2 charged in death of Ala girl forced to run (AP)

AP - Roger Simpson said he looked down the road and saw a little girl running outside her home but didn't give it another thought. Police, however, said the man witnessed a murder in progress.

China urges Iran to cooperate with UN inspectors (AP)

AP - China says it hopes Iran will cooperate with U.N. nuclear inspectors but is declining to criticize the country for blocking recent requests for information and visits to sensitive sites.

Thousands back Putin's presidential bid in Moscow (Reuters)

Reuters - Thousands of people marched in Moscow under Russian flags, balloons and banners on Thursday to back Vladimir Putin's bid to return to the presidency and counter opposition protests that have challenged his authority.

KBR ex-CEO to be sentenced Thurs. in bribery case (AP)

AP - A former chief executive of construction giant KBR Inc. faced sentencing Thursday for a federal bribery conviction related to the company's natural gas operations in Nigeria from 1995 to 2004.

Oil falls to near $106 after US crude supply jump (AP)

AP - Oil slid from a nine-month high to near $106 a barrel Thursday in Asia after a report showed U.S. crude supplies grew more than expected last week, suggesting demand remains sluggish.

Obama to address gas prices, pitch energy policy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is confronting Americans' anxiety over rising gasoline prices by drawing attention to his energy policies and taking credit for rising oil and gas production, a greater mix of energy sources and decreased consumption.

Obama to address gas prices, pitch energy policy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is confronting Americans' anxiety over rising gasoline prices by drawing attention to his energy policies and taking credit for rising oil and gas production, a greater mix of energy sources and decreased consumption.

High season for tornadoes ahead, eyes on Southeast (AP)

AP - With the month of March looming, tornado chasers are already watching the Southeast as a nasty storm brews with the potential to spin off a batch of tornadoes.

Newark mayor seeks probe of NYPD Muslim spying (AP)

AP - The mayor of New Jersey's largest city called for state authorities Wednesday to investigate a widespread spying operation conducted in Newark's Muslim neighborhoods by the New York Police Department that he characterized as "deeply offensive."

Newark mayor seeks probe of NYPD Muslim spying (AP)

AP - The mayor of New Jersey's largest city called for state authorities Wednesday to investigate a widespread spying operation conducted in Newark's Muslim neighborhoods by the New York Police Department that he characterized as "deeply offensive."

Assad forces renew barrage on Syria's Homs (Reuters)

Reuters - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces bombarded opposition Sunni Muslim districts in the city of Homs for the 20th day on Thursday, activists said, despite international outrage over the reported killing of more than 80 people on Wednesday.

To close tax loopholes, Obama would open new ones (AP)

AP - Cutting corporate tax rates and deleting loopholes is just what most economists prescribe for the tangled U.S. tax code.

Liberty Global mulls bid for Ziggo: paper (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. cable group Liberty Global is considering a bid for Dutch cable firm Ziggo, estimated to be worth 8 billion euros ($10.6 billion) and which is planning a stock listing, Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported on Thursday without citing sources.

Taliban urge Afghans to kill "invaders" amid new protests (Reuters)

Reuters - The Taliban urged Afghans on Thursday to target foreign military bases and kill Westerners in retaliation for burnings of copies of the Koran at NATO's main base in the country as a third day of violent protests began.

Army private faces arraignment in WikiLeaks case (AP)

AP - An Army private accused of spilling a mountain of U.S. secrets to WikiLeaks is being asked for the first time to enter a plea to the charges.

After bitter debate, Romney and Santorum eye Mich. (AP)

AP - A bitter and often personal debate behind them, Republicans Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are shoring up their campaigns in different ways ahead of a series of crucial presidential primaries.

FACT CHECK: Errant claims on auto bailout, taxes (AP)

AP - Twenty Republican presidential debates later, the head-scratching claims kept coming.

FACT CHECK: Errant claims on auto bailout, taxes (AP)

AP - Twenty Republican presidential debates later, the head-scratching claims kept coming.

Analysis: Social issue focus may haunt GOP in fall (AP)

AP - The longer GOP presidential candidates compete for conservative activists' favor, the more they risk alienating centrist voters who might feel that arguments over birth control are crowding out talk about how to create jobs.

Jury: 26 years total for former U.Va. athlete (AP)

AP - A jury convicted a former University of Virginia lacrosse player Wednesday of second-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend in a drunken, jealous rage, rejecting a first-degree murder verdict and a possible life sentence.

Baghdad bombings kill at least 20 (Reuters)

Reuters - Car bombs struck across Baghdad Thursday, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens, in the latest wave of attacks on the Iraqi capital since a political crisis erupted in December, security officials said.

Early morning attacks across Baghdad kill 35 (AP)

AP - A swift series of bombings and shootings killed 35 people across the Iraqi capital early Thursday in attacks that mostly appeared to target police, officials said.

Australian PM calls party vote as challenger rises (AP)

AP - Prime Minister Julia Gillard put her job on the line Thursday, announcing a leadership ballot in hopes of quashing a comeback by Kevin Rudd, the colleague she ousted in a Labor Party coup nearly two years ago.

Poll: Obama benefiting from improving economy (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama is reaping political benefits from the country's brighter economic mood. A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way he's addressing the nation's post-recession period.

Grasping at Straws: The Syrian Opposition Appeals to Russia (Time.com)

Time.com - In the face of continuing bloodshed in their homeland, one anti-Assad group courts the regime's allies in the Syrian business community and Moscow. Is it all in vain?

Syria: War Reporter Marie Colvin and Photographer Remi Ochlik Are Killed (Time.com)

Time.com - A celebrated American-born war reporter and a young French photographer were killed on Wednesday morning when Syrian forces bombed a makeshift media center in the besieged city of Homs

Take Two: Can a Second Bailout Save Greece? (Time.com)

Time.com - After months of delays, arguments and doubts, euro zone finance ministers agreed on a second, $170 billion bailout of beleaguered Greece in the early hours of Tuesday morning

The GOP debate: 6 takeaways (Politico)

Politico - CNN's Wednesday night Republican debate was a painfully long and often personally biting affair.

Iran talks failure sparks confrontation fears (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest mission to Iran failed to budge a defiant Tehran over its disputed nuclear program, sending oil prices to a nine-month high over fears of an increasing risk of confrontation with the West.

Haiti police: 1 dead, 120 injured in Carnival fete (AP)

AP - A police spokesman in Haiti says one person has been killed and 120 others revelers have been injured in accidents and in street clashes during Carnival festivities.

More U.S. kids living in high-poverty areas: study (Reuters)

Reuters - Years of economic setbacks have taken their toll on the nation's youngest residents, with another 1.6 million children living in high-poverty neighborhoods, according to one study that shows nearly 8 million children residing in poor areas in 2010.

Judge strikes down law mandating sale of contraception (Reuters)

Reuters - A federal judge declared on Wednesday that a Washington state rule requiring pharmacists to dispense emergency contraceptives against their religious beliefs is unconstitutional.

Analysis: Can U.S. economy withstand gasoline price curse? (Reuters)

Reuters - Could history repeat itself? That is a question uppermost in the minds of many Americans as they warily watch gasoline prices at the pump rise week after week.

Top 10 reasons why Thursday is the best TV night [SLIDESHOW] (Daily Caller)

Daily Caller - Thursday is a great day for so many reasons. The next day is Friday, you tend to be extra thirsty and it follows the ever-famous hump day, to name a few.

DC police official in celeb escort flap to sue (AP)

AP - A former District of Columbia police commander whose division provided a police escort to actor Charlie Sheen last April has given notice that he intends to file a whistleblower lawsuit against the city, saying he was demoted because he testified to the D.C. Council that such escorts for celebrities were commonplace.

Will GOP perp walk lead to W.H.? (Politico)

Politico - Simon says the Republican hopefuls still managed to amaze in their 20th debate.

Lesbian federal worker wins health benefits case (AP)

AP - A federal judge in San Francisco ruled Wednesday that the U.S. government cannot deny health benefits to the wife of a lesbian court employee by relying on the 1996 law that bars government recognition of same-sex unions.

Is It Time to Start Worrying About Inflation Again? (Time.com)

Time.com - The greatest threat to any long-term investor is inflation. It not only erodes the value of stocks and bonds, but also depresses economic growth and misleads policymakers

A Champion in Purgatory: Muhammad Ali Returns to Vegas (Time.com)

Time.com - As part of an extended celebration of his 70th birthday, the ailing legend appears at a massive fundraiser to benefit brain research

Virginia Gov. shifts on abortion bill; revised measure (Reuters)

Reuters - Virginia's Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell on Wednesday abruptly shifted his stance on a hotly-contested bill requiring women seeking abortions to have an ultrasound, asking lawmakers to revise the legislation just before a scheduled vote.