WORLD

PARIS | Xinhua | France strongly condemns on Saturday the offensive of the March 23 Movement (M23) supported by Rwanda in South Kivu, as it advances to Bukavu, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The M23 must immediately cease its offensive and withdraw from the …

MOSCOW | Xinhua | Russia has begun preparing a negotiating team for upcoming talks with the United States, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. The Kremlin spokesman confirmed that efforts were underway to form a delegation for upcoming negotiations with the United States, including on the situation in Ukraine. …

TEL AVIV, RUSSIA | TASS | Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that if Hamas doesn’t release the hostages that are scheduled to return home on February 15, it will mean a resumption of war. He made the statement at a meeting with EU ambassadors to Israel. “Hamas’ decision not …

WASHINGTON, the United States | TASS | US President Donald Trump has said that the United States is not going to buy the Gaza Strip. “We’re not going to buy anything. We’re going to have it (the Gaza Strip – TASS). We’re going to keep it, and we’re going to …

CAIRO, EGYPT | TASS | Hamas has placed the responsibility for any problems with the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Israel. “It is Israel that has failed to fulfil its commitments, so, responsibility for any problems and delays in the implementation of the deal rests with it,” it …

HARBIN | Xinhua | In Harbin, the capital city of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang Province, there is a mesmerizing winter wonderland. Here, towering ice structures mimicking landmarks from across Asia, cheers from super-long ice slides, and the breathtaking view from a giant Ferris wheel attracted over 610,000 visitors during this year’s …

COMMENT | IAN BURUMA |  Compared to other Western democracies, the United States is still a profoundly religious country. Around 24% of Americans identify as evangelical Christians. Five US Supreme Court justices are conservative Catholics (the only other conservative on the bench, Neil Gorsuch, was raised and educated as a Catholic but is …

WASHINGTON, the United States | TASS | US President Donald Trump said that he is not in a hurry to implement his Gaza plan. “No rush to do anything,” he told reporters at the start of a White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Trump said the plan …

NEW YORK, the United States | Xinhua | U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent proposal to take over Gaza by the United States, made during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, has met with widespread condemnation from European, Middle Eastern and other international leaders. Trump …

WASHINGTON, the United States | Xinhua | The United States witnessed of late a wave of protests in multiple states against President Donald Trump’s recent policies and executive actions. Protesters rallied by such social media hashtags as #50501, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day. HOW COME THE …