Mideast Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas looked to be winning global support for reforms to his administration at a meeting in London, promising in return to "put our house in order" and renew peace talks with Israel. Vatican Pope John Paul II spoke and demonstrated he was capable of "saying the essential things in his own words," top Vatican cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said after a brief bedside meeting with the pontiff. US The US Supreme Court has abolished the death penalty for those convicted of crimes they committed as minors. Iraq A French journalist missing in Iraq, Florence Aubenas, made a desperate plea for her life on a video broadcast, saying her health was "very bad," while French authorities said they were studying the video. Iraq The group of Al-Qaeda's frontman in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has claimed responsibility for the deadly car bomb attack in the central city of Hilla, according to a statement posted on an Islamist website. Taiwan Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian warned the European Union (EU) against lifting an arms embargo on China, saying it could tilt the military balance with China and threaten regional security. Israel Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called on arch-foe Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and urged the international community to isolate Damascus along with "other extremists in the region." Nepal More than 70 Maoists have been killed in a fierce clash with Nepal's army, as the foreign minister warned the world to accept the king's power grab or face a communist takeover of the Himalayan country. Iran Iran has refused to let UN nuclear inspectors follow up on a first visit to the Parchin military facility, where Washington charges Tehran is simulating testing of atomic weapons, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. Uruguay Uruguay's congress swore in Tabare Vazquez, 65, who became the first leftist president in the tiny South American state's 180-year history.