AP - President Barack Obama sternly admonished a Florida pastor Thursday and appealed to him to call off plans to torch the Quran, saying Saturday's planned protest on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks was a dangerous "stunt" that could imperil U.S. troops abroad and incite suicide bombers on American soil.

AP - A federal appeals court on Thursday permitted federal funding of stem cell research to proceed for now, while it considers a judge's ruling that had temporarily shut off the funds.

AP - Iran's envoy to the United Nations has confirmed that a female American held for more than a year will be released.