shows were killed by explosions, four of them by a single blast that rocked this remote village on the Outer Banks.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A judge said Monday that she planned to keep a cell phone containing videos of orchestrated fights at a Texas facility for the mentally disabled out of evidence unless prosecutors find case law to change her mind.

NEW YORK - A New York congressman who is considering a Senate run posted a YouTube video calling Michael Jackson a "pervert" and questioning the exhaustive media coverage of the pop star's death.

MIAMI - As many as three gunman stormed a birthday party on the edge of downtown Miami and opened fire early Monday, shooting 12 people and causing a chaotic scramble as people tried to flee, authorities said.

WASHINGTON - Actor Kal Penn started a new job Monday as a liaison between the White House and Asian communities.

LOS ANGELES - A judge has denied a request for a new trial for fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander after he was convicted of sexual assault charges.

PARKERSBURG, Iowa - The man accused of killing an Iowa high school football coach has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.