U.S. judge OKs Barclays $298 million settlement

WASHINGTON Aug 18 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday approved an agreement in which British banking giant Barclays Bank Plc (BARC.L) will pay $298 million to settle charges it violated U.S. trade sanctions, a day after criticizing the pact as a "sweetheart deal."

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan endorsed the deal in which the bank will pay $298 million and enter a deferred prosecution agreement over charges it violated U.S. sanctions by doing deals with Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Myanmar. (Reporting by James Vicini and Jeremy Pelofsky, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)