British troops in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province are preparing to hand control of the city of Lashkar Gah to Afghan security forces.

Syrian troops and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed 16 people in attacks in the city of Homs on July 19, residents said, an escalation of a crackdown against a focal point for pro-democracy protests.

The Israeli navy seized a French yacht carrying pro-Palestinian activists heading for the blockaded Gaza Strip on July 19 and forced it to go to Israel's Ashdod port.

News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch and his son James face questions from parliament on July 19 in a phone-hacking scandal that has rocked Britain's establishment right up to Prime Minister David Cameron.

US officials have held face-to-face talks with representatives of Col Muammar Gaddafi's government, the US state department has confirmed.

Gold marched to a record above US$1,600 on July 18, stretching its rally to an unprecedented eleventh day on fears that US lawmakers could fail to raise the debt ceiling to avert a default.

The fifth ASEAN Naval Chiefs’ Meeting (ANCM-5) to take place on July 27, will share views and discuss cooperative measures to respond to security challenges in the region, said a Vietnamese vice admiral.

The crew of the Atlantis bade a bittersweet farewell to astronauts on the International Space Station, wrapping up the final visit by a space shuttle to the orbiting outpost.

Territorial disputes and flare-ups in the East Sea are expected to dominate talks at Asia's largest security forum this week, with Vietnam and the Philippines accusing China of interfering in energy exportation efforts.

Israel announced plans on Monday to build another 294 homes in two Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and the Palestinians said the move hardened their resolve to seek statehood recognition from the United Nations.