Mideast Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas ushered in a new era of hope for Middle East peace at a landmark summit by calling a ceasefire to end four years of bloodshed. Iraq A suicide bombing against army recruits and a string of other attacks left at least 30 people dead across Iraq, with Al-Qaeda and its allies claiming responsibility for much of the new bloodshed. US-France The United States and France declared they had opened a "new chapter" in their relations, diplomatically sidestepping two years of feuding over Iraq with pledges to cooperate in bringing stability to the Middle East. Iran British Prime Minister Tony Blair calls Iran a state sponsor of terrorism, and urges the Islamic republic to meet EU demands to renounce its suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons. Vatican Pope John Paul II's continued hospitalisation has forced him to miss Ash Wednesday prayers for the first time in his 26-year papacy, as the once-taboo question of a possible resignation is openly debated. Asia The number of people believed killed in December's tsunami disaster topped 296,000, more than six weeks after the catastrophe, as Indonesia again increased its number of dead to 243,530 people. Russia A methane blast in a mine in southern Siberia killed up to three people early, with over 20 others presumed to be still stranded inside, Russian news agencies reported. Denmark Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's center-right coalition government retains power in a general election following a campaign dominated by its economic policies and restrictive immigration rules. Georgia President of the Caucasian republic of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, nominated his liberal finance minister, Zurab Nogaideli, as successor to deceased prime minister Zurab Zhvania. Nepal Nepal's army said activists rounded up after the king's power grab a week ago could be locked up for three months, as the new government warned traders and citizens against hoarding food and fuel before a protest strike called by Maoist rebels. UN-Sudan Sudan again rejected calls to hold any trials over the bloodshed in Darfur outside the country, as the world community looks to shore up a peace deal after Sudan's long civil war.