on the day of

Weakened Earl hits Mass. with wind, rain, surf (AP)

AP - The remnants of Hurricane Earl dumped wind-driven rain on Cape Cod's gray-shingled cottages and fishing villages Friday night, but its close brush with the Northeast was less intense than feared only hours earlier.

Report: Blackwater created shell companies (AP)

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.

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

AP - 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.

Body of son of boxing promoter found in Cascades (AP)

AP - Searchers spotted the body of the son of Hall of Fame boxing promoter Bob Arum on a rugged Washington state mountainside Friday afternoon, five days after they began looking for him in North Cascades National Park, authorities said.

9 killed in New Zealand skydiving plane crash (AP)

AP - A light aircraft carrying skydivers crashed in flames Saturday near a popular tourist spot in New Zealand's Southern Alps, killing nine people including four foreign tourists, police said.

Powerful 7.1 quake hits New Zealand's South Island (AP)

AP - 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.

Clinton: Time is now for Mideast peace (AP)

AP - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sought to inject urgency into Israeli-Palestinian peace talks Friday, warning the negotiations may be "the last chance for a very long time" to reach an agreement.

Ariz. governor says she was wrong about beheadings (AP)

AP - Gov. Jan Brewer rose to national fame defending the state's immigration law and warning of rising violence along the U.S.-Mexico border, including a claim that headless bodies were turning up in the Arizona desert.

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

AP - Kara DioGuardi is following Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell out the door at "American Idol."

Nadal beats Istomin; reaches 3rd round of US Open (AP)

AP - Even Rafael Nadal felt compelled to applaud when his second-round opponent at the U.S. Open hit a spectacular, full-sprint winner and was left doing the splits at the net.

Emergency declared as 7.1 quake hits New Zealand (Reuters)

Reuters - Authorities declared a state of emergency after a major earthquake hit New Zealand's second biggest city early on Saturday, bringing down power lines, ripping up roads and wrecking building facades, but authorities reported no deaths.

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

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)

Reuters - 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)

Reuters - 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.

Earl weakens to storm (Reuters)

Reuters - Hurricane Earl, which earlier in the week was a storm of major proportions that threatened the U.S. East Coast, weakened to a tropical storm on Friday as it swirled offshore toward Canada.

Bomb kills 54 in Pakistan, Taliban threatens U.S. (Reuters)

Reuters - 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.

Government says no leaking oil at Mariner platform (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. government inspectors found no leaking oil at Mariner Energy Inc's burned platform in the Gulf of Mexico, officials said late on Friday, allaying fears about more environmental damage after BP's massive spill.

Widespread devastation after 7.0 quake in New Zealand (AFP)

AFP - A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused widespread devastation in New Zealand's second largest city of Christchurch Saturday, with officials saying it was "extremely lucky" no one was killed.

S.Korea FM offers resignation over nepotism accusation (AFP)

AFP - South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan on Saturday offered to resign after being accused of nepotism over the controversial hiring of his daughter, a spokesman for the ministry said.