Iraq The main Shiite list won a decisive victory in last month's historic Iraqi election, sweeping 48.1 percent on a turnout of about 59 percent, with a total of 8,456,266 people voting, according to official figures released by the electoral commission. Mideast Israel approved the release of some 500 Palestinians from its jails after Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas secured a pledge from radical Islamists to refrain from attacks. Germany UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called on Europe and the United States to devise new ways of adapting collective security solutions for a world transformed by new threats. Iran Iran rejected a European offer aimed at limiting its nuclear fuel activities and warned the United States against "playing with fire" in an increasingly bellicose standoff between Tehran and the international community. Vatican Pope John Paul II went some way towards reassuring worried Catholics that his health had improved, during a regular Sunday Angelus appearance from his window overlooking St Peter's Square only a few days after being discharged from hospital. Germany The German city of Dresden paid its respects to tens of thousands of people killed in the Allied bombing 60 years ago, amid attempts by the far-right to exploit the commemorations. Togo The government of the west African state of Togo was under increasing pressure as opposition groups announced new protests over a power grab by the late president's son, and violence left at least three dead in the capital Lome. Serbia Serbian President Boris Tadic made a landmark trip to Kosovo, the first Serbian head of state to visit the southern province since it became a UN protectorate at the end of the 1998-1999 war. Spain A pall of brown smoke dominated Madrid's skyline as officials said that a 31-floor office building in a central neighbourhood could collapse after the biggest fire in the Spanish capital's history. Pakistan Severe flooding and avalanches have killed around 350 people in Pakistan after a week of torrential rain and heavy snow, while 2,000 others were missing and tens of thousands left homeless. Philippines The Philippines sent hundreds more troops to the southern island of Jolo to crush a week-old rebellion by Muslim separatists, as the latest clashes left three soldiers dead and 13 wounded. North Korea North Korea came under increasing pressure from traditional allies China and Russia to return to multi-party talks on eliminating its nuclear weapons programme. Nepal Nepal's military was on high alert as Maoist rebels marked the ninth anniversary of their bloody uprising with a transport blockade that has crippled road traffic outside the capital.