The wrap: Stories you may have missed

(CNN) -- A round-up of the stories that made the news in the past week.

MONDAY

Chinese leader Hu Jintao pledged to make communist rule more inclusive and better spread the fruits of China's economic boom, in an address to a party congress that offers a key test of his authority.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Israel and Palestinian negotiators were involved in the most serious effort in "many, many years" to try to end the Middle East conflict, and called for a Palestinian state. Read more.

In the UK, Menzies Campbell resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats political party. Read more.

A kayaker fought off an 8-foot great white shark with her paddle on Monday after it knocked her off the craft at one of Australia's most popular beaches. Read more.

In Argentina, the skeleton of what is believed to be a new dinosaur species -- a 105-foot plant-eater that is among the largest dinosaurs ever found -- was uncovered. Read more.

TUESDAY

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Iran, the first visit to the country by a Kremlin leader since 1943. Attending a summit of Caspian Sea nations, he said that Iran should be allowed to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes. Read more.

The White House vigorously defended President Bush's plan to meet with the Dalai Lama Tuesday, brushing aside China's warning that it would damage relations between Washington and Beijing. Read more.

Iraq urged Turkey to refrain from launching military action against Kurdish separatists based in Iraqi territory. However on Wednesday the Turkish parliament approved a military incursion into northern Iraq. Turkey massed 60,000 troops in the region and over the weekend.

Japan, Myanmar's largest aid donor, canceled a multimillion dollar grant to protest the junta's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters as a United Nations envoy pressed Asian nations to take the lead in resolving the crisis. Read more.

WEDNESDAY

The head of U.N. food agency operations in the violence-wracked Somali capital was taken away by 50 to 60 heavily armed government security officers who stormed the U.N. compound. Read more.

Myanmar's military junta acknowledged that it detained nearly 3,000 people during a crackdown on recent pro-democracy protests, with hundreds still remaining in custody.

Spain seized an American treasure-hunting ship over a dispute with its owners over who has rights to millions of dollars worth of booty recovered from the sea. Read more.

THURSDAY

Benazir Bhutto made an emotional return to Pakistan after eight years in exile when she landed at Karachi airport, but on Thursday night 136 people were killed in two explosions that went off near a motorcade carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister.

Railway workers, bus, power, gas and some state employees went on strike after President Nicolas Sarkozy refused to back down over planned pension reforms,. Read more.

The French President revealed more personal problem announcing a divorce by mutual consent with his wife Cecilia.

European leaders approved a new treaty that will reshape the European Union's institutions and streamline decision-making. Read more.

FRIDAY

The euro hit a new all-time high against the U.S. dollar, breaking through the previous record set on Thursday, as the U.S. currency remained under pressure. Read more.

Thai police have arrested a suspected Canadian pedophile following a global manhunt launched when computer experts unscrambled digital photos allegedly showing him sexually abusing young boys. Read more. E-mail to a friend