California's top court overturns gay marriage ban
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage Thursday in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation's biggest state to tie the knot. Domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage, the justices ruled 4-3 in an opinion written by Chief Justice Ron George.

McCain outlines vision of Iraq victory
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Republican presidential contender John McCain on Thursday listed a series of prospective first-term accomplishments, including winning the war in Iraq, although he said he was not backtracking on his criticism of Democrats for favoring immediate troop withdrawals. In a mystical speech that also envisioned Osama bin Laden dead or captured and Americans with the choice of paying a simple flat tax or following their standard 1040 form, the Arizona senator for the first time set an outer limit for the war even if he hedged on a specific end date.

Bush leaves it to Olmert to push Mideast peace
JERUSALEM (AP) - President Bush gently urged Mideast leaders to "make the hard choices necessary for peace," leaving it to embattled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to stand before a divided parliament Thursday and forcefully declare that this war-weary nation is ready for a historic agreement with Palestinians. On a day mourned by Palestinians as the 60th anniversary of their uprooting by Israel's independence, Bush mentioned the Palestinians only once in a 23-minute speech to the Knesset - and then only in the context of what a Palestinian state would look like six decades from now.

Obama says Bush falsely accuses him of appeasement
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama accused President Bush on Thursday of launching a "false political attack" with a comment about appeasing terrorists and radicals. The Illinois senator interpreted the remark as a slam against him but the White House denied that Bush's words were in any way directed at Obama, who has said as president he would be willing to personally meet with Iran's leaders and those of other regimes the United States has deemed rogue.

China quake death toll could rise to 50,000
LUOSHUI TOWN, China (AP) - China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to 50,000, while the government issued a public appeal Thursday for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster. More than 72 hours after the quake rattled central China, rescuers appeared to shift from poring through downed buildings for survivors to the grim duty of searching for bodies - with 10 million directly affected by Monday's temblor.

Congress passes farm bill, defying Bush
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress sent the White House a huge election-year farm bill Thursday that includes a boost in farm subsidies and more money for food stamps amid rising grocery prices. Bush has threatened to veto the $290 billion bill, saying it is fiscally irresponsible and too generous to wealthy corporate farmers in a time of record crop prices.

Icahn vows to oust Yahoo directors in shareholder revolt
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is setting out to oust Yahoo Inc.'s board of directors for "irresponsible" and "unconscionable" actions that led Microsoft Corp. to withdraw a $47.5 billion offer to buy the slumping Internet pioneer. In a letter sent Thursday to Yahoo Chairman Roy Bostock, Icahn wrote that outraged Yahoo shareholders had urged him to lead a campaign to replace Yahoo's 10 directors at the company's July 3 annual meeting in hopes of bringing Microsoft back to the bargaining table.

T-Pain has 5 nominations for BET Awards
NEW YORK (AP) - T-Pain's status as urban music's most frequent collaborator helped him nab a leading five BET Award nominations. Kanye West and Keyshia Cole received three nominations, while Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and newcomer Flo Rida received a pair each. The awards were to be announced later Thursday.

9-year-old girl's twin is found inside her stomach
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A 9-year-old girl who went to hospital in central Greece suffering from stomach pains was found to be carrying her embryonic twin, doctors said Thursday. Doctors at Larissa General Hospital examined the girl and surgically removed a growth they later discovered was an embryo more than two inches long.

Sharapova to become No. 1 in tennis rankings
ROME (AP) - Maria Sharapova will assume the No. 1 ranking in tennis because of Justine Henin's retirement. The 25-year-old Henin, who retired Wednesday, asked to be removed from the rankings, the WTA Tour said Thursday. Sharapova will automatically become No. 1 when the next rankings are released Monday.