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China is in the final stage of wrapping up its 14-year bid to join the World Trade Organization. In his annual news conference at the National People's Congress, China's Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng told reporters today that the outcome of final negotiations was a foregone conclusion, but he shied away from setting a specific date for Beijing joining the world body. NPR's Rob Gifford reports from Beijing.

NASA and its Russian counterpart have been quietly sparring over an American businessman named Dennis Tito. Tito is paying the Russians a reported $20 million for a ride into space. Russia plans to take him to the international space station. NASA doesn't like that idea. NPR's Larry Abramson reports on the first official response by NASA to Russian determination to send Tito to the station.

English comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen's popular film Borat is now out on DVD. Cohen is best known for his characters Ali G (a journalist from England), Bruno (a flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion reporter) and Borat (a reporter from Kazakhstan).

West Nile virus is spreading through the United States faster than experts had predicted. Nearly 300 people have contracted the mosquito-borne virus and at least a dozen are dead. Humans aren't the only victims; many species of animals are also at risk. NPR's John Nielsen reports NPR's John Nielsen reports.

New York Times Executive Editor Howell Raines and Managing Editor Gerald Boyd step down in the wake of an ethics scandal involving former reporter Jayson Blair. Raines faces intense criticism for his handling of the Blair case. NPR's Juan Williams reports.

Chinese health officials report 80 new cases of SARS, nearly half of which are in areas outside Beijing where hospitals are less prepared to deal with the disease. But inspectors from the World Health Organization say China is taking the right steps to stop the spread of SARS in rural areas. NPR's Richard Harris reports.

Five obscure female fiction novelists and the nonfiction 9/11 Commission Report are among the unconventional nominees for this year's National Book Awards. The panel is mum until they give the awards out on Nov. 17, but book critics and publishing industry watchers have their predictions. NPR's Lynn Neary reports.

The U.S. military issued a report this weekend on the killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq. Classified parts of the report were blacked out, but computer users were able to access sensitive information about U.S. military operations in an online version of the report.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld denies reports that the Pentagon refused requests for more troops by the U.S. commander for the war in Iraq, Gen. Tommy Franks. Rumsfeld defends the war plan for Iraq as "excellent," and notes that Gen. Franks drafted the U.S. battle strategy. NPR's Tom Gjelten reports.

Charities helping victims of last week's Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami report receiving a huge outpouring of money from Americans. Some groups have been overwhelmed by the response, but all are heartened at the level of contributions. NPR's Libby Lewis reports.