KABUL (AP) — Fraud investigators in Afghanistan have thrown out hundreds of thousands of ballots for the country's president from the disputed August election. The report sets the stage for a runoff between Hamid Karzai and his top challenger. A panel backed by the U.N. today released its findings after nearly two months of investigations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is shifting his policy toward Sudan to one based on working with the government of the African country instead of isolating it. In a statement, Obama says he will renew tough sanctions against the Sudanese government later this week. But he says "there will be incentives" if the government acts to improve the situation on the ground. The U.N. estimates that 300,000 people have died in the civil war in Sudan's Darfur region.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — The lawyer for a Colorado couple at the center of what authorities say was a hoax says they are "absolutely willing" to turn themselves in. David Lane tells NBC that he doesn't want to see Richard Heene (HEE'-nee) put through a "perp walk" just for the TV cameras. Charges are expected against Heene, whose six-year-old son was reported to be on board a runaway balloon last week. The boy was later found at home.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says spending aimed at boosting the economy has created or saved 250,000 teaching or other education jobs this year. A White House report released today concludes that money from a $787 billion stimulus package has helped states fill budget gaps that would have cost teachers their jobs in school districts and public universities across the country.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are slightly higher in early trading despite a handful of mixed earnings reports. The toymaker Hasbro, like many other companies, says its third-quarter earnings rose as it cut costs, but reported that its revenue fell. Gannett, the country's largest newspaper publisher, also had a profitable quarter even with another big decline in ad revenue.