Europe

Brussels, Aug 6 (AP) The European Union today said that new measures are ready to take effect to protect European businesses from the impact of US sanctions on Iran.

The measures also aim to save the agreement meant to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions after the US abandoned the pact. The EU insists the deal is important for global security and is trying to keep economic and financial supply lines to Tehran open.

The EU's executive Commission said today that the "blocking statute" will take effect beginning at midnight Washington time (0400 GMT Tuesday).

MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Sunday started imposing additional import tariffs of 25-40 percent for a range of U.S. goods, according to the Russian government.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev last month signed a government order setting the new tariffs, stipulating that it would become effective 30 days after its official publication on July 6.

5 Aug 2018; DW; UK trade minister Liam Fox has accused the European Union of pushing Britain toward an exit from the bloc without a trade deal. He said Brussels was obsessed with EU rules, rather than focusing on economic well-being.

Britain's international trade secretary, Liam Fox, has put the odds of the UK leaving the European Union without agreeing terms to formally finalize its exit at 60-40.

GLASGOW, August 4. /TASS/. Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov was crowned as a champion at the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow on Saturday, breaking a world record in 50m backstroke with the result of 24.00 seconds.

Romania’s Robert-Andrei Glinta grabbed a silver medal (24.55), while Ireland’s Shane Ryan became a bronze medalist (24.64). Another Russian swimmer, Vladimir Morozov, came fourth (24.69).

MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. The United Kingdom blocks rotation at the Russian diplomatic mission, delaying visa issuance for Russian diplomats, since visa processing times take on average between 12 to 18 months, Russia’s Ambassador to London Alexander Yakovenko said in a televised interview with the Rossiya-24 channel on Saturday.

5 Aug 2018; AFP; Moscow has appointed US actor Steven Seagal as a special envoy, dealing with humanitarian links with the United States, the Russian foreign ministry announced Saturday.

"Stephen Seagal has been appointed special representative of the ministry of foreign affairs of Russia on Russian-American Humanitarian Ties," the foreign ministry said on its website

"The task is to promote the further development of Russian-American relations in the humanitarian sphere, including interaction in the field of culture, art, public and youth exchanges and more," it added.

Birmingham, Aug 4 (PTI) India skipper Virat Kohli today rued the lack of application and poor shot selection by his batsmen after their meek surrender paved the way for an England victory in the opening Test here.

The hosts drew first blood in the five-match series with a 31-run win at the Edgbaston.

Chasing 194, Kohli stood out again with a combative 51 but lacked support at the other end, as India were all out for 162.

By Chetan Narula

Birmingham, Aug 4 (PTI) India suffered a heartbreaking 31-run loss to England as skipper Virat Kohli's heroics went in vain amid yet another abject batting capitulation in a riveting opening Test at the Edgbaston today.

It was virtually Kohli versus England and when the Indian captain was trapped lbw off Ben Stokes in the 47th over, the absorbing game was only heading the home team's way.

ROSTOV-ON-DON, August 3. /TASS/. The family of Russian pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who is serving his 20-year sentence in an American prison in the city of Danbury, Connecticut, will not be able to visit him this summer, ahead of his daughter’s school year, and the trip was postponed, the pilot’s wife, Viktoria, told TASS.

The pilot’s family, who lives in Rostov-on-Don, have not seen him for about seven years.

MOSCOW, August 3. /TASS/. Around 890,000 Syrian citizens can return to their home country in the coming months, Head of Russia’s National Defense Control Center Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev said on Friday.

"According to data provided by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, about 890,000 civilians are expected to return to Syria in the coming months," Mizintsev said at a meeting of the interdepartmental coordination headquarters supervising the return of refugees to Syria.