Wednesday, November 30, 2016

South Korea says to pursue more unilateral sanctions against N.Korea

SEOUL, Dec 1 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Thursday it

will pursue further unilateral sanctions against rival North

Korea in the wake of its fifth and largest nuclear test in

September.

Read more

HK stocks rise after OPEC output cut; China bounces on solid PMI

* Energy sector boosted after oil price jumped over 10

percent

Read more

GLOBAL ECONOMY-Asian factories show growth in November, but outlook clouded

HONG KONG, Dec 1 (Reuters) - China's factories notched their

strongest growth in activity in two years and Japanese firms

order books rose in November, masking concern about the

protectionist leanings of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and

an OPEC-induced oil price rally.

Read more

UPDATE 3-China manufacturing heats up in November, inflation pressure builds

* Rise of protectionism could hurt investment, trade next

year

(Adds graphic links for PMI trends in China and Asia)

Read more

Tokyo Century invests in SE Asia ride-hailing firm Grab

SINGAPORE, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Japanese financial services

company Tokyo Century Corp has made a strategic

investment in Southeast Asian ride-hailing firm Grab, the

companies said in a statement on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Slump in Australia business investment risks GDP contraction

* Will test RBA optimism on growth, reluctance to cut rates

(Adds economist reaction, home price data)

Read more

RPT-UPDATE 1-Slump in Australia business investment risks GDP contraction

SYDNEY, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Sharp cutbacks in Australian

business investment has opened the real possibility the economy

shrank last quarter for the first time in almost six years, a

blow to the conservative government of Malcolm Turnbull which

has staked its future on growth.

Read more

Australia business investment skids, risks GDP contraction

SYDNEY, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Australian business investment

fell a surprisingly sharp 4 percent last quarter as miners and

manufacturers cut back on spending, a disappointing report

underlining the real risk that the whole economy may have

contracted.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Japan Q3 corporate capex falls for first time in nearly 4 years

TOKYO, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Japanese business expenditure fell

in the third quarter, the first annual decline since the start

of 2013, in a worrying sign that uncertainty over the economic

outlook is eroding companies' confidence.

Read more

China services sector growth accelerates in November

BEIJING, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Growth in China's services sector

accelerated in November at a faster pace than in the previous

month, an official survey showed on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 4-Soccer plane in Colombia crash was running out of fuel -recording

LA UNION, Colombia/CHAPECO, Brazil, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The plane that crashed in Colombia virtually wiping out an entire Brazilian soccer team was running out of fuel, had no electrical power, and was preparing for an emergency landing, according to the pilot's final words.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Brazil's Movida files for IPO in second such plan this year

SAO PAULO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Movida Participações SA on

Wednesday filed for regulatory permission to sell shares for the

first time in the São Paulo Stock Exchange, the second such plan

by a Brazilian car rental company this year.

Read more

Ukraine prepares missile test near Crimea, angering Russia

KIEV, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine was due to start two days of

missile tests on Thursday - a move that has angered Russia,

prompting it to put its air defence forces on high alert on the

annexed Crimea peninsula.

Read more

Starboard pushes Rockwell Collins to reconsider B/E Aerospace deal - Bloomberg

Nov 30 (Reuters) - Activist investor Starboard Value is

pushing aircraft component maker Rockwell Collins Inc to

reconsider its $6.4 billion purchase of B/E Aerospace Inc

, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the

matter.

Read more

Defence spending boost best answer to Trump - EU, NATO officials

BERLIN, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Top NATO and European military

officials called in Berlin on Wednesday for more military

spending to deal with threats to Europe and said that would help

address concerns raised by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Read more

U.S. tech startup Comma.ai giving away self-driving car software

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Comma.ai, the tech startup

that recently pulled the plug on its device to give cars limited

self-driving capabilities after being reprimanded by U.S.

regulators, has opened up its software secrets to the masses.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Andrade Gutierrez SA agrees to Brazil leniency deal

SAO PAULO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Andrade Gutierrez SA, one of

Brazil's largest engineering and business groups, on Wednesday

signed a leniency deal with a government agency related to a

major corruption scandal.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Argentina industrial output suffers sharpest drop of year in October

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Argentina's industrial

production contracted 8.0 percent in October from the

same month a year earlier, national statistics agency Indec said

on Wednesday, marking the sharpest monthly drop in activity so

far this year.

Read more

CORRECTED-Andrade Gutierrez agrees to Brazil leniency deal, TV says

SAO PAULO, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Andrade Gutierrez SA, one of

Brazil's largest engineering and business groups, has signed a

leniency deal with a government agency related to its

involvement in the nation's worst corruption scandal, news

channel GloboNews said on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Eduardo Simões; Writing by Guillermo

Parra-Bernal; Editing by Chris Reese)

Read more

Europe's power market reform a boon for struggling utilities

PARIS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - European utilities welcomed

long-awaited power market reform proposals on Wednesday, hoping

a framework to subsidise fossil fuel plants and plans to wind

down a key support for renewable energy could turn the page on

years of crisis.

Read more

Argentina industrial output falls 8.0 percent in October

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Argentina's industrial

production contracted 8.0 percent in October from the

same month a year earlier, national statistics agency Indec said

on Wednesday, marking the ninth straight month of shrinking

output.

Read more

Russia says ready to escort aid agencies into eastern Aleppo

MOSCOW, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The Russian Defence Ministry said

on Wednesday it was ready to escort aid agencies into parts of

Syria's eastern Aleppo recently cleared of rebels, but said it

had not received any requests from the United Nations or anyone

else so far.

Read more

U.N. Security Council imposes new sanctions on North Korea

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The United Nations

Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea on

Wednesday that aim to cut the Asian state's annual export

revenue by more than a quarter in response to Pyongyang's fifth

and largest nuclear test in September.

Read more

Russian forces in Crimea put on alert before Ukrainian missile tests - TASS

MOSCOW, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Russian air defence forces in

Crimea have been placed on high alert on the eve of planned

Ukrainian missile tests near the Black Sea peninsula, the TASS

news agency cited a Crimean military source as saying on

Wednesday.

Read more

Hit that iceberg: China group readies Titanic simulation

DAYING COUNTY, China, Nov 30 (Reuters) - You too may soon be

able to feel what it was like to hit an iceberg on the Titanic.

Read more

Turkish Airlines to lease eight Airbus planes to cut costs

ISTANBUL, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Turkish Airlines,

which has seen profits hit by a weak lira and tough market,

plans to lease out eight of its Airbus A330-200 aircraft,

aviation company Air Partner said in a statement, a move that

will help it to reduce costs.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Spurred by Trump and Brexit, EU plans 5 bln euro defence fund

* Fund, if approved, could issue bonds on financial markets

(Updates with details of EU defence fund)

Read more

Serbian police investigate suspected fraud in state power utility - minister

BELGRADE, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The Serbian police launched an

investigation into business dealings of a supply arm of the

Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS)state-run power monopoly on

suspicion of fraud, the country's interior minister said on

Wednesday.

Read more

EU court upholds sanctions on Putin's businessman friend over Crimea

BRUSSELS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - An EU court on Wednesday upheld

sanctions imposed on Arkady Rotenberg, a close ally and former

judo partner of Russian President Vladimir Putin whose company

won a contract to build a bridge linking the Russian mainland

with annexed Crimea.

Read more

Three given suspended jail sentences in Air France shirt-ripping trial

PARIS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Three people were given suspended

prison sentences of three to four months on Wednesday after

being found guilty of violent conduct when Air France executives

had their shirts ripped to shreds last year by employees furious

over planned job cuts.

Read more

China's blue-chip index snaps 7-day winning streak on liquidity worries

SHANGHAI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - China's blue-chip stock index

slid on Wednesday, snapping a 7-session winning streak, as raw

material stocks tanked after commodity prices were hit by fears

of a liquidity squeeze.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Lufthansa say pilot strikes cost 10-15 mln euros a day

* Union to hold demonstration at Frankfurt airport

(Recasts with comment from Lufthansa spokesman)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Taiwan's ChipMOS to scrap share sale plan to China Unigroup - bourse

* ChipMOS deal would be 2nd of 3 Unigroup deals to fail in

Taiwan

(Adds background and context)

Read more

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

RPT-High ferrochrome prices could speed sector consolidation -sources

* Stainless steel ingredient's prices up 70 pct since

September

Read more

RPT-Demergers and destruction: activists press Europe conglomerates

AMSTERDAM, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The days of the European

conglomerate may be numbered, as activist shareholders are

pressing diversified groups to spin off secondary businesses and

focus on doing one thing well.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Carrier to keep about 1,000 U.S. factory jobs in deal with Trump

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - United Technologies Corp

has reached a deal with President-elect Donald Trump and

Vice President-elect Mike Pence to keep close to 1,000 jobs at

its Carrier Corp air conditioner plant in Indianapolis, roughly

halving the number of U.S. jobs it planned to move to Mexico.

Read more

Ford takes Fiesta upmarket to lift profitability

COLOGNE, Germany, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Ford wants to

raise profitability in Europe by adding higher-margin versions

of the Fiesta subcompact, its best-selling regional model, the

carmaker's top European executive said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Beijing untypically quiet on Taiwan drills in South China Sea

ITU ABA, South China Sea, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan held

rescue drills on Tuesday off the coast of its sole outpost in

the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea, but the biggest

claimant in the disputed waters kept uncharacteristically quiet.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Samsung Galaxy Note 7 crisis cited as S.Korea Oct factory output sags

* Output hurt in part by scrubbing of Galaxy Note 7

(Adds analyst quote, more details)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Evergrande rapidly builds up Vanke stake, just shy of No. 2 shareholder

* Evergrande has not commented on intentions towards Vanke

(Recasts with Evergrande statement, share price)

Read more

Compromise reached on massive U.S. defense bill

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - A compromise version of a

massive U.S. defense policy bill omits controversial provisions

such as a clause Democrats said allowed discrimination against

homosexuals and a requirement that women register for the draft.

Read more

Samsung Elec trades at record high as firm considers split

SEOUL, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Shares of tech giant Samsung

Electronics Co Ltd traded at a record high of 1.729

million won ($1,482.94) in early Wednesday trade as the firm

weighs potentially its biggest structural change to date.

Read more

After Trump and Brexit, EU to launch defence research plan

BRUSSELS, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The European Union will unveil

its biggest defence research plan in more than a decade on

Wednesday to reverse billions of euros in cuts and send a

message to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that Europe wants

to pay for its own security.

Read more

INSIGHT-Hardline Islamists push agenda as blasphemy case ignites Indonesia

JAKARTA, Nov 30 (Reuters) - When Jakarta governor Basuki

Tjahaja Purnama had some of the capital's sprawling slums

levelled this spring, Muslim groups including the hardline

"Islamic Defenders Front" (FPI) moved in quickly to help some of

the city's poorest residents.

Read more

Avianca flight in Brazil makes emergency landing; passengers, crew fine

SAO PAULO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - An Avianca Holdings SA flight

connecting the Brazilian cities of São Paulo and Juazeiro do

Norte had to make a precautionary, emergency landing in Brasilia

on Tuesday, after the aircraft presented ventilation system

problems.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Cloud computing firm Nutanix posts smaller-than-expected loss

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Cloud data-storage firm Nutanix Inc

reported a smaller-than-expected loss in the company's

first quarterly results since its initial public offering in

September.

Read more

Sherritt cuts production forecast for Moa nickel JV after bridge collapse

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Sherritt International Corp cut

its full-year production forecast for its joint nickel venture

in Cuba following the collapse of a municipal bridge there last

week that killed four workers.

Read more

Schools shut, shops shuttered as Brazil town mourns its team

CHAPECO, Brazil, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Businesses closed and schools canceled classes in Chapeco as the small town in southern Brazil plunged into mourning on Tuesday over the loss of its soccer team, Chapecoense, in a plane crash in Colombia.

Read more

Britain's Prince Harry visits Barbados for 50th independence anniversary

BRIDGETOWN PORT, Barbados, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Britain's

Prince Harry arrived in Barbados on Tuesday to commemorate the

50th independence anniversary of the island, as part of his tour

through the Caribbean region.

Read more

Spanish court to grill billionaire Villar Mir over contract rigging allegations

MADRID, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Spanish billionaire and former

finance minister Juan Miguel Villar Mir will face questioning by

a judge over alleged irregularities in the award of a hospital

construction contract to his real estate conglomerate, a court

said on Tuesday.

Read more

Eversheds in merger talks with U.S. law firm Sutherland Asbill

LONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - UK-based law firm Eversheds is in

merger talks with U.S. peer Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in the

latest attempt by the British firm to secure a U.S. tie-up.

Read more

High ferrochrome prices could speed sector consolidation -sources

* Stainless steel ingredient's prices up 70 pct since

September

Read more

Cyber Monday sales biggest online shopping day in U.S. history

Nov 29 (Reuters) - Shoppers spent $3.45 billion on Cyber

Monday on Samsung 4K TVs, PlayStation 4s and Barbie dolls among

other products, marking the largest online sales day in U.S.

history.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Scores arrested in first 'Fight for $15' protest since Trump win

LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Scores of

demonstrators were arrested on Tuesday as U.S. workers from

fast-food chains staged nationwide protests for higher pay,

union rights and immigration reform in their first major action

since Donald Trump was elected president.

Read more

BUZZ-MTS Systems Corp: Biggest intraday pct loss in more than 5 months

** Position sensor maker's shares fall as much as

10.8 pct to $48.60, biggest intraday percentage loss in more

than 5 months

Read more

RPT-Demergers and destruction: activists press Europe conglomerates

AMSTERDAM, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The days of the European

conglomerate may be numbered, as activist shareholders are

pressing diversified groups to spin off secondary businesses and

focus on doing one thing well.

Read more

WRAPUP 1-Consumers, exports power U.S. third-quarter economic growth

* Consumer spending growth revised sharply higher to 2.8

percent

Read more

Uber defends business model, wants to avert avoid strict EU rules

LUXEMBOURG, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Uber defended its

business model in Europe's highest court on Tuesday, saying its

service had made it easier for people to get around and cut

pollution as it fights a case which could leave app-based

startups facing tougher regulation.

Read more

U.S. third-quarter growth revised up to 3.2 percent

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. economy grew faster

than initially thought in the third quarter, notching its best

performance in two years, buoyed by strong consumer spending and

a surge in soybean exports.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Airbus Group to cut net total of 934 jobs

* Cuts form part of previously announced restructuring

(Updates with statement from Airbus Group)

Read more

Swiss to tackle new EU treaty in 2017 amid right-wing resistance

ZURICH, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The Swiss government plans to

send parliament next year a broad new treaty with the European

Union to replace a patchwork of bilateral deals now under strain

from immigration, it said on Tuesday, but it faces stiff

right-wing resistance.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Afghan Taliban offer security for copper, gas projects

* Taliban directs fighters to aid in security of projects

(Adds presidential spokesman's comment)

Read more

Brazil's Ford to pay $64 mln to settle Rio Grande do Sul claim

SAO PAULO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The local unit of Ford Motor

Co will pay almost 217 million reais ($63.8 million) to

Brazil's state of Rio Grande do Sul after the parties reached a

settlement regarding a law suit, newspaper Folha de S. Paulo

reported on Tuesday.

Read more

Colombian authorities confirm three Chapecoense players survived plane crash

BOGOTA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Three players from Brazil's Chapecoense soccer team have survived a plane crash in Colombia that killed 76 people, Colombian authorities said on Tuesday.

Read more

Qatar Navigation's purchase of Al Shaheen stake delayed

DOHA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Qatar Navigation's

purchase of Qatar Petroleum's stake in oilfield

services firm Al Shaheen Holding has been delayed, the chairman

of the shipping firm known as Milaha told Reuters on Tuesday.

Read more

Five things to know about Samsung Electronics' holding company review

SEOUL, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co

Ltd said on Tuesday it is considering whether to

create a holding company as part of a corporate restructuring

review.

Read more

China's blue-chip stocks index at 11-month high, big-caps outperform

SHANGHAI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China's blue-chip CSI300 index

on Tuesday rose seventh straight day to strike an

11-month high, with big-cap industry leaders easily

outperforming growth stocks.

Read more

South American football association halts all games after Colombia crash

BOGOTA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The South American football federation suspended all games and other activities early on Tuesday after a plane crashed in Colombia carrying members of Brazil's Chapecoense team.

Read more

Monday, November 28, 2016

UPDATE 2-Plane crashes in Colombia with 81 on board, including Brazilian footballers

* Poor weather leaves crash site accessible only by road

(Adds quote, details of crash, rescue effort)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Trump looks to Obamacare critic, Indiana expert to overhaul health care

NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

will announce on Tuesday he has chosen a vociferous Obamacare

critic and an Indiana policy expert to help him overhaul the

U.S. healthcare system, a transition official told Reuters.

Read more

REFILE-CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-Samsung Elec mulls holding company move, boosts payout

* Samsung says conducting review for optimal corporate

structure

Read more

Plane with 81 aboard crashes in Colombia -civil aviation body

BOGOTA, Nov 29 (Reuters) - An aircraft with 81 people

aboard, including a Brazilian football team, crashed in central

Colombia, the country's civil aviation association said on its

website on Tuesday.

Read more

Singapore says seizure of vehicles by Hong Kong "not a strategic incident"

SINGAPORE, Nov 29 (Reuters) - The seizure of nine

Singaporean armoured vehicles by Hong Kong customs was "not a

strategic incident" in the Sino-Singaporean relationship, the

city-state's foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan was quoted as

saying on Tuesday.

Read more

China blue-chip index set to rise for 7th session; HK flats

SHANGHAI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China's blue-chip CSI300 index

is on track to rise for a seventh straight day, as

investors, led by insurers, bet on modestly-valued,

high-dividend sector leaders, reflecting growing confidence in

the economy.

Read more

INSIGHT-For Apple and others, tin supply chain has ties to rebel-held Myanmar mine

* United Wa State Army blacklisted by U.S. over drug

trafficking

Read more

CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-Samsung Elec mulls holding company move, boosts payout

* Samsung says conducting review for optimal corporate

structure

Read more

UPDATE 5-Trump: 'Very impressed' with Petraeus as he weighs top diplomat job

NEW YORK, Nov 28 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

stepped up his search on Monday for a new U.S. secretary of

state, with the focus on David Petraeus, a former U.S. military

commander in Iraq whose mishandling of classified information

led to his resignation as CIA chief in 2012.

Read more

UPDATE 5-'Viva Fidel!': Tens of thousands pay last respects to Cubas Castro

HAVANA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Cubans, some

wrapped in red, white and blue national flags, paid final

respects in Havana on Monday to Fidel Castro, who led a leftist

revolution, ruled for half a century and resisted the United

States throughout the Cold War.

Read more

Trump considering Rep. Barletta for transportation secretary -Politico

Nov 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is

considering Representative Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania for

transportation secretary, Politico reported on Monday, a citing

a source close to the transition team.

Read more

Samsung Elec says not considering merger of a holding firm and Samsung C&T

SEOUL, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

said on Tuesday it has no plans at present to

consider a merger between a holding company and Samsung C&T Corp

in its ongoing structural review.

Read more

Samsung Elec says reviewing shift to holding company structure

SEOUL, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

said on Tuesday it is reviewing options for its

optimal corporate structure including the possibility of

establishing a holding company amid growing calls for improved

transparency and governance.

Read more

U.S. companies hope Trump will stick to business roots, back Cuba ties

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - U.S. companies are looking

for ways to persuade President-elect Donald Trump to soften his

threats to cancel the Obama administration's opening to Cuba, a

reversal they fear could cost them hundreds of millions of

dollars.

Read more

Under US plan, Afghans may get Black Hawks to replace Russian aircraft

* Black Hawk helicopters to replace Mi-17s under Pentagon

plan

Read more

American Airlines, Qantas end bid to grow partnership

Nov 28 (Reuters) - American Airlines Group Inc and

Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd have dropped their bid

to coordinate prices and flight schedules, according to a filing

submitted to the U.S. Transportation Department on Monday.

Read more

U.S. letter reveals details of GM self-driving vehicle system

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - General Motors Co's

semi-autonomous "Super Cruise" system will allow drivers to take

their hands off the steering wheel for extended periods, but

will stop the vehicle automatically if drivers are not

attentive, according to a government letter made public on

Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Brazil's Unidas files for IPO weeks after Enterprise deal

SAO PAULO, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Brazilian car rental firm

Unidas SA on Monday announced an initial public

offering in São Paulo in a securities filing, one of the few

IPOs in the last two years in Latin America's largest economy.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Record number of boat migrants reach Italy this year

ROME, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A record number of migrants have

reached Italy by boat from North Africa in 2016, according to

official data, as pressure on Italy's shelter and asylum systems

grows.

Read more

Canada to allow Saskatchewan to keep burning coal for power

Nov 28 (Reuters) - Ottawa has struck a deal with

Saskatchewan, a fierce critic of its environmental strategy,

allowing it to continue running coal-fired electricity plants

past 2030 if it makes equivalent cuts elsewhere to greenhouse

gas emissions, the governments said on Monday.

Read more

Delta bans disruptive Trump supporter from future flights

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines said

on Monday it was banning a disruptive supporter of Donald Trump

from all future flights after a video showed the passenger going

on an-expletive filled rant in support of the President-elect.

Read more

UPDATE 1-German court rejects Lufthansa bid to prevent pilots' strike

* Pilots set to strike on Tuesday and Wednesday

(Adds court statement, detail, background)

Read more

Record number of boat migrants reach Italy this year

ROME, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The number of migrants who have

reached Italy by boat from North Africa this year has already

topped a previous record set two years ago, official data show,

as pressure on Italy's shelter and asylum systems grows.

Read more

German court rejects Lufthansa's request to avert pilots' strike

FRANKFURT, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A Munich labour court on

Monday rejected a request by Lufthansa to issue a

temporary injunction averting a strike by the German flagship

carrier's pilots on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to union

Vereinigung Cockpit.

Read more

UPDATE 1-WTO rules against tax break for Boeing 777X jet

GENEVA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization

(WTO) ruled on Monday a tax break from Washington state to help

Boeing develop its new 777X jetliner was a prohibited

subsidy, in a setback for the U.S. planemaker as it eyes victory

in a parallel case against Airbus.

Read more

Airbus calls for global pact on aircraft aid after WTO ruling

GENEVA/BRUSSELS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Airbus called

on Monday for a global agreement to set rules for the aerospace

industry after the World Trade Organization partially ruled in

Europe's favour in the latest round of a marathon subsidy

dispute with Boeing.

Read more

Tata Steel UK to enter talks with Liberty House on sale of speciality operations

MUMBAI, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Tata Steel UK, the British arm of

India's Tata Steel, will hold exclusive talks with

trading firm Liberty House to sell its speciality steel business

as its parent seeks to offload loss-making assets and

restructure European operations.

Read more

Kuwait plans to buy 28 Boeing F-18 jets, official says

KUWAIT, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Kuwait plans to buy 28 Boeing

F-18 Super Hornets, a military official said on Monday,

reaffirming plans to buy the warplanes 10 days after the U.S.

State Department notified Congress of the possible sale of 40 of

the jets to the Gulf state.

(Reporting by Ahmed Hagagy; Writing by William Maclean; Editing

by Catherine Evans)

Read more

UPDATE 1-China approves $36-bln railway plan for Jing-Jin-Ji megacity

* Plan will span nine projects, with total length of 1,100

km

Read more

EU to keep patrolling for Somali pirates until end of 2018

BRUSSELS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The European Union's naval

mission will keep patrolling for pirates off the coast of

Somalia for another two years, to guard against any resurgence

of attacks, the bloc said on Monday.

Read more

Unions, gig-economy firms gear up for New York benefits battle

Nov 28 (Reuters) - Faced with a barrage of lawsuits from

workers demanding benefits and recognition as employees, some

companies in the fast-growing 'gig economy' are looking to

settle the issues through legislation.

Read more

Israel's El Al and pilots agree to end costly year-long dispute

JERUSALEM, Nov 28 (Reuters) - El Al Israel Airlines

and its have pilots agreed terms of a new deal aimed

at ending a year of protests that forced flight cancellations,

delays and higher expenses, the country's flag carrier said on

Monday.

Read more

China lodges protest with Singapore over troop carriers

BEIJING, Nov 28 (Reuters) - China's Foreign Ministry said on

Monday it had lodged a protest with Singapore after Singaporean

armoured troop carriers were seized by Hong Kong customs en

route from self-ruled Taiwan.

Read more

Sunday, November 27, 2016

China blue-chip index set to rise for 6th session; Hong Kong up

* China blue-chips benefit from rotation out of property,

bonds

Read more

Reuters Business News Schedule at 0430 GMT/00.30AM ET

China's Oct industrial profits get boost from raw material

sectors

Read more

Samsung Elec to consider split - Seoul Economic Daily

SEOUL, Nov 28 (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung Electronics

Co Ltd will consider splitting itself into two as

proposed by activist hedge fund Elliott Management, Seoul

Economic Daily reported on Monday citing an unnamed source.

Read more

China approves 247 bln yuan railway plan for Jing-Jin-Ji megacity

SHANGHAI, Nov 28 (Reuters) - China has approved a 247

billion yuan railway plan to improve transport links between the

capital Beijing, the port city of Tianjin, and the neighbouring

province of Hebei, part of plans to integrate the three areas

into a mega-city.

Read more

U.S. authorities say no plans to forcibly remove North Dakota protesters

Nov 27 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities said on Sunday they had

no plans to forcibly remove activists protesting plans to run an

oil pipeline beneath a lake near the Standing Rock Sioux

reservation in North Dakota, despite telling them to leave by

early December.

Read more

Umicore completes sale of zinc units to U.S. private equity firm

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Belgian specialty materials group

Umicore has completed the sale of its zinc units to

U.S. based private equity firm OpenGate Capital for $150

million.

Read more

WTO set to sanction Boeing over tax breaks -reports

NEW YORK, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization is

set to rule this week that Boeing Co received illegal tax

breaks from Washington state, according to reports in The

Telegraph and The Wall Street Journal.

Read more

Pilots union announces fresh strikes at Lufthansa after talks fail

FRANKFURT, Nov 27 (Reuters) - German pilots union

Vereinigung Cockpit announced plans for further strikes at

Lufthansa on Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 on Sunday after talks

failed to settle their long-running pay dispute, which caused a

four-day strike last week.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Hundreds uprooted in east Aleppo as Syrian army advances

* Civilians flee into areas held by govt or Kurdish militia

(Adds army saying new districts captured)

Read more

Israel increases order for F-35 fighter jets to 50

JERUSALEM, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Israel's security cabinet on

Sunday approved the purchase of an additional 17 Lockheed Martin

F-35 stealth fighter jets, bringing its total number on

order to 50.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Uganda says 55 police, tribal insurgents killed in clashes

KAMPALA, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The Ugandan authorities said on

Sunday 41 tribal insurgents and 14 police officers were killed

in clashes in the west of the country, and the tribal king of

the area near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo

was detained.

Read more

Nairobi airport closed temporarily after plane makes emergency landing

NAIROBI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - A plane from Somalia landed on

its belly and veered off the runway at Nairobi's international

airport on Sunday, causing no casualties but prompting the

authorities to temporarily close the runway.

Read more

Hundreds displaced in east Aleppo as Syrian army advances

BEIRUT, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Hundreds of residents of

rebel-held eastern Aleppo fled shifting frontlines, sources said

on Sunday, after an advance by the Syrian army and allied forces

that rebels fear could split their most important urban

stronghold in two.

Read more

Enthusiasts lose one vintage plane but press on south through Africa

NAIROBI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Aviators flying vintage planes

the length of Africa were showing them off in the skies over a

Kenyan game park on Sunday, a day after one of the aircraft was

wrecked in a forced landing.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Pilots union open to talks with Lufthansa in pay dispute

* Union will announce strikes at least 24 hours in advance

(Recasts with pilots union comment)

Read more

RPT-Egyptian importers nursing losses after currency float want a bailout

CAIRO/ABU DHABI Nov 24 (Reuters) - Huddled in the Radisson

Blu hotel on the outskirts of Cairo last week, some of Egypt's

top wheat traders talked damage control: they had lost more than

$1 billion since the country floated its currency and now they

wanted to be bailed out.

Read more

UPDATE 1-China's Oct industrial profits get boost from raw material sectors

* Profits in Jan-Oct rose 8.6 pct, versus 8.4 pct in

Jan-Sept

Read more

Saturday, November 26, 2016

China's Oct industrial profits rise 9.8 pct y/y

BEIJING, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Profits earned by China's

industrial firms in October rose 9.8 percent from a year

earlier, the statistics bureau said on Sunday.

Read more

Lufthansa urges pilots union to return to pay talks

FRANKFURT, Nov 27 (Reuters) - German pilots union VC should

resume talks with Lufthansa to find a compromise over

a long-running pay dispute rather than repeatedly going on

strike, a board member at the airline told a German weekly.

Read more

Sanders to Trump: use defense contracts as leverage for Carrier jobs

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator

Bernie Sanders turned up the pressure on President-elect Donald

Trump on Saturday about his pledge to try to stop an Indiana air

conditioner manufacturer from moving 1,400 jobs to Mexico.

Read more

Trump calls Green Party vote recount request a 'scam'

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov 26 (Reuters) - U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday called a request for a

recount of votes in Wisconsin a "scam" by the Green Party and

said even his Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton had said the

election results should be accepted.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Iran backtracks on Russian fighter purchase reports - news agencies

DUBAI, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Iran's Defence Ministry said it

plans to modernise the air force fleet but denied reports

earlier on Saturday that it wanted to buy Russian Sukhoi Su-30

fighter planes, news agencies reported.

Read more

China says air force again carries out drills in Pacific

BEIJING, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Chinese air force jets have

again carried out drills in the Western Pacific, flying through

the Bashi Channel that separates Taiwan and the Philippines and

the Miyako Strait near Japan's Okinawa island, the air force

said on Saturday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Lufthansa says some Sunday flights will be cancelled

* Pilots union says there can always be new strikes

(Adds comments from Lufthansa, union)

Read more

Siemens is well placed to adapt business in U.S. - CEO

FRANKFURT, Nov 26 (Reuters) - German trains-to-turbines

group Siemens is well placed to do business in the

United States, regardless of whether President-elect Donald

Trump backs fossil-fuels at the expense of renewable energy, its

CEO told a newspaper.

Read more

Ukraine's missile test plans near Crimea heat up row with Russia

MOSCOW/KIEV, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Moscow protested against

Ukraine's plans to carry out missile tests near Crimea, which

Russia annexed in 2014 following the toppling of a pro-Russian

Ukrainian president, raising the temperature in the dispute

between the two countries.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.N. close to sanctions deal to slash N. Korea export earnings -diplomats

Nov 25 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council's five veto

powers are close to approving new sanctions on North Korea to

cut the isolated state's earnings from exports by more than a

quarter, principally by targeting its coal exports to China,

diplomats said on Friday.

Read more

Friday, November 25, 2016

UPDATE 1-Buenos Aires says permit for Trump-linked project not authorized

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The city of Buenos Aires

has declined to authorize a permit to build an office tower

linked to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and developers will

have to file new paperwork for it to be reconsidered, the city

government said in a statement on Friday.

Read more

U.N. close to sanctions deal to slash N. Korea export earnings -diplomats

Nov 25 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council's five veto

powers are close to approving new sanctions on North Korea to

cut the isolated state's earnings from exports by more than a

quarter, principally by targeting its coal exports to China,

diplomats said on Friday.

Read more

Buenos Aires city says tower project linked to Trump lacks permit

BUENOS AIRES, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The city of Buenos Aires

denied a permit to build an office tower linked to U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump, and developers will have to file a

new round of paperwork for it to be reconsidered, the city

government said in a statement on Friday.

Read more

Lufthansa pilots' union rejects latest pay offer but calls off strikes

FRANKFURT, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Lufthansa's pilots'

union said on Friday it rejected the airline's latest pay offer,

only hours after it was made, but added it has no plans now for

further strikes beyond Saturday.

Read more

Destination Moon? Belgium joins the space race

BRUSSELS, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Belgian comic-strip hero Tintin

helped popularise the 1950s Space Race with his iconic cartoon

rocket; seven decades on from the boy reporter's "Destination

Moon", his country is finally getting its own version of NASA.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Peru says will find replacement for Odebrecht on pipeline in Jan

LIMA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Peru's President Pedro Pablo

Kuczynski said on Friday that he expects to find a company in

early January to replace Brazilian engineering conglomerate

Odebrecht SA as the builder and operator of a

proposed $5 billion natural gas pipeline.

Read more

Uber in landmark court battle on Tuesday to escape strict rules

BRUSSELS, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Uber will seek to

convince Europe's top court next week that it is a digital

service, not a transport company, in a case that could determine

whether app-based startups should be exempt from strict laws

meant for regular companies.

Read more

Motor racing-New McLaren boss Brown says Dennis recruited him

ABU DHABI, Nov 25 (Reuters) - New McLaren executive director Zak Brown has credited the Formula One team's ousted veteran boss Ron Dennis for his appointment.

Read more

HSH Nordbank holds meetings with potential buyers -sources

FRANKFURT/LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Shipping finance

provider HSH Nordbank began meeting potential buyers in

London this week ahead of the German lender's planned

privatisation next year, people close to the matter said.

Read more

REFILE-UPDATE 2-Lufthansa makes new offer to end costly pilots' strike

BERLIN, Nov 25 (Reuters) - German airline Lufthansa

said it had made a new offer to try to break the

deadlock in a long-running pay dispute with its pilots who have

been on strike since Wednesday.

Read more

Fiat Chrysler picks Poland to make two new car engines

MILAN/KRAKOW, Poland, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler

Automobiles (FCA) will produce two new gasoline

engines at its plant in Bielsko-Biala, southern Poland in an

investment it said was confirmation of its commitment to

developing its operations in the country.

Read more

Russia's Putin, Turkey's Erdogan discuss Syria crisis in phone call

MOSCOW, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin

and Turkey's Tayyip Erdogan discussed ways to resolve the Syria

crisis in a phone call, the Kremlin said on Friday.

Read more

Brazil minister at center of new government scandal resigns

BRASILIA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Geddel Vieira Lima, the Cabinet

minister at the center of the latest corruption scandal in

Brazilian President Michel Temer's government, resigned on

Friday.

Read more

French "Spiderman" climbs Barcelona skyscraper harness-free

BARCELONA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - French "Spiderman" Alain

Robert scaled one of the tallest skyscrapers in Barcelona

without a harness on Friday.

Read more

Iceland's Left Greens give up on coalition talks, extending impasse

REYKJAVIK, Nov 25 - Iceland's Left Green party leader said

on Friday she had given up on forming a government and handed

back the president's mandate to create one.

Read more

Singapore files charges in penny stocks market manipulation case

SINGAPORE, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Singapore authorities charged

three people on Friday for their alleged role in the

city-state's largest market manipulation case - a penny stocks

crash in 2013 - that wiped out billions of dollars in the share

prices of three local companies in a few days.

Read more

UPDATE 4-Passenger trains collide in Iran, at least 31 killed

ANKARA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - At least 31 people were killed on

Friday when two passenger trains collided in Iran's

north-central province of Semnan and the death toll is likely to

rise, the provincial governor said.

Read more

Singapore readies up to $1.1 bln in loans for oil & gas-linked firms

SINGAPORE, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Singapore plans to offer

financial assistance to its liquidity-hit marine and offshore

engineering companies that could help them raise as much as

S$1.6 billion ($1.1 billion) in loans.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Malaysia's Sime Darby says could list its plantations division

* Q1 profit rises 37 pct on motors unit strength

(Adds CEO comments on IPOs)

Read more

SK Innovation to delay China battery factory on regulatory uncertainty

SEOUL/BEIJING, Nov 25 (Reuters) - South Korea's SK

Innovation Co Ltd will delay building an electric

vehicle battery factory in China because of regulatory

uncertainty in the world's top auto market, two company

officials told Reuters on Friday.

Read more

Blue-chips lead China stocks to best week in six months

SHANGHAI, Nov 25 (Reuters) - China's leading share index

capped its best week in nearly 6 months on Friday as investors

continued to scoop up blue-chips on signs that the economy is on

steadier footing.

Read more

Two passenger trains collide in Iran, several killed - TV

ANKARA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Two passenger trains collided in

Iran's north-central province of Semnan on early Friday, killing

several people and injuring unspecified number of others, Iran's

state TV reported.

Read more

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Malaysia decides not to abandon soccer tournament over Myanmar Rohingya crackdown

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Malaysia decided on Friday to carry on with a regional soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar, days after a Malaysian minister said it was considering pulling out in protest against Myanmar's bloody crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims.

Read more

Airlines forced to ration fuel at Melbourne Airport - sources

SYDNEY, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Airlines flying to and from

Australia's Melbourne Airport on Friday were told they could

only receive half of their normal jet fuel after a series of

supply disruptions, three aviation industry sources said.

Read more

China blue-chip index extends gains as punters up leverage; HK shares rise

* China's outstanding margin financing rise to near one-year

high

Read more

New Zealand looks offshore for workers to rebuild after quake

WELLINGTON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - New Zealand is looking

offshore for hundreds of workers to rebuild roads, railways and

buildings after this month's earthquake amid a shortage of local

workers in an overstretched construction industry.

Read more

Hyundai Merchant Marine preferred bidder for Hanjin Shipping's Spain terminal

SEOUL, Nov 25 (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Merchant

Marine Co Ltd (HMM) said on Friday it was chosen as

preferred bidder to buy a port terminal in Algeciras, Spain,

partly owned by Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Trump keeps politics on his Thanksgiving menu

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla./WASHINGTON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump spent the Thanksgiving holiday at

his Mar-a-Lago resort on Thursday, dining with his family at the

Florida golf club after revisiting a campaign pledge he made

about restoring American manufacturing.

Read more

S.Korea fin min sees business conditions worsening as rates rising

SEOUL, Nov 25 (Reuters) - South Korea's finance minister

said on Friday he expects business conditions to worsen due to

local interest rates tracking rising U.S. yields, and volatility

gripping financial market.

Read more

Total-led consortium finalises deal to develop Ivory Coast LNG sector

ABIDJAN, Nov 24 (Reuters) - French oil major Total

, the Ivorian state oil company and four other partners formally

established a consortium on Thursday to build a liquid natural

gas (LNG) import terminal meant to feed the country's growing

electricity consumption.

Read more

UPDATE 1-India's Adani to spend $300 mln on two solar plants in Australia

* Adani still pursuing long-delayed Australian coal plan

(Recasts with second solar plant in Whyalla)

Read more

UPDATE 2-Hurricane Otto hits Nicaragua coast as quake shakes region

BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Hurricane Otto hit

the southeastern coast of Nicaragua on Thursday, arriving just

before a powerful earthquake off El Salvador's Pacific coast

shook the region and sparked warnings of a possible tsunami.

Read more

UPDATE 2-French optician Alain Afflelou postpones float blaming market conditions

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - French optician chain Alain

Afflelou has postponed a 200 million euro ($211

million) initial public offering (IPO) in Paris, the company

said, with sources blaming choppy equity markets.

Read more

Chinese official defends Chinese takeovers of German firms - newspaper

BERLIN, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong

on Thursday defended efforts by Chinese companies to take stakes

in German companies, saying such deals benefitted both sides.

Read more

WORLD NEWS SCHEDULE AT 1900 GMT/2 PM ET

Suicide truck bomb kills about 100 in Iraq, mostly Iranian

pilgrims

Read more

Britain's Hammond chooses his battle - fixing weak productivity

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - In 2011, early in his time as

finance minister, George Osborne said he would revive British

manufacturing as he promised "a march of the makers" to

rebalance the economy.

Read more

Trump spends Thanksgiving 'working hard' on Carrier plant

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla./WASHINGTON, Nov 24 (Reuters) -

R epublican President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday he was

spending part of his Thanksgiving holiday trying to convince an

Indiana air conditioner maker to stay in the United States -

reflecting his election campaign pledge to stop the flow of jobs

abroad.

Read more

Hurricane Otto makes landfall along south Nicaragua coast -NHC

Nov 24 (Reuters) - Otto, the seventh Atlantic hurricane of

the season, made landfall on the coast of southern Nicaragua to

the north of the town of San Juan de Nicaragua, the U.S.

National Hurricane Center said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Aviators in vintage planes allowed to fly on from Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Aviators who were detained

in Ethiopia while retracing a historic flight route along the

length of Africa in 24 vintage planes and support aircraft are

now free to continue their journey, the group organiser said on

Thursday.

Read more

EU requires pension funds to assess climate change risks

* Ministers have discussed carbon stress tests for

financials

Read more

German econ ministry questions purchase of U.S. military planes

BERLIN, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Germany's economic ministry has

questioned a plan by the country's defence ministry to buy U.S.

transport planes, proposing instead the purchase of a Brazilian

aircraft that could trigger orders for German firms.

Read more

Yemen's war-damaged Hodeidah port struggles to bring in vital supplies

HODEIDAH, Yemen, Nov 24 (Reuters) - With its dockside

machinery destroyed in an air strike at the beginning of Yemen's

20-month-old war, the major Red Sea port of Hodeidah is

struggling to unload food and fuel needed ever more urgently by

a population riven with hunger and disease.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Egypt succumbs to profit taking, Saudi whipsaws but ends week up

DUBAI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Egypt's stock index slipped from a

multi-year peak on Thursday while shares in the Gulf were mixed

with Saudi Arabia's market swinging in volatile, heavy trade but

ending the week on a firm footing.

Read more

Ethiopia says it will free vintage plane aviators soon

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Aviators detained in

Ethiopia while retracing a historic flight route along the

length of Africa in 24 vintage planes should be freed in a few

days along with pilots of support aircraft, an Ethiopian

aviation official said on Thursday.

Read more

Export credit enlisted to keep Gulf mega projects funded: sources

DUBAI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Gulf governments are increasingly

turning to export credit agencies (ECAs) to finance billions of

dollars of infrastructure projects as low oil prices squeeze

liquidity in the region.

Read more

Brazil's president sees easy approval of spending cap

BRASILIA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - President Michel Temer said on

Thursday he has strong political backing for a federal spending

ceiling and other measures to control Brazil's budget deficit

that will help the country soon overcome recession.

Read more

Finnish government lifts biofuel targets

HELSINKI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Finland's centre-right

government said on Thursday it planned to lift the share of

biofuels blended in transport fuel to 30 percent by 2030 to help

meet the country's emissions reduction targets.

Read more

Malaysia's AirAsia swings to Q3 profit on aircraft leasing income

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd

swung to a profit in the third quarter from a net loss

a year earlier, mainly driven by an increase in aircraft

operating lease income that boosted revenue during the quarter.

Read more

New York using sand-filled trucks to protect Thanksgiving parade

NEW YORK, Nov 24 (Reuters) - New York police will use

sand-filled trucks, radiation detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs and

heavily armed officers on Thursday to defend the 90th Macy's

Thanksgiving Day Parade, which Islamic State has encouraged its

followers to attack.

Read more

Airbus A350-1000 stages maiden flight

TOULOUSE, France, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Europe's largest

twin-engined passenger jet, the Airbus A350-1000, took to the

skies for the first time on Thursday, seeking to grab the

spotlight from Boeing's popular 777.

Read more

Germany shelves proposal to privatise motorways - newspaper

BERLIN, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The German Finance Ministry's

controversial idea to sell a stake of just under 50 percent in

the country's motorways to enable more efficient infrastructure

development has been shelved, a newspaper reported on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Thyssenkrupp cautious on profit; says cost cuts key

ESSEN, Germany, Nov 24 (Reuters) - German steel-to-elevators

group Thyssenkrupp forecast a smaller-than-expected

rise in operating profit for its current fiscal year and said on

Thursday cost cuts would again be key to meeting its targets

amid volatile raw material prices.

Read more

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

China stocks up, blue-chips eye 4th day of gains on metals strength; HK down

SHANGHAI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - China's stocks were higher on

Thursday, with the blue-chip CSI300 index on track to rise for

the fourth day as raw material shares powered ahead on the back

of soaring metal prices.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Singapore Q3 GDP contraction, weak exports reinforce recession risk

* Singapore sees 2016 GDP growth 1-1.5 pct vs 1-2 pct prev

f'cast

Read more

UPDATE 1-At least 40 killed in China construction accident - Xinhua

BEIJING, Nov 24 (Reuters) - At least 40 people have died and

others are still trapped after a platform under construction at

a power plant's cooling tower in eastern China's Jiangxi

province collapsed on Thursday, state news agency Xinhua said.

Read more

Australian looks to uncork supply chains to cash in on Asian dining boom

SYDNEY, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister

Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday his government will develop a

plan to uncork freight and supply chain blockages that threaten

to prevent local exporters from capitalising on Asia's dining

boom.

Read more

UPDATE 2-No drugs, alcohol in driver in Tennessee school bus crash; death toll hits six

Nov 23 (Reuters) - No drugs or alcohol were found in the

system of the man accused of vehicular homicide in the crash of

a Tennessee elementary school bus that killed six children and

critically injured several more, police said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-S.Korean investigators raid Lotte and SK offices-Yonhap

SEOUL, Nov 24 (Reuters) - South Korean investigators on

Thursday raided the offices of Lotte Group, SK Group and

government agencies as part of a widening probe into alleged

influence-peddling that has engulfed President Park Geun-hye,

Yonhap news agency reported.

Read more

S. Korea to propose three plans to revamp residential electricity prices

SEOUL, Nov 24 (Reuters) - South Korea will propose three

plans to parliament on Thursday to revamp its electricity

tariffs to alleviate the burden on households during peak power

usage periods, its energy ministry said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-China will defend WTO rights if Trump moves on tariffs-official

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - China will defend its rights

under World Trade Organization tariff rules if U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump moves toward executing his campaign

threats to levy punitive duties on goods made in China, a senior

trade official said on Wednesday.

Read more

U.S. judge orders striking ABX Air pilots back to work

CHICAGO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday

ordered striking pilots at cargo airline ABX Air, whose major

customers include DHL and online retail giant Amazon,

back to work immediately.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. judge orders striking ABX Air pilots back to work

CHICAGO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday

upheld a temporary restraining order sought by cargo airline ABX

Air, whose major customers include DHL and online retail giant

Amazon, against its striking pilots and ordered them

back to work immediately.

Read more

INSIGHT-Intelligence gaps may have helped Afghan Taliban breach NATO fortress

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Nov 24 (Reuters) - In the year before

Qari Naib blew himself up on Nov. 12 inside a NATO base near

Kabul killing four Americans, Afghan intelligence warned the

U.S. military at least twice that a worker could be planning an

attack, government and security officials said.

Read more

RPT-Oil spice: With $3 bln port, Malacca eyes slice of shipping giant Singapore's pie

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Once at the heart of the

global spice trade, Malacca is pumping nearly $3 billion into an

ambitious plan to put itself in demand in a different hot

commodity - oil.

Read more

Burnt petcoke cargo sets sail from Venezuela, exports resume

HOUSTON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A vessel carrying Venezuelan

petroleum coke whose load caught fire set sail late on Tuesday

for Colombia, allowing exports from the terminal to resume after

a three-week halt while authorities decided what to do with the

ship.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. money fund assets rise for 5th straight week

* Institutional prime fund assets rise for second week

(Adds details on money fund assets, background)

Read more

UPDATE 1-France's Vinci files complaint after hoax report

* French regulator AMF has launched a probe

(Combines Vinci and AMF statements)

Read more

UPDATE 3-Deere shares leap after earnings beat on pricing, costs

Nov 23 (Reuters) - Shares of Deere & Co jumped 11

percent to an all-time high on Wednesday after stronger pricing

and cost cuts allowed the agricultural and construction machine

manufacturer to beat quarterly earnings expectations.

Read more

WRAPUP 3-U.S. factory, consumer sentiment data brighten economic outlook

WASHINGTON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - New orders for U.S.

manufactured capital goods rebounded in October, driven by

rising demand for machinery and a range of other equipment, the

latest indication of an acceleration in economic growth early in

the fourth quarter.

Read more

Cameroon security forces arrest 100 at anti-discrimination protests

YAOUNDE, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Security forces in Cameroon

arrested about 100 people during days of protests over alleged

discrimination against minority English-speaking people,

Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary and a senior

security source said on Wednesday.

Read more

Israel asks Greece and Croatia for planes to help firefighters

JERUSALEM, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Israel asked Greece and

Croatia on Wednesday for planes to help fight forest fires that

have raged across the country for the past two days, Prime

Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Read more

Vinci says filing legal complaint after hoax report

PARIS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - French construction company Vinci

said on Wednesday it had decided to file a legal

complaint against the unknown person or organisation responsible

for a fake announcement that sent its share price sharply lower

on Nov. 22.

Read more

Lufthansa pilots extend strike to Friday, grounding short-haul flights

FRANKFURT, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Pilots at Germany's Lufthansa

said they would extend strikes by another 24 hours,

with the walkout on the third day affecting short-haul flights

out of country on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. Treasury reassures Brazil banks trade with Iran OK

BRASILIA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury has reassured

Brazilian banks they can finance trade with Iran without fear of

sanctions, opening the way to billions of dollars in potential

exports of jet planes, buses and equipment, a senior Brazilian

official said on Wednesday.

Read more

FACTBOX-FIFA suspensions caused by political interference

Nov 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Wednesday it was considering pulling out of a soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar to protest its crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, risking a possible global ban by the sport's governing body, FIFA.

Read more

UPDATE 1-TUI board approves plans for new leisure airline with Etihad

* Plans had provoked staff anger

(Adds more details of plans)

Read more

EU lawmaker calls for investigation after Reuters report on jet fuel to Syria

STRASBOURG/LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A European Union

lawmaker has asked the bloc's foreign policy chief to launch an

investigation after Reuters reported that Russian tankers had

carried jet fuel to Syria through EU waters.

Read more

Deere posts lower quarterly earnings as sales remain sluggish

Nov 23 Reuters) - Deere & Co posted lower quarterly

earnings on Wednesday as a global farm recession and weak

construction equipment markets kept heavy machinery sales slow.

Read more

REFILE-UPDATE 2-Malaysia debates pulling out of soccer cup over Myanmar's Rohingya crackdown

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia is considering pulling out of a soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar in protest at its crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, a senior Malaysian official said on Wednesday, risking a possible global ban by the sport's governing body, FIFA.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Bulgaria charges defence minister over contract with Russia's RSK

SOFIA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - State prosecutors charged

Bulgaria's outgoing defence minister on Wednesday with failing

to honour an agreement with Russia for repair of its Soviet-era

fighter jets, arguing that the move had left the country without

an effective air defence.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Malaysia debates pulling out of soccer cup over Myanmar's Rohingya crackdown

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia is considering pulling out of a soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar in protest at its crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, a senior Malaysian official said on Wednesday, risking a possible global ban by the sport's governing body, FIFA.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Kremlin says missile deployment shouldn't hurt Russia-Japan peace talks

MOSCOW, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The deployment of Russian missile

systems on the Kurile islands should not influence efforts to

settle the long-running territorial dispute between Moscow and

Tokyo over the islands, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-United Utilities first-half underlying profit rises marginally

Nov 23 (Reuters) - United Utilities Group Plc, the

largest of Britain's three publicly-listed water suppliers by

market value, posted a slightly higher first-half profit, helped

by new pricing regulations and lower spending on infrastructure

improvements.

Read more

Bulgaria charges defence minister over jet-repair deal with Poland

SOFIA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Bulgarian prosecutors charged

outgoing Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev on Wednesday over an

agreement with NATO ally Poland for repairs of its Soviet-era

MiG-29 fighter jets.

Read more

U.S.-based Advent Int'l to buy Brammer for 221.5 mln stg

Nov 23 (Reuters) - Industrial parts distributor Brammer Plc

said private-equity firm Advent International Corp had

agreed to buy the company for 221.5 million pounds ($274.8

million).

Read more

United Utilities first-half underlying profit rises marginally

Nov 23 (Reuters) - United Utilities Group Plc

reported a small rise in first-half underlying operating profit,

helped by new pricing regulations and lower spending to renew

its pipeline infrastructure.

Read more

Malaysia debates pulling out of ASEAN soccer cup over Myanmar's Rohingya crackdown

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Malaysia is considering pulling its side out of a major regional soccer tournament co-hosted by Myanmar in protest over Myanmar's crackdown on ethnic Rohingya Muslims, a senior Malaysian official said on Wednesday.

Read more

Oil spice: With $3 bln port, Malacca eyes slice of shipping giant Singapore's pie

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Once at the heart of the

global spice trade, Malacca is pumping nearly $3 billion into an

ambitious plan to put itself in demand in a different hot

commodity - oil.

Read more

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

UPDATE 1-Samsung Group, pension fund offices raided in growing S.Korea scandal

* Conglomerates up for scrutiny in far-reaching political

scandal

Read more

Reuters Business News Schedule at 0430 GMT/00.30AM ET

WASHINGTON - U.S. home resales rose in October to their

highest level in more than 9-1/2 years as homebuyers, buoyed by

an improving labor market, took advantage of still-low mortgage

rates to snatch up properties after many were shut out during

the busy summer selling season. (USA-ECONOMY/ (WRAPUP 2,

GRAPHIC), moved, by Lucia Mutikani, 825 words)

Read more

Benin authorities seize 54 kg of cocaine from Brazil

COTONOU, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Benin security forces seized 54

kilogrammes of cocaine from a container that had arrived at its

main port of Cotonou from Brazil, the public prosecutor said on

Tuesday.

Read more

L-3 Communications buys UK-based MacDonald Humfrey

Nov 22 (Reuters) - U.S. defense contractor L-3

Communications Holdings Inc said it had acquired

UK-based MacDonald Humfrey Automation Ltd for 224 million pounds

($278 million) to strengthen its position in the aviation

security market.

Read more

UPDATE 1-HP Inc forecasts adj. profit largely below estimates

Nov 22 (Reuters) - HP Inc, the legacy printer and PC

business of the former Hewlett-Packard Co, forecast a

current-quarter adjusted profit largely below analysts'

estimates amid waning demand for its printers.

Read more

Hammond aims to ease UK living standards squeeze, focus on budget

LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Britain's finance minister will

say on Wednesday that he is reducing a benefits squeeze for

low-paid workers, but that fixing the public finances and

improving productivity are the best ways to improve living

standards.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Storm Otto becomes hurricane off Nicaragua's Caribbean coast

Nov 22 (Reuters) - Storm Otto became a hurricane off the

Caribbean coast of Nicaragua on Tuesday, the U.S.-based National

Hurricane Center said, with additional strengthening expected

over the next couple of days.

Read more

Israel accuses Iran of sending Hezbollah arms on commercial flights

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Israel has accused Iran's

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of using commercial

airline flights to ship weapons to the Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim

group Hezbollah.

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U.S. license to Airbus for Iran plane sales part of nuclear deal obligations -State Dept

WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. license issued this

week for Airbus to sell planes to Iran's flagship

carrier is not part of a "final push" by the Obama

administration and is part of U.S. obligations under the Iran

nuclear deal, the State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.

Read more

Shares in Aeromexico plunge on fears of Delta alliance complications

MEXICO CITY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Shares in Mexican airline

Aeromexico slid more than 7.5 percent on Tuesday,

on fears that a proposed alliance with Delta Air Lines Inc

could face headwinds after the U.S. airline said U.S.

regulators had put strict conditions on the deal.

(Reporting by Veronica Gomez; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Canada to reveal decision on fighter jets Tuesday

OTTAWA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Canada will announce on Tuesday

how it plans to replace the country's aging fleet of CF-18

fighter jets, an official said, addressing one of the most

troublesome issues facing the Liberal government.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Chinese, Japanese, Kazakh firms in talks about Areva stake -source

* Third-party investment needed so EU views govt support as

legal

Read more

Vinci says report it would revise accounts and fire director is false

PARIS, Nov 22 (Reuters) - French construction and

concessions company Vinci on Tuesday denied media

reports that said it was going to revise its 2015 and 2016

accounts and fire its finance director, two company officials

said.

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EU lawmakers endorse joint European defence plans after Trump victory

BRUSSELS, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on

Tuesday backed an EU plan to deepen coordination of member

states' defence policies and rely less on the United States,

driven in part by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's suggestion

he may scale back protection of NATO allies.

Read more

CORRECTED-Lufthansa seeks court ruling to avert pilots' strike

FRANKFURT, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Lufthansa has asked

a court to issue a temporary injunction to avert a strike by

pilots scheduled for Wednesday, the Frankfurt labour court and

Lufthansa said.

Read more

Some 1,400 migrants rescued, 8 bodies recovered -Italy coastguard

ROME, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Some 1,400 boat migrants trying to

cross the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe have been

rescued so far on Tuesday, Italy's coastguard said, after at

least 11 overcrowded boats set out from Libya amid calm seas.

Read more

INSIGHT-Currency drop hits Egypt's medicine supplies, angering public

* Pharma companies halting imports of drugs after currency

float

Read more

Hong Kong Disneyland to expand with $1.4 billion investment

HONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Walt Disney will

expand its loss-making Hong Kong Disneyland theme park with a

$1.4 billion investment to try to attract more visitors, the

U.S. entertainment company and its local government partner said

on Tuesday.

Read more

Lufthansa cancels 876 flights due to pilots' strike on Wednesday

FRANKFURT, Nov 22 (Reuters) - German airline Lufthansa

said it was cancelling more than a third of its

flights on Wednesday due to a walkout by pilots amid a

long-running pay dispute.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Indonesia to cut royalty for processed nickel to 2 pct -official

JAKARTA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia will cut the royalty

charged on sales of processed and refined nickel to 2 percent, a

mining ministry official said on Tuesday, part of a revision of

government rules on non-tax revenue from the coal and minerals

sector.

Read more

UPDATE 2-France's Zodiac sees full recovery in three years, shares fall

* CEO deflects questions on Zodiac as takeover target

(Recasts after analyst meeting)

Read more

Russia says detention of its soldiers near Crimea was "provocation"

MINSK, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei

Lavrov said on Tuesday that Ukraine's detention of two Russian

soldiers near the border with Crimea was "a provocation."

Read more

UPDATE 1-Catering firm Compass' revenue growth slows on commodity slump

Nov 22 (Reuters) - Compass Group Plc, the world's

biggest catering firm, forecast slower revenue growth for the

first half of its fiscal year, as ongoing weakness among

commodity clients slowed its quarterly revenue growth rate and

sent its stock down 4 percent.

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Two Philippine property firms to raise $359 mln via share, bond sales in 2017

MANILA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Two Philippine companies involved

in the property sector announced on Tuesday plans to raise a

combined $358.7 million from the capital markets next year to

fund expansion plans.

Read more

Babcock aims to grow international business to 30 pct of turnover in 5 yrs

EDINBURGH, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Babcock International

aims to expand its foreign business to make up 30 percent of

sales, CEO Archie Bethel said on Tuesday, adding that prospects

for the defence sector had been underpinned by recent political

events.

Read more

Lufthansa's Eurowings cancels flights due to cabin crew strike

FRANKFURT, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Lufthansa's budget

carrier Eurowings has cancelled more than 60 flights on Tuesday

due to a strike by cabin crew, according to its website.

Read more

Catering firm Compass revenue rises on strong U.S. growth

Nov 22 (Reuters) - Compass Group Plc, the world's

biggest catering firm, expressed confidence on its performance

for the current year, after reporting revenue growth largely in

line with expectations on the back of strong demand in the

United States.

Read more

Monday, November 21, 2016

China stocks reach a 10-1/2 month high, led by financial and energy shares

SHANGHAI, Nov 22 (Reuters) - China stocks advanced to a

fresh 10-1/2 month high on Tuesday, helped by a strong rally in

blue-chips, in particular financial and energy shares, after

U.S. exchanges rose.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Taiwan's TransAsia Airways seeks to wind down company

* Taiwan's third-largest airline has poor safety record

(Adds details)

Read more

UPDATE 6-Tennessee school bus crash kills at least six children

Nov 21 (Reuters) - A bus carrying elementary students home

from school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, crashed on Monday

afternoon, killing at least six children and sending nearly two

dozen to a hospital with injuries, authorities said.

Read more

Hong Kong, China shares track Wall Street's ascent; energy sector jumps

SHANGHAI, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks made strong

gains and China indexes struck 10-moth highs on Tuesday morning

after major U.S. benchmarks hit fresh peaks overnight, with

energy shares sharply higher on prospects of oil producing

countries agreeing to curb output.

Read more

China may name first SOEs to be restructured by year-end - paper

SHANGHAI, Nov 22 (Reuters) - China may name the first of its

state-owned enterprises (SOE) to be restructured under a

mixed-ownership system by the year-end, the business paper China

Securities Journal reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.

Read more

Abengoa asks U.S. court to prevent lawsuits by rebel creditors

CHICAGO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Spanish renewable energy and

engineering firm Abengoa SA has asked a U.S. bankruptcy

court to enjoin legal action and future claims by creditors who

are unsatisfied with a high-stakes plan to restructure $10

billion of debt.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Boeing taps GE exec to lead airplanes unit, focus on services

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Boeing Co on Monday

named a senior General Electric Co executive to head its

commercial airplanes division and announced a new services unit,

in moves to capture more of the profitable market for parts and

repairs after a jet is sold.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. State Dept warns about possible attacks in Europe during holiday season

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The State Department on

Monday issued an alert to U.S. citizens about a heightened risk

of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the

holiday season.

Read more

British mother whose son died for Islamic State aims to convert suffering to support

NEW YORK, Nov 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When Nicola

Benyahia's teenage son slipped away one day to join the Islamic

State in Syria, the frantic mother anguished over his

disappearance for months while keeping it secret from her

friends and most of her family.

Read more

BofA must face fraud lawsuit by Tutor Perini over debt sales

Nov 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday revived a

lawsuit accusing Bank of America Corp of defrauding

Tutor Perini Corp by selling the construction company

millions of dollars of auction-rate securities it knew were on

the brink of collapse.

Read more

EU rules to stem payment fraud may disrupt 6 bln euros of e-commerce - Visa

BRUSSELS, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The European Union's planned

rules to reduce fraud by forcing the use of passwords or codes

to authenticate electronic payments above 10 euros ($10.60) risk

disrupting online shopping and may not increase security, Visa

said on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Powerful quake hits Japan, Fukushima residents urged to flee tsunami

TOKYO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary

magnitude of 7.3 hit northern Japan on Tuesday, the Japan

Meteorological Agency said, issuing tsunami advisories for much

of the nation's northern Pacific coast.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Police fire water cannon at Dakota pipeline protesters in freezing weather

(Adds statement on timeline from company)

By Chris Michaud and Stephanie Keith

NEW YORK/CANNON BALL, N.D., Nov 21 (Reuters) - Police fired

tear gas and water at hundreds of protesters in the freezing

North Dakota weather late Sunday and early Monday, in the latest

violent clash over a pipeline project running through the state.

An estimated 400 protesters mounted the Backwater Bridge

just north of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, and attempted to force

their way past police in what the

Read more

CORRECTED-Police fire water cannon at Dakota pipeline protesters in freezing weather

NEW YORK/CANNON BALL, N.D., Nov 21 (Reuters) - Police fired

tear gas and water at hundreds of protesters in North Dakota

opposed to an oil pipeline in freezing weather late Sunday and

early Monday, in the latest violent clash between law

enforcement and activists over the $3.7 billion project.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Pilots to go on strike at Germany's Lufthansa on Wednesday

* Union Verdi calls separate strike at Eurowings

(Adds detail)

Read more

Tropical Storm Otto forms over Atlantic - NHC

Nov 21 (Reuters) - Tropical depression 16 has strengthened

into Tropical Storm Otto east of Nicaragua over the Atlantic,

the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Monday.

Read more

Yaskawa sees short-term Brexit gain from lower labour costs

FRANKFURT, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Japanese robot maker Yaskawa

Electric sees short-term benefits from Britain's

decision to leave the European Union thanks to lower labour

costs for the roughly 150 staff it employs in Scotland, it said

on Monday.

Read more

German pilots' union calls for strike at Lufthansa on Wednesday

FRANKFURT, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Pilots at Lufthansa

will go on strike on Wednesday, increasing pressure in a

long-running pay dispute with the airline's management, their

union said on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Brazil's Temer warns debt could equal GDP without spending curbs

BRASILIA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel

Temer warned on Monday that the national debt could swell to the

size of the country's gross domestic product within eight years

should public spending not be brought under control and fiscal

reforms not enacted.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Russian arms trafficker Bout loses bid for new U.S. trial

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday

denied a new trial for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker

serving a 25-year prison sentence for plotting to sell missiles

to people he thought were Colombian rebels.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Russian tycoon could take control of Turkcell -source

ISTANBUL, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Russian billionaire Mikhail

Fridman could take control of Turkcell after fellow

shareholder Cukurova failed to declare an intent to buy a

disputed 13.2 percent stake by a court deadline, a source close

to the matter said on Monday.

Read more

Russian arms trafficker Bout loses bid for new U.S. trial

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday

denied a new trial for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker

serving a 25-year prison sentence for plotting to sell missiles

to people he thought were Colombian rebels.

Read more

Companies told to halt production in northern Chinese city in anti-pollution drive

HONG KONG, Nov 21 (Reuters) - About half a dozen listed

Chinese companies, mainly in the pharmaceutical sector, have

temporarily halted production in China's northern city of

Shijiazhuang as part of a Chinese government anti-pollution

drive, the companies said on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-TransAsia Airways seeks flight suspension, shares suspended

* TransAsia shares suspended pending announcement

(Adds comments, details)

Read more

Reuters Business News Schedule at 1330 GMT/08.30AM ET

British PM May says knows firms do not want "cliff edge"

after Brexit

Read more

Huge pile-up on Chinese highway kills four, injures 40

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A 37-vehicle pile-up on an

expressway in northern China killed four people and injured more

than 40 on Monday, disrupting traffic in both directions,

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-India rail crash raises concerns of underinvestment as toll hits 142

* Graphic http://tmsnrt.rs/2fGYu5x

(Adds details, link to graphic)

Read more

UPDATE 2-Mitie warns again on profits, to pull out of home healthcare market

Nov 21 (Reuters) - British outsourcing services firm Mitie

warned of a further fall in profits for the second time

in two months on Monday, saying the uncertainty amongst its

customers over Brexit had resulted in a slowdown in new orders

and that it had decided to withdraw from the low-margin home

healthcare services market.

Read more

Beijing to ban polluting cars during smog alerts

BEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Beijing will next year ban

highly polluting old cars from being driven whenever air quality

alerts are issued in the city or neighbouring regions, the

city's environmental protection bureau said on Monday.

Read more

Reuters Business News Schedule at 0930 GMT/04.30AM ET

British PM May to unveil industrial strategy to spur

"ambitious" ideas

Read more

WRAPUP 1-Iraq Shi'ite paramilitaries close to cutting Mosul supply route

BAGHDAD, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Iraqi Shi'ite militias were

massing troops on Monday to cut remaining supply routes to

Mosul, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq, closing in

on the road that links the Syrian and Iraqi parts of its

self-declared "Caliphate".

Read more

Mining shares rebound, pharma under pressure in weak European open

MILAN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - European shares were slightly

lower in early trading on Monday as weakness in defensives,

particularly pharma and consumer staples, offset gains across

the mining sector.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Chemring says order book value boosted by weak sterling

Nov 21 (Reuters) - British defence contractor Chemring Group

Plc, which has been struggling with defence budget cuts

in its key markets, said on Monday the value of its order book

was boosted by 103 million pounds ($127.3 million) due to a weak

sterling.

Read more

Chemring says order book value boosted by weak sterling

Nov 21 (Reuters) - British defence contractor Chemring Group

Plc, which has been struggling with defence budget cuts

in its key markets, said on Monday the value of its order book

was boosted by 103 million pounds ($127.3 million) from a weak

sterling.

Read more

Sunday, November 20, 2016

China stocks climb to near 11-month high; Hong Kong also up

SHANGHAI, Nov 21 (Reuters) - China stocks climbed to a near

11-month high on Monday morning, as investors bet a weaker yuan

will push up inflation and benefit Chinese exports, boosting

demand for cyclical shares.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Police clash with North Dakota pipeline protesters, arrest one

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters opposed to a North

Dakota oil pipeline project they say threatens water resources

and sacred tribal lands clashed with police who fired tear gas

at the scene of a similar confrontation last month, officials

said.

Read more

Tokyo Steel raises December product prices by up to 11 pct

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Tokyo Steel Manufacturing Co Ltd

said on Monday it would raise the prices of its

products by 5,000 yen ($45.12) or by up to 11 percent for

December delivery, reflecting a rally in raw material prices and

higher product prices abroad.

Read more

German Q3 slowdown expected after strong start of year-FinMin

BERLIN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A slowdown in the German economy

during the third quarter was expected after strong growth in the

first six months of the year, the finance ministry said on

Monday, adding that private consumption and state spending were

the main drivers.

Read more

Volkswagen CEO says sees case for building own battery factory - paper

FRANKFURT, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Europe's largest carmaker

Volkswagen sees building its own factory to make

electronic vehicle batteries as a logical move as it expands

production of low-emission cars after its emissions scandal.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Hammond says will get UK ready for Brexit challenge

LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Britain's first budget plan since

the Brexit vote will seek to get the economy prepared for the

challenges of leaving the European Union and help struggling

families through tough times ahead, finance minister Philip

Hammond said on Sunday.

Read more

Rescue ship carrying migrants reaches Italy after deadly week in Mediterranean

MESSINA, Italy, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A rescue ship carrying

more than 200 migrants and eight bodies, docked in Sicily on

Sunday after a deadly week in the Mediterranean in which

hundreds drowned trying to reach Europe from Libya.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Cargo ship being evacuated off England's storm-hit southern coast

LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A cargo ship with 23 people

onboard was being evacuated off the coast of Dover on Sunday

after it collided with a stone barge and started to take on

water, the Coastguard said, as Storm Angus marked Britain's

first named storm of the winter.

Read more

At least 90 dead in India train derailment - police

NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - At least 90 people were killed

and 105 injured after an Indian express train derailed in

northern Uttar Pradesh on Sunday, up from an estimated 60 dead

earlier, a senior police official told Reuters.

Read more

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Tidal power developers bet on sea change in Indonesia renewables sector

JAKARTA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A well-connected Indonesian

marine renewable energy company and OpenHydro, a unit of French

state-owned naval defence company DCNS, aim to be the first to

plug into the vast untapped tidal energy potential of the

world's biggest archipelago.

Read more

UPDATE 2-At least 60 killed in Indian train derailment

NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - At least 60 people were killed

and 80 injured when several carriages of an Indian train

derailed in northern Uttar Pradesh, the nation's most populous

state, in the early hours of Sunday, senior railway officials

said.

Read more

Train derails in India, 30 people dead - railway official

NEW DELHI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A train travelling between the

northeastern city of Patna and the central city of Indore

derailed early on Sunday, killing at least 30 people, a railway

official said.

Read more

China's Xi presses Philippines, Vietnam to keep South China Sea issues bilateral

BEIJING, Nov 20 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping, in

separate meetings with the leaders of the Philippines and

Vietnam, said disputes over the South China Sea should be

resolved bilaterally, state media reported on Sunday.

Read more

UK's Hammond to announce 1.3 bln pound road boost in budget

EDINBURGH, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Finance minister Phillip

Hammond will this week announce 1.3 billion pounds ($1.60

billion) in new spending on roads as part of his plans to

bolster the economy as Britain prepares to leave the European

Union, the Treasury said on Sunday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Swiss say jets carried out routine check on Russian government plane

MOSCOW, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Switzerland said on Saturday that

Swiss fighter jets that flew alongside a Russian government

airliner heading to Peru had merely been making routine checks,

after Moscow demanded an explanation.

Read more

Germany's Merkel says to spend more on infrastructure in election year

BERLIN, Nov 19 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel

promised on Saturday to increase investment in infrastructure in

Europe's biggest economy in 2017, an election year, without

resorting to new borrowing.

Read more

Russia seeks explanation from Swiss over incident with government plane

MOSCOW, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Moscow has sought an explanation

from the Swiss government after Swiss fighter jets flew close to

a Russian government airliner en route to Peru for the APEC

summit.

Read more

Iraq's exports from Kirkuk fields drop on power outages - official

KIRKUK, Iraq, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Iraq's exports from the

Kirkuk oil field through an export pipeline to Turkey have

dropped because of power outages, an official at state-run North

Oil Co. said on Saturday.

Read more

Foreign firms to build $315 mln Vietnam port complex

HANOI, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Vietnam has approved a foreign

consortium's plan to invest around $315 million in a seaport and

industrial zone complex in northern Quang Ninh province, the

government said on Saturday.

Read more

Friday, November 18, 2016

Trump's national security adviser vows to tackle N.Korea nuclear threat-Yonhap

SEOUL, Nov 19 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump's national security adviser says North Korea's nuclear

programme would be given a high priority under the new

administration, a South Korean official who held talks with him

said on Saturday.

Read more

REFILE-Germany's Aixtron says U.S. opposes China deal on security grounds

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Germany's Aixtron Se said the

Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

informed the company it would recommend that its pending

takeover by China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund (FGC) be

blocked.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. tentatively blocks American Airlines-Qantas expansion

WASHINGTON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Plans by American Airlines

Group Inc and Qantas Airways Ltd to expand

their alliance for flights between the United States and

Australasia were tentatively denied by the U.S. Transportation

on Friday, the agency said, citing competition concerns.

Read more

Greece extends bid deadline for railway maintenance company

ATHENS, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Greece extended the bid deadline

on Friday for the sale of its rail maintenance company ROSCO to

Jan. 30, the country's privatisation agency (HRADF) said.

Read more

UPDATE 1-VW lowers spending plans as emissions costs weigh

WOLFSBURG, Germany, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Volkswagen

will cut spending on factories, equipment and

technology over the next four years, it said on Friday, as it

struggles to fund a strategic shift to electric cars while

grappling with the cost of its emissions scandal.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Alaska Air nearing settlement with U.S. on Virgin deal-source

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Alaska Air Group Inc is close to

reaching a settlement with U.S. antitrust officials that will

allow it to complete its proposed $2.6 billion acquisition of

Virgin America Inc, according to a person familiar with

the matter.

Read more

Countries that signed TPP could focus on China-led agreement -Froman

LIMA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Countries that signed the

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact have said at the

APEC summit in Lima they could focus on the China-led Regional

Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)if TPP does not move

forward, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman said

on Friday.

Read more

Britain's FTSE ends lower as gold miners lose lustre

LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Britain's top share index fell on

Friday, with miners leading the market lower after base and

precious metals prices slipped due to a stronger dollar, which

made metals costlier for holders of other currencies.

Read more

Russia says Lavrov, Kerry discuss Syria crisis by phone

MOSCOW, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei

Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the

Syria crisis by phone on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry

said in a statement.

Read more

Stobart buys stake in aircraft leasing firm from Aer Lingus

DUBLIN, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Stobart is buying the 33

percent it does already own in the firm that leases planes to

its Stobart Air subsidiary from Aer Lingus for 14.7 million

euros ($15.6 million), the British freight company said on

Friday.

Read more

Shipping firm CMA CGM stays in red in Q3, pays back NOL takeover loan

PARIS, Nov 18 (Reuters) - CMA CGM, the world's

third-largest container shipping company, posted on Friday

another net loss in the third quarter as freight rates remained

weak and it integrated Singapore-based NOL, its biggest-ever

acquisition.

Read more

Hundreds of Rohingya flee Myanmar army crackdown to Bangladesh-sources



Read more

Macedonian prosecutor investigates secret police over tapping of 4,000 phones

SKOPJE, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A special prosecutor in Macedonia

has launched criminal proceedings against 10 people, including

top officials of the secret police, over their suspected role in

a phone-tapping scandal that brought down the prime minister.

Read more

Bulgaria extends deadline for Sofia airport tender after govt collapse

SOFIA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Bulgaria has extended the deadline

for bids for the contract to run Sofia airport until the end of

January following calls from the opposition Socialists to scrap

the process after a government collapse.

Read more

With customised Fiat, Polish priest offers spiritual emergency service

BOLESLAWOW, Poland, Nov 18 (Reuters) - In his small black

Fiat 126 equipped with a blinking roof light shaped like a

priest's bireta cap, Father Krzysztof Kauf zaps down the winding

mountain road to answer his next call for assistance.

Read more