WORLD

MOSCOW | Xinhua | Russia will maintain the combat readiness of its strategic nuclear forces at the highest level, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday. “One of the key (priorities for the Russian armed forces) is to maintain the combat readiness of the nuclear triad at the highest …

ISTANBUL | Xinhua | Public transport fares in Türkiye’s largest city, Istanbul, have been increased as of Tuesday, sparking public outrage. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Transport Coordination Centre (UKOME) announced an 18 percent increase in public transport fares and a 28 percent increase in taxi fares. The minimum fare for …

JERUSALEM | Xinhua | United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed in Tel Aviv on Tuesday with Israeli officials the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and urged the Israeli side to protect civilians in Gaza. Blinken’s visit marks his fourth trip to Israel since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in …

LA PAZ | Xinhua |  The Bolivian government announced Monday the reinstatement of strict health measures, including mandatory school mask use, in response to rising COVID-19 cases ahead of the upcoming school year. The protocol includes the mandatory use of masks among students, the availability of disinfectants like alcohol in …

PARIS | TASS |  Gabriel Attal has been named France’s new Prime Minister, the BFMTV television channel reported. According to the TV channel, Education Minister Gabriel Attal, 34, will replace Elisabeth Borne, who had served as France’s Prime Minister since May 2022, after she was dismissed by President Emmanuel Macron …

JERUSALEM | Xinhua | Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Monday evening that Israel was behind the assassination of an elite Hezbollah commander, Wissam Hassan Tawil, in Lebanon, reported Israeli media. “Regarding the elimination in southern Lebanon, we took responsibility for it,” Katz said, cited by Israel’s Ynet news …

  COMMENT | IAN BURUMA |  Claudine Gay, Harvard University’s first Black female president, was forced to resign after weeks of pressure to step down. But everyone involved in the controversy that pushed her out looks bad. The ostensible reason for her ouster was sloppy academic writing – mostly the …

BERLIN | Xinhua | German football legend Franz Beckenbauer has died at 78, according to German Football Association (DFB) on Monday. The German national team’s honorary captain died on Sunday, as his family announced on Monday. DFB issued a statement mourning his death. Beckenbauer left an indelible mark on German …

BRUSSELS | Xinhua | European Council President Charles Michel has informed Belgian media of his decision to run for the election of the Member of European Parliament (MEP) in June, leading to his early departure from the Council presidency in July. Reflecting on his four-year term as a European leader, …

NOVO OGARYOVO | TASS |  Russian President Vladimir Putin received families of fallen soldiers in the special military operation at his presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow and congratulated his guests with Orthodox Christmas. “We can say without any exaggeration that this holiday is characterized by a distinct fraternal unity …