Some flooding on NC Outer Banks as Earl passes (AP)

AP - First light reveals some flooding on the narrow vacation islands of North Carolina's Outer Banks after Hurricane Earl passed in the night.

Miami airport evacuated when suspicious item found (AP)

AP - A passenger was detained and four of Miami International Airport's six concourses were evacuated after a screener spotted something suspicious in a checked bag, authorities said.

Gates sees progress in tour of Afghan war zone (AP)

AP - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he saw and heard evidence that the U.S. counterinsurgency strategy is taking hold in critical Kandahar province.

Jobs report may show rise in unemployment rate (AP)

AP - The unemployment rate may be about to rise again.

Latest Gulf oil rig problem differs from BP spill (AP)

AP - Stark differences exist between the oil platform fire in the Gulf of Mexico and the blast that led to the massive BP spill. Most notably, no one was killed and no crude was gushing into the water, but the distinctions don't end there.

Democrats spend early to knock out GOP challengers (AP)

AP - Republican Jesse Kelly was still basking in the glow of his victory in an Arizona congressional primary when the Democratic congresswoman he's trying to unseat released a scathing TV ad branding him "a risk" who would gamble away people's retirement savings.

Former egg farm workers say complaints ignored (AP)

AP - U.S. Agriculture Department employees worked full-time at two Iowa egg farms at the center of a salmonella outbreak and massive recall, but two former workers said they ignored complaints about conditions at one site.

Mexico: Soldiers kill 25 in troubled border state (AP)

AP - Soldiers killed at least 25 suspected cartel members Thursday in a raid and gunbattle in a Mexican state near the U.S. border that has become one of the most dangerous battlegrounds in the country's drug war.

'Crocodile Dundee' to return to US amid tax fray (AP)

AP - Actor Paul Hogan, star of the "Crocodile Dundee" movie trilogy, has been cleared to return home to the United States after he was barred last month from leaving Australia because of a disputed tax bill, his lawyer said Friday.

Sharapova has matchup with another young American (AP)

AP - They all want to be like Maria. They all want to beat Maria, too.

No sign of oil after Gulf platform fire: Coast Guard (Reuters)

Reuters - An oil and gas platform operated by Mariner Energy burst into flames in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, but the crew of 13 escaped and there were no signs of an oil spill, the Coast Guard said.

Wind and rain from Hurricane Earl buffet North Carolina (Reuters)

Reuters - Hurricane Earl battered North Carolina's coast with rain, winds and waves on Friday and swirled up the U.S. eastern seaboard toward New England and Canada as a weakened but still dangerous storm.

BP oil spill costs hit $8 billion as ends rig probe (Reuters)

Reuters - BP Plc said the cost of dealing with its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had risen to $8 billion as the oil giant prepared to release the findings of an internal probe into the causes of the disaster.

Floods likely to delay Pakistan anti-Taliban moves (Reuters)

Reuters - Pakistan's devastating floods are likely to delay army offensives against Taliban insurgents, the U.S. defense secretary said on Friday, possibly giving militants chances to intensify attacks.

Israel and Palestinians agree to more peace meetings (Reuters)

Reuters - Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to a series of direct talks on Thursday, seeking to forge the framework for a U.S.-backed peace deal within a year and end a conflict that has boiled for six decades.

Drug shootout with army kills 25 in Mexico (Reuters)

Reuters - At least 25 suspected drug gang members were killed in an army raid in rural northeastern Mexico on Thursday, the army said in a press release.

Banks admit better disclosure on bonuses needed (Reuters)

Reuters - Banks have acknowledged they need to be more open about the size of their bonus pools and the methodology for paying star bankers after making progress in other areas of reforming pay structures.

Gates says Pakistan havens still threaten Afghanistan (Reuters)

Reuters - Militants operating out of safe havens in Pakistan remain a major threat to Afghanistan but cooperation between NATO-led forces and the Pakistani military is increasing, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Friday.

Mideast leaders to hold bimonthly peace talks (AFP)

AFP - Israeli and Palestinian leaders have cleared the first hurdle in what promises to be difficult negotiations, vowing to try to settle core differences within a year and meet every two weeks.

ICC charges Pakistan trio over betting scam (AFP)

AFP - Cricket's world governing body charged three Pakistan stars with anti-corruption offences and provisionally suspended them, as the trio protested their innocence in an alleged betting scam.