Rupert Murdoch supports executive Rebekah Brooks (AP)

AP - Media baron Rupert Murdoch says embattled executive Rebekah Brooks will continue to lead his company in Britain despite calls for her resignation amid a burgeoning tabloid phone hacking scandal.

Libya rebels seize desert hamlet in Tripoli push (AFP)

AFP - Libyan rebels Wednesday seized the desert hamlet of Gualish Wednesday on the first day of a NATO-backed push on the capital Tripoli and captured a number of African mercenaries, an AFP correspondent said.

Amnesty: Syrian crackdown on town `disturbing' (AP)

AP - The rights group Amnesty International said Wednesday that Syrian security forces may have committed crimes against humanity during a deadly siege of an opposition town in May, citing witness accounts of deaths in custody, torture and arbitrary detention.

Pakistan panel says bin Laden family won't be repatriated (Reuters)

Reuters - Osama bin Laden's family, detained in Pakistan, will only be repatriated once a government-appointed commission investigating the al Qaeda leader's killing allows them to leave, the panel said, a move that could set it on a collision course with the army.

Libyan rebels push towards Tripoli on two fronts (Reuters)

Reuters - Rebel fighters seized a village south of the Libyan capital and another group advanced toward Tripoli from the east on Wednesday in the biggest push in weeks toward Muammar Gaddafi's main stronghold.

Taliban again refute claims of peace talks with West (Reuters)

Reuters - The Afghan Taliban again refuted on Wednesday claims they had entered into talks with the West to try and find an end to the war, saying any contacts with foreign countries had only been to negotiate prisoner exchanges.

Australia lifts Indonesia live cattle ban (AFP)

AFP - Australia on Wednesday announced it would lift a ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia and resume trade with additional safeguards in place to address animal cruelty concerns.

Sudan seen massing troops in oil state, U.N. staff blocked (Reuters)

Reuters - North Sudan has massed what looks like a large convoy of troops in its Southern Kordofan oil state, the site of clashes that have threatened the peaceful secession of the south, a satellite monitoring group said on Wednesday.

Serbian PM initiates sacking of his deputy (AP)

AP - Serbia's prime minister said Monday he is sacking a key coalition partner in a move that could lead to the government's collapse and early elections.

Incumbent Ivory Coast leader sues regional bloc (AP)

AP - Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo filed a lawsuit Monday against the West African regional bloc for recognizing his rival as the winner of the country's recent presidential election.