France takes over EU presidency as national election looms #breakingnews #breaking #worldhealines

France takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union on Saturday, affording President Emmanuel Macron the chance to pose as the EU's de facto leader in the run-up to national elections in April.

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Macron warns of 'difficult' weeks ahead but encourages 'optimism' in New Year's speech #breakingnews #breaking #worldhealines

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said the next few weeks would be difficult as the country headed into subdued New Year celebrations after registering 232,200 new Covid-19 cases over the last 24 hours, its highest-ever recorded total.

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China’s data ‘disappearance’ makes information access rough going for outsiders #breakingnews #breaking #worldhealines

A new Chinese law on the protection of sensitive data has made it much harder, if not impossible, for foreign investors to access information on China’s economy over the past few months. Analysts say the Chinese Communist Party is using this law to tighten control over strategic sectors to protect them from foreign competitors and adversaries.  

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Betty White, US Golden Girls actress, dies aged 99 #breakingnews #breaking #worldhealines

Actress Betty White, who made US television audiences laugh for more than seven decades, starring on popular sitcoms "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," has died, US media reported Friday. She was 99.

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