Reuters - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon began a mission on Wednesday for Myanmar's cyclone victims, saying "our focus now is on saving lives," as the military government gave approval for the first foreign helicopters to distribute aid.

Reuters - South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki gave approval on Wednesday for the army to help end attacks on foreigners that have killed at least 25 people.

AP - An Afghan detainee was dragged from his cell to his first pretrial hearing at Guantanamo on Wednesday, then refused to participate, telling the judge he felt "helpless."

AFP - The pound weakened against both the euro and the dollar on Wednesday amid concerns about the economy following the release of minutes from the Bank of England's last meeting.

AP - Rescuers saved a 35-year-old woman who survived nine days trapped in a tunnel despite multiple fractures, the only survivor found Wednesday in the rubble of China's massive quake zone.

AP - Myanmar's military junta will set up orphanages for the hundreds of children whose parents died in the recent cyclone, state media reported Wednesday.

AP - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Myanmar to focus on saving lives, not on politics, after the military government on Wednesday shunned a U.S. proposal for naval ships to deliver aid to cyclone survivors.

AP - Israel and Syria on Wednesday said they were holding indirect peace talks through Turkish mediators — the first official confirmation of contacts between the longtime enemies.

AP - Lebanon's feuding factions reached a breakthrough deal Wednesday that ends the country's 18-month political stalemate, but also gives the militant Hezbollah group and its allies veto over any government decision.

AP - An animal rights activist threatened "direct action" to stop the killing of 400 kangaroos because of overpopulation in Australia's capital after two protesters unsuccessfully tried to disrupt the cull Tuesday.

AFP - Zimbabwe's ruling party on Tuesday dismissed as fantasy opposition claims that President Robert Mugabe's military intelligence was plotting to assassinate its leadership ahead of a run-off election.

AP - A day after surrendering to the army, a one-eyed, battle-hardened female rebel commander urged other guerrillas Monday to follow her example and abandon their decades-long struggle.