31.   Parliament approved the December amnesty at the urging of Rashan Ecevit, deputy chairman of the ruling Democratic Left Party and the wife of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

32.   Parliament approved a restrictive press law, as well as legislation that removes institutions like the judiciary and military from parliamentary monitoring.

33.   Proposals are subject to consultation and must be approved by parliament.

34.   Rebel journalists began talks Friday to end their strike after parliament approved a new interim director, Jiri Balvin, who most see as politically neutral.

35.   Representatives of parliament have complained that the decree, which exceeds the budget limits approved by parliament, is illegal.

36.   Second, the Russian Constitution now requires that a prime minister be approved by parliament.

37.   Taiwan stocks fell after parliament yesterday unexpectedly approved a bill that reinstated a capital gains tax on profits from stock investments, a move that makes shares less attractive.

38.   The capital-gains tax law approved by parliament yesterday differs from a capital-gains tax proposal that had been backed by the Ministry of Finance.

39.   The Communist- and nationalist-dominated parliament approved the bill nearly unanimously last month, so it appears to have the votes to easily override his veto.

40.   The budget must still be approved by parliament.