MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and leader of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev have discussed cooperation within the integration associations on the Eurasian space in a telephone conversation, the Kremlin press service reported.

"[The two leaders] discussed the key bilateral issues and cooperation within the integration associations on the Eurasian space," the press service said. "Some pressing international issues were raised as well."

The heads of state also exchanged warm New Year greetings, the Kremlin informed.

29 Dec 2018; AFP: Bangladesh tightened security Saturday for an election expected to see Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina win a record fourth term but dominated by opposition claims that they have been shackled by a government clampdown.

Authorities have deployed around 600,000 police, army and other security forces ahead of Sunday's vote, a senior official said, following a deadly campaign of clashes and the arrests of opposition activists.

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Russia introduced a ban on import of wheat, sunflower oil, sweets, vegetables, fruits, beer, tractors, paper, turbines, furniture, and other goods from Ukraine.

The list of more than fifty products is in the Cabinet Decree posted on the official website of the government.

29 Dec 2018; DW: Romanian President Klaus Iohannis admitted last month his country was not ready to assume the six-month EU presidency. EU officials allege Romania is not taking steps to fight corruption and uphold judicial independence.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Saturday he doubts whether the Romanian government fully understands what it means to take the reins of the Council of the European Union for six months.

CAIRO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Two Vietnamese tourists were killed Friday when a home-made bomb hit a bus carrying foreign tourists in Marioutiya area near the Giza Pyramids, Egyptian interior ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said a roadside home-made bomb hit a tourist bus carrying 14 Vietnamese in Marioutiya area near the Pyramids on the outskirts of the capital Cairo.

The ministry added that 10 Vietnamese tourists, the Egyptian driver and an Egyptian tour guide were also injured in the attack.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The end of 2018 seemed to signal good things to come for America’s farmers. Fresh off the passage of the farm bill, which reauthorized agriculture, conservation and safety net programs, the Agriculture Department last week announced a second round of direct payments to growers hardest hit by President Donald Trump’s trade war with China.

Then parts of the government shut down.

WASHINGTON, December 28. /TASS/. Russian diplomats in the United States have to work in the conditions of extreme spy mania, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Friday.

"They have to work in the conditions of extreme spy mania, which led to the largest expulsion of diplomats from the US and closure of another consulate general. The workload for remaining staff of Russian foreign missions has increased," Antonov said.

Manila, Dec 29 (AFP) A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippine island of Mindanao on Saturday triggering a brief tsunami warning.

The quake struck southeast of Davao City at a depth of 59 kilometres, the US Geological Survey said, a week after a volcano-triggered tsunami killed more than 400 people in neighbouring Indonesia.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned "hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible" along the coasts of Indonesia and the Philippines.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A court ruling this week puts the police murder case of former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal back in the spotlight years after it drew the attention of Amnesty International, Hollywood celebrities and death penalty opponents worldwide.

Abu-Jamal, a one-time taxi driver and radio reporter, emerged over four decades in prison as a vocal critic of the American justice system, especially the racial bias he saw at the heart of his 1982 trial.

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Russian scientists may send mice into the first flight around the Moon to study the influence of space factors on the human body, Director of the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems within the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences Oleg Orlov said on Saturday.

AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said that the Congress party will not let the passage of the triple talaq bill in its present form in the Rajya Sabha.

According the PTI report, the bill will be moved by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

New Delhi, Dec 29 (PTI) The Congress on Saturday attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the probe into killing of a policeman during mob violence in Bulandshahr, saying over 25 days have passed, but no concrete action has been taken, and demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter.

Mob violence broke out near Chingrawathi police post on December 3 after cattle carcasses were found strewn in a field near Mahaw village. Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and 20-year-old Sumit Kumar were shot dead as the mob attacked police.