DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
EU and Iran create ʼspecial vehicleʼ for trade despite US sanctions The remaining signatories of the Iran nuclear deal announced on Monday that they would establish a channel to facilitate payments for Iranʼs exports, including oil, as well as its imports. The decision was reached after highlevel closed-door talks at the UN in New York. "Mindful of the urgency and the need for tangible results, the participants welcomed practical proposals to maintain and develop payment channels, notably the initiative to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate payments related to Iranʼs exports, including oil," Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the EU announced in a joint statement. The membersʼ stated intent is "to protect the freedom of their economic operators to pursue legitimate business with Iran."
Iran threatens Saudi Arabia after Iran parade attack Iranʼs relations with its Gulf neighbors such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with the United States, are tense aftera terrorist attack on a military parade in the Iranian city of Ahvazon Sunday left at least 25 people dead. Both the "Islamic State" (IS) and Arab separatists groups in Iran have claimed responsibility for the attack. The Iranian government pointed fingers at its regional rivals, the Saudis and the UAE, as well as at the US for backing the attackers. "Based on reports, this cowardly act was done by the people who are rescued by the Americans when they are in trouble in Syria and Iraq, and are paid by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates," Iranʼs supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Monday on his official website. The same day the deputy head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard warned the US and Israel, a close American ally and Iranʼs perpetual enemy, on Monday that they should expect a "devastating response" from the Islamic Republic.
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Merkel ally sent packing in surprising parliamentary group leadership vote Kauder has been one of her closest allies for the last 13 years
Volker Kauder was defeated by Ralph Brinkhaus in an inner-party ballot Tuesday. The surprising result is seen as a warning to the German chancellor.
US fashion group Michael Kors acquires Versace The acquisition of the Italian fashion house will cost Michael Kors about $2 billion. Itʼs the latest iconic fashion brand that falls into the hands of the US group after it bought British stiletto-heel maker Jimmy Choo. Under the deal announced on Tuesday, Michael Kors will buy all of Versaceʼs outstanding shares for a total enterprise value of €1.83 billion ($2.12 billion), to be funded in cash, debt and shares in Michael Kors Holding. US private equity firm Blackstone, which bought 20 percent of Versace back in 2014, will fully exit its investment. Moreover, the
Versace family, which currently owns 80 percent of the fashion house, will receive €150 million of the purchase price in shares of the Michael Kors Holdings. Donatella Versace, sister of the companyʼs late founder, and artistic director and vice-president of the Milan-based group said that being part of the new group was "essential to Versaceʼs long-term success." After the deal, Versace CEO Jonathan Akeroyd would remain at the helm of the company, said Michael Kors Chairman and Chief Executive John D. Idol, adding that Donatella Versace would continue to lead "the companyʼs creative vision."
Israel music scene struggles with international boycott Organizers of Israelʼs Meteor Festival this weekend said it was supposed to be a "cutting edge musical journey that surpasses borders and distorts time and space." But that endeavor was dashed as some 20 acts, including headliner Lana Del Rey, withdrew at the last minute in response to apparent pressure from a Palestinian-led international boycott campaign. Itʼs just the latest event in the struggle between Israel andthe boycott movement that says it wants to end Israeli rule over Palestini-
ans. Read more: Israel and BDS: A controversial boycott divides the West Campaign organizers have claimed success, saying the cancellations demonstrate increasing opposition to Israeli government policies among young people around the world. "The fact that these artists are canceling is showing just how different the younger generation is viewing Israel," said Diana Buttu, a Palestinian analyst who supports the movement known as BDS, speaking with The Associated Press.
Austrian Interior Ministry under fire for plans to curb media Police officers and Interior Ministry employees in Austria should keep "critical media" at armʼs length, according to a leaked internal memo. The email to staff accused the established dailies Der Standard and Kurier and the weekly newsmagazine Falter of "very one-sided and negative reporting about the ministry and the police." "Facts and explanations are not relevant anymore, they are just ignored because the articles are negative anyway, as demonstrated by many articles in recent past," Interior Ministry spokesman Christoph Pölzl wrote in the email. The author urged staff to run their responses past him if they concern more than one department. "In other cases, may I suggest limiting communication with these media outlets to the (legal) minimal and not providing them with additional perks, such as exclusive access," he writes.
Swedish PM Stefan Lofven loses vote of confidence Swedish PM Stefan Lofven lost a mandatory confidence vote on Tuesday. The confidence vote is mandatory after a general election. Lofvenʼs ouster was expected and now it is up to the speaker, Andreas Norlen of the opposition Alliance bloc, to task Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson with forming a new government. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt tweeted about it immediately after the vote.
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