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 forced him to hand over the reins of power in the last years of his turbulent rule. Iran Iran was set to resume sensitive nuclear work and defiantly end a nine-month suspension agreed with the European Union, risking a major international crisis and possible UN sanctions. US US President George W. Bush appointed John Bolton ambassador to the United Nations, bypassing the Senate where his nomination stalled amid charges Bolton would hurt US global credibility. Sudan Deadly rioting rocked the Sudanese capital after a helicopter crash killed Sudan's new vice oresident and ex-southern rebel leader John Garang, dealing a blow to a fledgling January peace deal that ended Africa's longest-running war. India Monsoon rains lashed Mumbai again as rescuers pulled more bodies from the floodwaters and the city battled to recover from its worst-ever recorded deluge, with the death toll nearing 1,000. Mideast The Israeli army and police were deploying in unprecedented numbers to block an attempt by tens of thousands of settlers and their supporters to march towards doomed Gaza Strip settlements. Iraq Parliament will debate a draft constitution for Iraq on August 15, keeping the country on track for a scheduled mid-October referendum on the post-Saddam Hussein charter, officials said. Russia Health authorities in neighbouring provinces of Russia and Kazakhstan set about slaughtering poultry amid signs that the deadly bird flu virus was steadily spreading westwards from China. Britain Police in London were on high alert as they hunted for the masterminds behind two waves of terror attacks, while Rome said a decision on whether to extradite a suspected bomber may take weeks. Germany German prosecutors said the bodies of nine newborn babies they suspect were killed by their mother over a 16-year period were discovered in a shed in the east of the country. US Atkins Nutritionals Inc. (ANI), the company founded by the late, low-carb diet pioneer Robert Atkins, said it had filed for bankruptcy protection.