3 Afghans killed in riots over Quran burnings (AP)

AP - Afghan police have shot and killed three protesters in two separate incidents in the north and south of the country where riots broke out during demonstrations over this week's Quran burnings incident.

Syrian tanks attack in Homs, world outrage grows (Reuters)

Reuters - The Syrian military pounded rebel-held Sunni Muslim districts of Homs city for the 20th day on Thursday, despite international outrage over the previous day's death toll of more than 80, including two Western journalists, activists said.

Egypt bars American woman from leaving the country (AP)

AP - Security officials in Cairo say an American woman facing criminal charges as part of Egypt's crackdown on foreign-funded pro-democracy organizations has been barred from boarding an international flight.

Euro zone economy to shrink in 2012 (Reuters)

Reuters - The euro zone's economy is heading into its second recession in just three years, while the wider European Union will stagnate, the EU's executive said on Thursday, warning that the currency area has yet to break its vicious cycle of debt.

Euro zone economy to shrink in 2012 (Reuters)

Reuters - The euro zone's economy is heading into its second recession in just three years, while the wider European Union will stagnate, the EU's executive said on Thursday, warning that the currency area has yet to break its vicious cycle of debt.

Teen arrested in flight ruckus sang of bin Laden (AP)

AP - A Saudi Arabian teenager has been indicted on charges of interfering with a flight crew after authorities alleged he tried to hit fellow passengers, took a swing at a flight attendant and referred to Osama bin Laden during a flight to Houston.

Red Cross seeks $3m in Mozambique aid after storms (AP)

AP - The international Red Cross is asking for nearly $3 million to help desperate Mozambicans left homeless and hungry by storms that struck the southeastern African nation last month.

Police say love triangle led to CA murder-suicide (AP)

AP - Police say a man caught up in a love triangle shot himself to death after killing the treasurer of a remote-controlled airplane club who was allegedly having an affair with his estranged wife.

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.

8-year-old critical after Wash. school shooting (AP)

AP - Police say a gun brought to a Washington state elementary school in a third grader's backpack discharged, apparently by accident, critically wounding an 8-year-old classmate.

EU expects eurozone to suffer mild recession (AP)

AP - The 17-nation eurozone economy will suffer a modest recession this year despite recent signs of stabilization, particularly in financial markets, the European Union's executive branch said Thursday.

Iraq attacks kill 60, raise sectarian fears (Reuters)

Reuters - Simultaneous early morning attacks on mostly Shi'ite targets across Iraq killed at least 60 people and wounded dozens on Thursday in the one of the bloodiest days of violence since U.S. troops pulled out in mid-December.

Stock index futures signal gains; HP eyed (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.24 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.34 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.52 percent at 1000 GMT.

Europe's banks bleed from Greek debt crisis (Reuters)

Reuters - Greece's debt problems drove a slew of heavy losses across the European banking sector on Thursday, and bosses warned the euro zone crisis would continue to threaten earnings.

What Iran's Inspection Rebuff Says About Prospects for Nuclear Diplomacy (Time.com)

Time.com - Tehran's rejection on Tuesday of an International Atomic Energy Agency request to visit a sensitive military site signaled grim prospects for diplomacy resolving the nuclear standoff

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?

Afghan protesters attack Norwegian base over Koran burning (Reuters)

Reuters - Around 400 protesters hurled rocks and set fire to cars at a Norwegian-led military base in northern Afghanistan Thursday, as part of nationwide demonstrations against the burning of copies of the Koran at a NATO air base.

The Michigan GOP Primary: Where All Politics Is National (Time.com)

Time.com - The nationalization of our politics was one of the major stories of the 2010 midterms, when political experience became a liability and races boiled down to which candidate could claim the outsider's mantle. So it is again this year

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

Santorum's Big Bet: Will Firm Focus on Social Issues Propel Him into the Lead? (Time.com)

Time.com - To position himself as a credible threat to Barack Obama, Santorum had to use the spotlight afforded by his three-state sweep two weeks ago to demonstrate the breadth of his appeal

Jerry Brown's Risky Path: How to Raise Taxes in California (Time.com)

Time.com - In a campaign that may influence the policies of other states (and even the federal government), the three-time governor is heading down a hazardous political path

Former U.Va. lacrosse player faces 26 years (AP)

AP - In a trial that revealed the lives of elite athletes at a top-notch school, a former University of Virginia lacrosse player faces 26 years in prison for the beating death of his former girlfriend amid a swirl of betrayal, distrust, anger and a culture of drinking.

Greece readies debt swap under bailout deal (Reuters)

Reuters - Greece's parliament will endorse a debt swap with private bondholders on Thursday to help reduce the country's debt and secure an international bailout, despite new protests against the tough terms of the deal.

San Diego jurors told corpses were soaked in acid (AP)

AP - Two members of a breakaway Mexican drug gang dissolved their victims' corpses in vats of acid in a gruesome display of Mexican cartel tactics played out on U.S. soil, a prosecutor told jurors.

Final report on W.Va. mine blast comes amid charge (AP)

AP - West Virginia mine safety officials were to release the final report on a 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners Thursday just as federal prosecutors turn up the heat on managers they say contributed to the tragedy.

Judge says Wash. can't make pharmacies sell Plan B (AP)

AP - In a ruling that appears headed toward appeal, a federal judge has ruled that Washington state cannot force pharmacies to sell Plan B or other emergency contraceptives.

Screams haunt Honduran who freed inmates in fire (AP)

AP - The screams haunt convicted murderer Marco Antonio Bonilla, even now as Honduras hails him a hero for saving hundreds of inmates from fire raging through their prison.

Mass shooting at spa shocks Ga. Korean community (AP)

AP - A man gunned down along with his wife and other family members at an Atlanta area spa he co-owned was a prominent member of Atlanta's community of roughly 100,000 Korean-Americans, according to friends left confused and concerned about what happened.

BP, Anadarko liable for U.S. spill damages (Reuters)

Reuters - BP Plc and Anadarko Petroleum Corp are liable for civil damages under federal pollution laws over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a U.S. judge ruled, exposing them to billions of dollars in potential fines.

Greek Parliament to vote on debt writedown deal (AP)

AP - Greek lawmakers are debating emergency legislation to approve a massive bond swap that would shave euro107 billion ($142 billion) off the country's privately held debt.

Royal Bank of Scotland losses widen on writedowns (AP)

AP - Royal Bank of Scotland, which is majority-owned by the British taxpayer, saw its loss in 2011 swell by 78 percent as it booked large provisions for Greek debt and compensation for buyers of payment protection insurance.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.