WASHINGTON -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu He arrived in Washington on Thursday for the 11th round of high-level economic and trade consultations with the U.S. side.
Liu told reporters upon his arrival that he came to Washington with sincerity, saying that under the current special circumstances he hopes to engage in rational and candid exchanges with the U.S. side. (US-China-Trade)
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UNITED NATIONS -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki on Thursday condemned Israeli settlements in occupied territory, saying Israel is turning temporary occupation into permanent annexation.
"Israel is violating all core principles (of the law of occupation) and does not hide anymore the true colonial nature of its occupation and its intention to annex Palestinian land," al-Maliki told an Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council. (UN-Palestine-Settlements)
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TEHRAN -- The European Union on Thursday rejected a 60-day deadline for the signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal to address Iran's "rights" under the deal and urged Iran to remain committed to its obligations.
In a joint statement on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain expressed "great concern" about Iran's recent suspension of some of its commitments under the accord -- officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action -- in reciprocation for Washington's withdrawal last year, according to Press TV. (Iran-EU-Nuke)
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TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned fresh U.S. sanctions against the Islamic republic's metal exports after Iran decided to drop some of its commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal.
In a statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the U.S. decision to impose new sanctions on Iran's industrial metal exports runs counter to Washington's international commitments. (Iran-US-Sanctions)
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BAGHDAD -- Eight people were killed and 12 other injured on Thursday in a suicide bomb attack at a marketplace in Sadr City neighborhood in eastern the Iraqi capital Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua.
The incident occurred in the evening when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at Jamila popular market in Sadr City neighborhood, Ihsan Ali from Baghdad police said. (Iraq-Suicide bomb) Enditem