Xi holds welcome banquet for Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday held a banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump on his state visit to China.

Addressing the banquet, Xi said the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the current world.

"We must make it work, and never mess it up," Xi said, adding that both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.

Attacks continue to affect civilians in Lebanon despite ceasefire: UN

Despite a nearly month-long ceasefire, attacks affecting civilians and frontline responders in Lebanon continue to be reported daily, UN humanitarians said Thursday.

A series of drone strikes on cars in the Jiyeh area, approximately 20 km south of the capital city of Beirut, killed at least eight people, including two children, on Wednesday, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing figures of Lebanese authorities.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 2,896 people have been killed, including 200 children, and more than 8,000 injured since the latest escalation on March 2, OCHA said.

Hamas seeks direct meeting with Fatah on "national strategy" after 8th general conference

Hamas on Thursday called for a direct meeting with the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) on a joint "national strategy" after the conclusion of Fatah's eighth general conference.

The conference represents "an opportunity to achieve a shift in Palestinian internal national relations," and could contribute to "enhancing readiness and preparedness to confront Israeli plans," Hossam Badran, head of Hamas' Office of National Relations and a member of its political bureau, said in a statement.

Badran accused Israel of seeking to "liquidate the Palestinian cause entirely by exploiting international and regional circumstances."

British MP resigns, paving way for possible Starmer challenger's return to Westminster

Josh Simons, a British Labour member of parliament (MP), resigned on Thursday so that Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham could replace him in his constituency through a by-election.

This would pave the way for Burnham's return to the House of Commons. He is widely seen as a potential challenger to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership in the Labour Party.

In Simons' resignation letter on social media, the Makerfield MP said the government failed to deliver the changes needed for his constituency, so he decided to "make way for a leader who has the radicalism, energy and immense courage to meet the moment."

Iraq's new PM sworn in with partial cabinet after deadlock over key posts

Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi was sworn in here on Thursday with a partial Cabinet after lawmakers failed to reach consensus on several key posts, including the interior and defense ministries.

Parliament approved 14 members of al-Zaidi's Cabinet, while votes on the remaining portfolios were delayed amid ongoing political negotiations.

During a session chaired by Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi, 266 lawmakers voted in favor of the 14 ministers, according to a parliamentary statement.■