EU A change of government loomed in France as it came to terms with its rejection of the EU constitution, a turning point that exposed deep divisions in the country and could damage its relations with the rest of Europe. EU The EU scrambled to pick up the pieces after a devastating French "no" to its new constitution -- while bracing for a Dutch vote that could deal a killer blow to its long-cherished integration blueprint. China China edged closer to a trade war with the European Union and United States, scrapping export tariffs on a range of textile products while vowing to defend its legal trading rights. Lebanon The son of murdered former premier Rafiq Hariri scored a clean sweep in the Beirut round of Lebanon's elections, the first in three decades held free of the powerful grip of neighbouring Syria. Iraq A double suicide attack killed at least 27 people in Iraq, while a top Sunni leader was detained by US troops in a move likely to provoke a group considered key to ending the rampant insurgency. Germany The German opposition conservatives named Angela Merkel as their candidate to challenge under-fire Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in an expected autumn election that could produce Germany's first woman leader. Mideast Palestinian factions warned that a de-facto Middle East truce was in jeopardy after Israel launched an aerial strike against militants, wounding two sisters in the Gaza Strip. Afghanistan A bicycle bomb targeting a NATO-led vehicle exploded Monday near Kabul, wounding at least seven Afghans, hours after a rocket was fired at the peacekeeping force's headquarters in the capital, officials said. Somalia At least 11 people were killed, 12 wounded in clashes between warlords in Somalia on whether government should relocate in regional capital Baidoa when it relocates from exile in Kenya, the military and witnesses said. Russia Moscow and Tbilisi have agreed to close Russia's two remaining Soviet-era military bases in Georgia in 2008, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Indonesia Indonesia: Indonesian police stepped up a manhunt for suspected Islamic militants behind a bomb attack in a Christian town on Indonesia's Sulawesi island that killed 20 people as funerals were held for the dead.