AP - President Barack Obama is making a strong election-year push for an economic revival "built on American manufacturing." But he faces an uphill slog, with little consensus even within his own party on how to do it.

AP - U.S. Women's Open champion So Yeon Ryu shot a 4-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over fellow South Korean player Hee Kyung Seo in the LPGA Tour's season-opening Women's Australian Open.

AP - Troy Schoeller admits he could have chosen his words more carefully when he talked to a reporter about bodies he worked on as an embalmer at a funeral home.

AP - Troy Schoeller admits he could have chosen his words more carefully when he talked to a reporter about bodies he worked on as an embalmer at a funeral home.

AP - The embattled youth leader of South Africa's governing party says he's preparing for life outside the African National Congress if his five-year suspension is upheld.

AP - Barclays PLC revealed Friday that it is slashing its bonus pool after earnings at its investment banking division fell sharply and dented overall profitability.

AP - Yet when it comes to the federal No Child Left Behind law, the school hasn't lived up to expectations. Last year, 79 percent of students had to be at grade level in reading and 80 percent in math. Overall, the students exceeded those goals. But two groups — English language learners and the economically disadvantaged — did not.

Time.com - One famine -- Somalia's -- may be officially over but in the vast stretch of the Sahel, millions of people face drought and famine. It can still be avoided

Time.com - One of the world's top crusaders against human-rights violations has been banned from the bench for 11 years. And his legal troubles aren't over

Reuters - The ousted president of the Maldives was walking free on Friday despite an arrest warrant against him as diplomats including a U.N. envoy worked to forestall renewed violence in the Indian Ocean archipelago best known as a luxury beach getaway.

AP - Beijing says a celebrity police chief linked to one of the country's rising political stars spent a day in a U.S. consulate in southwestern China amid speculation that he sought political asylum.

AP - Hours after receiving a two-year ban for blood doping, 1997 Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich admitted on his website that he had "contact" with the Spanish doctor who ran the doping program he was accused of participating in.

AP - Not content with legislative approval of a big pay raise, Rio state police officers went on strike Friday, raising fears for the security of the glittering Carnival extravaganza that sets this seaside city throbbing.

AP - A television anchor who was bitten in the face by an 85-pound Argentine Mastiff during a live broadcast was released from a hospital on Thursday.

AP - West James beamed as he showed off a new entry in his journal: "I survived a dangerous rescue."

Reuters - Pakistan's Supreme Court rejected the prime minister's appeal against summons in a contempt case on Friday and is set to charge him on Monday, a move likely to bring fresh political turmoil to the chronically unstable country.

AP - Money pouring into the presidential election from super political action committees appears so far to be strictly American, donated by U.S. companies, unions and millionaires. But U.S. officials and tax law experts warn the growth of super PACs has made conditions ripe for illegal foreign donations.

AP - Josh Powell told his 7-year-old son he had a "surprise" for him moments before attacking and killing him and his 5-year-old brother, according to the state social worker who was supposed to supervise a visit between Powell and his sons.

AP - A leading Jewish organization and others outraged by a photo showing Marine snipers in Afghanistan posing with a logo resembling a notorious Nazi symbol are demanding President Barack Obama order an investigation and hold the troops accountable.

AP - A leading Jewish organization and others outraged by a photo showing Marine snipers in Afghanistan posing with a logo resembling a notorious Nazi symbol are demanding President Barack Obama order an investigation and hold the troops accountable.