Tit for tat: Iran’s Supreme Security Council puts US troops on its terrorist groups list

In response to Washington’s decision to put Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on the terrorist list, the Iranian Supreme Security Council declared the US a “terrorist government” while calling the US CENTCOM a terrorist group as well.

Following what it called an “unlawful and unreasonable action” of the US, Tehran officially declared the US “a terrorist government and the US Central Command known as CENTCOM as well as all its affiliates a terrorist group,” a statement of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme National Security Council headed by President Hassan Rouhani said. Source: RT

French PM calls for quick tax cuts to appease protesters

France’s prime minister has called for quick tax cuts to respond to the anger expressed through yellow vest protests across the country. Source: The Publi Radio

Train services disrupted as migrants stage sit-down at Larisis station

Dozens of migrants staged a sit-down protest in Athens’s Larisis station on Friday morning, disrupting all railway services, in the hope they will be transported to the Greek border and join others waiting to revive a 2016 migration route towards northern Europe. Source: Ekathimerini

Pompeo urges France not to approve digital services tax

U.S. Secretary of State urged France in a meeting with his French counterpart not to approve a digital services tax, saying it would hurt U.S. technology firms, the U.S. State Department said. France and Britain as well as Italy and Spain are pushing ahead with plans for such taxes after EU countries failed to reach an agreement for the bloc as a whole. Source Reuters Source: Reuters

Greek Police Clash With Refugees Heading for Border

Greek police used tear gas on Friday to disperse hundreds of refugees and migrants who had gathered near Thessaloniki, intending to head to the border with North Macedonia, having heard false reports that it would reopen. Source: Balkan Insight

Libyan militia chief Khalifa Haftar tells troops to ‘advance’ on the capital Tripoli

Libyan militia leader Khalifa Haftar on Thursday ordered his troops to “advance” on Tripoli, prompting Western nations and the UAE to warn against aggravating tensions in the conflict-torn country. Source: France 24

Turkey and Germany defend Russia ties

Turkey and Germany have defended their ties with Russia following strident criticism by the US at a Nato event in Washington.

The Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the US was wrong in trying to force Ankara to buy US-made anti-aircraft systems called Patriots instead of Russian-made S-400s.

Source: EUobserver