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CARACAS, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's foreign ministry rejected on Monday several European countries' decision to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president.

Those countries "are officially adopting the strategy of the U.S. administration to overthrow the legitimate government of President Nicolas Maduro," the Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

Such a decision "is in open violation of the principles and practices that govern diplomatic ties, setting a dangerous precedent for peaceful coexistence between nations," said the ministry.

NEW YORK, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Science-fiction (sci-fi) lovers and cinemagoers in the United States can soon enjoy China's first homemade sci-fi blockbuster as "The Wandering Earth" will premiere in the country on Tuesday, the first day of the Chinese New Year.

A total of 29 cities across the United States will see the movie released, among which 12 will roll out the movie in the form of IMAX 3D, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and San Francisco.

TEHRAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian judiciary chief said on Monday that his country would never accept the "humiliating conditions" in the EU's payment channel for trade with Iran, Tasnim news agency reported.

"After nine months of procrastination and negotiation, Europeans have created a mechanism with limited capacity, not for exchanging money but for food and medicine," said Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.

Kolkata, Feb 4 (PTI) West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Monday said the state has been able to create around nine lakh jobs during the 2018-19 fiscal.

In his Budget speech, Mitra said the country is still suffering from the "hasty and improper" implementation of the GST, and the "shock" of demonetisation.

Kolkata, Feb 4 (PTI) Industry bodies on Monday hailed the West Bengal Budget for 2019-20 for its focus on farmers, social infrastructure and incentives for sectors like MSMEs, tea and healthcare.

Finance Minister Amit Mitra on Monday presenting a Rs 2.37 lakh-crore state budget with a Rs 9-crore deficit.

04 Feb 2019; DW: A major inquiry into scandals at Australia's banking and financial services firms has referred more than 20 cases to regulators for possible prosecution, and called for substantial changes in the sector.

The wide-ranging Royal Commission was called in late 2017 as public outrage mounted over allegations of dodgy financial advice, life insurance and mortgage fraud involving lenders, including the "big four" Australian banks.

04 Feb 2019; DW: Queen Elizabeth II and other members of Britain's royal family could be evacuated from London in case of no-deal Brexit civil unrest, Britain's Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday newspapers reported on Sunday.

MADRID, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Spain's unemployment rose 2.61 percent in January from a month earlier, or 83,464 people, as employers cut temporary jobs for the Christmas season, official data showed Monday.

The end of the Christmas and New Year period had its traditional negative effect on the job market in Spain. This is the steepest January rise in unemployment since 2009 when the economic crisis shed around 200,000 jobs. The figure is well above the 63,747 rise in unemployment seen in 2018 or the 57,257 increase in 2017.

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) The government plans to auction three mineral blocks having reserves of 280.295 million tonne in the current and next month.

Of the mines to be auctioned, two are limestone blocks while one is graphite mine, according to latest data of mines ministry.

Beijing, Feb 3 (PTI) Playing down concerns over economic slowdown in China amid the intense trade war with the US, President Xi Jinping on Sunday said the world's second largest economy has made "steady" progress as his government took new steps for reforms and opening-up of economy to avert major risks.

Greeting Chinese people on the eve of the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, Xi said at an official reception here that in the past year China has made efforts and "achieved a lot".