India has overtaken China as the world's biggest importer of weapons, with Asian nations the most aggressive consumers of military hardware, a new report says.

India-Maoist-Abduction

The government has appointed negotiators as a hostage crisis involving two Italians kidnapped in eastern India stretched into a second week Wednesday.

France-Indonesia-Embassy-Blast

An explosion in western Paris early Wednesday shattered several windows of the Indonesian Embassy, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Somalia-Blasts

A car loaded with explosives rocked the Somali capital Wednesday, leaving one injured and damaging a house nearby, authorities said.

SPORT-Football-Real-Madrid-Bayern

Real Madrid had two players and coach Jose Mourinho sent off as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Villarreal, offering hope to Barcelona in the race for the Spanish title.

SPORT-Football-Muamba-Bolton-Tottenham

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba did not respond to 15 defibrillator shocks and was in effect dead for 78 minutes before his heart started beating again, doctors who treated him have revealed.

SPORT-Football-Manchester-City-Chelsea

A last-gasp strike from Samir Nasri, set up by the returning Carlos Tevez, helped Manchester City maintain their quest for a first English Premier League title in 44 years with a 2-1 win over Chelsea.

SPORT-Football-Messi-Barcelona-Rodriguez

Lionel Messi's became Barcelona's highest goalscorer of all time after his hat-trick against Granada helped the Spanish champions close on La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

SPORT-Tennis-Venus-Clijsters-Miami

She might have been out of the game for over six months but Venus Williams was back in the groove immediately in Miami, losing just three games in a victory over Kimiko Date-Krumm.

SPORT-Human-Hero-Yohan-Blake-Olympics

Everyone expected Jamaican flags to be flying high after the 100 meters final at the 2011 World Athletics Championships -- but no-one predicted that Usain Bolt would not be performing his customary celebration rituals.

SPORT-tennis-kleybanova-miami-cancer

A tennis player's biggest challenge usually comes from the opposite baseline, but Alisa Kleybanova has taken on an opponent of an entirely different nature over the last 10 months.

SPORT-motorsport-f1-schumacher-malaysia

By qualifying fourth for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher offered a tantalising hint he was ready to shake off the indifferent form he has displayed since returning to Formula One in 2010.

U.S.A.

Florida-Teen-Shooting

Outrage over the killing of an unarmed Florida teenager rippled nationwide Wednesday as supporters of Trayvon Martin planned more protests and a petition demanding the shooter's arrest amassed nearly 1 million signatures.

Florida-Teen-Shooting-Facts

What we know about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman

California-School-Counselor

A drug counselor at California high school pleaded not guilty Wednesday to secretly videotaping students engaged in sexual activity with each other, and to possessing child pornography.