Iraq Iraqi leaders were battling to strike an accord on the constitution by a midnight deadline and restore calm after deadly fighting erupted between Shiite rivals that could derail the political process. China-EU The European Union and China opened talks here to resolve an impasse that has left millions of items of Chinese-made clothes blocked by European customs officials because they exceed import quotas. Germany Germany's highest court gave the go-ahead for an early general election in a landmark ruling that removed the final hurdle to the September 18 poll, which Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is widely expected to lose. Mideast Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas accused Israel of wrecking prospects for peace after soldiers killed five militants and officials unveiled plans to expand the largest West Bank settlement. Europe Europe's weather crisis eased as fires were put out in Portugal and floodwaters receded in central Europe but the death toll rose in Romania and Austria after heavy rains. NKorea Six-nation talks on ending North Korea's atomic weapons drive may resume on September 2, an official quoted China's chief negotiator as saying after Japan, China and South Korea formed a united front to pressure Pyongyang. Iran Iran's new hardline nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani challenged the role of Britain, France and Germany as the leaders of diplomatic efforts over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme. Britain As British police probe the final hour of one of the four London bombers, reports claimed he ate a snack at a McDonald's and left frantic phone messages for his accomplices before blowing himself up. Egypt Two Egyptian police officers were killed in a bomb blast in the northern Sinai where security forces have launched a sweep for militants behind deadly bombings, the interior ministry said. France France will next week begin publishing a blacklist of airlines banned from its territory for safety reasons, Transport Minister Dominique Perben told a news conference.