NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

US/ SCOTTISH DEERHOUND TOPS WESTMINSTER: Hickory, a 5 year old female Scottish deerhound from Virginia, became the first of her breed to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. She took the top prize on the 2nd and final day of the event at New York's Madison Square Garden last evening. Hickory, who won the hound group a day earlier, vied for Best in Show with the winners of 6 other groups. The last time a hound won was 2008, when Uno the beagle took top honors. The victory also is only the 5th at Westminster for a dog from the hound group. The Best in Show prize has been given for 104 years.

US/ TRUMP MAKES HIS CASE: Donald Trump said yesterday he is not in favor of gay marriage, and is “incredibly tempted” to run for US president in 2012. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said: “I live in New York. New York is a place with lots of gays, and I think it’s great but I’m not in favor of gay marriage.” Trump, a 3 times married and registered Republican, did not give his reasons for opposing same-sex marriage, but said: “I’m a very conservative person. I’m very big into the military. I’m a great guy for defence. I’m probably as conservative as anybody on your show, and that’s probably going a very big step" He also said he is “pro-life” and does not support abortion.

US/ CBS REPORTER ASSAULTED IN EGYPT: CBS News' Lara Logan was released from the hospital last evening and is resting at her Washington, DC. According to reports, he is in remarkably good spirits. Logan is recovering from a brutal attack and sexual assault in Egypt that happened February 11, the day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down. According to media reports today, she was not raped, but that she was sexually assaulted by a group of men for between 20 and 30 minutes.

WORLD/ PROTESTS GROW IN BAHRAIN: Thousands of people are occupying the centre of the Bahraini capital on a 3rd day of anti-government protests. The numbers of those who had camped out overnight in Manama's Pearl Square were swelled by many who joined the protests throughout the day. Security forces have pulled back to ease tensions after previous days' clashes left 2 dead and dozens injured in the Gulf kingdom. The protesters are calling for wide-ranging political reforms. Bahrain is a key US ally, hosting the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. The US has expressed concern at the violence and called for restraint.

WORLD/ PROTESTS BREAK OUT IN LIBYA: Hundreds of anti-government protesters have clashed with police and government supporters in Libya's second city. Dozens of people are said to have been hurt in the clashes in Benghazi. The overnight unrest followed the arrest of an outspoken government critic, who was reportedly freed later. However, State TV showed demonstrations in several cities said to be in support of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The unrest comes a day before planned anti-government demonstrations on Thursday, dubbed a "Day of Anger", which are being organized via internet social networks. Todays demonstrations were the 1st display of defiance in Libya, where dissent is rarely tolerated.

WORLD/ FIRST DEATH IN YEMEN PROTESTS: At least 1 man has died during a 6th day of anti-government protests in Yemen. The victim was reportedly hit when police fired shots into the air to try and break up around 500 protesters in the southern port of Aden. In the capital Sanaa several people were injured during clashes between pro- and anti-government supporters. President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in power for almost 32 years in Yemen, the poorest Arab nation. The president has already said he will not seek another term in office or hand over power to his son. But, inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, opponents continue to stage demonstrations.

WORLD/ NEW PROTESTS IN IRAN: Fresh clashes have erupted in Tehran during the funeral of a student killed in anti-government protests on Monday. Rival groups of pro- and anti-government protesters both claim the dead man as one of their supporters. Sanea Jaleh, 26, was among 2 people killed during Monday's protests, when thousands of opposition members rallied for the 1st time in more than a year. The protests come amid a wave of unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. Reports say that there are hundreds of plainclothes security officials mixed in the protest to gather information on those protesting.

WORLD/ JAPAN HALTS ANTARCTIC WHALE HUNT: Japanese whalers have suspended their Antarctic hunt, citing harassment by environmentalists, and are considering ending their annual mission early, a fisheries agency official says. Activists from the US-based militant environmental group the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have pursued and harassed the Japanese fleet for months to stop its harpoon ships from killing the sea mammals. Japan said the Nisshin Maru, pictured above, which has been chased by Sea Shepherd, suspended operations on February 10 "so as to ensure the safety of the crew". Anti-whaling activists have cautiously welcomed the news, but would wait to see if the scrub their entire mission.