A suicide car bomb explosion in the main city of Indian-controlled Kashmir has killed at least five people including the bomber, and wounded a dozen others. At least two police officers were among those killed today (Wednesday) in the explosion on the outskirts of Srinagar. The bombing took place hours before the new chief minister for the region was to be sworn in. Jaish-e-Mohammad, one of the main Pakistan-based militant groups fighting for Kashmir's independence from India, has claimed responsibility for the blast.
U.S. military officials say they are stepping up counterinsurgency training for officers arriving in Iraq, following one of the deadliest months for American troops in the country. Senior officials say the U.S. Central Command plans to open a new school in Taji, north of Baghdad, to provide the training. The New York Times reports Marine and Army officers will be provided the latest tactics for finding and destroying roadside bombs and dealing with Iraq's many insurgent factions.
China and Vietnam have announced new measures to halt a potential spread of bird
flu. China says it is suspending imports of poultry and related products from 14 countries that have reported bird flu outbreaks. Vietnam has announced a ban on imports of poultry and pet birds from affected countries. It also banned the raising of poultry in urban areas and halted sale of blood pudding, a local delicacy made from the raw blood of poultry or other animals.
Heavy rain and widespread flooding from Typhoon Kai Tak has killed at least ten people in Vietnam. Weather officials say the typhoon has been downgraded to a tropical storm and is churning north along Vietnam's coastline at about 15 kilometers-an-hour. Authorities say deaths have been reported in several regions, including the provinces of Quang Ngai and Thua Thien Hue. At least one person is missing. Thousands of people have been evacuated from near the coast.
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