Yahoo! News: Top Stories
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                  as of Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:10:42 GMT

    Saddam Pleads Innocent to Murder, Torture (AP)

AP - Saddam Hussein pleaded innocent to charges of premeditated murder
 and torture Wednesday, arguing with judges and challenging the
 legitimacy of the court as his trial opened under heavy security in the
 former headquarters of his Baath Party.

    Wilma Now a Storm for the Record Books (AP)

AP - Gathering strength at a fierce pace, Hurricane Wilma grew into one
 of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded early Wednesday,
 a Category 5 monster packing 175 mph wind that forecasts warned was
 "extremely dangerous."

    Rice to Face Jittery Congress Over Iraq (AP)

AP - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in her first Capitol Hill
 appearance in eight months, to face a jittery Congress seeking
 specifics about the United States' path to success in Iraq.

    Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 79,000 (AP)

AP - Two strong aftershocks from South Asia's deadly earthquake shook
 the devastated region on Wednesday, unleashing landslides and setting
 off another wave of panic among survivors who lost loved ones and homes
 in the Oct. 8 disaster. A new tally from regional officials pushed the
 death toll to 79,000.

    China allows Rumsfeld peek at secretive military (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his Chinese
 counterpart agreed on Wednesday to step up military exchanges in what
 American officials said was a sign of a cautious opening by China's
 secretive military.

    Study: Obesity Surgery May Be Riskier (AP)

AP - Obesity surgery, the most drastic way to lose weight, is far more
 than a cosmetic procedure and involves considerably higher risks of
 death than previously thought, new research suggests.

    Intel Profit Gains on Notebook Sales (AP)

AP - Intel Corp. posted a slim increase of 5 percent in third-quarter
 profits and indicated fourth-quarter sales could be affected by
 continuing supply constraints and a build up of customer inventory.

    Fox to Guest Star on 'Boston Legal' (AP)

AP - Michael J. Fox, who left his "Spin City" sitcom because of his
 fight against Parkinson's disease, will guest star on three episodes of
 "Boston Legal" scheduled to air this season.

    Dog Attacks Anti-Dangerous Dog Bill Author (AP)

AP - The author of a new state law that allows felony charges against
 owners of dangerous dogs was hospitalized over the weekend after his
 own dog attacked him.

    Astros Loose, Confident Despite Loss (AP)

AP - The Houston Astros hardly sounded shaken. Even after a stunning
 loss to St. Louis in Game 5 of the NL championship series, they made
 sure to needle All-Star closer Brad Lidge about the jaw-dropping homer
 he gave up to Albert Pujols with two outs in the ninth inning.

    Saddam pleads not guilty (Reuters)

Reuters - A defiant Saddam Hussein refused to give his name and
 challenged the legitimacy of the court, but then pleaded "not guilty"
 as he went on trial on Wednesday for crimes against humanity allegedly
 committed two decades ago.

    Hurricane Wilma upgraded to Category 5 (Reuters)

Reuters - Hurricane Wilma, which triggered mudslides that killed up to
 10 people in Haiti, has strengthened to a catastrophic Category 5 storm
 as it approaches western Cuba and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

    Strong earthquake jolts east Japan, felt in Tokyo (Reuters)

Reuters - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 jolted
 eastern Japan on Wednesday and was felt in Tokyo, but no tsunami
 warning was issued, NHK national television said.

    Strong aftershocks rock quake-shattered Pakistan (Reuters)

Reuters - Aftershocks rocked earthquake-wrecked northern Pakistan on
 Wednesday, but survivors at least had one reason for hope as Islamabad
 and New Delhi agreed the border dividing Kashmir should be opened to
 help them.

    Rice set to defend US policy on Iraq to lawmakers (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice faces tough questions
 by lawmakers on Wednesday over U.S. policy in Iraq where more than
 150,000 U.S. troops are fighting a bloody insurgency.

    GOP Is Caught Between Alliances (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON -- As they navigate turbulent political
 seas, President Bush and congressional Republicans find themselves in a
 boat leaking from both ends.

    NBA Lists Fashion Do's and Don'ts (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - Still smarting from image problems nearly a year
 after players and fans attacked one another during a game at Auburn
 Hills, Mich., the National Basketball Assn. has cracked down on ...
 apparel.

    Miers Backed Abortion Ban in 1989 Survey (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court nominee Harriet E. Miers
 told a conservative group in 1989 that she opposed abortion and would
 "actively support" legislation to severely restrict the procedure
 should the Supreme Court overturn Roe vs. Wade, documents released
 Tuesday showed.

    A Super Hornet's Nest (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - SAN LUIS OBISPO -- At a quarter past noon on Jan.
 21, a U.S. Navy F-18 Super Hornet jet fighter flown by a combat-tested
 pilot named Richard Webb appeared over the Edna Valley and streaked
 toward San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport.

    Orange County's Office Market Tightens as Economy Expands (Los
     Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - Orange County's solid economic growth continued to
 boost its commercial office market in the third quarter, pushing
 vacancy rates to their lowest level in at least a decade, according to
 data released Tuesday.

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