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Rebels Easily Toppled Syria’s Army. Their Challenge Now: Rebuilding.

The rebels’ path to victory is littered with evidence of Syria’s defeated military. It also reflects the sizable task of trying to put the country back together.
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At Trevi Fountain in Rome, Tourists’ Coins Go to Good Cause

Who gets to spend the millions of euros in change tossed into the Roman landmark?
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A Mexican Mayor’s Odyssey: From Undocumented Migrant to Cartel Target

A former undocumented resident of California who now runs a town in Mexico, Crispín Agustín Mendoza has survived one assassination attempt. But he says, “I have to learn how to survive.”
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Germany’s Chancellor Scholz Takes a Jab at Musk in New Year’s Eve Address

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany’s election would “not be decided by the owners of social media channels” in his annual New Year’s Eve address.
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Putin Declares ‘Everything Will Be Fine’ Despite Russia’s Growing Challenges

Speaking on the 25th anniversary of his rule, President Vladimir V. Putin delivered an upbeat and vague New Year’s Eve message that did not address casualties in Ukraine or rising inflation at home.
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Houthis Launch Latest Missile at Israel Amid Warnings of Retaliation

The Houthis, an Iranian-backed group based in Yemen, have launched repeated attacks despite the Israeli military’s retaliatory airstrikes.
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He Didn’t Know His Father Was on Doomed South Korean Flight Until It Crashed

Oh Jaejin’s father, 64, had not told Mr. Oh he was flying, because he didn’t want his son to worry. They had been looking forward to his becoming a grandfather.
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Under a Highway in Rio, a Dance Style Charms a New Generation
On Rio de Janeiro’s fringes, partygoers have been dancing “charme” to the sounds of R&B for decades. Now, a new crop of dancers is reviving — and transforming — the scene.
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On E-Scooters and ATVs, Russian Forces Swarm Ukrainian Positions in the East

Stepped up attacks by Russia are heightening longstanding concerns over how Ukraine manages its military and countering assumptions that Moscow’s offensive would slow, soldiers and military analysts say.
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South Korea Clears Way to Detain President in Martial Law Inquiry

The police are investigating whether President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to lead an insurrection when he declared martial law and plunged the country into crisis.