AP - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is grateful that actor Sean Penn has defended him against his critics within the U.S. media. In an appearance on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" last week, Penn slammed Chavez critics who refer to the socialist leader as a dictator.   [ Full Story ]

AP - The decision by a Rome high school to install condom vending machines has set off a storm in Italy, with the Catholic Church charging the move will encourage young people to have sex and Rome's mayor saying it sends the wrong message.   [ Full Story ]

AP - Americans are recovering their shrunken wealth — gradually. Household net worth rose last quarter, mainly because the healing economy boosted stock portfolios. But the gain was slight. And it was less than in the previous two quarters.   [ Full Story ]

AP - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Thursday he has recused himself and appointed an independent counsel to probe whether Gov. David Paterson illegally took World Series tickets or had improper contact with a woman who accused an aide of domestic violence.   [ Full Story ]

AP - Yemen counterterrorism authorities captured a U.S. citizen of Somali origin after he shot his way out of a hospital in the Middle Eastern country, where he was being held after a sweep of al-Qaida members, authorities said Thursday.   [ Full Story ]

AP - Tim Holland, a world backgammon champion who was one of the most prominent competitors in the game's modern heyday, has died. He was 79.   [ Full Story ]

AP - The stock market is up for a third day after a rally in financial shares helped offset concerns about rising inflation in China.   [ Full Story ]

AP - Government vehicle safety regulators may seek greater authority to investigate defects in cars and trucks following Toyota's recall of more than 8 million vehicles for safety problems.   [ Full Story ]

AP - Defense contractor Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit Thursday.   [ Full Story ]