MILAN - US authorities are investigating UniCredit's German unit HVB as part of a crackdown on possible violations of sanctions on Iran that has already cost Standard Chartered a hefty settlement. UniCredit said the New York County District Attorney's Office, the Department of Justice and the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control were leading the investigation. A person familiar with the situation said the investigation involved possible breaches of Iran sanctions. Reuters
QUITO - Britain has withdrawn a threat to enter Ecuador's embassy in London to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, President Rafael Correa said, taking the heat out of the diplomatic stand-off. Ecuador was furious after the British government warned it might try to seize Assange, who has been holed up in the building for more than two months trying to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of rape and sexual assault. Reuters
SYDNEY - Up to 100 detained asylum seekers were on hunger strike in Australia after being informed they would be transferred to a remote Pacific island under a tough new refugee policy. An immigration department spokesman said around 100 being held at the Christmas Island detention centre had launched the strike after they were told they would be sent to Nauru. They will be among the first group transferred to the tiny Pacific island to await the processing of their refugee claims under the new policy, which Canberra hopes will deter a record flow of people-smuggling ships. AFP