Xinhua world news summary at 0400 GMT, Dec. 21

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Thursday rejected the U.S. accusation that it was responsible for the Wannacry ransomware attack upon global cyber space in May.

A foreign affairs ministry spokesperson told the official Korean Central News Agency that the United States is now inciting a global confrontation against the DPRK by forcibly linking it to the latest cyber attack incident. (DPRK-U.S.)

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LOS ANGELES -- California's Governor Jerry Brown requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster ongoing state and local recovery efforts in response to the Southern California wildfires on Wednesday.

Brush fires across the region were fed by extremely high winds, low humidity, warm temperatures and dry fuel. More than 200,000 Californians were forced to evacuate by multiple fires. (U.S.-Fire)

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SEOUL -- The number of death toll rose to 29 in a South Korean building fire accident Thursday in the country's southeastern city, according to local media reports.

The fire broke out in an eight-story fitness center building in Jecheon city, North Chungcheong province, about 170 km southeast of capital Seoul. (South Korea-Building Fire)

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PARIS -- France's lower house of parliament on Thursday passed the government's 2018 budget draft that aims at respecting the European bloc's financial limits by cutting public spending and tax.

In its first budget draft, since President Emmanuel Macron took office in May, the government forecast the budget gap at 2.6 percent in 2018 compared to the 2.9 percent expected this year, down from previous estimates of 2.7 percent and 3.0 percent respectively. (France-Budget)

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KIGALI -- The World Bank and the Rwandan government signed 80 million U.S. dollars financing agreement Thursday to support the effectiveness of Rwanda's social protection system, notably Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP), for targeted vulnerable groups.

VUP provides citizens in abject poverty with work opportunities in public projects while elderly or disabled citizens are given cash handouts. (World Bank- Rwanda) Enditem