Iran Iran was set to resume sensitive nuclear work, ending a nine-month suspension agreed with the European Union and risking a major international crisis and possible UN sanctions. Saudi Saudi King Fahd, leader of the world's top oil exporter and a key US ally, died after a long period of ill health that saw him hand over power to his half-brother Crown Prince Abdullah in the last years of his rule. US US President George W. Bush appointed John Bolton as US ambassador to the United Nations, bypassing the Senate after charges that the appointment would hurt US credibility had stalled his nomination. Sudan The Sudanese capital was the scene of riots, looting and armed clashes following the death of southern leader John Garang, which people feared could plunge the country into a fresh period of turmoil. Sudan The African Union said the death of Sudan's vice president and ex-rebel leader John Garang left an "enormous vacuum" in efforts to implement a peace deal that ended the continent's longest-running civil war in January. Britain Police in London were out in force, maintaining a high alert as they hunted for the masterminds behind two waves of attacks and awaited news of a bid to extradite a suspected bomber from Rome. Britain Italian Muslim leaders called on their followers to assist police in counter-terrorism operations, including drawing police attention to any suspicious behaviour in their communities. Egypt An Egyptian man charged over the deadly attacks in Sinai last October and suspected of links to last month's multiple bombings in Sharm el-Sheikh was killed by security forces, police said. US Two astronauts from the US shuttle Discovery started a six-hour space walk to fix a faulty gyroscope aboard the International Space Station. Mideast The Israeli army and police began deploying in unprecedented numbers to block an attempt by tens of thousands of settlers and their supporters to march towards doomed Gaza Strip settlements. Britain Britain's oldest operational aircraft carrier, HMS Invincible, sailed into harbour for the last time before it is decommissioned this week, amid fears that its retirement will leave the navy overstretched. Russia Three Russian federal judges were handed heavy prison sentences by the Supreme Court following their conviction on criminal fraud charges for the illegal expropriation of 71 apartments in Moscow worth millions of dollars. Uzbekistan Uzbekistan accused "outside forces" of interfering in its internal affairs and violating international laws for airlifting to Romania more than 400 Uzbek refugees who fled a violent government crackdown in their homeland.