Just weeks after its chairman visited North Korea, Google has unveiled detailed new mapping of the Stalinist nation. It may not come from official sources, but it's still a fascinating resource.
Australia gets used to fixed terms
The prime minister's election announcement shows up just how little flexibility she really had about the timing anyway. Australia has moved close to a fixed-term model without even trying.
Lib Dems get their revenge on electoral reform
Britain's Liberal Democrats succeed last night in frustrating a Conservative move for electoral reform – as a measure of revenge for last year's defeat over the House of Lords, but also due to their own self-interest.
Obama and Senate compete on immigration reform
A bipartisan Senate group comes out with a bold plan for US immigration reform, pre-empting the president's own proposals. But can either of them overcome the Republican rhetoric of "border protection"?
Czechs get a new president
The new Czech president comes from the left but won the support of incumbent Václav Klaus as well as opponents of austerity. It's an interesting combination.
A theological view of nuclear weapons
Iran stresses the importance of Ayatollah Khamenei's fatwa against nuclear weapons. Should we take him seriously?
Jordan stays ahead of the revolution, so far
This week's election in Jordan was a less then fully democratic exercise. But King Abdullah II has so far succeeded in steering a moderate course through the perils of the Arab Spring.
Debt ceiling crisis over, for a while
Congressional Republicans give in and vote to suspend America's debt ceiling for three months. So where's the next crisis?
Netanyahu back, with some choices to make
Israel's election results are almost final: the precise number doesn't make much difference to Benjamin Netanyahu's options, but his drop in support might be psychologically important.
How to read Israeli election results
A quick guide to following the Israeli election results.
The World is Not Enough 