Oil workers strike over insecurity in Libya’s Benghazi
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Oil workers, civil servants and private sector staff went on strike in the Libyan port city of Benghazi on Tuesday, protesting against deteriorating security a day after deadly clashes there between the army and Islamist militants.
Egypt referendum seen in December: official
CAIRO (Reuters) – A referendum on Egypt’s amended constitution will be held in December, the spokesman of the constituent assembly said on Tuesday, an important step towards elections.
Britain protests to Spain after Gibraltar diplomatic bag incident
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain on Tuesday accused Madrid of a “serious infringement” of diplomatic protocol after Spanish police opened a British diplomatic bag at the border with Gibraltar, inflaming a dispute over the contested British overseas territory…
Free Syrian Army says no ceasefire for Geneva talks
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) said on Tuesday his group would shun a planned peace conference in Switzerland in January and would pursue its fight to topple President Bashar al-Assad regardless.
Japan airlines to stop giving China flight plans through air defense zone
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s two biggest airlines, ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines, said they had agreed to a Japanese government request to stop filing flight plans demanded by China on routes through a new air defense zone it established on Saturday.
Berlusconi to break with government in budget vote
ROME (Reuters) – Silvio Berlusconi’s party will vote against the government in a confidence vote over the 2014 budget and will announce its withdrawal from the ruling coalition, a source in his Forza Italia party said on Tuesday.
Iran says nuclear deal makes oil exports smoother, cheaper
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s nuclear deal with the West will make it easier, cheaper and less stressful to trade its oil, thanks largely to a partial lifting of the European shipping insurance ban, a senior Iranian industry official said on Tuesday.
India state examines snooping allegation against PM candidate Modi
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A state governed by Indian opposition candidate for prime minister Narendra Modi has launched an investigation into allegations he ordered invasive surveillance of an architect, in a case his opponents say shows a tendency to abus…
Berlusconi to vote against government in confidence vote: source
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi will vote against the government in a confidence vote over the 2014 budget law and will announce its break from the ruling coalition later on Tuesday, a source in his Forza Italia party sai…
Thai protesters step up campaign to oust government
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thousands of protesters surrounded Thailand’s Interior Ministry and forced the evacuation of four others on Tuesday, intensifying their campaign to bring down the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.




