Germany: Bundestag passes wide-ranging constitutional reforms aimed at clarifying parliamentary powers

 Switzerland: Cabinet seeks agriculture free trade deal from EU

Kuwait: Women fail to win any parliamentary seats in first-ever female voting; 27 out of 249 candidates were female

Bangladesh: Parties close to agreement on electoral reform, but continue feuding on other issues 

Sri Lanka: Talks begin in Oslo, Norway to save ceasefire

Sudan: President rules out deployment of UN troops to Dafur region 

Syria: Neighbors Iraq, Jordan, Beirut delay diplomatic exchanges with Syrian gov't 

Jordan: Recent prosecutions suggest gov't "getting tough" on corruption, says gov't official

 Romania: President 'slams' plan for full pull-out of troops from Iraq

France: Senate, National Assembly pass "iTunes Law" that may require Apple to ensure compatability with other download services

France: Former Socialist PM Jospin could stand in presidential elections next year 

Turkey: PM tells EU Parliament Muslim cartoons show need for "curbs" on free speech

Estonia: Border guards on eastern frontier fall "below critical" despite EU aid 

Thailand: Court rules voters may not be required to use rubber stamps to mark ballots

Libya: Some in gov't oppose final payments to Lockerbee survivor families 

Tanzania: "Bureaucrats and experts" to blame for not warning government of oncoming famine

Papua New Guinea: "Network within gov't departments" defrauded the state of millions, says police commissioner

New Zealand: Immigration minister "wary" of accepting more workers from poor Pacific nations 

U.S.A.: Senate endorses U.S.-Oman free trade deal 

Dem. Rep. of Congo: First free election in 40 years kicks off with 200 parties, 10,000 candidates

 Nepal: New parliament sworn in, king's powers stripped after months of direct rule

Bahrain: Shiite opposition vows to contest this year's legislative elections, drop four-year boycott

China: Internal political reforms will turn China into democracy, says party official

Pakistan: Concerns renewed over U.S.-India nuclear deal

Russia: Duma calls for thorough investigation of diplomats' murder in Baghdad 

Lithuania: Social Democratic Party member Gediminas Kirkilas nominated as PM; first choice was rejected by parliament

Latvia: President returns labor law failing to offer sexual orientation protections; provision required by EU 

Serbia: Nation will not accept 'imposed solution' over Kosovo's fate, says PM Kostunica 

 Mauritania: Voters approve new constititution limiting presidential terms; had broad, multi-party support

Peru: Lame duck Peruvian Congress approves U.S.-Peru trade deal

Ukraine: Tens of thousands protest in Kiev over doubling of gas, electicity prices 

Thailand: Prosecutors recommend disbanding ruling political party and main opposition party 

Netherlands: Somali-born ex-MP allowed to keep citizenship despite asylum app. lie exposure

Vietnam: 44% of National Assembly defy PM over cabinet minister accused of corruption; rare defiance in Communist gov't

Haiti: EU links increased development aid to continuance of democractic reforms

Havana: 'Latin American Parliament' conference calls for regional civil defense system against natural disasters 

Venezuela: Chavez to speak at July 1 African Union Summit 

Canada: Parliamentary committee calls for halt to deporting illegals while policy debated

Spain: PM Zapatero defends planned talks with outlawed leftist party 

Hungary: Planned austerity package won't be as severe as 1990s version, says PM 

Vietnam: Nguyen Tan Dung elected PM by National Assembly, vows to fight corruption, bureaucracy

 Mexico: Presidential campaign wraps up

Montenegro: Nation becomes 192nd UN Member State 

New Zealand: PM Clark unveils $30 million boost for early childhood education 

Portugal: PM Jose Socrates, on Korean visit, pledges to boost trade with S. Korea "five-fold" in next few years

Japan: Cabinet Sect'y Abe tops poll to succeed Koizumi as head of Liberal Democratic Party in September vote 

Israel: PM Olmert discusses problems of evacuees from Gaza and Samaria in special Knesset session 

 Yemen: President vows to seek re-election amdist "pressure" from the public

USA: Bush calls on Senate to approve line-item veto; has passed the House 

Venezuela: U.S. close to anti-drug accord with Venezuela after calls to restrict U.S. agents' powers

Bolivia: President "caves in" to Catholic Church on religious education ban proposal

Ukraine: coalition nominates Yulia Tymoshenko - "Orange Princess" - for PM 

China: Deals signed with Angola, South Africa on trade, political relations 

Kyrgyzstan: Parliament rejects 2003 treaty with Kazakhstan

Italy: Italians reject constitutional amendments 

Philippines: Pres. Arroyo signs death penalty ban into law

Finland: Left Alliance in turmoil after leader resigns 

Venezuela: Election officials invite EU to witness Dec. presidential election

South Korea: Gov't to compensate families of Communists who fought Japanese occupation

UK: Blair chides G8 over world trade deal 

South Africa: Opposition party to question Arts & Culture minister over German trip during World Cup

Europe: EU trading partners say new chemicals regulations could have "grave consequenses"

Italy: Constitutional overhaul would give PM more powers; two-day referrendum ends today

Iraq: Leading Sunni politician backs PM's reconciliation plan

India: Gov't acts to stem rising prices in commodities of wheat, sugar

Sierra Leone: VP drafts act to harmonise laws nationwide

France: Senate passes tough immigration bill, following National Assembly's passage last month

Australia: Parliament passes Do Not Call register

Canada: Conservatives to take aim at dismantling "long-gun" registry in fall session

Thailand: PM Thaksin vows to lead his party in election, despite possible dissolution for corruption

East Timor: PM quits after weeks of protests over military firings

Kuwait: 28 women contest 50 seats in June 29 legislative election

Turkey: Former PM Yilmaz likely presidential candidate for new centrist party

Japan: Opposition parties unite in call for Bank of Japan Gov. to resign

Belgium: Mosques in Brussels could get government funds

Romania: Conservatives vote to remain in governing coalition

Japan: Diet passes law aimed at lowering high suicide rate

Mauritania: Oil-rich nation held historic vote Sunday

Brazil: President Lula to stand for re-election in October

UK: More: Tories to announce Bill of Rights (Times of London)

Somalia: 'Radical' wanted by U.S. heads new Somali body

UK: Tories to introduce US-Style "Bill of Rights"

Australia: Senate to Recommend Test Seasonal Worker Scheme

The Mission of This Blog

The mission of this blog is simple: To link to political news around the world.

This site was inspired by a fist fight. Several, actually. Not involving me, but involving politicians in Japan and South Korea, and elsewhere. That seems to be the only time Westerners really pay attention to politics outside their own nation. And that's a shame, because that's not politics, it's entertainment.

This site aims to link to SERIOUS news articles about political discussions, debates and elections in nations throughout the world.

It is not a site for political commentary, and is not about anything other than politics. No sport(s), entertainment or those "odd" news items of the day (including parliamentary fist fights.)

It simply links to articles about politics throughout the world. Period.

In fact, this may be the longest post you will ever see on this blog.

I will be seeking out journalists from around the globe to post politics-related links from their part of the world, making this a content-rich, valuable site you can visit once a day and leave educated.

Thanks,
Stephen Abbott
Manchester, NH USA