Suicide car bomb rattles Somali capital, kills 4

Mogadishu:  A suicide car bomb exploded near Somalia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, killing at least four people even as Somali and Kenyan leaders met and agreed to cooperate on military action against Islamist insurgents.

Julian Barnes wins prestigious Man Booker Prize

London:  It was fourth time lucky for British writer Julian Barnes, who won literature's Man Booker Prize on Tuesday after a contest that had as many insults, rivalries and bitter accusations as a paperback potboiler.

Woman shocked by $200,000 cell phone bill

Miami, Florida::  A South Florida woman got a shock when she opened a recent cell phone bill: she owed $201,000.

It was no mistake.

Kayani cautions US, says 'think 10 times' before unilateral action in Pakistan

Islamabad:  Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has told the country's lawmakers that the US "will have to think 10 times" before opting for a unilateral military offensive in North Waziristan.  

Uh, I just killed someone, said shooter to 911

Image courtesy: www.newyork.cbslocal.com

Newark, New Jersey:  The man's voice is eerily matter-of-fact as he answers questions from the 911 operator.

"911, where's your emergency?"

"Uh, I just killed someone. 100 Route 46."

"What do you mean, you just killed someone?"

"Exactly what I said. I'm armed and dangerous."

China backs Pakistan for UN Security Council seat

Beijing:  China has backed Pakistan in its desire to gain a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Xinhua reported.

China attaches great importance to Pakistan's request for a seat on the UN Security Council, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu on Wednesday.

Pakistani song questions Ajmal Kasab's treatment as 'hero'

Islamabad:  The latest Pakistani song to have gone viral on the Internet pokes fun at Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving Mumbai attacker, being treated like a "hero" in his home country and slain Governor Salmaan Taseer's assassin being treated like a "nawab".

German satellite ROSAT hurtling towards earth

Berlin:  The German Aerospace Center says one of its retired satellites is hurtling toward the atmosphere and pieces could crash into the earth as early as Friday.

Spokesman Andreas Schuetz told The Associated Press on Wednesday that most of the satellite named ROSAT, which is about the size of a minivan, will burn up during re-entry.

Violence hits Athens as 100,000 join anti-austerity protest march

Athens:  Hundreds of rioting youths smashed and looted stores in central Athens on Wednesday after a mass anti-government rally against painful new austerity measures erupted into violence.

Outside parliament, demonstrators hurled chunks of marble and gasoline bombs at riot police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Police said at least 14 officers were hospitalized with injuries.

Former Afghan MP ends two-week-long hunger strike

Kabul:  A former Afghan lawmaker on Wednesday ended a more than two-week-long hunger strike over her removal from office following an appeal from one of the country's most revered elders to call off her protest.

Strauss-Kahn accuser not to pursue attempted rape claim

Paris:  French writer Tristane Banon has said that she will drop her attempt to have Dominique Strauss-Kahn prosecuted, after state prosecutors said that an alleged sexual assault happened too long ago.

Hillary to arrive in Pakistan today as ties worsen

Kabul:  In the backdrop of Pakistan cautioning America against "unilateral military offensive" on its soil, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to arrive in the country today.

Secretary Clinton is likely to reach in the afternoon and could meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari and Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Sheikh Hasina hopeful Teesta issue will be resolved soon

Tin Bigha:  Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed hope for an amicable solution to the distribution of Teesta river waters between India and Bangladesh soon.

Hasina was on a brief visit to the Tin Bigha corridor in Mekhliganj sub-division of Cooch Behar district accompanied by former Bangladesh President H M Ershad.

18 tigers, 17 lions killed after owner commits suicide

Image courtesy: http://www.cbsnews.com

Zanesville, Ohio:  Sheriff's deputies shot nearly 50 wild animals - including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions - in a big-game hunt across the state's countryside on Wednesday after the owner of an exotic-animal park threw their cages open and committed suicide in what may have been one last act of spite against his neighbors and police.

Amid high tension, Hillary heads to Pakistan

Islamabad:  US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hold talks with Pakistan's leadership to press the country to crack down on the Haqqani network to facilitate the process of reconciliation in neighbouring Afghanistan as she arrives here today.

Dawood aide Iqbal Mirchi gets bail

London:  Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's aide Iqbal Mirchi has been granted bail by a court in London. He was arrested earlier this month for allegedly threatening to kill his associate.

Mirchi, whose real name is Iqbal Menon, is wanted by India in multiple cases of murder and extortion. The 61-year-old reportedly manages Dawood's drug business.

US releases Headley interrogation tapes

Washington:  US federal prosecutors have released interrogation tapes of admitted Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley, who helped plot the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, after a Chicago judge's order.

Dad forces daughter into medieval sword fight

London:  An annoyed father allegedly forced his teenage daughter into putting on an armour and fighting with him in a medieval-style sword-duel until she collapsed from sheer exhaustion, the Daily Mail reported.

Pilot knocked off stairs by passing plane

Melbourne:  A pilot for Virgin Airlines was swept off the stairs of his plane  after a Boeing 747 taxied close by.

He ended up with a fractured arm and leg.

Gaddafi injured, captured: Reports

Sirte:  Colonel Moammar Gaddafi has reportedly been captured in the coastal town of Sirte, where he has reportedly been hiding. Libyan media and Al Jazeera  said that Mr Gaddafi was killed  in his home town.  But these reports have not been confirmed.

India vs England, 3rd ODI at Mohali

Craig Kieswetter played well for his 36 runs before being bowled by Virat Kohli.

3.30pm: India's first change bowler Virat Kohli gives the hosts the second breakthrough as Kieswetter chops a ball on to his leg stump. The ball swung in but Kieswetter should really have been on the front foot. Dhoni's confidence in Kohli the bowler has paid off.

London-style AC double-decker buses for Kolkata tourism

Kolkata:  Taking forward Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's promise to make "Kolkata into London", the city authorities will soon introduce two open-deck AC double-decker buses for sightseeing.

"Two open-deck AC double-decker buses will arrive in the city very soon. They are waiting for shipment in China. Two AC Volvo buses will also arrive," Tourism Minister Rachpal Singh told IANS.