AP - A Turkish government official says there are signs that the gunmen who attacked the U.S. consulate in Istanbul might have been inspired by al-Qaida but there is no firm evidence yet.

AP - State television says Iran has test-fired medium- and long-range missiles in the Persian Gulf for a second day.

AP - Wearing T-shirts that read "Pope Go Homo" and "The pope is wrong, put a condom on!," a dozen demonstrators poked fun Wednesday at a new Australian law meant to protect participants of next week's World Youth Day from being annoyed by opponents.

AFP - Afghanistan's government and the United Nations launched a 404-million dollar appeal on Wednesday to help feed 4.5 million vulnerable Afghans.

AFP - Sudan's ex-foes have agreed on a police force and command for the contested oil district of Abyei, where fighting in May posed the biggest test for a fledgling peace, a UN official said Wednesday.

AP - Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles Wednesday during war games that officials said aimed to show the country can retaliate against any U.S. or Israeli attack, state television reported.

AFP - French supermarket giant Carrefour on Wednesday said its three months to June sales rose 6.0 percent to 23.72 billion euros (37.2 billion dollars).

AP - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev came to his grandest global meeting yet with a mixed mandate: Start mending ties with the West, but stand fast on policies set by his predecessor and patron, Vladimir Putin.

AP - Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt says she's been in a "bubble of happiness" since being rescued from more than six years of captivity in the Colombian jungle.

AP - Hundreds of women in black abayas crowd outdoor food markets, snapping up groceries and fresh vegetables. Stores are open again. Children play soccer on dirt fields until dusk — or later, when there's electricity.

AP - Suspected al-Qaida militants armed with pistols and shotguns attacked a police guard post outside the U.S. consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday, sparking a gunbattle that left three attackers and three officers dead.

AFP - Australians protesting against Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Sydney took a creative turn on Wednesday, staging an "annoying" fashion show of T-shirts displaying anti-Catholic slogans.