Earl slows to tropical storm after hitting Canada

HALIFAX, Canada (Reuters) - Earl has slowed to a tropical storm, with wind speeds of some 60 knots, or just below 70 mph, the Canadian Hurricane Center said on Saturday.

Taxpayers likely to face initial loss on GM IPO: sources

NEW YORK/DETROIT (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

WASHINGTON (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.

Curfew declared after 7.1 quake hits New Zealand

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - 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.

Crime adds to misery for Pakistan's flood victims

MEHMOOD KOT, Pakistan (Reuters) - Crime and the sale of donated aid supplies are undermining the aid effort for Pakistan's flood victims.

Mexican judge orders drug lord held 40 more days

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A Mexican judge ordered Edgar "La Barbie" Valdez, believed to be one of the country's top drug bosses, held for 40 more days of investigation, the federal prosecutor's office said on Saturday.

Karzai announces "peace council" to push Taliban talks

KABUL (Reuters) - An Afghan peace council to pursue talks with the Taliban has been set up, President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday, the latest step in a gradual move toward reconciliation with the Islamist insurgents.

Bomb kills 54 in Pakistan, Taliban threatens U.S.

QUETTA, Pakistan (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

HOUSTON (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.

BP replaces failed blowout preventer on Gulf well

HOUSTON (Reuters) - BP Plc successfully replaced a failed blowout preventer from atop its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well late on Friday, the top U.S. official overseeing the spill response said.

Tropical Storm Gaston may redevelop over Atlantic

MIAMI (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Gaston could soon come back to life over the central Atlantic Ocean, U.S. forecasters said on Saturday.

Canadians say Earl packs hurricane-speed winds

HALIFAX, Canada (Reuters) - Canadian forecasters have measured hurricane-speed winds from buoys near the center of Earl and view the storm as a Category One hurricane.

German held by U.S. troops planned Europe attacks: report

BERLIN (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.

Mariner fire not like BP spill: U.S. Interior chief

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - The fire at Mariner Energy's oil and gas platform in the Gulf of Mexico appeared to be an industrial accident and not an example of problems in regulatory oversight, the U.S. Interior Secretary said.

Madoff investors win $12.74 mln in Merkin case

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors in Gabriel Capital LP, a so-called feeder fund that funneled money to imprisoned swindler Bernard Madoff, were awarded $12.74 million by a panel of three arbitrators, court records show.

Inspectors don't find oil leaking at platform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Interior Department said late on Friday that government inspectors did not find any oil leaking from Mariner Energy's platform that burned in the Gulf of Mexico.

Google faces Texas AG inquiry, settles privacy suit

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc said on Friday it was the target of an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office into the fairness of its search engine rankings.

Earthquake of 7.1 magnitude hits New Zealand city

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A major earthquake hit New Zealand's second biggest city Christchurch early on Saturday, bringing down power lines, ripping up roads and wrecking building facades, but authorities reported no deaths.

Hurricane Earl churns north, weaker but still threat

HYANNIS, Massachusetts (Reuters) - A weakened but still dangerous Hurricane Earl churned toward the Massachusetts coast on Friday, en route to Canada's Maritime provinces, after slapping North Carolina with heavy wind and rain.

Payrolls data offer ray of hope for recovery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employment fell for a third straight month in August, but the drop was far less than expected and private hiring was a positive surprise, relieving concerns about a stalling economic recovery.