Scotland Rejects Independence as U.K. Vows Extra Powers -- Bloomberg

Scotland voted to stay in the U.K. in a referendum on independence, stepping back from a breakup of the 307-year-old union while wringing promises of more financial power from Prime Minister David Cameron.

After a count through the night, 55.3 percent of Scottish voters supported the “no” campaign against 44.7 percent who backed independence. U.K. shares helped lead European equities to a 6 1/2-year high and the pound rose to the strongest level in two years against the euro after the Better Together campaign posted a wider margin of victory than opinion polls suggested. There was a record turnout of more than 90 percent in some of the 32 districts.

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MIDDLE EAST

Iraqi army launches offensive on Islamic State in three cities .

Sistani says Iraq needs outside help to fight Islamic State .

French fighter jets strike Islamic State supply depot in northeastern Iraq . France launches first air strikes on IS in Iraq .

Islamic State creates police force in northwest Iraq .

Turkey opens border to Syrian Kurds fleeing IS . Syrian Kurds fleeing Islamic State cross border into Turkey . Half million besieged Kurds plead for int'l help.

Bomb kills two Lebanese soldiers at Syrian border .

Russia fails to remove Syria nuclear probe from IAEA agenda .

Armed Shi'ite rebels push into Yemen's capital . Houthi rebels shell Yemen state TV office .

Turkey seeks advanced security for pipelines, strategic locations .

Iranian Pharrell Williams fans behind Happy video sentenced .

ASIA

Australia boosts parliament security amid attack 'chatter' . Australia terror crackdown sees armed police in parliament .

Afghanistan asks Washington for $537 million bailout .

‘Historic high’: Afghan drug crime to further deteriorate after US withdrawal, says Russia .

Russia, China negotiate over 30 joint projects worth over $100 bln — official .

Is Kim Jong ill? North Korean dictator in poor health as his weight has ballooned thanks to an obsession with cheese .

Floods shut down Philippine capital, 3 killed .

Japan to restart whaling in 2015 despite IWC ruling .

AFRICA

Sierra Leone begins three-day shutdown to contain Ebola outbreak .

Deadly attack in Guinea on Ebola team . Throats slit: Ebola health team, journalists brutally killed in Guinea .

'Much to be done' for DR Congo to meet peace deal .

U.S. sanctions military officers on both sides of South Sudan conflict .

Libya halts biggest oilfield amid rebel attacks .

Liberian female rebel Martina Johnson held for war crimes .

Ugandan President fires PM .

EUROPE

UK remains united after Scotland referendum .

Catalans inspired by Scotland vote in independence push . Spanish leaders relieved as Scottish 'no' deals blow to Catalan separatists. Scotland chose best option, says Spain's PM as Catalan campaign continues .

Spain, Italy, Belgium: Battle lines drawn for independence after Scottish vote .

Ukrainian president makes emotional plea to Congress for greater military aid . Ukraine's Poroshenko says U.S. promises $1 billion in financial guarantees .

Third round of Ukraine-Donetsk prisoner exchange set for September 20 .

Poland plans gas hub to kill reliance on Russian energy .

France says its jets launch first air strikes in Iraq .

Sarkozy set for return to politics in France .

Russia to be cut off from Global Web in case of emergency . Russia eyes measures to fend off Western Internet threat: Kremlin .

AMERICAS

Congress supports Obama on aid to Syrian rebels fighting Isil .

Exclusive: Angry with Washington, 1 in 4 Americans open to secession .

Brazil's Rousseff closes in on Silva ahead of October vote .

At least 15 police hurt as thousands rally in Ecuador .

A dangerous sign that Argentina's economy is going off the rails .

Three suspects arrested in Chile subway bombing .

Mystery illness plagues girls in Colombia .

Florida granddad Don Spirit who killed family had also fatally shot son years before .

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

U.S. court finds North Korea, Iran guilty of terror attacks .

Australia beheadings plot raises questions about Islamic State's reach .

U.S. tracks threats against West by Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria .

New al Qaeda branch in South Asia launches first assault .

Modi: Al-Qaeda's South Asia plan 'delusional' .
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Home Depot: 56 million credit cards compromised .

Alibaba's IPO to end US dominance in technology sector: expert .

China hands drugmaker GSK record $489 million fine, sentences executives .

iFail: One of the world's first iPhone 6 owners DROPS it live on TV... as thousands brave queues and fights to get their hands on Apple's latest device (including a guy who flew out to Australia from California).