AP - Leaders of the world's biggest media organizations filed a protest with Israel's prime minister Wednesday criticizing the government's decision to ban journalists from entering the Gaza Strip for the last two weeks.

AFP - South Africa claimed a record-equalling fourth consecutive international victory Wednesday by edging Cameroon 3-2 in a Nelson Mandela Challenge thriller.

Reuters - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday the United Nations was looking into reports of aerial bombings in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region after the Sudanese government declared a ceasefire.

AFP - Congolese rebels withdrew Wednesday from two key battlefronts but threatened to return if government forces occupied the zones, as UN troops and a pro-army militia exchanged fire.

Somalia's increasingly brazen pirates are building sprawling stone houses, cruising in luxury cars, marrying beautiful women — even hiring caterers to prepare Western-style food for their hostages.