World News Roundup: Saudi crown prince arrives in Algeria; G20 sealed landmark deal on WTO reform; Brexit deal

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Macron tells PM to hold talks after worst unrest in Paris for decades

French President Emmanuel Macron ordered his prime minister on Sunday to hold talks with political leaders and demonstrators, as he sought a way out of nationwide protests after rioters turned central Paris into a battle zone. Riot police on Saturday were overwhelmed as protesters ran amok in Paris's wealthiest neighborhoods, torching dozens of cars, looting boutiques and smashing up luxury private homes and cafes in the worst disturbances the capital has seen since 1968.

Mexico's new president takes aim at violence during first day in office

On his first full day in office, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defended a plan to end lawlessness with a new national guard, an initiative that risks upsetting some supporters who favor a less militarized approach. In a Sunday morning speech, Mexico's first leftist president in decades continued to pivot from an emphasis during the campaign on peaceful reconciliation and even amnesty for some involved in the country's grueling drug war to a more traditional approach defined by more soldiers and police.

Netanyahu's legal woes grow as police seek new bribery charges

Israeli police on Sunday said they had found enough evidence for bribery and fraud charges to be brought against Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife in a third corruption case against the Israeli prime minister. Authorities allege Netanyahu awarded regulatory favours to Israel's leading telecommunications company, Bezeq Telecom Israel, in return for more positive coverage of him and his wife on a news website, Walla, owned by the company.

Merkel protege suggests reducing gas flow through Nord Stream 2 pipeline

Germany must answer urgent, growing political concerns about the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project given Russia's seizure of three Ukrainian ships and their crew off the coast of Crimea, a senior German conservative said on Sunday. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, a top candidate to replace Chancellor Angela Merkel as leader of the Christian Democrats, told public broadcaster ARD it would be "too radical" to withdraw political support for the project, but Berlin could reduce the amount of gas to flow through the pipeline.

Trump wants Kim to know he likes him and will fulfill his wishes, South Korean leader says

Donald Trump wants North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to know that he likes him and will fulfill his wishes, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday, a day after meeting the U.S. president at an economic summit in Argentina. Moon, who is hoping to host Kim soon on the first ever trip to Seoul by a North Korean leader as agreed earlier this year, said Trump had asked him to pass on a message.

G20 sealed landmark deal on WTO reform by ducking 'taboo words'

Many delegates from the world's 20 largest economies arrived at a summit in Argentina this week determined to clinch an agreement to reform the global trade system, pushed to a breaking point by tensions between the United States and China. To do so, they had to bow to U.S. and Chinese demands to drop some of the pledges that have become hallmarks of the Group of 20 industrialized nations, which represents two-thirds of the global population.

Iran says it will continue missile tests after U.S. allegation

Iran said on Sunday it would continue missile tests to build up its defences and denied this was in breach of U.N. resolutions following U.S. allegations that Tehran had tested a new missile capable of carrying multiple warheads. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday condemned what he called Iran's testing of a medium-range ballistic missile in violation of the 2015 international agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme, from which Washington has withdrawn.

Saudi crown prince arrives in Algeria

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Algeria on Sunday from Mauritania, resuming a tour of Arab countries after attending the G20 summit in Argentina. Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia received the prince in the capital Algiers, the state news agency APS said.

British spymaster cautions Russia: Don't underestimate the West

The chief of Britain's foreign intelligence service will warn the Kremlin on Monday not to underestimate the West after a brazen nerve agent attack on a retired double agent in England stoked fears about Russian covert activity abroad. In his second major speech since being named in 2014 to head the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, Alex Younger will say Russia has a stance of "perpetual confrontation" with the West.

Hoping to win Brexit support, PM May says world leaders ready for trade

Several world leaders are keen to strike trade deals with Britain once the country is out of the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May will say on Monday, pressing the case for her Brexit deal before a fateful Dec. 11 vote in parliament. May is facing an uphill struggle to get lawmakers to back her deal to keep close economic ties with the bloc, which she agreed with the EU in November. The main opposition Labour Party says it will seek a vote of no confidence in the government if May loses the vote.

(With inputs from Reuters)