The peace process in Northern Ireland faced one of it most difficult periods as the prime ministers of Britain and Ireland announced an ambitious plan to set up the province's power-sharing executive by 15 July.
The major stumbling block was the Ulster Unionists' refusal to form an executive with Sinn Fein before the IRA agreed to decommission its weapons.
The Northern Ireland Assembly did meet as planned on the 15th without the participation of the Ulster Unionists, but collapsed when the British Government said the executive had to include Unionist representatives.
America mourned the death of John F Kennedy Jr, who died with his wife and sister-in-law in a plane crash. Their cremated remains were scattered at sea.
Attempts at a lasting peace were also being made in the conflict besetting the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Congo government and its allies agreed with Rwanda and Uganda to stop fighting. Some rebel movements, however, still remained outside the agreement.
The two states which make up the Yugoslav Republic, Montenegro and Serbia, met to decide their future relationship following the conflict in Kosovo, with Montenegro hinting it wanted to secede from the federation.
Genetically modified foods were back in the news in Britain after the head of Greenpeace, Lord Melchett, was arrested and questioned for his part in a raid on fields where government-sponsored trials of GM maize were being undertaken.
Two well-respected personalities from differing professions died in the UK - actor Bill Owen, from Last Of The Summer Wine, and former deputy prime minister William Whitelaw.
The showbiz-cum-mock-royal-wedding of the year took place when footballer David Beckham tied the knot with Spice Girl Victoria Adams. The couple received their guests sitting on two red thrones and 'Queen' Victoria wore a £100,000 coronet.
At Wimbledon, the US dominated with Pete Sampras winning the men's singles for a record sixth time, and Lindsay Davenport securing her first Wimbledon title in the women's singles.
In cycling, another American, Lance Armstrong, won the Tour de France.
World: Gunman kills 12 in Atlanta
World: Japan recognises the Rising Sun
UK: £2m damages for victim of nurse Beverley Allitt
UK: Dandy record-breaker
Health: Super salaries for super nurses
Sci/Tech: Judge runs trial on the Net
Sci/Tech: Moon landing, 30 years on
Obituary: American novelist Mario Puzo
Obituary: King Hassan of Morrocco
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