European powers launch mechanism for trade with Iran

France, Germany and Britain have set up a European mechanism for non-dollar trade with Iran to avert U.S. sanctions, although diplomats acknowledged it is unlikely to yield big commercial transactions Tehran says it needs to keep a nuclear deal afloat.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2MJBD7A
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French police maintains that death of China's HNA exec was accident

French police on Thursday reaffirmed that the death of HNA Group Co-Chairman Wang Jian during a business trip in France last summer was accidental, dismissing a newspaper report that he more likely committed suicide.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2sXhnGB
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Venezuelan authorities must release foreign journalists: EU's top diplomat

Venezuelan authorities must immediately release three detained foreign journalists and a driver, the European Union's top diplomat said on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2MFVioY
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Gilet jaunes: France to ban masks at protests amid unrest

After months of protests, France will prohibit face coverings and even specific people from rallies.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2D0jVbQ

Polar vortex: Fire used to melt ice on Chicago train tracks

Flames from gas-fed heaters stop snow and ice from clogging up the track at railway intersections.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2RsdKSK

The Ugandan artist fighting HIV with a crown

Creating artworks from ARV bottles and old pills to encourage Ugandans to take their medicine.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2ToJ5HM

Kenya bomber's journey offers cautionary tale of intelligence failures

The bomber who blew himself up outside a Nairobi hotel last week, launching an attack that killed 21 people, was already so well-known to Kenyan police that they had emblazoned his face across billboards under the slogan "WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE".

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2DK0Egn
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EU could offer more backstop assurances if UK moves on customs union: EU lawmaker

The European Union can offer Britain more assurances over the Irish border 'backstop' in a political declaration on post-Brexit ties if London moves toward accepting a permanent customs union, a leading EU lawmaker dealing with Brexit said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2UBjdZN
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UK set to cancel parliament's planned February break as Brexit looms

Britain's parliament is likely to abandon plans for a 10-day break in February, House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom warned lawmakers on Thursday, as the country's March 29 exit from the European Union draws nearer.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2DLnQe4
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Russia plays power broker as U.S.-Taliban talks gather steam

Russia will host the Taliban and Afghan politicians opposed to President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday, Russian and Taliban sources said, promoting its role of power broker in what a U.S. official called an attempt to "muddle" the U.S.-backed peace process.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Gd0Wh9
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Other countries not seen joining European Iran trade mechanism soon: German official

Iran may be discussed during Chancellor Angela Merkel's trip to Japan next week but other countries are not immediately expected to join a European mechanism to facilitate non-dollar trade with Iran, a senior German government official said on Thursday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2DKToke
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AO World boss replaced by founder with 'immediate effect'

Steve Caunce will leave with "immediate effect" and is being replaced by founder John Roberts.

from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2FY455j
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Italy in recession amid stagnant eurozone

Italy sees two quarters of negative growth as the eurozone expands by just 0.2% in the fourth quarter.

from BBC News - Business https://bbc.in/2FZpR8T
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Italy in recession amid stagnant eurozone

Italy sees two quarters of negative growth as the eurozone expands by just 0.2% in the fourth quarter.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2FZpR8T

Letter from Africa: The fashion faux pas of bullet-proof vests

Body armour, like that worn by DR Congo's new president, can save lives but presents problems if you want to be discreet.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2HE7ack

U.S. sees no impact from EU trade mechanism for Iran

The U.S. embassy in Germany said on Thursday it was seeking additional details about a new European mechanism to facilitate non-dollar trade with Iran, but did not expect it to affect its effort to apply maximum economic pressure on Tehran.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2RsynhU
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Sudan's Bashir says border with Eritrea reopens after being shut for a year

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on Thursday that his country was reopening its border with Eritrea, which has been shut for about a year.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2S0lcJZ
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Sports betting: are Ugandans hooked on it?

A Ugandan minister has warned that online sports betting is causing serious problems.

from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2B7rGw7

U.S. likely to announce suspension of INF treaty obligations: U.S. official

The U.S. government will likely announce the suspension of its obligations under the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia in coming days, after bilateral talks failed to make headway, a senior U.S. official told Reuters.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Wt1JjQ
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Italy's Berlusconi says new government possible even without snap vote

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Thursday a new center-right government that would sweep the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement from power could be formed even without a snap election.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2RtpeW7
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Brazilians little moved by Vale overtures in wake of disaster

Residents of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais reacted with indifference and in many cases dismissal at a raft of measures mining giant Vale SA pledged to adopt in recent days in the wake of a dam burst that likely killed over 300 people.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2WwHx0w
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