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

AP - 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.

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

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.

Security tight for Blair book signing in Dublin (AP)

AP - Anti-war protesters hurled shoes and eggs at Tony Blair at the first public signing for his fast-selling memoir.

Top US commander discusses Iraq with Turkey (AP)

AP - The United States' top military officer says Washington does not plan to withdraw its weapons from Iraq through Turkey.

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.
Israel: Now, More than Ever, Fascinated By Netanyahu (Time.com)
Time.com - No one really thinks much will come out of the direct talks with the Palestinians but, when the issue is Bibi, up come visions of Gorbachev -- and Nixon in China
Objects thrown at Blair before Dublin book signing (AFP)

AFP - Angry protestors threw objects at Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair as he arrived at the first public signing session to promote his memoirs on Saturday in the Irish capital Dublin.

UPS cargo plane crashes near Dubai airport (AP)

AP - A UPS cargo plane with two crew members on board crashed shortly after takeoff Friday outside Dubai, officials said.

Mexico arrests 6 in deadly Cancun bar blaze (AP)

AP - Mexican police have arrested six suspects in a bar fire that killed eight in the resort city of Cancun.

Three Mozambique police injured in riots: officials (AFP)

AFP - Three Mozambican police were injured in clashes with demonstrators in Maputo over rising food prices on Friday evening, police said on Saturday.

Yahoo! News: Politics - Elections

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

AP - A claim by Arizona's governor that rising violence along the U.S.-Mexico border has led to headless bodies turning up in the desert came back to haunt her during a stammering debate performance in which she failed to back it up.

POLITICAL INSIDER: Christie backs Castle (AP)

AP - Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who rode voter anger to office in New Jersey last year, is endorsing Mike Castle's bid to win the GOP primary in Delaware and is joining a pack of party leaders trying to block a tea party-backed candidate's bid.

Obama Unpopular Ahead of Midterms: Will the GOP Benefit? (Time.com)

Time.com - Nine weeks before the midterm elections, Barack Obama finds himself on the wrong side of the polls. Where did all that adoration go -- and is a Republican sweep next?

GOP Maes stays in Colo. governor's race (AP)
AP - Republican Dan Maes, Democrat John Hickenlooper and American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo are officially on the November ballot in the race for Colorado governor.
2010 Colorado Senate race: Incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet vs. Tea Party-backed Ken Buck (The Newsroom)
The Newsroom - In its Aug. 10 primary, Colorado set up one of the most intriguing U.S. Senate match-ups in the country, which could be a bellwether race for the national midterms. Sen. Michael Bennet must face the curse of Obama-backed incumbents -- despite running his first election campaign -- against Tea Party-backed Republican Ken Buck, who had suddenly risen to the nomination over the early GOP favorite, former state Lt. Gov. Jane Norton.
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.

Obama to award posthumous Medal of Honor to PA man (AP)
AP - President Barack Obama is awarding a posthumous Medal of Honor to an Air Force chief master sergeant who braved enemy fire to help three wounded comrades before suffering his own fatal wounds during combat in Laos in 1968.
Obama to campaign for Blumenthal in Conn. (AP)
AP - President Barack Obama plans to attend a fundraiser later this month to help Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Ohio voters to Boehner: Step away from the self-tanner (The Upshot)
The Upshot - Finally, there's one thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on in this highly polarized, hotly contested election year: John Boehner is simply way too tan. In a survey that threatens to send a chill down Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's own perpetually tan spine, Public Policy Polling finds that a majority of voters in Boehner's home [...]
Former President Clinton campaigns for NY Democrat (AP)
AP - Former President Bill Clinton slammed Republicans Friday for their stewardship of the economy during their years in power in Washington, and said the party's campaign message heading into the 2010 midterm elections is: "Put us in because the Democrats didn't fix what we did to you in 21 months."