Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
World | ANALYSIS Aug 31, 2013
With vote, U.K. sheds image as U.S. lapdog
Lap dogs no more! After the British Parliament’s decision to reject taking part in any U.S.-led strike against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, that victory cry rang out Friday from many quarters of the nation. For those who smarted at the memory ...
World | ANALYSIS Aug 29, 2013
West missed chances to cut arsenal
by Simeon Bennett
The United States and its allies may be headed for a war that they could have tried harder to prevent. The failure since the 1970s to put more pressure on Syria to relinquish its chemical weapons, plus American support for Iraq even after it ...
Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Aug 27, 2013
Slew of arrests in China show Xi is consolidating his power
by Simon Denyer
The trial of Bo Xilai may have divided the Chinese Communist Party and hogged the media spotlight, but, outside the courtroom, President Xi Jinping is continuing his steady efforts to consolidate control, clean up the party and sideline opponents, with a series of detentions ...
Tech | ANALYSIS Aug 24, 2013
Under Ballmer, Microsoft struggled to modernize
by Craig Timberg
In the 13 years that Steve Ballmer has led Microsoft, literature has climbed out of books, songs have freed themselves from CDs and computers have leapt off their desktops into our hands. An exhilarating new world of technology has emerged with little help from ...
Crime | ANALYSIS Aug 23, 2013
Transgender community unsure whether Manning's move will be blessing or curse
by Monica Hesse
“I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female.” It was a declaration. It was riveting morning television. It was a teachable moment, in public statement form, after Bradley Manning, the U.S. Army private, was convicted on charges including espionage and theft. It was, due ...
World | ANALYSIS Aug 23, 2013
West's military options in Syria are few, risky
Pressure is mounting on the United States and its Western allies to act to halt the violence in Syria. But with politicians and the public alike loath to get sucked into another drawn-out land war in the Middle East, what military options remain on ...
Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Aug 20, 2013
Riyadh vows to make up Egypt aid shortfall
by Liz Sly
Saudi Arabia is emerging at the forefront of a forceful effort by Persian Gulf monarchies to back Egypt’s new military leaders, exacerbating a fierce struggle for influence in the chaotic and increasingly leaderless Arab world and putting the Saudis at odds with the U.S., ...
World | ANALYSIS Aug 19, 2013
Brotherhood has spectacular fall from grace
Just two years ago, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood won the country’s first free elections, but now many in the country call its supporters terrorists. It is a spectacular fall from grace for the Islamist movement, which saw its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, become the first president ...
Economy | ANALYSIS Aug 18, 2013
Fed could attempt tiny QE taper to defuse tense financial markets
There has been an abundance of hand-wringing on Wall Street over when the Federal Reserve will begin scaling back the monthly bond purchases that have boosted the stock market and tamped down interest rates. Embedded in the anxiety is the assumption that the taper ...
World | ANALYSIS Aug 16, 2013
Violence in Egypt bolsters jihadist message about democracy's dangers
by Ernesto Londono
Jihadists in the Middle East and beyond are moving to capitalize on the political crisis in Egypt, arguing that the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood vindicates their long-espoused view that democracy is a dangerous proposition. As blood has poured down Egyptian streets and civilians ...
World | ANALYSIS Aug 15, 2013
Bloodshed shows lack of U.S. leverage
by Nicolas Revise
Egypt’s latest bloodshed has underlined what experts say is the weakened influence of the United States, which turned a blind eye to a coup while advocating a return to democracy. The United States has struggled to develop a coherent approach to Egypt since veteran ...
Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Aug 15, 2013
Booker on track to reach Washington
by Sean Sullivan
Newark Mayor Cory Booker took another step toward the Senate on Tuesday when he easily won the Democratic nomination in New Jersey. Republican nominee Steve Lonegan isn’t expected to be more than an also-ran against Booker, meaning the Newark mayor has basically punched his ...