Iran protests: State TV acknowledges deaths during unrest

A minister said 731 banks and 70 petrol stations were set ablaze during the unrest TEHRAN, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iranian state TV has said security forces killed what it called “thugs and rioters” during last month’s mass protests against a petrol price rise. Activists have accused the authorities of deliberately…

Berlin murder: Germany expels two Russian diplomats

Police at the spot in a Berlin park where the Chechen exile was shot dead BERLIN, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Months after a man was shot dead in a Berlin park, Germany is throwing out two Russian diplomats because it suspects the murder was ordered by Russia or Russia’s Chechen republic. The expulsions come…

US urges countries to suspend digital service taxes amid digital row with France

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (NNN-XINHUA) — US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has urged all countries to suspend the introduction of digital service taxes as nations work towards a multilateral deal on international taxation. “The United States firmly opposes digital service taxes because they have a discriminatory impact on U.S.-based businesses and…

North Korea raises ‘dotard’ spectre as deadline looms

SEOUL, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korea has threatened to resumereferring to US president Donald Trump as a “dotard”, raising the prospect of a return to a war of words with a negotiating deadline approaching. Pyongyang has set Washington an end-of-year time limit to offer it newconcessions in deadlocked nuclear…

US: 4 dead after jewelry heist leads to carjacking, chase, shootout

Authorities in Florida have confirmed “multiple fatalities” following a shootout after suspects allegedly stole a UPS truck MIAMI, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two armed jewelry thieves trying to escape the scene of their heist on Thursday hijacked a delivery truck, took its driver hostage, then led police on a high-speed…

Presidents Putin and Zelensky in first talks to revive Ukraine peace efforts

MOSCOW, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The leaders of Russia and Ukraine willmeet on Monday for talks on the conflict in east Ukraine, in what could be astep forward in ending Europe’s only active war. The summit in Paris will mark the first time Russia’s Vladimir Putin meetsface-to-face with Ukraine’s new…

I ‘will win’ impeachment fight – US Pres Trump

Pres Donald Trump WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A defiant President Donald Trump predicted he “will win,” after the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives gave the green light for impeachment.“The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win!” Trump tweeted on Thursday.Speaker…

Poland: Police seize record cocaine haul worth half a billion dollars – PM Morawiecki

WARSAW, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Poland have seized a record two-ton haul of cocaine worth around half a billion dollars, likely destined for sale across Europe, the Polish prime minister said. “This is the largest smuggling attempt in at least the last 30 years,” Premier Mateusz Morawiecki told…

Dozens of Gambian migrants die as boat sinks off Mauritania coast

NOUAKCHOTT, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 62 migrants travelling on a makeshift boat have drowned off the coast of Mauritania, in the worst loss of life this year along the increasingly travelled western Atlantic migration route to Europe. Eighty-three survivors managed to swim to shore after their boat, which…

Pro-paramilitary demonstrators flood Iraqi protest camp, rattling anti-government protesters

BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Crowds backing a paramilitary force close to Iran flooded the Iraqi capital’s main protest camp on Thursday, rattling anti-government demonstrators who have denounced Tehran’s role in their country.Their flash-protest hinted at a new effort to delegitimize or intimidate the regime change movement and came after…