White House and Senate are strongly opposed to House legislation.

TAIPEI, June 19 (Reuters) - Acer Inc, the world's No.4 PC vendor, said on Wednesday that it expects notebook and tablet PC shipment to be flat in the second quarter from the first quarter, versus an prediction of 0-5 percent growth made in April.

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California state legislators on Tuesday told regulators and oil industry lobbyists they wanted more information about the use of acid to increase flows in wells in a technique that is used more often in the state than the controversial fracking method.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's state oil producer, Pemex, said on Tuesday it had evacuated its Mexico City headquarters, the site of a deadly explosion in January, after a bomb threat.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New York City real estate company offered to buy the Empire State Building for $2 billion, a written offer showed, significantly below the skyscraper's appraisal price and about three weeks after investors in the iconic building approved a plan to take the tower public in a real-estate investment trust.

By Youssef Sourgo Morocco World News Casablanca, June 19, 2013 Last Monday, the court of appeal of Kenitra postponed the trial of two prison officials from the Central Prison of Kenitra after they were caught receiving bribery, wrote daily La Nouvelle Tribune on Tuesday.   The two officials were caught red-handed last Wednesday, June 12, receiving bribery from the father of one of the prisoners in the Central Prison of Kenitra, who is sentenced to 17 years for murder. The father of the prisoner, who complained of the ill- treatment his detained son was undergoing, offered a prison official a bribe, in exchange for the protection of his son. Subsequent to his arrest, one of the two implicated officers said he merely obeyed his superior, who allegedly asked him to contact the father of the prisoner who would give him an amount of money that would later be handed to the detained son.  Edited by Allison Kraemer

Three Ohioans are accused of enslaving a mentally disabled young mother and her daughter over two years.

Ryan Doumit delivered a go-ahead two-out, two-run double in the eighth inning to help the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game set at Target Field.After Clete Thomas drew a walk and Joe Mauer singled, Doumit doubled to center off Ramon Troncoso (0-2) to bring in the winning run

Matt Dominguez went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBI, while Jordan Lyles worked seven strong innings as the Houston Astros pounded the Milwaukee Brewers, 10-1, in the opener of a three-game set.Lyles (4-1) gave up one run on seven hits while striking out five

The New York Mets relied on their top two pitching prospects to sweep Tuesday's day-night doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.The Mets claimed a 4-3 victory in the first game thanks to Matt Harvey, who took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning

More than 2,200 firefighters rushed Tuesday to save hundreds of homes near Yosemite National Park, which are threatened by a blaze alarming for its size, speed and the fact it's striking so early in California's wildfire season.

In an open letter to President Barack Obama published Tuesday, dozens of doctors asked to be allowed to treat hunger-striking prisoners at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Turkish protesters are giving their government the silent treatment in Istanbul's Taksim Square, emulating the quiet protest of a performance artist.

Afghan troops are now in charge of defending their own country, with U.S. troops as backup. CNN's Reza Sayah reports.

The United States says it will hold talks with the Taliban militant group in Qatar, but a senior U.S. official says trust between Afghans and the Taliban is extremely low.

Australian Adrian Bayley is jailed for the rape and murder of Irish woman Jill Meagher, with a minimum jail term of 35 years.

After several cases of teachers molesting children caused an outrage throughout China, Chinese media have moved the spotlight to reports of sadistic teachers abusing pupils.

A mosquito-borne disease that preys on the young and malnourished is sweeping across poverty-riven northern India again this monsoon season in what officials worry could be the deadliest outbreak in nearly a decade. Encephalitis has killed at least 118 children so far this year and authorities fear the death toll could reach about 1,000, said Dr. R.N. Singh of the Encephalitis Eradication Movement, an Indian nonprofit organisation.

Air traffic picks up in May, IndiGo stays on top - Economic Times

SEOUL, June 19 (Reuters) - Asia's top companies have become more optimistic about their business outlook with the retail and shipping industries rebounding sharply in the second quarter of 2013, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey shows.

SEOUL (Reuters) - Asia's top companies have become more optimistic about their business outlook with the retail and shipping industries rebounding sharply in the second quarter of 2013, the latest Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Survey shows.

A SUPREME Court judge has been urged to decide quickly if CCTV footage of an ex-policeman punching and kneeing a prisoner in the head can be released.    

THE Australian Greens want Aboriginal rock art in WA's Burrup Peninsula to be protected and are pushing for the area to be given world heritage status.    

THE Northern Territory government says a state funeral will be held for former Yothu Yindi lead singer Yunupingu.    

JOB ads on the internet rose 0.2 per cent in May, according to new figures from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.    

THE opening of Malaysia's new airport for budget carriers has again been delayed, with the operator blaming design changes and poor ground conditions.    

U2 frontman Bono took the US first lady, Michelle Obama, and her two daughters to his favourite local pub in Ireland for lunch.    

AUSTRALIAN shares were stronger at noon as investors look to the US Fed later on Wednesday for its latest stimulus moves.    

THE Australian dollar is weaker as traders sell the currency on expecations of local rate cuts, ahead of an awaited US Fed meeting.    

A SEVENTH man has been charged following a brawl between rival bikie gangs during a Gold Coast festival.