Vatican Pope Benedict XVI took on the mantle of supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church in a ceremony of pomp, pageantry and prayer in front of world leaders and more than 350,000 pilgrims. Iraq Two suicide bombers detonated powerful car bombs outside an Iraqi police academy, a day after US President George Bush announced that local security forces now outnumber US troops in Iraq. Mideast A new security leadership began its mission to end the armed chaos on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip after Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas pushed key allies of the late Yasser Arafat into retirement. Armenia Tens of thousands of Armenians including the president and top officials filed through the towering Genocide Memorial in Yerevan to commemorate the 90th anniversary of mass killings by Ottoman Turks. WWI Leaders from Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and Britain gathered in northwestern Turkey to commemorate the 90th anniversary of one of World War I's fiercest battles. Asia Relations between Japan and China remained tense, a day after talks between the leaders of the two Asian heavyweights, with Beijing demanding Tokyo further address its wartime past. Ecuador Ousted Ecuadoran president Lucio Gutierrez left the country for exile in Brazil on a Brazilian Air Force plane, television reported. Togo Togo voted in a tense presidential election following a campaign marred by violence after the death of long-time strongman Gnassingbe Eyadema threw the west African state into political turmoil. Asia Asian and African leaders signed a new strategic alliance to boost trade and tackle poverty, but warned their attempt to revive an historic bond forged half a century ago would falter without firm action. NKorea North Korea's military chief vowed to "steadily bolster" the Stalinist nation's nuclear deterrent as a result of hostile moves by the United States. Iran Iran said it will one day resume its controversial uranium enrichment programme regardless of the result of negotiations with the European Union on its nuclear activities. China Flooding at a coal mine in northeast China trapped 69 workers, the state news agency reported. EU EU trade chief Peter Mandelson stepped up pressure on China to curb a "ruinous" surge in textile exports, urging it to take action or face possible EU steps to protect Europe's clothing industry.