The United Nations closed its office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after protestors had occupied it in protest against a UN investigation into abuse of human rights in the final stages of the civil war last year. The European Union suspended Sri Lanka's preferential trade deal citing abuse of human rights.
The findings of inquiries into the so-called Climategate accusations that British scientists had manipulated evidence of global warming to buttress the UN's recommendations on necessary climate change action showed that the scientists concerned had acted responsibly and in good faith.
President Barack Obama and President Netanyahu of Israel met in Washington after two previously planned meetings had been postponed. Although there were smiles all round for the cameras in contrast to earlier meetings nothing of substance was announced as a result of the talks.
America's Justice Department filed an action against the state of Arizona's new legislation permitting its police to arrest alleged illegal immigrants lacking necessary documentation.
In France an accountant of the Bettancourt family, owners of the L'Oreal empire, alleged that illegal payment had been made to Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign for the presidency in 2007. Later the President's office said that the accountant had recanted.