China: 'Chinese toxic blast official dead. The vice-mayor of the Chinese city where a chemical blast polluted a major river last month has been found dead.' (BBC)

Iraq: 'Trial resumes without Hussein. The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned on Wednesday and will resume on December 21. The hearing had resumed Wednesday after a delay of several hours with the deposed Iraqi leader absent from the courtroom.' (CNN)

Iraq: 'Suicide bombers kill 43 at Iraqi police academy. Two suicide bombers with explosives strapped to their bodies blew themselves up inside Baghdad's police academy, killing at least 43 people and wounding 73.' (Independent)

China: 'Chinese mine owner 'disappears'. The owner and several managers of a Chinese coal mine where 42 miners are trapped by flooding have disappeared, the state news agency reports.' (BBC)

Israel: 'Five die in Israel suicide blast. A Palestinian suicide bomber has killed five people and injured dozens in the Israeli coastal town of Netanya.' (BBC)

China: 'China mine blast officials held. Two Chinese coal mine officials have been arrested for alleged dereliction of duty after an explosion that killed at least 164 miners.'(BBC)

Bangladesh: 'Fresh bombing in Bangladesh town. One person has been killed and at least 27 injured after a bomb explosion in a town in Bangladesh which had been hit by a suicide attack on Tuesday.' (BBC)