ORLANDO, Fla. A meeting last week of more than a dozen players has resulted in a letter sent to the LPGA Tour's board urging that commissioner Carolyn Bivens resign, according to a published report.

URUMQI, China Police have arrested 1,434 suspects in connection with the worst ethnic violence in decades in China's western Xinjiang region, which killed at least 156 people, state media reported Tuesday.

WASHINGTON Robert S. McNamara, the brainy Pentagon chief who directed the escalation of the Vietnam War despite private doubts the war was winnable or worth fighting, died Monday at 93. McNamara revealed his misgivings three decades after the American defeat that some called "McNamara's war."

DETROIT Charlie Villanueva posted a message on his Twitter account, informing his followers he will sign with the Detroit Pistons.

GAFFNEY, S.C. Law enforcement officials have identified the man they think is the serial killer who shot five people to death in South Carolina in recent days.

ANAHEIM, Calif. The Texas Rangers got All-Star center fielder Josh Hamilton back before the opener of a key three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.

MOSCOW Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev confidently committed to a year-end deal to slash nuclear stockpiles by about a third on Monday, but the U.S. leader failed to crack stubborn Kremlin objections to America's missile defense plans - a major stumbling block to such an agreement.

LOS ANGELES The stage was set Monday for Michael Jackson's final act as the world capital of make-believe braced for what could be the biggest, most spectacular celebrity send-off of all time.

PHILADELPHIA The Phillies tied a franchise record with 10 runs in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. Anna Kournikova was sparkling brighter than usual.

CHICAGO The Chicago Blackhawks resolved some of the administrative problems surrounding their restricted free agents by signing five of those players on Monday.

SAN FRANCISCO Prosecutors have dismissed murder charges against four alleged ex-members of the Black Liberation Army accused of killing a San Francisco police officer in 1971.

WASHINGTON So, did you hear the one about the comedian who spent a whole day on Capitol Hill and told no jokes?

CHICAGO The Kansas City Royals are hoping that Ryan Freel can provide the speed and versatility that they've been missing.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras Supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya vowed Monday to widen protests and block trade nationwide as the deposed leader headed to Washington for a meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

TORONTO Former Anaheim Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin signed a three-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.

CHICAGO Third baseman Aramis Ramirez was activated from the 15-day disabled list Monday, rejoining the Chicago Cubs after a two-month absence Monday because of a dislocated left shoulder.

OTTAWA Alex Kovalev signed a two-year, $10 million deal Monday with the Ottawa Senators, leaving the rival Montreal Canadiens after parts of five seasons.

SAN FRANCISCO The Giants have placed left-hander Randy Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a strained shoulder.

NEW YORK Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi were livid. The Yankees captain was called out by umpire Marty Foster on an attempted steal of third base in the first inning of Monday's 7-6 loss to Toronto, even though replays showed he got a hand on the bag before he was tagged by Scott Rolen.

LOS ANGELES A judge on Monday denied a request for a new trial by convicted fashion designer Anand Jon Alexander but found there had been misconduct by a juror and the defendant's sister during the sexual assault case.

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.

NEW YORK Commodity prices fell Monday as investors worried that the economy will take longer to recover than some investors have been betting.

NEW YORK Groups representing plaintiffs in car accidents said Monday they would oppose General Motors' attempt to quickly exit bankruptcy protection, arguing that hundreds of victims could be hurt by the government-led plan.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Police say the gun found at the scene where former NFL star Steve McNair died was bought by his girlfriend less than two days before the two were shot to death.

LA GRANDE-MOTTE, France If age is Lance Armstrong's enemy, then experience is his friend.

NEW YORK Investors are fearing they may have bet too soon on an economic comeback.

NEW YORK Firing the latest salvo in a bidding brawl, data storage company EMC Corp. boosted its offer for Data Domain which has already accepted a lower bid from NetApp Inc.

Bankruptcy judge OKs GM sale plan, appeal looms

CHARLOTTE, N.C. NASCAR asked a federal judge Monday to reverse the ruling that lifted driver Jeremy Mayfield's indefinite suspension for failing a random drug test.

MIAMI As many as three gunmen 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 The government issued final rules Monday expanding taxpayer-funded research using embryonic stem cells, easing scientists' fears that some of the oldest batches might not qualify and promising a master list of all that do.

WASHINGTON With health care legislation at a crossroads, the nation's hospitals are near agreement with a key lawmaker and the White House to pick up part of the cost of President Barack Obama's plan for expanded coverage, officials said Monday.

MADRID Cristiano Ronaldo received a rapturous welcome from 80,000 Real Madrid fans Monday, an outpouring so exuberant the soccer star had to be hustled away when spectators leaped barriers and took the field.

LOS ANGELES A veteran Los Angeles police detective pleaded not guilty Monday to murder in the 1986 killing of her ex-boyfriend's wife.

RIVERWOODS, Ill. Credit card company Discover says it will sell $500 million worth of common stock in a public offering, and use the proceeds for possible investments or to buy back preferred stock issued to the U.S. Treasury under its bank rescue plan.

NEW YORK Ricky Romero extended his scoreless streak to 24 innings before Eric Hinske homered in his Yankees debut, and the Toronto Blue Jays held on to beat New York 7-6 Monday and avoid getting swept in a four-game series.

NEWPORT, R.I. Prakash Amritraj of India and Taylor Dent of the United States won their opening matches at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships on Monday.

WASHINGTON Officials say the nation's hospitals are near a deal with the White House and a key lawmaker to pick up part of the cost of President Barack Obama's plan for expanded health coverage.

KABUL Bombs and bullets killed seven American troops on Monday, the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in nearly a year - and a sign that the war being fought in the Taliban heartland of the south and east could now be expanding north.

GENEVA The United Nations may need more than $1 billion this year to help poor countries fight the global swine flu epidemic, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska Sarah Palin is communicating through social networking sites after her surprise announcement last week that she will resign as Alaska governor.

INDIANAPOLIS Harvey Glance of Alabama and Chandra Cheeseborough of Tennessee State will coach the U.S. track and field team at the world championships in Berlin next month.

COMPTON, Calif. Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy by a sheriff's deputy in Compton.

BUDAPEST, Hungary Sixth-seeded Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine has beaten Karolina Sprem of Croatia 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round of the GDF Suez Grand Prix in Budapest.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield's team isn't on the entry list for Saturday's race at Chicagoland Speedway.

LONDON Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone insists he will not resign because of his comments praising Adolf Hitler's leadership.

NEW YORK Yankees manager Joe Girardi has been ejected in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

WIMBLEDON, England Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick withdrew Monday from the U.S. Davis Cup team's quarterfinal at Croatia, citing a right hip flexor injury.

NEWPORT, R.I. Top-seeded Mardy Fish has withdrawn from the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships after replacing Andy Roddick on the United States Davis Cup team.