US President Barack Obama urged Israel and the Palestinians on July 6 to resume direct peace talks by September and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised "concrete steps" to clear the way.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on July 6 addressed the United Nations for the first time in more than 50 years, saying she has "witnessed great change, much of it for the better" since her previous speech there in 1957.

Most of Iran Air's jets will be banned from flying to the EU because of safety concerns, the European Commission says.

British troops in Afghanistan are to hand over responsibility for the Sangin area of Helmand province to US forces.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Korean has offered to resign, said his communications office on July 5.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk's candidate won Poland's presidential poll but the narrowness of the victory cast doubt on the government's ability to carry out unpopular reforms ahead of a 2011 parliamentary election.

Israel has confirmed details of what goods it will allow to enter the Gaza Strip with the easing of its blockade.

Afghan counter-narcotics police and international security forces have killed 64 people and arrested 10 others during a three-day operation in Helmand province, the interior ministry said.

A power outage in Toronto, Canada, on the afternoon of July 5 left some 200,000 customers without electricity, stalled electric-powered passenger trains between stations and stopped much of the city's downtown, authorities said.

Bronislaw Komorowski, Poland's acting president, appears to be heading for victory in a close presidential election after hours of uncertainty.