The XX Factor

- Michele Bachmann has dropped out of the race for House Republican Conference chair and with that, ended a bid for leadership that many saw as the first real test of the Tea Party against the GOP establishment. [ Politico ]

- A Pentagon study group concluded that the military can lift the ban on gays serving openly with only minimal and isolated incidents of risk to current war efforts. [ Washington Post ]

- Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi suffered another courtroom loss on Thursday. However, close aides are optimistic that she will soon be released from a house arrest that has lasted for more than 15 years. [ New York Times ]

- One in 10 U.S. children is now diagnosed with ADHD , a significant increase from previous years that researchers think might be explained by growing awareness and better screening. [ Wall Street Journal ]

- If you were a 1620s woman wanting to restore your virginity , what would you do without the possibility of having a 21st century reconstructive surgery? [ Hairpin ]

Photograph of a political activist holding a picture of Suu Kiyi by Getty Images.