Here is the Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 edition of what’s making news and interesting reads from around the world. Also please note that off to the left there are two widgets with updates on news from Asia and the world in a separate page: Around Asia & Around the World New Feeds.
Hurricane Ike Rambles Across Cuba
Storm surges and overflowing rivers flooded neighborhoods and wind ripped roofs off as Hurricane Ike tore through eastern Cuba on Monday, weakened, then spiraled toward Havana and western provinces slammed by Gustav last week. More from the Miami Herald.
Italian Defence Minister in a Row over World War II Remarks
Odd that Pope Benedict XVI a few weeks warned of a new fascism rearing its ugly head in Italy. Italy’s defence minister has ignited a second row over apparent Nazi sympathies in as many days. While paying tribute to Italian World War Two troops who fought to overthow the Alliance with Germany in 1943, he said he felt compelled to mark those who fought alongside the German’s too. More from Euro News.
Singapore: plus ça change
The Asia Sentinel looks at the prospects for change and reform, or the lack thereof, in Singapore.
Yuriko Koike Bids to be Japan’s First Female Prime Minister
Yuriko Koike of Japan’s ruling LPD launched an attempt to become Japan’s first woman prime minister.
A telegenic former newscaster fluent in English and Arabic, Koike, 56, emphasized her plans to tackle women’s issues and the environment as well as administrative reform at a news conference in Tokyo. More from Reuters.
Decisive Win for MPLA in Angola’s Elections
President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos ‘ Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola had won 81.6 percent of the vote, to the opposition UNITA’s 10 percent, with three-quarters of the votes counted by early afternoon, according to the electoral commission. Details from Agence France Presse.