A 26-year-old US citizen has been arrested for allegedly plotting to fly explosive-packed, remote controlled planes into the Pentagon and the US Capitol in Washington DC.

Israel approved on September 27 construction of 1,100 settlement homes on annexed land in the West Bank, complicating global efforts to renew peace talks and defuse a crisis over a Palestinian statehood bid at the UN.

European countries proposing a new UN resolution over Syria have dropped demands for immediate sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Intense sniper and artillery fire from forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi holed up in Sirte kept fighters with Libya's new rulers at bay in the deposed leader's hometown on September 28

A powerful typhoon has struck the Philippines, triggering floods, cutting power and halting work in the capital Manila.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel later to discuss his country's progress in cutting its budget deficit.

An Afghan employee of the US Embassy in Afghanistan who opened fire at a CIA annex there worked as part of a local guard force, a US official said on September 26.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero dissolved parliament on September 26, but pledged more measures to tackle Spain's economic crisis before a November election that is expected to hand power to the conservative opposition.

The UN Security Council met on Monday to consider the Palestinians' bid for full membership in the world body and decided to meet again Wednesday morning, when they will send the matter to the admissions committee, said Security Council President Nawaf Salam of Lebanon.

Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has resigned after a public row with President Dmitry Medvedev.