Philippines’ Aquino seeks more power for government to avert electricity crisis
MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Benigno Aquino said he would ask Congress to allow the government to enter into energy supply contracts, for the first time since the industry was privatised in 2001, to avert a looming power shortage next year.
Indonesia’s Widodo wants to overturn law curbing anti-graft drive: adviser
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian president-elect Joko Widodo wants the top court to overturn legislation that makes it more difficult to investigate lawmakers for graft, an adviser said, referring to a law passed with little publicity in one of the world…
Tech factory workers strike in China over mooncakes, benefits
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – About 16,000 workers at two subsidiaries of Taiwanese touch-screen maker Wintek Corp went on strike over holiday benefits this week in southern China in one of the biggest work stoppages this year, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford diagnosed with tumor
TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who gained global notoriety after a well-publicized battle with addiction, was admitted to hospital with a tumor in his abdomen on Wednesday, throwing his campaign for re-election into doubt.
China asserts paternal rights over Hong Kong in democracy clash
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Just days before China was set to deliver its edict on electoral reform in Hong Kong, Beijing’s most senior official in the city held a rare meeting with several local lawmakers whose determined push for full democracy had incensed Beijing’s Communist leaders.
Brazil poll shows Rousseff catching up with Silva in runoff
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has recovered support and would run a tight race with opposition candidate Marina Silva if October’s election leads to a runoff vote, polls published on Wednesday showed.
Colombian war victims urge ceasefire during peace talks
HAVANA (Reuters) – Colombian war victims demanded a bilateral ceasefire to halt Latin America’s longest running conflict on Wednesday in a direct challenge to President Juan Manuel Santos, who has resisted rebel calls for a ceasefire during peace talks…
Obama prepared to authorize air strikes in Syria against Islamic State
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will vow on Wednesday to attack Islamic State militants “wherever they exist” in a speech to Americans expected to lay out a strategy for expanding U.S. air strikes in Iraq and, for the first time, striking…
Brazil’s Rousseff catching up to rival in new election poll
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff closed ground on opposition candidate Marina Silva in a new poll on Wednesday simulating a likely second-round runoff in October.
Obama shifts on Syrian rebels, but is it too late?
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Struggling Syrian rebels that President Barack Obama once derided as “former doctors, farmers, pharmacists and so forth” now form a key pillar of the U.S. leader’s strategy to beat back the militant insurgency known as Islamic St…
