'Barefoot Bandit' sentenced to prison

A federal judge sentenced Colton Harris-Moore, whom authorities dubbed the Barefoot Bandit, to 6½ years in prison for an infamous string of thefts and burglaries.

Final Florida push follows testy debate

GOP presidential front-runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich barnstormed across Florida on Friday, trying to rally supporters and break away in the polls four days before what is shaking up to be a pivotal primary in that state.

Bennett: Romney's new tack is working

South Carolina was a wake-up call for Mitt Romney. In Thursday night's CNN debate, Romney delivered an aggressive, forceful performance that many thought he was incapable of. The upcoming Florida primary could turn out very differently now, and the results could go a long way toward helping him win the Republican nomination.

Group blames guard for Somalia kidnap

A crooked Somali cop may have made the kidnapping of two foreign aid workers in October possible, the safety adviser for their employer told CNN.

Car bomb kills dozens in Baghdad

A suicide car bomber targeted a Shiite funeral procession in the Iraqi capital Friday, killing 31 people and wounding 60 others, two police officials said.

135 reported killed in Syria in 2 days

Deaths mounted in Syria on Friday as world powers plan crucial talks about the conflict there.

Conn. killer gets death sentence

Joshua Komisarjevsky, 31, will be given a lethal injection for his role in a 2007 home invasion that killed a woman and her two daughters.

Texts to tipster foil school bomb plot

Police arrested two Utah high school students and accused them of planning to explode bombs during a school assembly then make their getaway in a plane, authorities said.

Seal: Breakup doesn't make sense

Seal admits to Piers Morgan that the hardest thing he ever had to do was sit his children down and tell them that their parents were parting ways.

UN considers Syria crisis action

The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, amid an upsurge in violence.

US economic growth rate picks up

The pace of US economic growth quickened to a 2.8% annualised rate in the three months to December, the Commerce Department says.

Olympic ceremony 'Wonder' theme

Danny Boyle reveals the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony will be called Isles of Wonder, in an announcement six months ahead of the Games.

Romney back into lead in Florida

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney pulls away from nearest rival Newt Gingrich in Florida opinion polls, although his national lead slips.

Norway apology for Holocaust role

The Norwegian prime minister apologises for the role his country played in deporting Jews as Europe marks Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Barefoot Bandit sentenced again

The notorious 20-year-old former fugitive known as the Barefoot Bandit is sentenced by a federal judge to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Sudan leaders in oil crisis talks

A summit is being held after South Sudan accused Sudan of stealing its oil exports and said it would halt production, crucial to both their economies.

Clashes after Senegal Wade ruling

Clashes erupt in Senegal's capital Dakar, after the top court rules that President Abdoulaye Wade can run for a third term in next month's poll.

France to resume Afghan training

French troops will resume training Afghan soldiers on Saturday but Paris will pull out most of its troops by the end of 2013, President Nicolas Sarkozy says.

Facebook clickjacking legal row

The social network and Washington State sue a marketing firm over claims that it deceived users by hiding 'Like' buttons. The firm denies the charge.

'Microplastic' threat to shores

Microscopic plastic debris from washing clothes is accumulating in the marine environment and could be entering the food chain, a study warns.

Demi Moore 911 call tape released

Demi Moore suffered convulsions after smoking an undisclosed substance, according to a tape of an emergency call made on Monday.

AUDIO: Demi Moore 911 tape is released

A tape recording of the 911 call made by friends of Demi Moore, after she suffered convulsions having smoked an undisclosed substance, has been released.

VIDEO: Bats find shelter in Israeli bunkers

Bats are finding a surprising haven in abandoned Israeli bunkers, researchers say.

VIDEO: Inside the 2012 Olympic apartments

BBC Breakfast's Tim Muffett has had a look around the athletes' apartments in the 2012 Olympic Village.

VIDEO: One-minute World News

Watch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day.

VIDEO: German agency 'spied on' politicians

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has been condemned for spying on politicians from the socialist Left party.

VIDEO: Facing up to threat of cyberwar

Military experts gathered in London this week to discuss the growing threat of cyber-attacks to international security.

VIDEO: Child's toy launched into space

While America is running down its manned space programme - further north - two Canadian students have shown that flying into space does not always have to be rocket science.

VIDEO: Michael Jackson honoured in Hollywood

The late Michael Jackson has been honoured at a ceremony in Hollywood attended by his family and a host of celebrities, including Justin Bieber.

Greece debt talks 'close to deal'

Greece could reach a deal with its creditors over the weekend, according to the EU's Economic Commissioner, Olli Rehn.

Spain jobless passes five million

Spain's unemployment figure rose above the five million mark in the last quarter of 2011, official figures show.

Top Euro MP quits in piracy row

A European Parliament rapporteur has stood down in protest as a controversial anti-piracy agreement is signed by several countries.

Botnet suspect denies involvement

The Russian man accused by Microsoft of being behind the Kelihos botnet attack insists he is "absolutely not guilty".

Winslet to receive Cesar honour

British actress Kate Winslet is to receive an honorary Cesar Award and drama Poliss is nominated for 13 prizes at France's equivalent of the Oscars.

Children among 74 dead in 2 days of Syrian turmoil

BEIRUT (AP) -- Two days of bloody turmoil in Syria killed at least 74 people, including small children, as forces loyal to President Bashar Assad shelled residential buildings and fired on crowds in a dramatic escalation of violence, activists said Friday....

GOP insiders rise up to cut Gingrich down to size

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Republican insiders are rising up to cut Newt Gingrich down to size, testament to the GOP establishment's fear that the mercurial candidate could lead the party to disaster this fall....

Obama 'putting colleges on notice' on high tuition

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- President Barack Obama fired a warning at the nation's colleges and universities on Friday, threatening to strip their federal aid if they "jack up tuition" every year and to give the money instead to schools showing restraint and value....

American economy not healthy yet, but it's healing

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The American economy may not be truly healthy yet, but it's healing....

US Embassy: US citizen kidnapped in Nigeria freed

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- A U.S. citizen kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta has been freed after a week in captivity, the U.S. Embassy said....

Facebook IPO could value it among top companies

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- When Facebook makes its long-expected debut as a public company this spring, the social-networking company will likely vault into the top ranks of the largest public companies in the world, on par with the likes of McDonald's, Amazon.com and Bank of America....

Ship carrying rocket parts hits Ky. bridge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- The voyage of a cargo boat that carries space rocket components to Florida's coast for NASA and the Air Force has stalled in a western Kentucky river after it slammed into an aging traffic bridge....

Tubby tabby gets revolutionary new knee joint

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Because Cyrano weighs more than 20 pounds, amputating his cancer-weakened leg was out of the question. So the tubby tabby's owners turned to doctors and engineers at North Carolina State University to get him back into mice-catching trim....

Actress' claim to be gay by choice riles activists

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Cynthia Nixon learned the hard way this week that when it comes to gay civil rights, the personal is always political. Very political....

Column: Stop shrieking about women's tennis noise

On serve and when whipping his forehand, Novak Djokovic's grunt is that of a bullfrog, "WooooAH-UH." Rafael Nadal goes for a throatier, "AAArrgggHH." Occasionally, Andy Murray offers up a more hushed, constricted, "Eeeeeehhh." From Roger Federer, of course, we tend to get the sound of silence....

Sources: No rescue planned for kidnapped American

U.S. officials say they have no plans for now to try to rescue an American hostage kidnapped over the weekend by Somali pirates.

France wants faster NATO Afghanistan exit

France and Afghanistan agree NATO should speed up by a year its timetable for handing all combat operations to Afghan forces in 2013, President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday, raising new questions about the unity of the Western military alliance.

The twisty road to US-Pakistan re-engagement

Pakistan's closure of major supply routes for U.S. and NATO supplies going to Afghanistan is costing the U.S. over $100 million per day. But relations between the two nations remain stuck at a standstill. NBC's Amna Nawaz reports from Peshawar.

Barrier proposed as Israel border?

Israel is proposing to essentially turn its West Bank separation barrier into the border with a future state of Palestine, two Palestinian officials said Friday, based on their interpretation of principles Israel presented in talks this week.

Golden Triangle: Who killed 13 sailors?

As China expands its influence on the Mekong River, it is encroaching on a region dominated for decades by a much more profitable trade: narcotics.

Holocaust remembered across the world

The world marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Friday. In Great Britain there was a promise never to forget the genocide at Auschwitz during World War II.

UN weighs action on Syria

The Security Council began closed-door negotiations Friday on a new Arab-European draft resolution aimed at resolving the crisis in Syria, but Russia's envoy said he could not back the current language as it stands.

Australia PM reunited with shoe lost at protest

Julia Gillard is on firm footing again. A blue suede shoe that she lost during a protest by aboriginal-rights activists has been returned.

Russia police investigate democracy protest by toys

Russian authorities are investigating whether demonstrations in favor of "clean elections" by Lego figures, stuffed dolls and other toys this month are legal, according to reports.

Blast outside hospital kills dozens in Baghdad

BAGHDAD -- Twenty-six people were killed on Friday when a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car in southeastern Baghdad, Iraqi officials said. The attack occurred at 11:00 a.m. in the Iraqi capital's predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Zafaraniyah, police said.

Wrecked cruise ship passengers offered $14,460

Passengers who were on the Costa Concordia are being offered $14,460 apiece to compensate them for their lost baggage and psychological trauma after the cruise ship ran aground and capsized off Tuscany.

Hacker group Anonymous targets Mexican sites

The activist hacker group Anonymous attacked three Mexican government websites on Friday in protest at a proposed bill that seeks to toughen local laws about online file-sharing.

Thailand elephants now poached for their meat

A new taste for eating elephant meat — everything from trunks to sex organs — has emerged in Thailand and could pose a new threat to the survival of the species.

US Virgin Islands tourist bus accident injures 13

A tourist bus collided with a parked vehicle in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Friday, injuring 13 cruise ship passengers after it went down an embankment, authorities said.

Police: 35 pounds of cocaine seized at UN

A shipment containing 16 kilograms of cocaine was seized last week at the U.N.'s mail intake center, a New York Police Department spokesman said Thursday.

Fading Gingrich falls behind in polls (Reuters)

Subpoenas issued to financial firms in expanded probe (Reuters)

Long Road Ahead for Conn. Home Invasion Survivor - ABC News

Violence surges in Syria as UN Security Council meets - Washington Post

Contest may take new route as Romney rebounds, Gingrich sags - MiamiHerald.com

Greece, creditors laboriously piece together debt deal (Reuters)

Obama pushes for financial aid 'shopping sheets' that clearly spell out ... - Washington Post

Populist, combative Obama gets love from Democratic lawmakers - Reuters

Facebook Readies IPO Filing for As Soon As Next Week - Wall Street Journal

Senegal's president cleared to run for 3rd term (AP)

American economy not healthy yet, but it's healing (AP)

Actress' claim to be gay by choice riles activists (AP)

'Barefoot Bandit' sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison - CNN

* Claims prime minister, foreign minister also enjoy immunity - Pakistan Daily Times

Facebook IPO could value it among top companies (AP)

Brittany Norwood is sentenced to life in Lululemon yoga store murder - Washington Post

New California rules require cleaner cars - Los Angeles Times

Ship carrying rocket parts hits Ky. bridge (AP)

GOP insiders rise up to cut Gingrich down to size (AP)

In Facebook IPO, bankers seek prestige over fees (Reuters)

Syria violence kills 37, U.N. Security Council to meet (Reuters)

Obama 'putting colleges on notice' on high tuition (AP)

Growth quickens, but speed bumps ahead (Reuters)

How Pentagon budget cuts will reshape the Army (The Christian Science Monitor)

Column: Stop shrieking about women's tennis noise (AP)