By Jonathan Spicer NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is not expected to hint at a pending policy change when he testifies before the U.S. Congress on Wednesday despite some speculation among investors that the central bank could soon reduce its massive bond buying program. Bernanke's close ally, New York Fed President William Dudley, stressed repeatedly on Tuesday that uncertain economic conditions meant it was too early to determine whether to taper the Fed's $85 billion in monthly purchases. ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — City Councilman Eric Garcetti defeated Controller Wendy Greuel to become next mayor of Los Angeles after a campaign in which he depicted his rival a pawn of powerful labor bosses.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's leading opposition group called on Wednesday for rebels across the country to send reinforcements to the strategic border town Qusair, where heavy fighting has drawn in fighters from Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah movement. Rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad said air strikes and shelling rocked the small town on the Syrian-Lebanese border that has become a fierce battleground that could determine control of critical supply lines. ...