Russia issues Crimea banknote in move likely to irk Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia on Wednesday issued a new banknote dedicated to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula it annexed last year, in a move likely to anger Kiev which says it wants the territory back.
French armed forces order two communications satellites
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s armed forces have ordered two next generation communication satellites from Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Russia’s Lavrov to discuss Syria conflict with Qatar foreign minister on December 25
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Khaled al-Attiyah on Dec. 25, and the conflict in Syria will be high on their agenda, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Man pulled out alive from China mudslide after three days
SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) – A man was pulled out alive from rubble in a southern Chinese city on Wednesday, more than 60 hours after a waste heap collapsed and buried dozens of buildings in mud and construction debris, state media said.
Poland’s Walesa calls for early election, sees democracy at risk
WARSAW (Reuters) – Lech Walesa, leader of the Solidarity trade union that ended communism in Poland, said on Wednesday democracy was at risk and called for a referendum to force the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party to hold an early election.
Chinese labor activists stand accused by state media
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese state media have accused seven detained labor activists of “inciting workers to go on strike”, accepting foreign funding and “disturbing social order”, sparking criticism from rights groups.
Ukraine health system in danger of collapse as reforms stall
STAIKY, Ukraine (Reuters) – Paint is flaking on the damp walls and cracked ceilings of the small hospital in the Ukrainian village of Staiky and much of the equipment is over 30 years old.
Japan says armed Chinese coastguard ship seen near disputed islands
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Chinese coastguard ship equipped with what appeared to be four gun turrets was sighted near disputed islands in the East China Sea, Japan’s coastguard said on Wednesday.
Gunmen kill army colonel and resistance chief in Yemen’s Aden
ADEN (Reuters) – Unidentified gunmen shot dead a Yemeni army colonel and a southern resistance leader in Aden on Tuesday night, a local official said, the latest in a string of assassinations in the city often carried out by Islamist militants.
Australian police arrest two more men over alleged attack plot
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian police said on Wednesday they had arrested two more men in Sydney as part of an operation that thwarted a potential attack by home-grown Islamist militants last year on targets that included a navy base.
