Sweden’s crown princess gives birth to baby girl

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria gave birth to her first child early Thursday, a baby girl that is second in line to the throne, her husband, Prince Daniel, said.

Romney clawing his way back in Republican race

MESA, Arizona (Reuters) - Mitt Romney is fighting his way back into the driving seat in the Republican presidential race, putting in a strong debate performance in Arizona and gaining in polls against conservative rival Rick Santorum. An aggressive Romney repeatedly put Santorum on the defensive in a CNN debate on Wednesday and attacked the former U.S. senator and staunch social conservative for supporting big-spending government programs. Romney has also battled his way into a slight lead in a new poll in Michigan, which along with Arizona will hold a primary contest on February 28. ...

Analysis: Obama goes on offense over high gasoline prices

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Republican presidential candidates toss barbs at Barack Obama over expensive gasoline, the U.S. president and his team are going on the offensive with a strategy to divert blame and prepare voters for higher costs. In subtle and not so subtle ways, Obama, a Democrat, is raising the issue of high prices to promote his own policy priorities and blunt criticism from the men vying to unseat him in the November 6 election. His strategy is both politically- and policy-oriented. The president wants to advance his plans to increase renewable energy sources and reduce U.S. ...

Celeb birthdays for the week of Feb. 26-March 3

Feb. 26: Singer Fats Domino is 84. Guitarist Paul Cotton of Poco is 69. Actor-director Bill Duke is 69. Singer Mitch Ryder is 67. Keyboardist Jonathan Cain of Journey is 62. Singer Michael Bolton is 59. Actor Greg Germann ("Ally McBeal") is 54. Actress Jennifer Grant is 46. Bassist Tim Commerford (Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine) is 44. Singer Erykah Badu is 41. R&B singer Rico Wade of Society of Soul is 40. Singer Kyle Norman of Jagged Edge is 37. Drummer Chris Culos of O.A.R. is 33. Singer Corinne Bailey Rae is 33. Actress Taylor Dooley ("The Adventures of Shark Boy and a Lava Girl in 3-D") is 19.

Iran talks failure sparks confrontation fears

VIENNA/TEHRAN (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's latest mission to Iran failed to budge a defiant Tehran over its disputed nuclear program, sending oil prices to a nine-month high over fears of an increasing risk of confrontation with the West. The United States criticized Iran on Wednesday over the collapse of the International Atomic Energy Agency's talks in Tehran, saying it again showed the Islamic Republic's refusal to abide by international obligations over its nuclear program. ...

Palin aides lash out at HBO’s ‘Game Change’

Current and former aides to Sarah Palin lashed out Wednesday at HBO's "Game Change," describing the upcoming film's depictions of her on the 2008 campaign trail as "sick" and inaccurate.

Car bomb in central Baghdad kills 7: police

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A car bomb struck an area of central Baghdad on Thursday, killing seven people and wounding 24, Iraqi police said. The attack occurred in the mostly Shi'ite Muslim district of Karrada. Police said the death toll might rise. (Reporting by Kareem Raheem; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Ralph Gowling)