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In all the anger over rival claims to the South China Sea, Indonesia has emerged as a voice of calm, working to mediate a dispute involving China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he does not favor harsh punishment for members of a punk rock band on trial in Moscow for alleged hooliganism.

UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous briefs reporters.

UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous briefs reporters.

Delegates attend a plenary session of the National Constituent Assembly in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The Wyoming National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing use a modular air fire fighting system equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft in support of the Waldo Canyon wild fire in Colorado Springs, CO on June 27, 2012. Four MAFFS-equipped aircraft from the 302nd Airlift Wing - an Air Force Reserve unit - and 153rd flew in support of the U.S. Forest Service as they fought fires in Colorado. MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than five seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide.

The new Za'atri camp opened by Jordan for Syrian refugees can eventually host up to 113,000 people.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed tough new economic sanctions designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The bill passed the House by a vote of 421 to 6. It was crafted with the Senate, which is expected to approve the measure this week.

Search and extraction team members pull a "victim" from the rubble July 27, 2012 during Vibrant Response 13, a major incident exercise conducted by U.S. Northern Command and led by U.S. Army North. The team of Ohio National Guard members, are part of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package, Homeland Response Force Region V.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefs the General Assembly.