Martial law expires in Ukraine

Martial law, imposed on Nov. 25 in some Ukrainian areas after Russia captured three Ukrainian ships, expired on Wednesday, President Petro Poroshenko told the country's security council.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2T9dIAA

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Russia sentences Ukrainian man to eight years in jail for spying: Kommersant

A Russian court has sentenced a Ukrainian man to eight years in a maximum security prison for espionage and trying to illegally obtain and export military goods, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported on Wednesday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2CydeOT

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Two held for sparking panic with dummy guns at Paris CDG airport

French police arrested two people who brandished dummy guns at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on Wednesday, causing panic and a temporary evacuation of a terminal, airport authorities and local media said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2CwZSm0

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Russia says Israeli strikes on Syria threatened two civilian flights: Ifax

Russia's Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that Israeli missile strikes against Syria the previous day had directly threatened two civilian flights, the Interfax news agency reported.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Td5Qy5

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Child says still believes in Santa after Trump's 'marginal' quip

President Donald Trump set off a Christmas social media storm when he questioned whether a seven-year-old was too long in the tooth to believe in Santa Claus.

from Reuters: U.S. https://reut.rs/2rUg22H

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Iran in talks with Afghan Taliban: Iranian state media report

Iran has been holding talks with Afghanistan's Taliban with the knowledge of the Afghan government, a senior Iranian security official was quoted by the official news agency IRNA as saying on Wednesday during a visit to Kabul.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2LxOmtu

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Putin oversees successful test of hypersonic missile system: RIA cites Kremlin

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday oversaw the successful test of a new Russian hypersonic missile system called Avangard which can carry nuclear and conventional warheads, the RIA news agency cited the Kremlin as saying.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2rRXTmg

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Sherpa widows to climb Everest to inspire single women

The widows of two sherpa climbers, who died on Mount Everest, will try to climb the world’s highest mountain to complete the unfinished ascents of their husbands and hopefully inspire other single women, the pair said on Wednesday.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2GQ5ufg

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France drops charges against Rwandan officials

Investigative magistrates in France have dropped charges against nine Rwandan officials investigated over the death of the country's president in 1998, an event that led to a genocide that killed more than 800,000 people, a judicial source said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2rUmqHp

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Vote delayed in three Congo opposition districts, won't count toward presidential result

Democratic Republic of Congo will delay polling in Sunday's elections in three cities until March, officials said, meaning votes in the opposition-leaning districts will not be taken into account in the key presidential contest.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2QThjpS

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Qatar sends 24 armored vehicles to Mali

Qatar has airlifted 24 armored vehicles to Mali, in a move it said would help the countries of the African Sahel region combat terrorism.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2TdOWPW

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China tries rights lawyer in case Amnesty denounces as a sham

The subversion trial of a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer in what Amnesty International called a "sham" hearing ended on Wednesday without a verdict being announced

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2RcK6Fh

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Russia asks West to try to calm its Kerch Strait tensions with Ukraine

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday it hoped Western countries would not take part in any Ukrainian attempt to stage what it called "a provocation" near the Kerch Strait and dissuade Kiev from escalating tensions in the area.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2GE60gz

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