Reuters - As home foreclosures rise and property values slump, U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday signed into law a rescue package that includes emergency backstops for mortgage financing companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Reuters - Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was taken to a prison cell in The Hague on Wednesday to face trial at a U.N. war crimes tribunal on charges of genocide during the 1992-95 Bosnia war.

Reuters - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday he would step down after his ruling Kadima party chooses a new leader in a September 17 internal election in which he will not run.

AP - Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy traveled to Mississippi to meet with quarterback Brett Favre and his agent James "Bus" Cook on Wednesday, in an apparent attempt to talk Favre out of reporting to camp later this week.

AP - Now that their feud is up in smoke, Cheech and Chong are high on plans to reunite for their first comedy tour in more than 25 years.

AP - Stocks gave up their biggest gains but still mostly advanced Wednesday after an upbeat employment report from payroll company ADP made investors cautiously optimistic about the government's upcoming July employment report. A downturn in some financial stocks and a jump in oil prices shaved the market's gains.

AP - The U.N. war-crimes tribunal at The Hague finally took custody of Radovan Karadzic on Wednesday — 13 years after the former Bosnian Serb leader went on the run — putting him in a jail where he was free to mingle with dozens of former allies and enemies.

AP - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Wednesday he will resign in September, throwing his country into political turmoil and raising doubts about progress for U.S.-backed Mideast peace efforts.

AP - President Bush, on a campaign to open offshore waters to oil drilling, said Wednesday that the Democratic-run Congress was letting down the American people by refusing to allow votes on the matter.

AP - President Bush on Wednesday signed a massive housing bill intended to provide mortgage relief for 400,000 struggling homeowners and stabilize financial markets.

AFP - Foreign reporters will not have complete access to the Internet during the Beijing Olympics, Games organisers said Wednesday, reversing a pledge to bring down the Chinese firewall of censorship.

AFP - Serbia on Wednesday handed over former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to the UN's Yugoslav war crimes court in The Hague to face genocide charges after more than a decade on the run.