Weakened Earl packs less force than feared (AP)

The Chatham Lighthouse, situated at a working U.S. Coast Guard Station, casts its beam into a foggy evening, in Chatham, Mass., on Cape Cod, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. Hurricane Earl is expected to arrive at Cape Cod late Friday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)AP - The remnants of Hurricane Earl took aim at Nova Scotia early Saturday after a brush with the Northeast that was far less intense than feared, dumping heavy, wind-driven rain on Cape Cod cottages and fishing villages accustomed to nor'easters.


BP raises blowout preventer, key evidence in probe (AP)

In this image taken from video provided by BP  PLC at 12:23 a.m. EDT, Saturday Sept. 4, 2010 Aug. 3, 2010 shows the blowout preventer that failed to stop oil from spewing into the Gulf of Mexico being raised to the surface. The blowout preventer wasn't expected to reach the surface until Saturday, at which point government investigators will take possession of it. (AP Photo/BP PLC) NO SALESAP - BP PLC was on Saturday slowly raising the 300-ton blowout preventer that failed to stop oil from spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, careful not to damage or drop a key piece of evidence in the spill investigation.


Obama says he's committed to helping middle class (AP)

President Barack Obama reports on the economy as the latest unemployment figures are released, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)AP - A healthy economy needs bustling Main Streets and a thriving middle class even more than a healthy stock market, President Barack Obama said as he reaffirmed his commitment to work hard for America's hardworking men and women.


Report: Blackwater created shell companies (AP)

FILE - In a Monday, July 21, 2008 file photo, Blackwater Worldwide's headquarters is seen in Moyock, N.C. The New York Times is reporting that the security company Blackwater Worldwide formed a network of 30 shell companies and subsidiaries to get government business after the company faced strong criticism for its conduct in Iraq. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)AP - The security company Blackwater Worldwide formed a network of 30 shell companies and subsidiaries to try to get millions of dollars in government business after the company faced strong criticism for reckless conduct in Iraq, The New York Times reported Friday.


Buildings collapse, 2 injured in powerful NZ quake (AP)

The rubble pile up outside a takeout restaurant in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010. A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake damaged buildings, cut power and knocked fleeing residents off their feet on New Zealand's South Island early Saturday, but there were so far no deaths and only two injuries reported. (AP Photo/NZPA, David Wethey) NEW ZEALAND OUTAP - Chimneys and walls crumbled to the ground, roads cracked in half and residents were knocked off their feet as a powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake rocked New Zealand's South Island early Saturday. The prime minister said it was a miracle no one was killed.


Shoe, eggs hurled at ex-Brit PM Blair in Dublin (AP)

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, right, attends a public book signing, with Conor Whelen, Managing Director of Eason book store, in Dublin, Saturday Sept. 4, 2010. Anti-war protesters hurled shoes and eggs at Tony Blair as he arrived for his first public signing of his fast-selling memoir. (AP Photo/Niall Carson, pool)AP - Anti-war protesters hurled shoes and eggs at Tony Blair on Saturday as he held the first public signing of his fast-selling memoir.


Death toll rises to 65 in attack on Pakistanis (AP)

** ALTERNATIVE CROP OF QUT111** People who were injured by an explosion lie down on road during a Shiite procession in Quetta, Pakistan on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. Police say a blast at a Shiite procession has killed a score of people in southwestern Pakistan in the third deadly attack this week on the country's religious minorities.(AP Photo/Arshad Butt)AP - The death toll from a Pakistani Taliban suicide attack on a Shiite Muslim procession rose from 43 to 65 overnight as critically wounded people died in hospitals, police said Saturday.


Muslims take to Minn. State Fair to repair image (AP)

In this Sept. 1, 2010 photo, Zuleyha Ozonder, left, hands out cards explaining Islam to fair-goers as they exit of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights, Minn. 'You just want people to take the card, spend a minute reading it and say, 'Oh. They're not terrorists,'' said 27-year-old Zuleyha who volunteered with her husband Salim for The Islamic Circle of North America's Minnesota chapter's outreach effort. (AP Photo/Dawn Villella)AP - Despite the smells of fried dough and roasted meat wafting from the Minnesota State Fair, Salim and Zuleyha Ozonder were focused on the people who were leaving, not the food or festivities beckoning from across the street.


Fox: Kara DioGuardi departs 'American Idol' (AP)

FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2009 file photo, Kara DioGuardi of 'American Idol' arrives at the FOX Winter All-Star Party in Los Angeles. Fox TV says Kara DioGuardi is leaving as `American Idol' judge, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file)AP - Kara DioGuardi is following Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell out the door at "American Idol."


Nadal, Venus move on at US Open (AP)

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, pumps his fist after beating Denis Istomin, of Uzbekistan, 6-2, 7-6, 7-5 at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP - Venus Williams brought the glitter. Rafael Nadal brought the grit.


Curfew declared after 7.1 quake hits New Zealand (Reuters)

A car is seen under debris after a major earthquake in Christchurch September 4, 2010. A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit New Zealand, 30 km (20 miles) west of Christchurch early on Saturday morning, causing no immediate reports of casualties but widespread damage, authorities said. REUTERS/Daniel McQueenReuters - Authorities declared an overnight curfew for Saturday after a major earthquake hit New Zealand's second biggest city, Christchurch, bringing down power lines and bridges and wrecking roads and building facades.


Taxpayers likely to face initial loss on GM IPO: sources (Reuters)

FILE - In this June 13, 2010 file photo, Tim Allen arrives at the world premiere of 'Toy Story 3,' at The El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. General Motors Co. said Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, Tim Allen will be a spokesman for the brand and will star in a series of TV ads for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze that begin airing on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Katy Winn, file)Reuters - The U.S. government is likely to take a loss on General Motors Co in the first offering of the automaker's stock, six people familiar with preparations for the landmark IPO said.


Obama to address new economic ideas next Wednesday (Reuters)

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the latest employment statistics released on Friday, alongside Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in the Rose Garden of the White House, September 3, 2010. REUTERS/Jason ReedReuters - President Barack Obama said on Friday he would outline new measures next week to boost the U.S. economy, but analysts were skeptical he would be able to deliver a big enough package to lift growth significantly.


Crime adds to misery for Pakistan's flood victims (Reuters)
Reuters - Crime and the sale of donated aid supplies are undermining the aid effort for Pakistan's flood victims.
U.S. and Israel spying behind BlackBerry woe: Dubai police (Reuters)

A family walks past a display of a BlackBerry smart phone at a shopping mall in Dubai August 1, 2010. REUTERS/Mosab OmarReuters - Concerns over Israeli access to BlackBerry data, and the use of the device by the United States to spy on the United Arab Emirates are behind the Gulf state's moves to curb the smartphone, Dubai's police chief said.


Weakened storm Earl bears down on Atlantic Canada (Reuters)

Stop signs on a barricade sit above a flooded access road to West Dennis Beach, in West Dennis, Mass., on Cape Cod, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010.  Areas on Cape Cod received heavy rainfall late Friday and early Saturday as Hurricane Earl, later downgraded to a tropical storm, passed by the cape as it headed north toward Nova Scotia, Canada. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)Reuters - Tropical storm Earl, a shadow of the massive hurricane that frightened the U.S. East Coast this week, picked up speed on Saturday as it bore down on Atlantic Canada packed with strong winds and rain.


German held by U.S. troops planned Europe attacks: report (Reuters)
Reuters - A German Islamist held by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and interrogated since July has revealed details of planned attacks on targets in Germany and Europe, a news weekly reported Saturday.
Bomb kills 54 in Pakistan, Taliban threatens U.S. (Reuters)

Volunteers help injured men to an ambulance from the site of a suicide attack during a Shi'ite procession in Quetta September 3, 2010. REUTERS/Rizwan SaeedReuters - A suicide bomber struck a rally in the Pakistani city of Quetta on Friday, killing at least 54 people in the second major attack this week and piling pressure on a U.S.-backed government overwhelmed by a flood crisis.


Widespread devastation after 7.0 quake in New Zealand (AFP)

People driving front loaders work on moving rubble blocking Victoria Street in Christchurch on September 4, 2010 after a powerful 7.0 earthquake struck New Zealand's second largest city, causing widespread damage.(AFP/File/Iain Mcgregor)AFP - New Zealand's most destructive earthquake in nearly 80 years caused two billion dollars' worth of damage Saturday, felling buildings, tearing up roads and sending terrified residents fleeing into the streets.


Suicide bomber kills 57 at Shiite rally in Pakistan (AFP)

Pakistani men help injured blast victims at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Quetta. At least 57 people were killed and 197 wounded on Friday in a suicide bombing targeting a Shiite Muslim rally in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, police said.(AFP/File/Banaras Khan)AFP - Anti-terror police were on high alert in Pakistan on Saturday ahead of mass burials for the victims of a suicide bomber who killed at least 57 people at a Shiite Muslim rally.