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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.

A map showing the areas in north and northeast India affected by the power outages.

Syrian refugees queue up for UNHCR relief items in Tripoli, northern Lebanon.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in Israel for the start of talks that will include sensitive discussions on what to do about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Earlier, Panetta stopped in Cairo, where he had praise for Egypt's new leadership.

Ohio National guard members from the 637th Chemical Company, decontaminate a role player during Vibrant Response 13 at Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, Ind., July 26, 2012. Vibrant Response 13 is a major field exercise conducted by U.S. Northern Command and led by U.S. Army North. Over 5,000 service members and civilians form the military and other federal agencies throughout the country are training to respond to a catastrophic domestic incident.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Lt. General Babacar Gaye, head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, speaks to the press in Damascus.

Senegal is inaugurating a new parliament Monday with a coalition led by the president's party holding a large majority.
The day's mantra among citizens and new lawmakers is “a break from the past” -- a past in which parliament was seen as serving the political elite rather than the people.