Mideast PLO chairman Mahmud Abbas was set to be formally declared the new Palestinian president after a landslide election victory as Israel warned his real challenges lay ahead. Sudan Africa's longest-running civil war came to an end as the Sudan's government and southern rebels signed a long-awaited peace accord amid calls for the deal to be extended to cover the crisis in Darfur. Indonesia A US helicopter crashed and a strong aftershock struck off Indonesia's traumatised Sumatra island as aid groups struggled to reach survivors of the tsunamis that killed more than 156,000 people around Asia, while rich countries promised debt relief. Thailand Thai authorities, faced with the daunting task of identifying some 5,300 people killed when the tsunami hit, ordered DNA tests on all the dead, including those already buried. Iraq US Secretary of State Colin Powell voiced concern about the future of Iraq after the elections, as Britain announced a joint team would be sent to the war-torn country to reassess security. Lebanon-Israel Three people, including a French UN peacekeeper, were killed in a flare-up of violence between Israeli troops and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia in the volatile border area between the two countries. Europe At least 14 people died, more than 1,000 homes were flooded and many more left without power after violent storms battered northern Europe over the weekend, bringing hurricane force winds and heavy rain. Ireland Bertie Ahern, the prime minister of the Republic of Ireland who has played a key role in negotiating a settlement for Northern Ireland, announced he would run for a third and last term of office in 2007 elections. Philippines Helicopter gunships blasted Muslim rebel positions in the southern Philippines after guerrillas attacked an army outpost violating a two-year-old ceasefire. Italy A ban on smoking in all public places such as bars, restaurants, discotheques and offices went into effect as Italy joined a growing number of European countries imposing stricter restrictions on smokers.