You see it in place names like St Kilda and Blairgowrie. Or in the sometimes miserable weather.

Across Scotland, dinner table talk is getting heated as families argue over how to vote in Scotland's independence referendum.

'Hello Iowa, I'm back!' Hillary Clinton has joked about her return to politics and possible run for the presidency at an event in a critical state.

David Beckham has added his voice to the campaign against Scottish independence, urging voters not to ditch a bond which is "the envy of the entire world".

Tony Abbott, Australia's Prime Minister, has moved into a tent in a far-flung stretch of Outback bushland to govern the nation for a week from a tiny Aboriginal community.

Alex Salmond pledged there would not be a second Scottish independence referendum for another generation even if he loses Thursday's contest by a single vote.

When Scotland's polling stations close their doors at 10pm local time on Thursday, a moment of nervous calm will settle on the lands north and south of Hadrian's Wall.

Welfare payments will be stripped from people in Australia suspected of supporting terrorism.

He strode out. He spoke well and he "My Fellow Americans-ed" with the best of them. But this speech was one US President Barack Obama never wanted to make, writes Jack Tame.

Britain faces a period of severe economic turbulence if Scotland votes for independence this week, economists warn , as the prospect of a yes vote threatens a new financial crisis.

"Why do you think you can be King of Scotland?" shouts a heckler as supporters of Scottish independence and a media pack surround Alex Salmond, the man who might just astonish the world by breaking up the UK.

Australia's terrorism alert level has been raised from medium to high. The change announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott today means a terrorist attack is now considered "likely".

There are few villages in Scotland more steeped in history than Scone.

New Zealand would back United States airstrikes against Islamic State jihadists in Iraq, Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader David Cunliffe say.

While most eyes are on our local election, diplomats are still focused on October 16, the day for voting on New Zealand's bid for a UN Security Council seat.

Nicola Sturgeon is about to set off to knock on doors around the deprived Glasgow suburb of Easterhouse when she is distracted by a loud shriek from across the street.

Ministers are under pressure to explain how they would respond if Scots vote for independence.

Malaysia has reportedly given the go-ahead for diplomat Muhammad Rizalman bin Ismail to return to New Zealand to face sex and burglary charges.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a dramatic intervention in the Scottish independence battle.

American drones are being flown over the Syrian stronghold of Isis (Islamic State) for the first time, in an effort to target the jihadi group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

In the two-year Scottish referendum campaign, Whitehall and Westminster have been in denial about the prospect of Scotland voting Yes to independence.