RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- A fuel truck exploded in an apparent roadway accident on Thursday in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, engulfing buildings and cars in flames and killing at least two people, witnesses and officials said. The death toll could rise as rescue … Daunting recovery effort confronts NJ towns - TheDay.com
Kate Brandisi, right, is helped down Wednesday by members of the Army National Guard of New Jersey as another, left, holds her son, Ethan, 18 months, after they were rescued from the flooded areas of Hoboken, N.J.. Doug Mills/The New York Times … Superstorm Sandy's human toll mounts; at least 56 killed in US - CNN
People walk near the remains of burned homes in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens, New York, on Wednesday, October 31. More than 100 homes were destroyed in a fire during and after Hurricane Sandy, and more than 50 people were killed in the … US Presidential Race Back in Full Speed After Superstorm - Voice of America (blog)
With the American Election Day fast approaching, U.S. President Barack Obama resumes campaigning for re-election Thursday after spending several days heading the federal government's response to the Atlantic storm Sandy. Mr. Obama will travel to the … Government says it wants a cut in EU budget
LONDON (Reuters) – The government wants a cut in the European Union budget and Prime Ministe r David Cameron will veto any deal that is not good for the British taxpayer, Chancellor George Osborne said on Thursday. "We want a cut in the EU budget," Osborne told BBC Radio 4. "We are at the beginning of a negotiation. Let us see where that negotiation leads." The second most powerful man in the government refused to be drawn on whether he thought securing such a cut was possible or not, but said Wednesday's defeat in parliament meant the government had to listen to lawmakers. … The $23-million question: Who bought winning California lottery ticket?
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – California lottery officials say they believe a mystery woman bought a ticket worth $23 million in Palmdale, but hasn’t cashed it in yet.
Boy says TV show made him think he would not be punished for killing father
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A 10-year-old boy told police that he figured that if he killed his neo-Nazi father, he might not get in trouble because that’s what happened on a television program.
9 Iranian female prisoners begin hunger strike
An Iranian opposition website says at least nine female political prisoners have begun a hunger strike in protest of snap body searches and abuse by prison guards.
Sony, Sharp in turnaround battle; Panasonic battered
TOKYO (Reuters) – Struggling Japanese TV maker Sharp Corp warned it might not be able to survive on its own, as it almost doubled its full-year net loss forecast to $5.6 billion, and said it was consideri ng alliances with other companies. "Our corporate group has booked massive second-quarter net and operating losses … and now see a serious negative operating cash flow. This raises serious doubts about (our ability) to continue as a going concern," it said in a statement on Thursday. … French firm: 7 kidnapped sailors freed in Nigeria
A French oil and gas services company says six Russian sailors and an Estonian kidnapped from one of its ships off the coast of Nigeria’s oil delta have been freed.
A sign taped to a wall in an Athens hospital appealed for civility from patients. "The doctors on duty have been unpaid since May," it read, "Please respect their work." 
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan's Sony Corp booked a small operating profit in the second quarter, after a loss a year ago, helped by the sale of a chemicals business that offs et weak demand for its TVs and other devices, and it kept its full-year profit guidance. July-September operating profit of 30.3 billion yen ($379 million) compared with a 1.64 billion yen loss a year ago, and was close to the average 33.8 billion yen profit estimated by five analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. … 
LONDON (Reuters) – Trader Glencore said its closely watched marketing operations performed "strongly" in the third quarter, boosted by trading in agriculture and metals , though it warned tough global economic conditions would not improve any time soon. "(The third quarter) saw a healthy improvement both year-on-year and sequentially," Glencore said of its marketing operation, which accounts for a smaller portion of profit than its industrial arm, but is less easily forecast. "Glencore's outlook for the remainder of the year in marketing remains positive. … 
(AP) - 1 minute ago. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Five things to watch for in the final week of the presidential race between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney: 1. OBAMA BACK ON THE ROAD: After a three-day absence from the … 
It was about 8 p.m., he said, when Hurricane Sandy's eye brought a moment of peace to what had been a hellish day at his north-end home. The moon was out along with the electricity, and stars spread across the hole in the clouds above the quiet Shore … 
LONDON (Reuters)- House prices rose faster than expected in October, data from mortgage lender Nationwide showed on Thursday, though a sustained recovery of the housing market still l ooks far from certain. House prices in Britain were 0.6 percent higher than in September, Nationwide said, though they were still 0.9 percent lower than in October 2011. Economists had expected a monthly rise of 0.2 percent after the 0.4 percent drop in September, and an annual decline of 1.2 percent. …