The trial of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and seven of his lieutenants has resumed in Baghdad.
Iraq's main Sunni Arab coalition has challenged partial vote results showing a strong lead for a Shi'ite coalition.
China has executed a man for five high-profile murders and other violent crimes.
Two weeks of torrential rains that have caused flooding in parts of Southeast Asia have now killed at least 101 people in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Vietnamese police have arrested two members of the country's national soccer team for allegedly fixing matches at the Southeast Asian Games in Manila this month.
Pop singer Elton John may be the most famous person to take advantage of England's new civil partnership law when it goes into effect today (Wednesday).
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