EU lawmakers seek to block U.S. financial spying
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Parliament called on Wednesday for U.S. access to a global financial database in Belgium to be suspended due to concerns that the United States is snooping on the European Union, not just combating terrorism.
Thousands protest before Tunisia crisis talks
TUNIS (Reuters) – Thousands of Tunisians marched through the capital on Wednesday chanting for their government to step down, hours before ruling Islamists and opposition leaders were to start talks aimed at end months of political crisis.
Italy presses Kerry over U.S. surveillance -source
ROME (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry promised on Wednesday that U.S. authorities would look into whether their intelligence services may have illegally intercepted Italian telecoms data, an Italian government source said.
U.S.-Saudi diplomatic tension unlikely to fracture business ties
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s frustration with its main ally the United States over Middle East policy will not harm business relations or oil sales, despite a threat from its spy chief of a “major shift” in ties, businessmen and economists say.
Chinese police injured in clash with villagers
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police officers were injured in clashes with villagers on Wednesday in southwestern Yunnan province, state media said, in the latest incident of unrest over what appeared to be a land dispute.
Syrian army siege east of capital tightens as food, supplies dwindle
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s army has sealed the few remaining smuggling routes into the besieged eastern suburbs of Damascus, activists and aid workers said on Wednesday, tightening a chokehold on rebel-held areas near the capital.
Iran suggests will spare man who cheated the gallows
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s justice minister said a move to execute a convicted Iranian drug offender who has already survived a hanging is ill-advised, suggesting he would not face capital punishment again.
Fearing retribution, Syrian minorities keep low profile in exile
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – In a small park on the edge of old Istanbul’s Eminonu square, women sit begging, Syrian passports in their outstretched hands, “Please help in the name of God” on sheets of paper at their feet.
India issues final show cause notice to AgustaWestland-govt official
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s defence ministry has issued a final “show cause” notice to AgustaWestland seeking to cancel a deal to buy a dozen helicopters and has given the company 21 days to reply, a government official said on Wednesday.
Analysis: Lack of crop rotation slowly turns Argentine Pampas into ‘sand’
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s key resource, its agricultural soils, are being depleted by lack of crop rotation as soy farming encroaches on areas once used for corn, wheat and cattle grazing, according to local experts and a government source.
