Venezuelan candidates officially start campaigning for Ocotober's presidential election, with rival rallies by Hugo Chavez and Henrique Capriles.

A gunman in an Afghan police uniform kills three Nato service members in the south of the country, officials say.

Mexicans are awaiting results of their presidential election, after tens of millions voted in a poll dominated by the economy and war on drugs.

The annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission this time is focusing on hunting by indigenous groups mainly in the Arctic.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard works to rally support for Australia's carbon tax, a day after the law came into force.

China's manufacturing activity grows at its slowest pace in seven months adding to fears about a slowdown in its economy.

Apple has agreed to pay $60m (£38m) to Chinese firm Proview to settle a dispute involving rights to the "iPad" name, a court in China says.

Japanese powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa resigns from the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, along with 51 MPs, amid a row over sales tax.