An explosion at the Amuay refinery in Venezuela brings the presidential campaign to a temporary halt.

The German Bundesbank and the European Central Bank at contretemps.

Pakistan’s prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf gets a reprieve on the constitutional crisis until September 18 (also, the next Pakistan general election will be held on April 4).

Worries about Internet freedom in India.

Comedian and upstart politician Beppe Grillo calls the leader of Italy’s Democratic Party a zombie.

Galicia will now hold early elections on the same day as the Basque Country (October 21).

Dutch party leaders held their first debate Sunday in advance of the Sept. 12 election.  Polls showed Labour party leader Diederick Samsom as the (surprising) winner.  Here’s a Dutch language summary.

Stephen Kinnock is not gay, says his wife, Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

Feminist icon Germain Greer criticizes Australian prime minister Julia Gillard and her, ahem, arse.

Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras now turns to domestic politics and talks with his coalition partners.