Free Republic

Hong Kong on Tuesday kick-started a process which could lead to a ban on a group that promotes secession from China, the first time since the former British colony’s return to Chinese rule in 1997 it has sought to outlaw a political organization. The move against the Hong Kong National Party comes at a time authorities have ratcheted up pressure on young democracy activists, some of whom have been jailed, and denounced any pro-independence action as an illegal challenge to Communist Party rulers in Beijing. The Security Bureau wrote a letter to the founder of the party, Andy Chan, telling...

New Zealand’s ruling National party stormed to a third term in government in the country’s general election on Saturday with the center-right party securing an outright election night majority on a platform to continue tight economic policies. Prime Minister John Key’s party won 48.1 percent of the vote, translating into 61 of 121 parliamentary seats and improving its performance from the 2011 vote. “I think people saw the country was on the right direction and they rewarded us,” Key told reporters as he headed to a victory rally. “What you saw was people saying they were going to vote for...

A wealthy rancher was due to be declared Honduras's new president today after a tumultuous election dogged by the overthrow of his predecessor. Preliminary results gave Porfirio Lobo 56% of votes, prompting cavalcades of cheering, honking supporters in the streets of the capital, Tegucigalpa. His nearest rival, Elvin Santos of the ruling Liberal party, conceded defeat. Lobo, from the centre-right National party, promised to unify a country polarised by the military-led coup against Manuel Zelaya in June, a political shock which rattled Latin America and left Honduras isolated and stripped of aid and investment.... The Supreme Electoral Tribunal said 61%...

Honduran opposition candidate Porfirio Lobo is leading in a presidential election that could ease a five-month crisis following the June coup against President Manuel Zelaya, media exit polls said on Sunday. Lobo, a conservative, won more than 55 percent of Sunday's vote and was well ahead of ruling Liberal Party candidate Elvin Santos, the HRN radio station said. A TV channel gave Lobo 51 percent. Lobo was seen as more likely than Santos to persuade foreign governments to recognize Sunday's election.

Thought I would start a thread on the New Zealand general election - returns starting to come in now. Non-NZ FReepers can try the live streams of Channel One News, http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_minisite_index_skin/news_election_2005_group or 3 News, http://www.tv3.co.nz/listings/index.cfm

One rule for all: You're not special, Brash tells Maori Don Brash wants to strip Maori of their special status, saying a National government will revoke court-issued customary titles, do away with iwi consultation and scrap the Maori seats. In the strongest speech by a National Party leader on race relations since Sir Robert Muldoon, he last night accused some Maori of using the Treaty of Waitangi to make money and warned that Maori entitlements under the Government's foreshore and seabed proposal were so sweeping they invited corruption. Prime Minister Helen Clark said Dr Brash was engaging in the "politics...