World News Roundup: Russia detains U.S. citizen in Moscow for suspected spying; Over 100 firefighters tackling fire in S. London

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

France's Macron pledges more reform medicine in 'decisive' 2019

France's embattled president, Emmanuel Macron, vowed on Monday to press on with his reform agenda in 2019 despite a spate of "yellow vest" protests that have challenged his government and extended a plunge in his approval ratings. Promised overhauls of France's unemployment benefits, civil service and public pensions will be undertaken in the coming year, Macron said in his televised New Year message.

Three people suffer knife injuries at UK's Manchester Victoria station

UK Police said late on Monday that three people suffered knife injuries in an incident at the Manchester Victoria station on New Year's Eve. Police said http://bit.ly/2BPPwMF they have detained a man in the incident which left a woman, a man and a police officer injured.

Russia detains U.S. citizen in Moscow for suspected spying

Russia's FSB state security service said on Monday it had detained an American citizen suspected of spying in Moscow and had opened a criminal case against him. The FSB said the American had been detained on December 28 but it gave no details of the nature of his alleged espionage activities.

Vatican spokesman, deputy, resign over strategy differences

The Vatican spokesman and his deputy resigned on Monday over disagreements on strategy, ending a year of upheaval in the Holy See's communications structure. A brief Vatican statement gave no reason for the resignations. Spokesman Greg Burke, an American, tweeted that he and his Spanish deputy, Paloma Garcia Ovejero, had quit to let Pope Francis appoint a new team in what was a "time of transition".

Over 100 firefighters tackling fire in south London

Twenty fire engines and about 120 firefighters were tackling a fire at a warehouse in south London, the London Fire Brigade said on Monday. No injuries have been reported in the fire at a warehouse on Purley Way in Croydon, according to the statement http://bit.ly/2BPNgVH, which said the cause of the fire was not yet known.

Back my Brexit deal and let Britain 'turn a corner': UK PM May

British Prime Minister Theresa May urged lawmakers on Monday to back her Brexit deal, promising that it would allow the country to "turn a corner" and let the government focus on solving domestic problems such as housing and a skill shortage. May made the appeal in a New Year's message little more than two weeks before a make-or-break vote in parliament on her plan for Britain's exit from the European Union which is due to happen on March 29.

China's Xi, in New Year's address, says pace of reform won't 'stagnate'

The pace of reform in China will not stagnate and it will open its door wider still to the outside world, President Xi Jinping said on Monday in his New Year message, as he also warned of challenges ahead. Xi has repeatedly pledged his support for reform this year, as China marks 40 years since landmark changes to its economic model, amid mounting pressure to improve market access for foreign companies as a trade war with the United States weighs.

Turkish TV shows purported transfer of Khashoggi remains

A Turkish pro-government television channel has broadcast video showing men carrying suitcases purportedly containing the remains of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi into the residence of his country's consul general in Istanbul. The footage broadcast by A Haber shows men carrying what it says were a total of five cases through the main entrance of the residence, a short distance from the consulate where Khashoggi, a leading critic of Saudi policies, was killed in early October.

Mexican president decrees tax cuts for U.S. border region

Mexico's new leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday decreed tax cuts for northern states that he says will help power economic growth and deter migration to the United States. An executive order in the government's official gazette granted lower rates for both value-added and income taxes in more than 40 municipalities bordering the United States, an area that has become a flashpoint over U.S. President Donald Trump's policies to deter immigrants, including building a wall.

Israel's Netanyahu said would not resign during possible indictment hearing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would not resign from office should the attorney general accept police recommendations to indict him before his side of the case is heard. Netanyahu last week announced a snap election would be held in April, seeking a fresh political mandate that could help him weather possible charges in corruption investigations.