A European Commission spokesman said the commission respects the choice of the people of Iceland.

Central Bank of the UAE said branches of Egyptian banks operating in the UAE must comply with UAE laws and regulations.

The US government will take a passive 35% stake in a private Venezuelan oil company led by Alejandro Betancourt and acquire preferential commercial rights, the Wall Street Journal reports. The deal grants Betancourt’s North American Blue Energy Partners long-term (up to 100-year) development rights on 17 fields said to contain about 65 bln barrels—roughly one-fifth of Venezuela’s reserves—and gives Washington a priority right to buy 20% of production at cost. US officials moved to become a direct investor after US energy firms declined to invest at the speed and scale sought by the administration, according to people involved in negotiations.