The EU battled to keep its constitution alive after twin ballot blows to the historic charter, as the leaders of France and Germany planned crisis talks to seek a way out of the impasse.
At least 33 people were killed in a wave of violence that swept northern Iraq, while the government said more than 700 insurgents had been arrested in its Operation Lightning dragnet in the capital.
Israel released some 400 Palestinian prisoners, to the delight of their families, in a bid to bolster Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and fulfil a pledge made in February.
French President Jacques Chirac appointed a new government after the crisis caused by the rejection of the EU constitution, with his arch-rival Nicolas Sarkozy taking a powerful number two spot behind Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.
Muslim separatist leaders from Indian Kashmir proposed three-way talks on the decades old dispute over the Himalayan region after arriving here on an historic visit.
US President George W. Bush moved rapidly to find a new leader of the Securities and Exchange Commission by nominating Republican congressman Christopher Cox to the powerful market watchdog post.
The European Central Bank held its key interest rate steady at 2.0 percent here, refusing to bow to pressure to cut rates to inject life into the eurozone's stagnating economy.
Former Roland Garros queens Justine Henin-Hardenne and Mary Pierce, both dogged by health and injury setbacks, brushed aside weak Russian resistance to reach the French Open final.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is displeased with the verdict in the "tapping-up" row involving Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole which saw him, the player and the London club get slapped with hefty fines.
The United Nations sounded new alarms over the devastating spread of the AIDS epidemic, and called on world leaders to immediately take new steps to solve a problem that threatens to overwhelm future generations.
