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.

AP - Police say death toll from bus terminal bombing in northwest Pakistan has risen to 8.

Australian PM Gillard calls for leadership vote (Reuters)

Reuters - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has dared her political rival, former foreign minister Kevin Rudd, to challenge her in a leadership vote next week, hoping to end infighting that threatens to sink the minority government and its reform agenda.

Baghdad bombings kill at least 15: Iraqi police (Reuters)

Reuters - Several bomb attacks hit Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens in mainly Shi'ite Muslim neighborhoods, Iraqi police said.

Early morning attacks across Baghdad kill 31 (AP)

AP - Iraqi officials say a string of morning attacks across Baghdad has killed at least 31 people.

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

Taliban urge Afghans to kill "invaders" after Koran burnings (Reuters)

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

Analysis: Obama goes on offense over high gasoline prices (Reuters)

Reuters - As Republican presidential candidates toss barbs at Barack Obama over expensive gasoline, the U.S. president and his team are going on the offensive with a strategy to divert blame and prepare voters for higher costs.

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.

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.

New Zealand probes hot air balloons after crash (AP)

AP - New Zealand authorities are investigating the maintenance of all the country's hot air balloons following a fiery crash last month that killed 11 people.

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.

Philippines' Arroyo pleads not guilty in poll fraud trial (Reuters)

Reuters - Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pleaded not guilty on Thursday to electoral fraud on the first day of a trial seen as a landmark test of the government's ability to tackle entrenched corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.

Newark mayor: NYPD Muslim files 'deeply offensive' (AP)

AP - The mayor and police director of New Jersey's largest city said Wednesday the New York Police Department misled their city and never told them it was conducting a widespread spying operation on Newark's Muslim neighborhoods. Had they known, they said, they never would have allowed it.

Newark mayor: NYPD Muslim files 'deeply offensive' (AP)

AP - The mayor and police director of New Jersey's largest city said Wednesday the New York Police Department misled their city and never told them it was conducting a widespread spying operation on Newark's Muslim neighborhoods. Had they known, they said, they never would have allowed it.

NH jury chosen in Rwanda genocide case (AP)

AP - The trial of a woman charged with lying about her role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide is expected to transport jurors back nearly two decades to a roadblock outside a family owned hotel where prosecutors say the defendant decided who would live and who would die.

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.

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

AP - A 73-year-old gunman entangled in a love triangle shot and killed the treasurer of a remote-controlled airplane club who police said was having an affair with the estranged wife of the attacker.

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

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

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.

Jury: 26 years total for former U.Va. lax player (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.

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

AP - At a doublewide trailer along a dirt road in rural Alabama, authorities say 9-year-old Savannah Hardin was forced to run for three hours as punishment for having lied to her grandmother about eating candy bars. The severely dehydrated girl had a seizure and her death days later was ruled a homicide.

Fiery charges: Romney, Santorum assail each other (AP)

AP - Primed for a fight, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum traded fiery accusations about health care, spending earmarks and federal bailouts Wednesday night in the 20th and possibly final debate of the roller-coaster race for the Republican presidential nomination.

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.

GOP candidates want more on illegal immigration (AP)

AP - The Republican candidates say more must be done to combat illegal immigration.

Romney, Santorum trade barbs over former senator (AP)

AP - Republicans Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are sparring over Santorum's support for his former Senate colleague, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

HP profit plummets, CEO urges patience (Reuters)

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co's earnings fell nearly 44 percent and the world's No. 1 computer maker forecast a second-quarter profit below Wall Street estimates as it struggles with weak sales of PCs and printers.

Teenage girl dies after inhaling helium at party (AP)

AP - Last weekend, 14-year-old Ashley Long told her parents she was going to a slumber party. But instead of spending the night watching videos and eating popcorn two blocks away, she piled into a car with a bunch of her friends and rode to a condo in Medford, Ore., where police say the big sister of one of her friends was throwing a party with booze and marijuana.

Man's childhood comic collection fetches $3.5M (AP)

AP - Billy Wright plunked down dime after dime for comic books while growing up in the late 1930s and early 1940s, caring for the collection he started around the age of 9 until his death more than half a century later. On Wednesday, most of that collection sold for a whopping $3.5 million.

Idaho GOP state Sen. McGee resigns amid scandal (AP)

AP - An Idaho Republican state senator who had been seen as a political riser has stepped down amid sexual harassment allegations.