World / Politics Mar 16, 2014
Ukraine, Russia agree short truce as Crimea referendum gets under way
The Ukrainian and Russian Defence ministries have agreed on a truce in Crimea until March 21, Ukraine's acting defence minister said Sunday. "An agreement has been reached with (Russia's) Black Sea Fleet and the Russian Defence Ministry on a truce in Crimea until March 21," ...
World Mar 11, 2014
After three years of grinding conflict, the destruction of whole city districts and an exodus of refugees all triggered by an uprising against his rule, President Bashar Assad is quietly preparing to be re-elected. The Syrian president has not yet officially announced whether he will ...
Asia Pacific / Politics Mar 7, 2014
Street clashes erupted in India after this week's announcement that parliamentary elections will start April 7 in a race that pits Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi against the unpopular Nehru-Gandhi family's ruling party. Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath said Wednesday that 814 million people had registered ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jan 25, 2014
Nuke issue could restore power to the regions
by Philip Brasor
The LDP fears that if Morihiro Hosokawa successfully taps anti-nuclear sentiment among Tokyoites and wins the gubernatorial election, the movement could spread to areas across the country that host nuclear plants.
World / Politics Jan 5, 2014
NYC mayor targets growing income gap
by Ed Pilkington
The 18 cm of snow dumped over New York on his second day in office is not the only blizzard Bill de Blasio, the newly installed mayor, is having to negotiate. He is also heading into a political blizzard over his plans to tackle ...
National Dec 25, 2013
Tokyo court finds July election vote weight disparity unconstitutional but results stand
The Tokyo High Court on Wednesday ruled unconstitutional the disparity of up to 4.77 times in the weight of votes in July's Upper House election, while dismissing the plaintiffs' demand that the poll results in Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectural constituencies be nullified. The Matsue branch ...
World / Politics Dec 22, 2013
Danish PM's 'selfie' snapshot of her credibility crisis
by Andrew Anthony
When Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt took a "selfie" on her smartphone on Dec. 14 — like millions of people do every day — she doubtless had little idea of the commotion that would ensue. In the photograph, taken at the memorial service for ...
National / Politics Dec 21, 2013
A senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker indicated Saturday the governing party could field a non-Diet member for Tokyo's gubernatorial election in February. "The academic, journalism and other circles must have" a strong candidate to run for the governorship, Katsuei Hirasawa, a member of the House ...
World / Politics Dec 15, 2013
The White House systematically delayed enacting a series of rules on the environment, worker safety and health care to prevent them from becoming points of contention before the 2012 election, according to documents and interviews with current and former administration officials. Some agency officials were ...