Skirting U.S. sanctions, Europeans launch trade mechanism for Iran
France, Germany and Britain have set up a mechanism for non-dollar trade with Iran to avert U.S. sanctions, although diplomats acknowledge it is unlikely to free up the big transactions that Tehran says it needs to keep a nuclear deal afloat.
Qatar’s emir and Chinese president sign several agreements: QNA
Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed several memorandums of understanding with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday during a trip to Beijing, Qatar’s state news agency reported.
Brazil’s Vale has over $219 million frozen by state prosecutors as compensation
Brazil’s Minas Gerais state labor prosecutors’ office said on Thursday it had frozen more than 800 million reais ($219 million) of miner Vale’s funds as compensation for victims of a deadly tailings dam burst.
British lawmaker sees cross-party demand for accounting change
A senior British lawmaker leading a review of the world’s top accounting firms said on Thursday there is cross-party consensus for change, calling the approach of the “Big Four” complacent.
U.S. to stop complying with nuclear pact with Russia after talks flop
The United States will stop complying with a landmark nuclear pact with Russia as soon as this weekend after last-ditch talks with Moscow to save it fell flat, a senior U.S. arms control official said on Thursday.
Children, babies dying from cold at camp in northeast Syria: WHO
At least 29 children and newborns are reported to have died in a teeming camp in northeastern Syria over the past 8 weeks, mainly due to hypothermia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
Russian central bank calls reports of Venezuelan gold in Russia untrue
Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina on Thursday ruled out as untrue reports of Venezuelan gold having been transported to Russia in a passenger plane.
Spain’s far-right Vox party surges in polls, Socialists lead
Spanish far-right political party Vox saw support surge from just a month earlier while the ruling Socialists remained in the lead, according to a voting intention poll released on Thursday.
Iran says Europe’s new trade mechanism is ‘first step’: TV
Iran said on Thursday a new European mechanism to facilitate non-dollar trade with the country was a first step for the European Union to fulfill its commitments under a nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers, state television reported.
UK child-sex offender who fled to Pakistan arrested
A convicted child-sex offender, who was part of a gang that exploited teenage girls in a northern English town, has been arrested in Pakistan where he fled during his trial, the British High Commission in Islamabad said on Thursday.
