Trump remains under severe domestic pressure as special counsel Robert Mueller continues his investigation into alleged collusion between Trump aides and Russian officials. The White House said Trump “appreciated” the conversation and “stressed the importance of intelligence cooperation to defeat terrorists wherever they may be”. The agency said the suspects were plotting a suicide bombing in a church and other explosions in the city’s busiest areas, on Isis orders. It said a search of a St Petersburg apartment found explosives, automatic weapons and extremist literature. In April, a suicide bombing in the St Petersburg subway killed 16 and wounded more than 50.

Source: The Guardian December 17, 2017 18:28 UTC