Several dead, many wounded in California shooting; suspects at large
One or more gunmen opened fire inside a building in San Bernardino, California, with police later reporting that up to 14 people had died and 14 were injured at a centre that provides services for the disabled.
Police were still hunting for the shooter, saying one to three possible suspects were involved.
The suspects "came prepared" and were armed with long guns, although their motive is as yet unknown, said police at a later press briefing.
ISIS in Syria beheads alleged Russian spy: Video
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group released a video on Wednesday purporting to show the execution of an alleged Russian spy in Syria.
The video, which was circulated on social media, showed a prisoner wearing the orange tunic and trousers often seen on captives in ISIS' videos.
It is the first video from the group to show the apparent execution of a Russian since Moscow began air strikes in support of Syria's government on Sept 30.
EU, Vietnam sign free trade deal
The EU and Vietnam on Wednesday signed a free trade deal that removes nearly all tariffs between Europe and one of the world's last communist states.
"Today's signature is not the end of our relations but the beginning of far more ambitious ties. The EU and Vietnam can do great things together," said EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker after talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
The agreement followed two and a half years of intense negotiations between the 28-nation European Union and Vietnam, whose two-way trade has grown three-fold to €28 billion (about S$40 billion) in the last 10 years.
K-pop superstars thrill fans at Mnet Asian Music Awards
Screaming fans turned out in Hong Kong on Wednesday for one of the biggest events on the K-pop calendar, the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
Among the performers at the annual awards ceremony were South Korea's Psy, known for his hit song Gangnam Style, and British electronic band the Pet Shop Boys.
Big Bang, a K-pop boyband, took home many of the night's most coveted awards including "Artist of the Year", "Worldwide Favourite Artist" and "Song of the Year" for their dance tune Bang Bang Bang.
American actress Sandra Bullock adopts second child from foster care
Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock announced on Wednesday that she has adopted a second child - a 3-1/2-year-old girl - from foster care as a sister for her son Louis.
Speaking to People magazine, the Gravity star said she began fostering Laila about three years ago. The baby girl had been placed in foster care in Louisiana.
"When I look at Laila, there's no doubt in my mind that she was supposed to be here," Bullock, 51, told People. "I can tell you absolutely, the exact right children came to me at the exact right time," added the actress, who adopted son Louis, now 5, from foster care in New Orleans in 2010.
