• Two Suicide Bombers Hit Hezbollah Bastion In Lebanon, 43 Killed, 240 Wounded

  At least 43 people were killed and more than 240 wounded on Thursday in two suicide bomb blasts claimed by Islamic State in a crowded residential district in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of the Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah.

  

• U.S. GOP Pesidential Debate Performances Lift Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio to Top of Social Media

  U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz stole the spotlight on social media from the front-runners during a televised GOP debate on Tuesday night, drawing attention and positive reviews.

  

• Steady Debate Performance Banishes Gloom for Republican Jeb Bush

  A steady performance by Jeb Bush in Tuesday's Republican debate has halted the sense of desperation around his U.S. presidential campaign and may buy him time to counter the rise of chief rival Marco Rubio.

  

• Maria Sharapova Ready to Play Underdog against Czechs in Fed Cup Final Tennis Match

  Maria Sharapova is happy to cast herself as the underdog in her first Fed Cup final appearance when Russia seeks to take the trophy from holders Czech Republic this weekend.

  

• Afghan Protests Beheadings of Seven Hazaran, Including Women and Children, By ISIL

  Afghan President Ashraf Ghani appealed for calm after angry protesters from the ethnic Hazara minority tried to force their way into his Kabul palace on Wednesday to demand justice for seven members of their community beheaded by Islamist militants.