Reuters - Fitch downgraded the sovereign credit ratings of Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia and Spain on Friday, indicating there was a 1-in-2 chance of further cuts in the next two years.

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.

AP - Tom Brady felt the power of the New York Giants' pass rushers when he was sacked five times in their first Super Bowl confrontation.

AP - Senegal's highest court ruled Friday the country's increasingly frail, 85-year-old president could run for a third term in next month's election, a deep blow to the country's opposition, which has vowed to take to the streets if the aging leader does not step aside.

Reuters - Newt Gingrich struggled to regain momentum in the Republican presidential race on Friday as two new polls showed him falling behind rival Mitt Romney, who was seen as the winner of the final debate before the Florida primary.

AP - Twitter, a tool of choice for dissidents and activists around the world, found itself the target of global outrage Friday after unveiling plans to allow country-specific censorship of tweets that might break local laws.

Joseph Ozment was picked up by his mom from the governor's mansion after his pardon this month. Now a reward is being offered for anyone who can help locate him.

Some military experts Friday called Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's proposed budget cuts "much to do about nothing," but others expressed concern about the potential of a shrinking U.S. military in the strategic Mideast and Asia.

The day after little Jorelys Rivera's mangled body was found in a suburban Atlanta trash compactor, Ryan Brunn sat in a stark room for a police interview. He began with confidence, but ended with trouble.

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.

Forces killed 60 people on Friday in Syria, an opposition group said, as the U.N. Security Council weighed a draft that would call on Bashar al-Assad to step down.

Johnson & Johnson announced Friday it is voluntarily recalling a single lot of Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion after a test by the Food and Drug Administration found it contained more of a form of bacteria than specifications allow.

A woman called 911 soliciting help for actress Demi Moore, whom she said was "convulsing" and "burning up" after "smoking something," according to a recording of the call obtained Friday from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Gunmen in Nigeria shot and killed at least 16 people and burned their bodies in the northwestern state of Zamfara, according to an official who asked not to be named, citing security concerns.

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.

In the shadow of the Fukushima nuclear plant, one man's quiet defiance echoes through the contaminated, empty streets of Tomioka, Japan.

The U.S. women's soccer team qualified for the London Olympics on Friday night with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica.

Peyton Manning and Jim Irsay "had a long talk" Friday, coming to terms with comments made to the media this week, first by the Colts quarterback and then by the team's owner two days later.

The New Orleans Hornets are actively trying to trade center Chris Kaman, according to sources close to the process.

Dwyane Wade has recovered from his sprained right ankle and will play Friday night (8 ET, ESPN) against the New York Knicks, who will be without All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony.

The tougher South Course at Torrey Pines suited Kyle Stanley just fine Friday in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, who has become something of a political lightning rod lately, weighed in Friday on his beliefs that the federal government is "out of control."

Pat Shurmur hired former Minnesota coach Brad Childress as his first offensive coordinator with the Browns on Friday.

Landon Donovan set up both goals for Everton, which rallied to beat Fulham and Clint Dempsey 2-1 Friday night for a berth in the fifth round of the FA Cup.