In the World

LIBYA

Oil terminals nearly shut amid conflict

The flow of crude oil to and from Libya's two biggest oil terminals slowed to a trickle Monday after fighting between militias intensified in the turbulent North African country's energy-rich east.

Even before the latest outbreak of strife, the Libyan state had teetered on the brink of collapse. Months of fighting between militias loyal to two competing governments - one in the capital, Tripoli, and one in the eastern city of Tobruk - have largely resulted in a standoff.

The United Nations has been trying to broker an accord between the factions, and a second round of talks was to take place this week. But the fresh fighting was likely to cloud that effort.

Oil officials said only minimal staff remained at the Ras Lanuf and Sidra terminals southwest of Benghazi.

    - Los Angeles Times
SCANDINAVIA

Russia tensions rise

Tensions between Russia and Scandinavia are escalating following a series of near-misses between civilian aircraft and Russian military planes. Sweden and Denmark on Monday summoned Russia's ambassadors to express their dismay at the latest incident, in which a passenger plane leaving Copenhagen on Friday was forced to change direction to avoid colliding with a Russian military jet. - Bloomberg

CHINA

Officials are 'naked'

China has found more than 3,200 "naked officials," the term it uses to describe senior cadres whose family members have moved overseas, as part of President Xi Jinping's efforts to clean up the reputation of the Communist Party. More than 1,000 officials who didn't want their families to return to the country were disciplined or repositioned over the last year, the People's Daily reported Monday. - Bloomberg