Today's Headlines -- Thursday

• Sarkozy, Merkel press debt plan with EU allies (AP)
• Corzine blames predecessors for MF Global's fall (AP)
• GOP leaders hope for agreement on payroll tax cut (AP)
• Unemployment aid applications drop to 9-month low (AP)
• Gov't study: More drivers texting at the wheel (AP)
• Putin slams Clinton for encouraging protesters (AP)
• Church confirms pope to visit Cuba in spring (AP)
• Morning-after pill stays behind counter after all (AP)
• Sandusky posts bail in latest sex abuse charges (AP)
• AP Source: Pujols, Angels agree to 10-year deal (AP)
• Corzine sorry, puzzled by missing MF Global money (Reuters)
• Jobless claims at 9-month low, outlook brighter (Reuters)
• ECB downplays its role as EU seeks crisis deal (Reuters)
• ECB cool on more bond buying, lending to IMF (Reuters)
• Exclusive: On the run, U.S. financier finds Spanish refuge (Reuters)
• Putin says U.S. stoked Russian protests (Reuters)
• Syria says pipeline blown up by rebel saboteurs (Reuters)
• Republicans block vote on consumer nominee (Reuters)
• Gay marriage: Court weighs validity of Prop. 8 ruling by gay judge (The Christian Science Monitor)
• Is Eric Holder's grip on the 'Fast and Furious' fiasco slipping? (The Christian Science Monitor)