NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was re-elected to a second term by a large margin on Tuesday after what is believed to be the most costly race in the city's history.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States and North Korea squared off on Wednesday as six-party talks on the North's nuclear programs opened, signaling a long road toward implementing a landmark disarmament deal agreed in September.

AP - Democrats swept both governors' races Tuesday, with Sen. Jon Corzine easily winning New Jersey and Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine taking Virginia despite a last-minute campaign push for his opponent from President Bush.

AP - An Indiana songwriter's copyright infringement lawsuit against singer Britney Spears over the song 'Sometimes' has been dismissed because she was able to show it wasn't copied, her attorney said Tuesday.

AFP - Violence flared again in riot-hit parts of France but the threat of emergency curfews appeared to have taken the edge off the urban unrest that has gripped the country for almost two weeks.

AFP - China's President Hu Jintao was set to discuss trade, global security and climate change with Prime Minister Tony Blair on day two of a state visit to Britain full of pomp and circumstance -- and demonstrators.

AFP - The Venus Express probe, the first space mission in over 10 years to Earth's closest neighbour, was launched aboard a Soyez-Fregat rocket from Baikonur cosmodrome, an AFP journalist witnessed.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was headed for defeat on Tuesday on his proposals for government reforms in a special off-year election he called in an attempt to flex his political muscles.

PARIS (Reuters) - Youths threw Molotov cocktails at police and torched cars in several French cities and towns in a 13th night of violence, ignoring the government's imposition of rarely used emergency laws.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi troops have finished clearing insurgents out of a small western town near the Syrian border in an operation against al Qaeda militants in the frontier region, the military said on Wednesday.

AP - Democrats cleaned up big in off-year elections from New Jersey to California, sinking the candidate who embraced President Bush in the final days of the Virginia governor's campaign. They also turned back GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to limit the power of California's Democratic leaders.

AP - France declared a state of emergency Tuesday to quell the country's worst unrest since the student uprisings of 1968 that toppled a government, and the prime minister said the nation faced a "moment of truth" over its failure to integrate Arab and African immigrants and their children.

AP - Authorities and classmates were left wondering what drove a 15-year-old to open fire at his high school, killing an assistant principal and seriously wounding the principal and another administrator.

AP - In coming days, KFC will have television commercials ready to reassure customers that its chicken is safe to eat if there is a bird flu outbreak.

AP - Tayshaun Prince scored 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and the Detroit Pistons emphatically snapped an eight-game losing streak in Sacramento with a 102-88 victory over the Kings on Tuesday night.

AFP - Stars of Hollywood and big business headlined US voting news, with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg sweeping a second term in office as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger battled to regain his political lustre.

AFP - The first space mission in over 10 years to Earth's closest neighbour Venus emitted its first signal after a successful launch from the Russian cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

AP - Rioters defied a state of emergency that took effect Wednesday, as they looted and burned two superstores, set fire to a newspaper office and paralyzed France's second-largest city's subway system with a firebomb.

AP - At the CIA's request, the Justice Department is weighing whether to open a criminal investigation into the leak of possibly classified information on secret prisons to The Washington Post.

Reuters - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lost his bid to push through a broad package of government reforms in a special off-year election on Tuesday that he called in an attempt to flex his political muscles.

Reuters - The nation's biggest oil companies will defend their combined quarterly profits of more than $30 billion on Wednesday at a Senate hearing where lawmakers are expected to demand why Americans face record heating bills this winter.

AFP - A state of emergency in riot-areas of France failed to prevent a 13th night of rioting in poor city suburbs as youths torched more than 600 vehicles.

AP - France's storm of rioting lost strength Wednesday, with car burnings falling nearly by half, police said. But looters and vandals still defied a state of emergency with attacks on superstores, a newspaper warehouse and a subway station.

AP - In a stinging rebuke from voters who elected him two years ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to reshape state government were rejected during a special election that darkened his prospects for a second term.

AP - Principal Gary Seale was shot while wrestling with a student who had opened fire in school and killed an administrator, then managed to get to the intercom and order a lockdown, helping to end the rampage, authorities say.

AP - A European-built probe blasted off early Wednesday on a five-month journey to explore the hot, dense atmosphere of Venus.

AP - Huge oil company profits at a time when motorists paid $3-plus for gasoline have sent shivers through a Congress worried about the political fallout.

AP - Michael Jackson will come back to the United States, but it's unlikely the King of Pop would ever make it his home again, says his father.

Reuters - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger lost his bid to push through a broad package of government reforms in a special off-year election on Tuesday that he called in an attempt to flex his political muscles.

Reuters - France imposed a state of emergency in 38 urban zones, towns and cities including Paris on Wednesday after youths threw firebombs at police and torched hundreds of cars in a 13th night of violence.

RAMADI, Iraq (Reuters) - Lawyers for Saddam Hussein and his aides severed all contact with the court trying the former Iraqi president on Wednesday after the second murder of a member of the defense team since the trial began last month.

BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States and North Korea squared off on Wednesday as six-party talks on the North's nuclear programs opened, signaling a long road toward implementing a landmark disarmament deal agreed in September.

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria has invited a U.N. investigator to Damascus to discuss cooperation in a probe into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, the state news agency SANA said on Wednesday.

AP - Democrats cleaned up big in off-year elections from New Jersey to California, sinking the candidate who embraced President Bush in the final days of the Virginia governor's campaign. They also turned back all four of GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to reshape state government.

AP - In a stinging rebuke from voters who elected him two years ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's efforts to reshape state government were rejected during a special election that darkened his prospects for a second term.

AP - Television these days is loaded with sex, sex, sex — double the number of sex scenes aired seven years ago, says a study out Wednesday. And the number of shows that include 'safer sex' messages has leveled off, it said.

AFP - California's action hero Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suffered the biggest flop of his political career when voters rejected a slate of referendum measures on which he had staked his reputation.

AP - The chiefs of five major oil companies defended the industry's huge profits Wednesday at a Senate hearing where lawmakers said they should explain prices and assure people they're not being gouged.

AP - France's storm of rioting eased Wednesday, with car burnings falling nearly by half, police said. But looters and vandals defied a state of emergency with attacks on superstores, a newspaper warehouse and a subway station.

AP - Saddam Hussein's lawyer said Wednesday that U.S.-led "occupation forces" bear some of the responsibility for the slaying of a second colleague in the trial, and the defense team signaled it may not show up for the next session without international security guarantees.

USATODAY.com - Democrats won hotly contested governor's races Tuesday in Virginia and New Jersey on an Election Day closely watched for hints of how the 2006 races might shape up. In New York, Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg sailed to re-election.

AP - The state's highest criminal court on Wednesday let stand a lower court ruling that threw out Andrea Yates' murder convictions for drowning her children in a bathtub in 2001.

AP - Japanese electronics makers Toshiba Corp. and NEC Electronics Corp. will jointly develop technology to produce next-generation semiconductors that are smaller, faster, more efficient and less costly, the two companies announced Wednesday.

AP - The Philadelphia Eagles have placed Terrell Owens on the reserve/suspended list, meaning he cannot practice or play with the team.

Reuters - The nation's biggest oil companies defended their combined quarterly profits of more than $30 billion on Wednesday at a Senate hearing where lawmakers demanded to know when prices would ease.

Reuters - Lawyers for Saddam Hussein and his aides severed all contact with the court trying the former Iraqi president on Wednesday after the second murder of a member of the defense team since the trial began last month.

AFP - Master bomb-maker and Islamic radical Azahari Husin, one of Asia's top terror suspects and most wanted men, blew himself up after being cornered by Indonesian police.

AFP - Europe's first mission to Venus was successfully launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and emitted a first signal at the start of its 163-day journey to the turbulent planet.

AFP - Production of Tamiflu in 2006 and 2007 by the Swiss manufacturer Roche will be enough to meet present orders for the antiviral drug, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said at the bird flu conference.

AP - The chiefs of five major oil companies defended the industry's huge profits Wednesday at a Senate hearing where they were exhorted to explain prices and assure customers they're not being gouged.

AP - Prime Minister Tony Blair lost a crucial parliamentary vote Wednesday on sweeping new legislation allowing police to detain terrorism suspects for 90 days without charge — the first major defeat of his premiership and a serious blow to his authority.

AP - Authorities in the French Riviera city of Nice imposed a curfew on minors and authorized police raids Wednesday, and the nation's interior minister said the government should deport the 120 foreigners convicted of crimes during the wave of rioting and unrest.

AP - The state's highest criminal court on Wednesday let stand a lower court ruling that threw out Andrea Yates' murder convictions for drowning her children in a bathtub in 2001.

Reuters - Arnold Schwarzenegger picked the fight and emerged badly bloodied.

Reuters - Health experts unveiled a $1 billion plan on Wednesday to halt the spread of bird flu while Indonesia said initial tests showed the virus had killed a 16-year-old girl.

Reuters - Big oil companies defended their combined quarterly profits of more than $30 billion at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, warning lawmakers that proposals for a windfall profit tax could discourage investments and lead to higher prices.

Reuters - Britain's Tony Blair suffered his first major parliamentary defeat as prime minister on Wednesday over new counter-terrorist powers, raising fresh questions about his authority.

AFP - Attacks by rioters in France dropped sharply for the first time in nearly two weeks of rampages as a state of emergency took effect, raising hopes the worst unrest the country has seen since May 1968 might be receding.

AFP - Long-suffering Democrats hoping to retake control of the US government glimpsed the beginnings of a possible comeback, after major defeats for Republicans in election contests across the United States.

AFP - A man suspected of being Azahari Husin, one of Asia's top terror suspects, blew himself up after being cornered by police but Indonesian authorities will have to wait at least a day to identify the body, a lawmaker and police said.

AFP - Prime Minister Tony Blair was dealt a stinging blow as British MPs heavily rejected a core aspect of his anti-terrorist legislation to inflict his first parliamentary defeat since he took power in 1997.

AFP - Defense attorneys said they would boycott the next hearing in the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein after a second colleague was murdered, as President Jalal Talabani called on them to accept police protection.

AP - Suicide bombers attacked three hotels frequented by Westerners in the Jordanian capital Wednesday night, and at least 18 people were killed and 120 wounded, police said.

AP - Ozzie Guillen of the World Series champion Chicago White Sox was voted AL Manager of the Year, and Atlanta's Bobby Cox won the NL award for the second straight year Wednesday after leading the rookie-laden Braves to yet another division title.

Reuters - Three suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up at three international hotels in Jordan's capital on Wednesday, killing and wounding many people, the official Jordanian news agency said.

Reuters - Democrats on Wednesday celebrated hard-fought wins in governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey that underlined the political troubles of President George W. Bush and Republicans heading into next year's congressional elections.

Reuters - Iraqi deputy prime minister Ahmad Chalabi met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday, stirring Iraq war critics who denounced the visit of the man most associated with discredited prewar intelligence.

AFP - At least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded in attacks against three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman, that the authorities said could have been caused by suicide bombers.

AFP - Prime Minister Tony Blair suffered his first parliamentary defeat during his eight years in power when British lawmakers voted down a core aspect of his anti-terrorist legislation.

AFP - Lawyers representing Iraqi ex-president Saddam Hussein asked for the court trying him to be scrapped and for Saddam to be freed, after a defense lawyer was murdered Tuesday in Baghdad.

AP - Suicide bombers carried out nearly simultaneous attacks on three U.S.-based hotels in the Jordanian capital Wednesday night, killing at least 57 people and wounding more than 300 in what appeared to be an al-Qaida assault on an Arab kingdom with close ties to the United States and a common border with Iraq.

AP - The French Riviera cities of Nice and Cannes, best known for glitz and film festivals that attract Hollywood stars, were among areas that imposed curfews for minors Wednesday even as rioting abated.

AP - Congress is moving to curb some of the police powers it gave the Bush administration after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, including imposing new restrictions on the FBI's access to private phone and financial records.

Reuters - Three suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up at three international hotels in Jordan's capital on Wednesday, killing at least 57 people and wounding more than 100 others, government officials and police said.

Reuters - New York Times reporter Judith Miller, a journalist at the center of the CIA leak controversy that led to the indictment of a White House aide, will leave the paper, the New York Times said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Arnold Schwarzenegger picked the fight and emerged badly bloodied, but supporters say the governor can come back strong in his attempt to change California politics after Tuesday's special election.

AFP - At least 57 people were killed and 300 wounded in suicide attacks against three hotels in the Jordanian capital Amman, the first militant strike of its kind against the kingdom.

AFP - Curfews came into force in more than 30 French towns, as the country's worst unrest since May 1968 showed the first signs of abating following two weeks of rampages.

AP - A federal grand jury indicted two men Wednesday for allegedly conspiring to smuggle surface-to-air missiles into the United States for use abroad. Such missiles are designed to bring down aircraft.

AP - Senate Democrats issued their first coordinated challenge to Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking extensive records about his participation in a 2002 appeals case despite a six-figure investment with one of the defendants.

AP - Producers of tomatoes, tomato sauce and dietary supplements containing lycopene — the substance that makes tomatoes red — will not be allowed to advertise claims that they reduce the risk of many forms of cancer, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

AP - Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes will miss the rest of the season because of head and neck trauma diagnosed by three experts on spinal injuries.

Reuters - Three suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up at three international hotels in Jordan's capital on Wednesday, killing at least 57 people and wounding more than 100 others, government officials and police said.

Reuters - The United States will not seek the death penalty against any of the five Guantanamo Bay prisoners charged this week, including a Canadian teenager accused of tossing a grenade that killed an American medic in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

AFP - The United States brushed aside North Korea's fresh proposal to abandon its nuclear arms as six-nation disarmament talks resumed here with sharp differences remaining between the two Cold War foes.

AFP - Prime Minister Tony Blair's authority was thrown into doubt after his attempt to toughen up Britain's anti-terror laws in the wake of the London bombings was roundly defeated in parliament.

AP - Oil executives sought to justify their huge profits under tough questioning Wednesday, but they found little sympathy from senators who said their constituents are suffering from high energy prices.

AP - Labor Party leader Shimon Peres said Thursday that he suspects fraud in the party's primary and called for an internal investigation after partial results showed the elder statesman losing a race he was expected to win.

Reuters - Three suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up at three international hotels in Jordan's capital Amman, killing 57 people and wounding 110 others.

Reuters - The Pentagon inspector general is investigating the Defense Intelligence Agency's treatment of an Army colonel who was the first to claim publicly that the government knew about four September 11 hijackers long before the 2001 attacks, officials said on Wednesday.

Reuters - Hundreds of cars were burned in France overnight in riots after the government imposed emergency measures aimed at halting two weeks of unrest rooted in discontent over conditions in poor suburbs.

AP - A fiery union leader won a stunning victory over Shimon Peres in the leadership contest for Israel's Labor Party, officials said Thursday, dealing a blow to the elder statesman that could endanger the country's shaky governing coalition.

AP - The French Riviera cities of Nice and Cannes, best known for glitz and film festivals that attract Hollywood stars, were among areas that imposed curfews for minors Wednesday even as rioting abated.

AP - A dazzling photo taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows colossal pillars of cool gas and dust, giving scientists an intimate look at the star-forming process.

AP - It would seem to be lights out for Shannon on 'Lost.' The spoiled Daddy's girl was apparently killed off Wednesday night as the ABC thriller made good on its promise to eliminate one of its characters.

AP - Ron Artest scored 24 points to lead the Indiana Pacers over Miami 95-90 Wednesday night — their second win over the Heat in less than a week.

AFP - A body found in the rubble of a house in Indonesia where a group of terrorist suspects blew themselves up to avoid capture appears to be wanted bomb expert Azahari Husin, police said.