Thirty-one people were killed and more than 150 injured in a train crash outside Paddington station in London.
Two trains collided during the morning rush-hour. It was later revealed that one of the drivers had driven through a red light, though the system was blamed rather than the individual.
Mystery surrounded the crash off the US coast of an EgyptAir jumbo jet, which killed all 217 people on board. In a surprise move, the investigation was turned over to the FBI after allegations were made that the co-pilot had intended to commit suicide by crashing the plane.
Another victim of the air was golfer Payne Stewart who died when his private jet appeared to depressurise at altitude over the US.
Britain and France locked horns over beef. The French were ordered by the European Union to lift a ban on British beef, but refused, saying they still believed the meat to be dangerous to eat. As the row intensified an EC report revealed that the French had fed their livestock with sewage sludge.
Pakistan was thrown once again into the international spotlight when the government of Nawaz Sharif was overthrown in a military coup. General Musharraf declared himself the country's supreme leader. Pakistan was later suspended from the Commonwealth.
In India, one of the worst cyclones on record hit the eastern state of Orissa, killing at least 3,000 people.
The Nobel committee awarded its annual prize for peace to the medical charity, Medecins sans Frontieres.
On the internet, millions of people across the world logged on to three 'Netaid' pop concerts in London, New York and Geneva, which were broadcast live on the internet in aid of refugees in Kosovo and the Sudan.
There was another 'body parts' controversy when a US fashion photographer tried to auction off the human eggs of female models.
Sports news was dominated by the Rugby World Cup, with arguably the most thrilling match taking place in the semi-final when France defeated New Zealand.
In highly controversial closing stages to the Formula One season, Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher were disqualified and then reinstated as winner and runner-up in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
World: Far right becomes official opposition in Austria
World: World population passes six billion
World: BJP retains power in India
World: British nanny jailed for 25 years in US
UK: Court backs Pinochet extradition
Obituary: Tanzanian leader Julius Nyerere
Obituary: Sony founder Akio Morita
Obituary: British singer Lena Zavaroni
Obituary: Tenor Josef Locke
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