Scottish independence would mean harsh consequences for U.K., economist says
A Scottish vote for independence from the United Kingdom this month could have serious consequences for the Scottish and U.K. economies, Goldman Sachs said in a research note on Wednesday. Goldman Sachs economist Kevin Daly said that while the Wall Street bank still felt the ...
Xi's hard line on Hong Kong shows no room for tolerating challenges
President Xi Jinping's uncompromising stance on limiting democratic reforms in Hong Kong marks a public show of strength that signals to the world — and China's own citizens — that the ruling Communist Party won't tolerate any challenges to its authority. Xi incurred a rebuke ...
Popular environmentalist Marina Silva looks capable of winning Brazil's presidential election in October but a major campaign gaffe and mounting attacks from other candidates and the media suggest the race is still wide open. Polls have shown Silva with a lead of about 10 percentage ...
With bigger issues in the balance, local election kicks off in Nago, Okinawa
A city assembly election expected to influence Okinawa's gubernatorial election in November and the central government's plans to build a replacement for the controversial Futenma base kicked off Sunday in Nago. Dominating the campaign is the question of what to do about the replacement facility ...
Military ruler Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha has named an interim government dominated by members of the security forces to steer Thailand through at least a year of political reforms before he permits an election. The Transport, Defense, Commerce and Interior ministries will all go to members ...
Hong Kong braces for protests as China rules out full democracy
Prodemocracy activists vowed on Sunday to bring Hong Kong's financial hub to a standstill after China's parliament rejected their demands for the right to freely choose the former British colony's next leader in 2017. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress endorsed a framework ...
Cameron suffers blow as lawmaker defects to anti-EU UKIP party
British Prime Minister David Cameron suffered a setback on Thursday when a lawmaker from his ruling Conservative Party unexpectedly defected to the UK Independence Party, which wants Britain to leave the European Union. The move, by Douglas Carswell, a Euroskeptic, comes eight months before a ...
China moved on Wednesday to limit 2017 elections for Hong Kong's leader to a handful of candidates loyal to Beijing, local media reported, a move that is likely to escalate plans by pro-democracy activists to blockade the city's Central business district. Hong Kong, which returned ...
Scotland's pro-independence leader steamrolls final TV debate before referendum
Scotland's pro-independence leader Alex Salmond won a final TV debate on Monday just over three weeks before a historic breakaway referendum, but it wasn't clear if his combative performance would help him catch up in the polls. In a bruising debate before the Sept. 18 ...
Final TV showdown in Scotland's independence debate looms before September vote
Scotland's future will be debated in a final TV showdown on Monday just weeks before a historic independence referendum with the pro-breakaway camp, behind in the polls, looking for a game-changing performance from its leader Alex Salmond. As voting day, Sept. 18, draws nearer, polls ...
Pakistani military gains political power as protests weaken Sharif
Besieged Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been assured by the military there will be no coup, but in return he must "share space with the army," according to a government source who was privy to recent talks between the two sides. Last week, as ...
Texas Gov. Rick Perry to fight indictment casting shadow on 2016 presidential run
Texas Gov. Rick Perry will vigorously fight a two-count felony indictment returned by a state grand jury last week charging him with abuse of power, his lawyers said Monday, calling the prosecution "outrageous." The indictment has cast a shadow over Perry's possible bid for the ...
