Briefly

UNITED STATES

Funding bill urged to avoid govt shutdown

The White House budget office on Tuesday called on the US Congress to pass a short-term funding bill to avoid a potential federal government shutdown as current government funding is set to lapse at the end of September. US President Joe Biden administration's request for more funding for the Afghanistan relocation and disaster relief programs was likely to provoke substantial debate in Congress. The Congress is also facing an imminent deadline over the debt ceiling. The Congressional Budget Office has warned that the United States is at risk of a default in October or November unless the Congress raises or suspends the debt ceiling.

JAPAN

Ex-minister joins pack for LDP poll

Japan's former communications minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday declared her bid for the presidential election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The LDP election is expected to be held on Sept 29, and is considered to effectively decide the next prime minister. Takaichi is believed to have received prerequisite support from 20 lawmakers with the help of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, under whom she served as communications minister and LDP policy chief.

INDONESIA

Fire leaves 41 dead at overcrowded prison

A massive fire raged through an overcrowded prison near Indonesia's capital early on Wednesday, killing at least 41 inmates, including two foreigners serving drug sentences, and injuring 80 others. Televised footage showed firefighters battling to extinguish the orange flames as black smoke billowed from the compound. Authorities were investigating the cause of the incident, but suspected an electrical fault may be behind the fire.

Xinhua - Agencies