Transport disruptions plague French on Christmas Eve

The French government has failed to convince union workers to end strikes that have now lasted for nearly three weeks. The walk offs have disrupted much of the countries public transportation, and hundreds of thousands of people may not be able to spend Christmas as they had hoped.

Bruce Harrison reports from Paris.

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Fight over Nord Stream 2 heats up

German politicians are hitting back at US sanctions meant to scuttle construction on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. Greens politician Jurgen Trittin said Berlin should start preparing countermeasures which will impact the US's LNG ambitions in Europe. This comes just days after US sanctions forced the project's main contractor to down tools. Toni Waterman has the details from Frankfurt.

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Boeing fires CEO as 737 MAX fallout continues

The Chief Executive Officer of Boeing has been fired after the company's Board said action was needed "to restore confidence" in the aviation manufacturer.

He's the highest-profile casualty of the company's disastrous roll-out of the 737 MAX, after 346 people died in two separate crashes involving the jet.

Our US Correspondent Simon Marks reports.

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China to cut import tariffs on some goods

China is to cut tariffs on a range of goods in the new year.

It comes as the country appears to be nearing a trade deal with the
United States.

Sarah Walton reports from New York

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Outrage as 5 Sentenced to Death for Khashoggi's Murder, while Two Masterminds Walk Free

Five people have been sentenced to death, and three others will face a combined 24 years in prison,  over the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. But the trial, which found there was no prior intent by those found guilty to murder, is causing public outrage, as the two 'masterminds' in the killing walk free.  

Jillian Wolf reports. 

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Many French unable to get home for Christmas as transport strikes go on

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced he won't claim his presidential pension - as a third week of crippling transport strikes over pension reform is likely to mean thousands of French people will be stranded at Christmas. 

Half of trains have been cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. 

Elena Casas reports from Paris.  

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Turkey, Syria and Russia to meet as crisis in Idlib worsens

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Turkish and Syrian delegations will visit Moscow later as a Russian-Syrian offensive near Idlib continues to drive thousands of refugees towards Turkey. More than 3 million people, half of whom are believed to be children, are caught in the crisis. Dan Ashby has more. 

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Twitter Launches One of its Largest Single Crackdowns on State-Backed Accounts

Twitter has removed nearly 6,000 accounts,  which it says are linked to a disinformation campaign in Saudi Arabia.  The tech giant says the accounts… which were removed for "platform manipulation"... are part of a wider crackdown on profiles suspended for spammy behaviour. 

Jillian Wolf reports in New York.

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US diplomat's wife charged over death of UK teenager

The wife of a US diplomat has been charged with causing the death of a
young motorcyclist in the UK.

Anne Sacoolas left the country in August claiming diplomatic immunity.

Sarah Walton reports from New York.

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Trump: "very good talk" with Xi on trade

The Presidents of the United States and China have talked by phone to
cement the upcoming Phase One trade deal.

The deal is expected to be signed in early January.

US correspondent Nick Harper reports.

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Germany Places Restrictions on Uber

Uber has been dealt a major blow in Germany. A Frankfurt court has banned one of the main ways the firm operates within the country - citing anti competitive behavior. It's the latest blow for Uber. Just last month, London denied the company a new operating license, saying Uber failed to verify drivers' identities. Toni Waterman has the details from Frankfurt.

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UK MPs BACK BREXIT DEAL

UK lawmakers have backed Boris Johnson's Brexit deal in a vote in the House of Commons.

It's a crucial moment for Britain's departure from the European Union.

Olly Barratt reports from London.

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US diplomat’s wife charged with causing death of British teenager

A US diplomat's wife has been charged with causing the death of a British teenager in a car crash. 

Motorcyclist Harry Dunn, aged 19, was killed in August after being hit by a car driven by Anne Sacoolas outside a US Air Force station in Northamptonshire (pron: North-hamp-ton-sheer) in England. 

Benji Hyer has this update from London. 

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Terror attacks likely in Ghana – UK advises citizens

The government of the United Kingdom has issued a security alert to British citizens living and travelling to Ghana, warning of an imminent terrorist attack. This is an update of an earlier alert issued in June following the kidnapping of two Canadian citizens who were in Ghana on an exchange programme.

From Accra, Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports…

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UN Security Council Renews MONUSCO Mandate

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The UN Security Council has unanimously renewed the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo for one year.

The resolution drafted by France will see the 16,000-strong force continue protecting civilians and supporting the stabilization of DRC's state institutions until December 2020.

The mandate has been renewed just weeks after Congolese in the eastern town of Beni demanded the withdrawal of the force for reportedly failing to protect them from rebels. 

Chris Ocamringa has that report

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UK Parliament voting on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit bill

Members of the UK Parliament are voting on Friday on whether to back the Prime Minister's Brexit plan. 

If the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill is signed into law, then the UK will leave the European Union on 31 January, and the government would be banned from extending the transition period past 2020.

Benji Hyer reports from London.

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NEW GOVERNOR FOR BANK OF ENGLAND

Andrew Bailey will become the new Bank of England governor, replacing Mark Carney.

He joins from the Financial Conduct Authority, which acts as the UK's financial watchdog.

Chancellor Sajid Javid, who made the appointment, says he was "the stand-out candidate in a competitive field"

Stuart Smith is in London.

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SOUTH SUDAN PROTESTS AGAINST US SANCTIONS

South Sudan's government is protesting sanctions by the US government against senior government officials saying it's 'against peace.'

On Monday this week, the Trump administration sanctioned two South Sudanese cabinet ministers for what it describes as expanding or extending the conflict in South Sudan including by obstructing the reconciliation process or peace talks.

Patrick Oyet reports from Juba.

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UK MPs TO VOTE ON BREXIT DEAL

UK lawmakers are voting on Friday on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

It's the first phase of passing his Withdrawal Agreement into law so Britain leaves the EU on January 31st.

The legislation also includes a clause to ban the government from extending the transition period beyond the end of 2020.

But critics of the government say it will struggle to reach a trade deal with the EU by then.

Trade expert David Henig agrees.

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Ugandan Killed by Mob in DR Congo

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Uganda has advised its nationals to stop crossing to the DR Congo after  one person was killed and scores injured by an angry mob of Congolese.

The attack is believed to be a revenge against the Allied Democratic rebel outfit that has roots in Uganda but now based in the DRC.

Isabel Nakirya reports.

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