AP - An aggressive Mitt Romney repeatedly challenged Republican rival Newt Gingrich in a fast-paced campaign debate Thursday night just before a Florida primary that could be pivotal in the GOP presidential race. He rebuffed criticism of his own stance on immigration and ridiculed the former House speaker's call to build costly projects in key primary states and to colonize the moon.

AP - The Pentagon outlined a plan Thursday for slowing the growth of military spending, including cutting the size of the Army and Marine Corps, retiring older planes and trimming war costs. It drew quick criticism from Republicans, signaling the difficulty of scaling back defense budgets in an election year.

AP - Pirates moved an American hostage at least three times in 24 hours and threatened Thursday to kill him after U.S. Navy SEALs rescued an American and a Dane in a bold, dark-of-night raid that raises questions about whether other Western captives are now in greater danger.